Recommended
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Viewers also liked (20)
Similar to The State of Philippine Agriculture
Similar to The State of Philippine Agriculture (20)
More from courageasia
More from courageasia (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
The State of Philippine Agriculture
- 1. The State of Philippine Agriculture by: Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat Department of Agriculture Philippine Restaurant Investment Conference June 29, 2016 EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City
- 2. Philippine Agri Sector Situationer Total Land Area: 29.82 million has. 41% is devoted to agriculture (12.23 million has.) 10% 31%59% Contribution to GDP Agriculture (P334.22 m) Industry (P1,015.67 m) Services (P1,918.91 m) 27% 17%56% Employment Agriculture (10.78 m) Industry (6.67 m) Services(22.47 m) Daily Wage Rate of Farmers Male: P 176.44 Female: P 169.27 Average Age of Filipino Farmers: 57 Sources: Philippine Statistics Authority, CIA World Factbook, Agricultural Training Institute
- 3. Crops
- 5. Fisheries
- 6. Agriculture Sector Performance 0.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 15,000.00 20,000.00 25,000.00 30,000.00 Crops (-4.21%) Livestock (4.41%) Poultry (0.95%) Fisheries (-5.58%) 2014 2015 2016 Volume of Production (January-March 2014-2016) (in thousand MT) There was a 4.53% drop in production in the first quarter due to prolonged dry spell and damages caused by typhoons “Lando” and “Nona” in 2015.
- 7. Agriculture Sector Performance 0.00 50,000.00 100,000.00 150,000.00 200,000.00 250,000.00 Crops (-3.5%) Livestock (1.23%) Poultry (8.85%) Fisheries (-5.43%) 2014 2015 2016 Value of Production (January-March 2014-2016) (in million pesos) Gross earnings amounted to Php 375.20 billion or 1.49% lower that last year’s earnings.
- 8. Mandate The agency responsible for the promotion of agricultural development by providing the policy framework, public investments, and support services needed for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises. Vision A modernized smallholder agriculture and fisheries; a diversified rural economy that is dynamic, technologically-advanced, and internationally-competitive. Mission To help empower the farming and fishing communities and the private sector to produce enough, accessible, and affordable food for every Filipino, and a decent income for all. Source: www.da.gov.ph
- 9. DA Banner Programs Photo credits: www.da.gov.ph • Rice • Corn • High Value Crops • Fisheries • Livestock • Organic Agriculture
- 10. The DA takes into account the VALUE CHAIN in formulating/ implementing programs concerning the agriculture sector. Photo credits: http://skirball.org
- 11. Production Support DA Intervention: Provision of seeds, farming tools/machines, breeders stocks (e.g. livestock and fish), among others
- 12. Postharvest Support DA Intervention: Provision postharvest facilities such as dryers, processing complexes, storage facilities, tramlines, etc. to reduce postharvest losses
- 13. Research, Training, & Extension Services DA Intervention: Conduct of research, trainings, workshops, technical assistance, Farmer Field Schools, etc.
- 14. Marketing Assistance DA Intervention: - Promotion of local products in the domestic and international markets (e.g. trade fairs, business matching, etc.) - Linking farmers with institutional buyers (e.g. manufacturing companies, restaurants, etc).
