Farm sector in Visayas to sustain growth in 2021

Agriculture in the three Visayas regions is projected to sustain their growth in 2020 for the year 2021 as the prevailing pandemic drives demand for farm products.

The regional heads of the Department of Agriculture (DA) shared an optimistic view on the prospects for the agriculture sector this year.

Engr. Remelyn Recoter, regional executive director of DA in Region 6, noted that agriculture was one of the performing industries in the region last year.

Recoter cited as example the 8.7 percent increase in palay production in 2020, when compared to that of 2019.

“We want to sustain our gains that we have posted in 2020,” she said during the Mugstoria Ta, an online conversation hosted by Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.

Crucial to the sector’s sustained growth is the funding support from the national government to Filipino farmers and fisherfolk, Recoter said.

The DA official also pointed out the need to ”reboot” the sector to adapt to the changing times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the strict community quarantines last year, one of crucial measures done in the sector was to link agriculture producers to the consumers.

The DA’s “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” program has helped bring farm produce to the consuming public.

At the height of the lockdowns last year, demand for farm products skyrocketed as more people are forced to stay home and cook their own food and even produce their own produce.

Atty. Salvador Diputado, regional executive director of DA in Region 7, attributed the sector’s growth to the increased involvement of local government units (LGUs) in agriculture-related initiatives.

“Last year, we have provided farm inputs and equipment to our farmers. Our convergence with the LGUs is important in identifying the needs of the farmers in the different localities,” he said.

Angel Enriquez, regional executive director of DA in Region 8, said the government’s increased investment into the agriculture sector has contributed to its growth performance.

The rice and corn production in Region 8 reached 96 percent and 94 percent, respectively, of the target set for the year 2020.

Moving forward, Enriquez expressed hope that they’ll be able to launch more high value commodities from Eastern Visayas known for their good quality like jackfruit.

“We have high-value commodities that we want to be renowned just like the mango of Cebu. In Eastern Visayas, we have good varieties of abaca and coconut,” she said.