DA to invest more in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The government is investing more in Mindanao, which remains on top of the country’s development agenda amid a stable source of export quality commodities.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA is lining up projects and programs to fully develop the potentials of Mindanao as the country’s food basket.

“We will work with the legislative body towards industrialization and mechanization of agriculture, and see that the vision is realized,” Dar said.

“It is important to note that top of our exports come from Mindanao. We will maximize the good soil and weather,” he said.

Data from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization showed that Mindanao supplies over 40 percent of the country’s food requirements and contributes to about 30 percent of the national food trade.

On the other hand, Dar requested governors and district representatives of the Davao region to partner with the DA to help local rice farmers improve productivity and increase income.

Dar urged local government leaders to avail of loans and credit assistance from financial institutions including the Land Bank of the Philippines to aid them in financing the palay buying program for their farmers.

Under Dar’s directives, the National Food Authority is now buying dry palay at P19 per kilogram. The agency will also buy wet palay for a lower price of P15 to P16 per kilo.

NFA policies state that an individual farmer may initially deliver as many as 200 bags without a passbook. This is on the assumption that he has a two-hectare land planted with rice.

NFA, however, cleared that if the same person sells rice for the second time, he will be required to have a passbook and a certificate from the Municipal Agriculture Office proving that he is a genuine rice farmer.

Aside from rice, Dar also requested local government officials to campaign for cleanliness to maintain a healthy swine industry.

“You are at the frontline, you must maintain safety standards and measures to manage, control and contain any form of swine disease. Do not engage in swill feeding as this may pose a health risk to the swine sector,” Dar said.