- 15. Marketing Assistance • Help upgrade standards to levels acceptable in the local and export markets • Establish enterprises based on the comparative advantage of each province
- 16. The “Rising Stars” • Refers to the agricultural products that have gained local and international attention as a result of DA’s promotional activities • Have potentials for local market mainstreaming and exportation • Known for their nutritional value, unique taste, and versatility as ingredients
- 17. Heirloom Rice Producers: Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Varieties: Imbuucan, Lasdakan, Ominio, Tinawon, Unoy, Ulikan, Balatinaw, Jekyot, Chong-ak Photo credits: www.heirloomrice.com
- 18. Cacao • Producers: Davao Region, Cebu, Bohol, North Cotabato, Bicol Region • Varieties: Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario • Products: candies, artisan chocolates, tablea, raw beans, nibs
- 19. Coffee • Producers: Batangas, Negros Occidental, SOCSKARGEN, Davao Region, Bukidnon, Benguet, Cavite, Kalinga, Apayao, Iloilo • Varieties: Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Excelsa, Robusta • Products: dried beans, green beans
- 20. Adlai • Producers: Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, CALABARZON • Products: adlai grains, adlai flour, adlai tea, adlai wine, adlai coffee
- 21. Calamansi (Philippine Lime) • Producers: Oriental Mindoro, Zamboanga Sibugay, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Quezon, Guimaras, Leyte, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, Agusan del Sur • Products: Calamansi juice, puree, marmalades, syrup, liqueur
- 22. Pili Nuts • Producers: Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Northern Samar • Products: marzapan de pili, pili brittle, pili turon, pili candies, dried pili shoots, kernels
- 23. Souring Agents Batuan (Negros Occidental) Kamias (CALABARZON, MIMAROPA) Tabon-Tabon (Northern Mindanao) Sua (Northern Mindanao)
- 24. The Philippines is a rich source of ingredients. DA Interventions to address future demand: 1. Compliance to local and international standards 2. Promotion of agribusiness through credit, research, and trainings in business management 3. Provision of postharvest facilities 4. Training of farmers (planting to marketing) of the crops mentioned. The higher the demand, the more farmers will be willing to produce them.
- 25. Agriculture Sector under the Duterte Presidency • No tolerance for corruption • Focus on DA’s mandate: FOOD PRODUCTION • Develop untapped potentials for food production (e.g. production areas, rich soil, climate, etc.) • All-out support for farmers and fisherfolk in adapting to climate change • Identification of additional 1 million ha. for rice production • Mechanize rice farming • Develop the high value crops sector (intercrop coconut with coffee, cacao, abaca, etc.) • Support for indigenous people (e.g. Badjaos) • Estabilshment of processing facilities to increase income of farmers and fisherfolk (e.g. agar-agar processing facility in Zamboanga) CHANGE IS COMING Incoming DA Secretary EMMANUEL F. PIÑOL
- 26. First 100 Days Nationwide orientation and mind-setting of all DA officials and employees to guide them on the priorities of the incoming administration ; Cash for Work Program for farmers and fisherfolk affected by El Niño; National Mapping (Color-Coded Agricultural Guide Map); National Food Consumption Quantification Survey ; Calamity assistance in the form of seeds, fertiilizers, and farm inputs for 2 planting seasons ; Distribution of fishing boats and nets; Nationwide face-to-face interaction between the DA Secretary and stakeholders in the agriculture and fisheries sectors;
- 27. First 100 Days Implementation of “Pagkain Para sa Masa” in Metro Manila in cooperation with DOH, DSWD, and LGUs (arroz caldo feeding stations); To identify urban poor and eventually train them for vegetable production using the Israel Green House Technology Engage the Badjaos as “Bantay Dagat” to clean and make coastal waters productive; Milk feeding program in dairy-producing areas in cooperation with DOH, DSWD, and DepEd Direct the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to include farmers in high risk areas in their crop insurance program Direct the National Food Authority (NFA) to pre-position sufficient rice in food supplies in areas expected to be affected by La Niña; Work with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to ensure that smuggling of rice, meat, onion, garlic, ginger, etc. will stop.
- 28. Thank You
Editor's Notes
- Good day, ladies and gentlemen. First, allow me to thank Courage Asia and the organizers of the Philippine Restaurant Investment Conference for inviting me. It is truly an honour and a please to be with all of you today. I am here to present the state of Philippine agriculture and how it can contribute to the restaurant industry.
- Let me give you a quick situationer on Philippine agriculture: Our country has a total land area of almost 30 million hectares, wherein 41% is dedicated to agriculture (12.23 million hectares). As of the first quarter of 2016, the agriculture sector contributed 10% to the GDP (Php 334.22 million). It employs 27% of the labor force (10.78 million workers). Based on the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ (BAS) survey in 2013, the daily wage rate of male farmers was Php 176.44, while female farmers earn Php 169.27 a day. The average age of Filipino farmers is 57.
- The country’s major produce consists of crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. The Philippines’ major crops include: palay, corn, coconut, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, mango, cassava, root crops such as sweet potato, and vegetables such as tomato, garlic, onion, cabbage, eggplant, calamansi, mongo, to name a few.
