Farmer Director to push agri-fishery policy recommendations for WV

Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairperson Buen S. Mondejar assumed his role anew as the Farmer Director for Western Visayas and reaffirmed his objectives to leverage stakeholders, particularly the provincial executives to support his policy recommendations for the development of the agri-fishery sector.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas OIC-Regional Executive Director Jose Albert A. Barrogo turned over the banner of responsibility to Mondejar who will lead the agency this May as part of the Buwan ng mga Magsasaka at Mangingisda or Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month Celebration.

In the turnover program held on May 2 at WESVIARC in Jaro, Iloilo City, Mondejar said he will meet with the governors of the six provinces in the region to gain their support for the policy agenda and reforms meant to bolster farmers and fishers amid the diverse constraints in the industry.

“The role of RAFC, private sector, and Civil Society Organizations is present in almost all developmental processes in the government offices. Agriculture and Fishery Council (AFC) is not a deterrent or detrimental in the delivery of your services,” Mondejar told DA management and employees.

The RAFC has advisory, consultative, integrative, coordinative, monitoring, evaluative, and recommendatory functions aimed at furthering the delivery system of a wide range of agriculture and fishery interventions and projects.

“I am soliciting support from everyone as I sit as your Farmer Director for one month. I will be closely working with you for the development of the agri-fishery sector in Western Visayas,” said Mondejar who will assume the director’s roles that would not affect the government accounting rules and procedures and the Civil Service Rules and regulations governing regular employees.

The Farmer Director will likewise represent Director Barrogo in pertinent programs to be held regionwide in celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month themed “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya.”

Mondejar will conduct dialogues with LGU officials to explain the roles and functions of the council and to spearhead the inter and intra-agency meetings to level off the agenda, positions, and commitments of the Farmer Director and RAFC properly.

“Our consultation with the local chief executives will also be an avenue to lobby for their support to reactivate the Barangay Agriculture and Fishery Councils that would help the DA address the various issues and concerns such that of the farmers’ enrollment and updating of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture,” said Mondejar.

The Farmer Director will enable the inclusion of AFC representatives in local decision-making bodies or development councils.

Mondejar convened with Director Barrogo, OIC Regional Technical Director for Research Zarlina B. Cuello, OIC Regional Technical Director for Operations Dominador A. Marquez, and division chiefs and tackled key recommendations to address the unavailability of quality high-value crop planting materials by establishing at least one accredited seedling nursery for coffee, cacao, and other commodities in each province, and livestock ‘oksyon’ markets in every congressional district in the region.

He also suggested the implementation and delivery of interventions and regenerative farming technologies to mainstream climate-resilient agricultural practices. Aside from that, the team signified their support to Farmer Director Mondejar to resolve issues and lay down strategies regarding the decreasing carabao population in the region, regulating the slaughtering of productive animals, revisiting the value chain analysis of native chicken, and starting swine repopulation efforts in African Swine Fever-affected provinces. (Sheila Mae H. Toreno/DA-RAFIS 6)