DA-7 reassesses programs

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture officials are now looking into the slow growth of agricultural this year following reports that the region’s agriculture industry is the downside of Central Visayas’ booming economy.

DA is now assessing programs and beneficiaries to determine the agriculture productions.

“DA is doing something to that, kung asa dapit ang hinay and we are looking into the areas nga wala na-capture sa DA,” said Gerry Avila, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division chief.

Avila said that not all farmers in the region are covered in their programs and interventions like production support, post harvest interventions, trainings and extensions.

“Naa may municipalities nga ang farmers covered and uban pud wala,” Avila said, adding that it is possible that the farmers’ performance has something to do with the agriculture production.

He said that DA has noted good growth last year compared to this year.

“Gihatag na namo tanan but despite to that still wala gihapoy increase ug atong gitan-aw kung asa ta nasipyat kay daghan man sad ta ug municipalities nga wala ma-cover sa program compared sa program,” he said.

DA is also planning to reach farmers in far-flung areas to push for increase in productivity through technology.

The National Economic and Development Authority has earlier released records showing that the region remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country but its agriculture industry becomes the economy’s downside.

NEDA, however, assures that it will monitor and address the needs of the agency. —/ATO (FREEMAN)