NEDA: WV agriculture, fisheries strong despite pandemic

By Jaime S. Cabag

 

The agriculture and fisheries sectors of Western Visayas remained strong amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) here.

In his presentation at the 2nd episode of Dagyaw 2020 Virtual Town Hall Meeting held November 20 here, NEDA Assistant Regional Director Engr. Arecio A. Casing Jr. said palay outputs went up by 44.04 percent, corn by 4.93 percent, and commercial fisheries by 21.85 percent during the period when the region was placed under varying levels of community quarantine classification.

Other sectors with increased performance were chicken (3.31 percent) and aquaculture (12.88 percent).

Casing said one of the reasons for the increase as cited by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in agricultural and fishery production was the implementation of the programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in increasing the production of local farmers especially.

These include the infusion of fertilizers, seeds, and financial assistance as part of the social amelioration program of the agency.

“So we can see the effects of government intervention to our agricultural sector and that’s in the production, and this is one of the strengths of our region,” Casing said.

Agriculture and fisheries are also at the top of the 12 economic drivers of the region.

During the first Dagyaw episode on Nov. 13, DA Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter presented the amelioration program of their agency especially for rice, the staple food of the Filipinos.

Recoter said DA has extended P1.05 billion worth of free palay seeds and fertilizers to thousands of farmers in the region. (PIA)