- Produce from the livestock and poultry subsectors include: cattle, carabao, goat, hog, chicken, and ducks.
- The Philippines is a rich source of fishery products, but the most commonly-consumed seafood include: milkfish, tilapia, roundscad (galunggong), prawns, crabs, tuna (skipjack and yellowfin), and seaweeds.
- Agriculture posted a 4.53% drop in production in the first three (3) months of 2016. The output increments in the livestock and poultry subsectors were not enough to offset the downturn in the performanc of the crops and fisheries subsectors due to prolonged dry spell and damages caused by typhoons “Lando” and “Nona” in 2015.
- Gross earnings for the given period amounted to Php 375.2 billion or 1.49% lower than last year’s level. Despite the decrease in production, the earnings for the livestock and poultry subsectors increased, which is an indicator that prices of the products belonging to this subsector only increased due to lack of supply and high demand.
- To address the needs of the sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) serves as the government agency responsible for the promotion of agriculture development in the country. It provides the policy framework, public investments, and support services needed for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises. The DA envisions an agri sector which is modernized, diversified, technologically-advanced, and internationally-competitive. The DA seeks to help empower the farming and fishing communities and the private sector to product enough, accessible, and affordable food for all Filipinos, and to provide a decent source of income for all.
- The Department of Agriculture has six (6) banner programs covering rice, corn, high value crops, fisheries, livestock, and organic agriculture. As you will notice, the banner programs are focused on the top contributors to agri growth such as crops (rice, corn), high value crops (fruits and vegetables like mangoes, bananas, pineapples, asparagus, etc.)—which are also the country’s top exports), the fisheries and the livestock subsectors, and organic agriculture, which is a new and promising niche in the sector. The DA banner programs also identify the challenges/difficulties faced by each sector and carries out interventions to address them.
- The DA banner programs take into account the value chain for the respective crops in formulating and implementing programs. This slide shows an example of a value chain which traces the process undergone by agricultural products from farm to table. Value chain analyses serves as one of our guides in the DA in planning our projects and strategies for the major commodities. It takes into account land preparation, planting, harvesting, postharvest activities, processing, market linkage, consumption, and possible uses of agri wastes.
- For production, the DA provides farming inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, farming tools/machines, as well as breeder stocks for livestock and fish, among others.
- The Department also aims to lower the postharvest losses of our farmers by providing postharvest facilities such as storage facilities, dryers, processing complexes, and tramlines to name a few.
- The DA, through its attached agencies, conducts research and extension services for our farmers. For research, the DA conducts studies to address relevant issues. For example, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Nueva Ecija conducts researches and experiment in making climate resilient varieties of crops. Another example is the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) also conducts researches on designing farm machineries appropriate to Philippine farms, as well as gender-sensitive farm tools/machineries. Extension services, on the other hand, refers to the application of scientific knowledge in the agricultural practice through farmer education. The Department of Agriculture (DA) provides various extension services for the farmers such as trainings, workshops, technical assistance, technology transfer, and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to name a few. The extension services aim to educate and empower the farmers so that they can become more efficient and profitable in their farming activities.
- The Department of Agriculture also provides marketing assistance services to our farmers. For example, the DA promotes local agriculture products in the international and domestic markets through trade fairs and business matching activities. Aside from our traditional exports (coconuts, bananas, pineapples, and mangoes), the DA has been active in promoting products that are organic and those produced by the women and indigenous people, in international trade fairs. Examples of trade fairs that the DA has participated in are: International Green Week (2014), Salone del Gusto organized by the Slow Food Movement (2014), Asio Gusto in Korea which is also organized by the Slow Food Movement (2014), Madrid Fusion (2015), Madrid Fusion Manila (2015, 2016), Natural and Organic Products Europe (UK, 2016), and the Philippine Natural Organic Products Expo which the DA has been organizing since 2014. Aside from exhibiting our local products, the international trade fairs have also served as venues for cooking demos conducted by no less than renowned Filipino chefs. the DA also conducts by renowned Filipino chefs in these international fairs. Such activities have raised the awareness of the international community in our local products and cuisine. This also provides the DA and our local farmers an opportunity to link with international importers who are interested in our products. Furthermore, the DA also links our farmers with institutional buyers such as manufacturers and restaurants in order to expand market opportunities, particularly for our women and IP farmers. Examples of this are the calamansi rinds from the Mangyans which are used in making Manille Liqeur de Calamansi and heirloom rice from the Ifugaos of the Cordilleras.
