COTABATO CITY – The annual farmers and fisherfolks month and the 24thdevolution anniversary of the region’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF)would be celebrated in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a two-day event in Cotabato City starting on May 21.
The first day would focus on the ARMM Agricultural Extension Workers Congress with opening ceremonies highlighted by a trade exhibit and booth visitation. The agricultural exhibit showcases the best products of the region’s farmers and fisherfolks, said Ike Paguital, DAF-ARMM chief of staff during the Aksyon-ARMM forum held on May 16.
This event seeks to promote the region’s agricultural products in the market as well as strengthen market linkages and opportunities through DAF-ARMM’s agri-business unit.
A seminar for agricultural extension workers dubbed ‘Building Competency based on Performance Management’, a workshop, as well as recognition and awarding ceremonies for outstanding performance in the farming sector are also part of the congress.
The awards cover the best performing provincial agricultural officer, municipal agricultural officer, agricultural technologists, provincial coordinators, top five contractual workers of DAF-ARMM as well a AgriPinoy rice achievers.
The AgriPinoy Rice Achievers Award is given to a rice producer with the highest production and is open to municipalities and provinces. The award is largely based on a selection process conducted by the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
The ARMM Agricultural Extension Workers Congress is a program of the regional government to motivate farmers and workers as well as encourage local government units to intensify their efforts in boosting rice production, specifically in getting full support and commitment to the DAF-ARMM’s Self Sufficiency Program for rice and corn.
The second day of the event, or Farmers and Fisherfolks Day, would be highlighted by the distribution of farm inputs, implements and machineries to pre-identified recipients. Among th items scheduled for distribution are hybrid rice seeds and farm tractors.
The hybrid seeds would improve the productivity of palay farms in the region by an additional of two to three metric tons per hectare. Based on normal harvest, palay productivity in the country ranges from three to six metric tons per hectare depending on the availability of water and other inputs. Seaweed farm materials would also be given on the second day of the event.
An estimated 2,461 farmers in Maguindanao would receive a bag each of hybrid palay seeds, a bag urea fertilizer, a gallon of foliar fertilizer and a liter of pesticide. Also to be turned over to beneficiaries are livelihood projects funded by the ARMM HELPS (Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy) program. To be launched during the same event is a community trading post for farmers.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-ARMM, meanwhile, is also participating actively in this annual event. BFAR Regional Director Janice Disameto-Musali, said her agency would be distributing fishing gears and other materials to deserving fisherfolks.
Provincial information officers would also receive equipment that would enhance their performance, specifically a unit of digital SLR and video cameras with tripods each, laptop with printers and recorders. (Bureau of Public Information)
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