To help the agri-fishery sector survive, reboot and grow amid and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture-XI (DA-XI) has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City Government of Davao for the implementation of P113-M agri projects as part of the agency’s productivity enhancement programs under the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (Bayanihan II).
In a MOA signing held on December 18 at the Davao City Mayor’s conference room, DA-XI Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr. said that out of the P113-M financial grant, P40-M will be for the enhancement of Food Processing Center, P25-M for the establishment of Durian packinghouse and cold storage facility, P20-M for Mango packinghouse and cold storage, P20-M for vegetable and other crops postharvest facility, P5-M for the Malagos Tissue Culture in support to the banana industry while P3-M is for the modernization of urban agriculture with the establishment of greenhouse and hydroponics.
“This is just the kick-start of the stimulus package from DA. We are expecting more programs under Bayanihan II to provide assistance to farmers while ensuring food security and supply in the country. We have seen the vast opportunities in agriculture even in the time of Covid-19 pandemic and we want our farmers to take advantage of that [opportunities] with the support from the DA in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU),” Oñate said.
DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña who was also present at the event said that the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) will closely coordinate with the City Agriculture Office to ensure the successful implementation of the said projects.
Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio thanked the DA for being an active partner in their efforts to have an affordable and accessible food supply even in health emergency situations.
“This package of support will not just help our farmers market their produce but further help in advancing the agribusiness in the city towards a sustainable and inclusive agricultural enterprise,” said Carpio.
Under the Bayanihan II, the DA is targeting to give assistance to 800,000 farmers who are affected by Covid-19 pandemic on top of its regular program and the Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra sa Covid-19.
Despite the crisis, only the agriculture sector reported a growth in terms of output at 1.6 percent, versus contractions in industry at 22.9 percent and services at 15.8 percent. # ## (Celso Campos Vergara / DA-RFO XI, RAFIS)