- As part of our marketing assistance services, the DA helps our farmers upgrade their standards to level acceptable to local and export markets. Examples of these are compliance to Good Agricultural Practices, Hazard Anaylsis Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Halal, to name a new. We also have regulatory agencies such as the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) which check and ensures the compliance of meat products to acceptable standards. We have also assisted our farmers in establishing enterprises based on the comparative advantages of their provices. For example, garlic from Ilocos, Heirloom Rice from the Cordilleras, peanuts from Cagayan, and calamansi from Oriental Mindoro.
- As a result of our marketing efforts, the we have identified “rising stars” or agricultural products that have potentials to be mainstreamed in the local and international markets due to their nutritional value, unique taste, and versatility as ingredients. These products have gained local and international attention as a result of DA’s promotional activities. An example of this is Madrid Fusion Manila which was attended by local and international media personalities, chefs, restaurateurs, and food enthusiasts.
- The Department of Agricutlure (DA) collaborated with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the implementation of the Heirloom Rice Project which “aims to enhance the productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom or traditional rice”. Components of this project include: (1) documentation of good management practices for dissemination to the heirloom rice farmers; (2) improve resilience to disease and tolerance of environmental stresses of heirloom rice varieties; (3) identify opportunity of adding value and creating market linkages for heirloom rice; (4) enhance local capacity and enterprise-building in farming communities; and (5) characterize/put into inventory existing heirloom rice varieties to identify appropriate production techniques as well as those that may be exported in the future. Majority of the well-known heirloom rice varieties (tinawon, imbuucan, ominiom unoy, ulikan, balatinaw, jekot, and chong-ak) are produced in the Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The more than 2,000 year old terraces was intricately carved by the early settlers of the region, which boasts of a comprehensive irrigation system that relies on water from mountain forests. Staying true to the name, heirloom rice varieties are passed from generation to generation and are commonly grown by families in their ancestral lands. The process of farming is stripped of modern mechanisms, thus making it truly traditional. In Cordillera, women are the backbone of rice farming. About 90% of the heirloom rice farmers are women. They are the seed keepers, the holders of traditional knowledge of seed breeding, as well as the knowledge for planting and harvesting. They are also in charge of sorting the seeds after harvest. As an additional information, the men repair and maintain the terraces and the irrigation systems. Their children are in charge of weeding and keeping watch of pests after school work and during the weekends. The culture of family farming still exists at this time in Cordillera. These rice varieties are also resilient as they show high tolerance to stresses brought about by the environment, making them perfect varieties for withstanding the effects of climate change. Through extensive training on improving grain quality, the women in this project are learning how to capitalize on their traditional knowledge as seed keepers and farmers to produce a high-value cash crop. We are happy to note that we have linked our heirloom rice farmers with our local chefs, and different varieties have already been highlighted in international events such Salone del Gusto in Italy and Madrid Fusion Manila.
- Our office has been going around the country to search for possible sources of cacao. It is worthy to note that majority of cacao farmers are women. To date, we have visited women cacao farmers in Davao, Cebu, Bohol North Cotabato, and the Bicol Region. During our visits, we conduct meeting with the cacao farmers and common issues discussed were: (1) low prize of cacao beans, (2) limited institutional buyers, (3) need to improve technology on cacao production and processing, (4) need for postharvest facilities to improve the quality of cacao products, (5) need for sustainable support for cacao farmers. As a result, the following were distributed to the cacao farmers: (1) cacao seedlings, (2) fermentation boxes, (3) grinder, (4) roaster, (5) cracker, (6) tablea maker, (7) solar dryer, (8) processing building, (9) mini tractor with trailer, (10) drums, (11) crates, and (12) cost for cacao training.
