DAVAO CITY (PNA) - The Region 11 office here of the Department of Agriculture (DA 11) recently conducted a five-day information caravan in five areas in the Davao Region to promote the Aquino administration's Agri-Pinoy Program. Enya Celoso, DA's focal person of the program, said Agri-Pinoy aims to promote active participation not only among local government unit (LGU) officials but also among farmers, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sectors for agricultural development. Celoso said the first leg of the information sorties was held here with its slogan, "Bridging the gap, touching the heart."
He said the program is based on the principles of sustainable agriculture, natural resource-based management, food security, and local development, among others. On the same occasion, Regional Rice Seed Coordinator Rose Mediano disclosed that under the Agri-Pinoy Grains Program, rice seed subsidy has been abolished throughout the Davao Region. "However, government intervention in terms of restoration and rehabilitation of communal irrigation systems have been expanded," Mediano said. He said organic fertilizer assistance in the form of establishment of composting facilities and seed storage facilities will also be put in place, among other interventions. "On research and development, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and other plant breeding institutions, will continue the development of new as well as improvement of existing rice varieties and other productivity enhancing technologies adaptable to climate change and emerging pests and diseases including trials on upland technologies and seed production which are location-specific," Mediano said. In response, City Agriculturist Leo Avila said the launching of the Agri-Pinoy program is very timely and is in line with one of the city's major agricultural thrusts which are developing its indigenous upland rice varieties.
"At present, we have gathered more than 40 varieties of upland rice from one of the Indigenous Peoples' groups in Marilog district, and with the help of DA (Department of Agriculture), we can now go ahead with our plan of conducting studies to determine the adaptability of these varieties in other up-land areas of the city, Avila said. Aside from the city and municipal agriculturists, the information briefing was also attended by the city planning officers and representatives from the congressional offices. The information drive which was conducted here is also conducted in Digos City in Davao del Sur, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley Province, Tagum City in Davao del Norte, and Mati in Davao Oriental.
