P2.7B invested under DA program
A TOTAL of P2.7 billion has been invested by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-up.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said over the weekend that 104 infrastructure and enterprise subprojects were successfully launched across the country through the PRDP Scale-up.
“Three infrastructure subprojects worth P454 million and one enterprise subproject worth P13.9 million are expected to be completed this year,” Laurel said.
Recognizing the Cordillera Administrative Region’s (CAR) significant contribution in supplying nearly 80 percent of the country’s highland vegetables, Laurel said that the government has delivered over P130 million in financial assistance, equipment, and irrigation initiatives for farmers in the region.
This support aims to boost vegetable production and crop diversification and enhance postharvest infrastructure to ensure stable incomes for farmers and a steady vegetable supply.
The DA will also turn over P417,000 worth of farm machines to three farmer cooperatives and associations in the Mountain Province to be funded under the PRDP Scale-up.
“The assistance we’re providing is seen to promote sustainable growth through better production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops,” the Agriculture chief said.
Laurel said that the Agriculture department’s rural development initiative for CAR has successfully executed 59 projects valued at P170 million, benefiting 74 groups and farmer cooperatives.
Additionally, he suggested that the government could utilize the abundant harvests from farmers for distribution and sale in Kadiwa centers.
Laurel also revealed plans to construct cold storage facilities in various locations such as Benguet, La Union, Mindoro, Quezon province and Taguig City to prolong the shelf-life of highland vegetables.
Financial assistance was also distributed to rice farmers affected by Typhoon “Egay” during Laurel’s visit to Baguio City. Farm equipment and facilities and over seven irrigation projects were given to irrigators groups under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
“A total of P25.9 million had been set aside for the rehabilitation of more than 8.200 hectares of rice fields damaged by Typhoon Egay. A total of 14,714 farmers were affected by Egay,” said Laurel.
The DA also reported that various initiatives have been undertaken to enhance agricultural productivity and support local farmers in the Philippines. This includes the allocation of P82.9 million for rice production equipment and facilities in Kalinga and Ifugao provinces, funded by RCEF.
About P619.2 million from the same fund has been distributed to over 122,000 small-scale farmers across six provinces in CAR. Completed irrigation projects worth P41.2 million have been handed over to irrigators associations from the same region to improve yield in 195 hectares of farmland.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, for its part, has also provided support by delivering a fish landing center and fish cages valued at P5.85 million to fisherfolk groups in Apayao. These efforts aim to boost agricultural productivity and empower local farming communities.