- Another crop that is grown mostly by women is coffee. Women are specifically needed during harvest time because coffee cherries require delicate for harvesting. Major coffee producers include: Batangas, Negros Occidental, SOCSKARGEN, Davao Region, Bukidnon, Benguet, Cavite, Kalinga, Apayao, Iloilo. Coffee varieties include arabica, liberica (barako), excelsa, and robusta. Our office visited harvested coffee with the women farmers of Mt. Kanlaon and we provded them with 1 unit of coffee dryer that can accommodate 1.5 tons of fresh coffee beans. Our regional office also provided planting materials to the community. For Kalinga, our High Value Crops Program and Regional Office provided the women coffee farmers coffee seedlings and processing facilities such as depulper, dehuller, grinder, and roaster. For Bukidnon, the DA was instrumental in helping the Maramag women coffee farmers establish a coffee enterprise with the brand name “Kape Maramag”. Kape Maramag purchases coffee beans for roasting from partners at the prevailing market price and offers and incentive of additional Php 5.00 per kilo to the federation members who bring high quality beans for Kape Maramag. The facility roasts around 30-50 kilograms of coffee per week to ensure that products sold in the market are freshly-roasted. Initially, freshly-roasted coffee processed on site targeted only the local coffee drinkers and transients who pass by the bus terminal of Maramag. Now, the coffee products are sold in other markets as well. For the youth, our office has recently conducted the Coffee Youth Camp in cooperation with the Origin Coffee Network (OCN) to raise the awareness of the youth on the role of agriculutral industries in economic development (in this case, the coffee industry). The youth camp was held at Benguet and La Union.
- Adlai or Job’s tears is currently being promoted by the DA as an “alternative to rice”. It is being grown in Cagayan Valley, Zambonanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and CALABARZON. It is known as a tall grain-bearing plant and has been cultivated since the ancient times. It is known as a traditional staple food of the indigenous people in the southern and eastern part of Asia. In the Philippines, it is cultivates as a minor cereal crop particularly by the indigenous people such as Subanen, Bagobo, Manobo, and Talaandig. It is used to prepare food for their rituals. Products that can be derived from adlai include: adlai grains, adlai flour, adlai tea, adlai wine, adlai coffee. Several chefs have also used adlai as ingredients for their dishes at Madrid Fusion Manila.
- Calamansi is widely grown in the country, but the largest producer is Oriental Mindoro which is considered as the “calamansi king” of the Philippines. The calamnsi is so versatile that is can be made into calamansi juice, puree, marmalades, syrups, in liqueur. The DA was instrumental in linking the Mangyan calamansi farmers with Destileria Limtuaco, which produces Manille Liqueur de Calamansi. The said company buys the calamansi rinds for the price of a whole fruit, which gives the farmers additional income.
- The Bicol Region is known as the largest producer of pili nuts in the country. The provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon are known for this crop. Pili is also versatile that it can be made into marzapan, pili candies, or as ingredients to salads and pastries. Chefs Elena Arzak and Paco Torreblanca became fond of pili nuts during Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 that they considered using it for their dishes.
- Souring agents have also been identified as “rising stars” during our promotional activities. Examples of these are Kamias from CALABARZON and MIMAROPA areas, Batuan from Negros Occidental, and tabon-tabon and sua from Northern Mindanao. These have also been used by the chefs in the cooking demos/regional lunches hosted by the Department of Agriculture.
- The Philippines is indeed a rich source of ingredients for the food industry. Although production of some of the products that I have mentioned are small at the moment, we believe that we can encourage the farmers to produce more by increasing institutional demand through our marketing efforts (i.e. local and international trade fairs to name a few). To meet the future demand, the DA has been working on 1. Compliance to international standards---We are currently implementing programs to improve the quality of Filipino food industry by focusing on safety and the importance of hygienic practies (HACCP, Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Chemicals Residue Program, Alignment of PHILGAP with international standards, etc. 2. Promotin of agribusiness through credit, research, and trainings in business management so that our farmers can eventually become “agri-preneurs” 3. Provision of postharvest facilities to reduce postharvest losses; and 4. Continuous conduct of trainings for farmers from planting to processing of the crops mentioned.
