Davao de Oro Province---Farmers are also our living heroes. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, farmers around the globe never stop to provide agricultural produce preventing food crisis.
In Davao de Oro, the provincial government continues in supporting its local farmers who directly upholds food security in serving as back-liners in the fight against Covid-19.
During the Joint virtual meeting of the Provincial Local Health Board (PHLB) and Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF), PAGRO-DdO gave its updates on food security and contingency plan of the province. Through its Quick Turn Around (QTA) Project for Rice Production, out of 12, 483.27 hectares of land area, 9,986.62 hectares were planted and harvested with a total production of 49, 933.1 metric tons of rice as of October 26, 2020.
As a response to the current issue on the low purchasing price of palay, the provincial government will establish an additional MPDP (Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement) to thoroughly dry the “palay” before selling it to buyers. They will also provide “sackoline” or “trapal” for the rice farmers to fully utilize potential drying areas.
The National Food Authority (NFA) also signifies to construct an additional drying facility and will partner with the provincial government to establish the project. To further support local farmers, the Department of Agriculture will provide cash assistance amounting to Php 5,000 to farmers with an area of 1 hectare and below and will provide fertilizer and seeds covering 12,000 hectares.
On Adlay Rice Distribution, 1, 983 kilos of Adlay seeds were distributed to municipalities, infantry battalions, farmers and walk-in clients. Some of it were already harvested and others are on the harvestable stage.
Beneficiaries on the fishery sector who received tilapia fingerlings last April and May 2020 started to reap the fruits of their hard-work. The in-land fish culture augmented the fish supply aside from the harvest from fish cages in the salt waters of Davao de Oro.
Local farmers in the province also have direct access to sell their produce through “Kadiwa On Wheels”. Marketing assistance were given to the farmers by the Libasan Primary Multi-purpose Cooperative (LIPRIMCO) and Paloc Multi-purpose Cooperative through buying and selling local produce amounting to a million pesos.
The Agri-Fishery program of the Davao de Oro continues as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantage Areas (GIDA) in Mabini received seedling of corn and red beans as beneficiary of the program. Irrigators Associations such as the Upper Saosao Irrigators and Nabunturan Irrigator’s Association received mung beans and watermelon seeds in support of the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” of the Department of Agriculture.
On livestock and crop insurance, The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has approved the resolution of Davao de Oro Provincial Task Force Organizational and Development Group (ODS) to continue the renewal of the crop and livestock insurance of the province.
Long term effects of the pandemic cannot be elucidated, but it is clear that a resilient food system is a key to withstand whatever circumstances that will arise in the future. (Jasteen P. Abella, Information Division Davao de Oro)
