DA sets aside P113 million for agri reboot in Davao City

PLANTING RICE A farmer and his 15-year-old grandson plant rice in a 2,500-square-meter farm in Calinan, Davao City, in this March 2020 photo. It would take two days for them to complete the task and get a meager P190 payment for the hard labor. After three months of waiting for the harvest season, they would only get 10 kilos of rice from the landlord. —BARRY OHAYLAN

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Davao region has set aside P113 million for projects to boost farming productivity in this city and aid the reboot of the agri-fishery sector from the dire impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

DA regional director Ricardo Oñate Jr. said the funds would come from the programs set under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).

Of the committed funds, P40 million will be used to enhance the local government-run food processing center; P25 million for the setting up of the durian packinghouse and cold storage facility; P20 million for mango packinghouse and cold storage; P20 million for vegetable and other crops postharvest facility; P5 million for the tissue culture laboratory of cardaba banana variety; and P3 million for the setting up of the greenhouse and hydroponics as model for urban agriculture.

Kick-start

Oñate said these programs would trigger the development of various opportunities in the sector.

“This is just the kick-start of the stimulus package of support from the DA. We are expecting more programs under Bayanihan 2 to provide assistance to farmers while ensuring food security and supply in the country,” he said.

He said the DA would want the farmers to take advantage of the projects for the agri-fishery industry the DA would undertake in partnership with the city government of Davao.

Mayor Sara Duterte said she expected that the partnership between the city government and the DA would provide the people more access to affordable food supply, especially during emergencies.

“This package of support will not just help our farmers market their produce but further help in advancing the agribusiness in the city toward a sustainable and inclusive agricultural enterprise,” she said.

The pandemic has hit hardest the city’s tourism industry, sending tens of thousands out of job. Although agriculture was also affected, the sector helped keep the local economy afloat.