- In closing, allow me to give you a summary of what can be expected from the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Duterte Presidency. As you may know, the incoming DA Secretary is Emmanuel F. Piñol, a former governor of Cotabato. Under his leadership, we can expect that change is indeed coming, given the plans he has laid out for the sector. In a nutshell, Sec. Piñol already communicated that his leadership will have No tolerance for corruption The DA will focus on its mandate, which is food production, and the Department will maximize its funds towards achieving this goal The DA will also work on developing the untapped potentials of the country when it comes to food production such as: possible production areas, the rich soil, and climate of our country) The Department will also give an all-out support for the farmers and fisherfolk to help them adapt to climate change. Since they will be coming from a 7-month long drought, Sec. Piñol is proposing an additional Php 30 billion calamity assistance to the rice and corn farmers and the fisherfolk to provide them with the needed inputs. They will also be given access to financing, seeds, and fertilizers, among others. The incoming DA Secretary is also pushing for the identification of additional 1 million hectares for rice production, and necessary infrastructure must be proivded which would make these areas productive within 1 year after they are opened up. Rice farming will also be mechanized wherever and whenever it is applicable. Every key rice production area must be provided with tractors, mechanical rice planters, and harvesters. If possible, rice processing centers must be established at the farm level to ensure that postharvest losses are minimized. The DA will also be developing the high value crops sector, especially coconut, by intercropping it with coffee, cacao, abaca, among others. The DA will also giving more support to the indigenous by making them co-protectors of our production areas (for example, the Badjaos will be employed as Bantay Dagat under BFAR to help protect the coastal areas) Lastly, the DA will also establish processing facilities to increase the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk. An example of this is the proposed establishment of an agar-agar processing facility in Zamboanga City. This facility would turn raw seaweeds into powder which is used in the production of a lot of food products including ice cream.
- As a result of the incoming Secretary’s rigorous nationwide journey called “Biyaheng Bukid”, a roadmap was crafted and a set of deliverables were identified for the first 100 days, which are as follows: Nationwide orientation and mind setting for all officials and employees of the DA to ensure that they are guided on the priorities of the DA under the incoming administration in agriculture and fisheries, and educate them about the road map for the mission to provide available and affordable food for the Filipinos ; Cash for Work Program for farmers and fishermen affected by El Niño. Work includes cleaning of coastal waters of garbage and planting of mangrove trees for the fisherfolk; Start of the national mapping to determine which crop or agricultural activity would be suitable for a specific area based on geographic, climatic, and soil type conditions. President Duterte calls this the Color-Coded Agricultural Guide Map; Start of the National Food Consumption Quantification Survey which would determine what kind of food and the volume of food commodities are consumed by the Filipinos. This would also project the food consumption of the country in relation to population growth; Calamity assistance in the form of seeds, fertilizers, farm inputs for 2 planting seasons; Nationwide face to face interaction between the DA Secretary and the stakeholders in the agri and fisheries sectors to address their concerns; Organize Project Management Teams (PMTs) in coordination with the local government units of the country’s 10 Poorest Provinces to ensure that the DA’s food production program would contribute to poverty alleviation;
- 8. A special project entitled “Pagkain Para sa Masa” will be launched in Metro Manila, wherein we will establish arroz caldo feeding stations to ensure that the street dwellers and the homeless will not go to sleep on an empty stomach. This project will be implemented jointly with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the LGUs. Pagkain Para sa Masa will serve as the first step towards ensuring that the street dwellers, urban poor, and the homeless will be identified and later trained for vegetable growing using the Israel Green House Technology; 9. Another special project, the Bantay Dagat, will engage the Badjaos in cleaning the waters of coastal communities to make them productive; 10. In cooperation and coordination with the DOH, DSWD, and DepEd, the DA will also spearhead the launching of a community-based milk feeding program in areas where farmers are involved in dairy production; 11. In preparation for La Niña which is expected to hit the country by November or December 2016, the DA Secretary will direct the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to include in the crop insurance program farmers in high rish areas; 12. The National Food Authority (NFA) will also be directed to pre-position sufficient rice and food supplies in areas expected to be affected by La Niña; and 13. Inter-agency connectivity between the DA and the Bureau of Customs will also be established during the first 100 days to ensure that the smuggling of rice, meat products, and other agricultural products like onion, garlic, and even ginger will stop.
- That ends my presentation. I hope I have given you fresh and interesting insights about our agriculture sector. Thank you.