DA-WV readies farmers for inclusive agribusiness endeavor

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas assisted farmers and Local Government Units (LGU) representatives in the preparation of the Sagip Saka Capacity Development Plan recently in Iloilo City.

Twenty-seven representatives from various farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and LGUs in Region 6 took part in the crafting of an enterprise capacity plan as one major component in the framework of the Republic Act 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act.

The Act establishes the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program which is a comprehensive set of objectives, targets, and holistic approach in promoting the establishment of enterprises involving agricultural and fishery products.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, the law’s principal author and principal sponsor in the Senate was also virtually present during the workshop.

“RA 11321 is recognized by the Bayanihan Act 1 and 2 and the General Appropriation Act; base sa Sakip Saka Act ang direct-purchase ay pinapayagan na ng national and local agencies. Naglabas ng resolusyon ang Government Procurement Policy Board, endorsed by the DA and Department of Finance, nagkaroon ng specific rules on direct purchases ang government agencies para sa ating farmers and fisherfolk organization. With this, last June over 400 local governments purchase directly ng kanilang food calamity relief, nutrition programs requirements direct sa ating mga magsasaka; 2.6 billion pesos worth of funding direktang binili ng ating mga LGU sa ating mga farmers and fisherfolk organization,” Pangilinan said.

The senator emphasized that the challenge now is on how to support and bridge the farmers and their cooperatives to secure a portion of the potentially 41 billion worth of funding of government agencies for their feeding and relief programs.

There is a need to move towards farm enterprise management and development. Farmers’ products must be market-driven.

Meanwhile, Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Senior Agriculturist Rhea Cristina Resol facilitated the presentation of Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the RA 11321, registration to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), membership to cooperatives and associations, and identification of existing tools, approaches, and innovations in developing agri-fishery products.

“It has to be a market-driven and market-based approach. The proposal has to be strict with its marketing aspect; we need to assure that we have a ready market. With the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita we have already assured that you have your existing store and outlet to be tagged as Kadiwa outlet; some of you has been our suppliers for the food and cash subsidy program, which is also part of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita,” said Resol.

AMAD Chief Maria Teresa Solis also reminded the participants to take care of the assistance given by the national government agencies and local government units. “You are deserving associations and cooperatives and the development of your communities are in your hands. Manage well the resources given by the government,” Solis added.

The Sagip Saka Act covers agricultural and fisheries production, including:

-fisheries and agri-based products and farm inputs, acquisition of work animals

-farm and fishery machinery and equipment

-acquisition of seeds, fertilizer, poultry, livestock, feeds, and other similar items

-procurement of agricultural and fisheries products for storage, trading, processing, and distribution

-construction, acquisition, and repair of facilities for production

-processing, storage, transportation, communication, marketing, and such other facilities in support of agriculture and fisheries

-working capital for agriculture and fisheries graduates to enable them to engage in agriculture and fisheries

-agribusiness activities which support soil and water conservation and ecology enhancing activities,

-working capital for long-gestating projects

-credit guarantees on uncollateralized loans to farmers and fisherfolk. (MCM Buala/DA-RAFIS 6)