BONTOC, Mountain Province – In the parlance of participatory governance, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) recently conducted a farmer’s provincial consultation in this capital town on February 15, 2024.
The consultation is part of the continued improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) and also related to the implementation of Procedures and Work Instruction Manuals of DA-CAR.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan in her keynote address said that farmers’ consultation is part of the International Standard Organization (ISO) certification.
This is to identify the needs and recommendations from the agricultural stakeholders to prepare for the plan and budget proposal. She also added the 3-year plan and visions of the DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., such as expanding and improving available agri-fishery areas to increase production; mechanize and modernize agriculture and fishery production systems; develop and improve post-harvest systems and infrastructures; develop efficient logistics systems for input and production output; improve and expand market access; digitalization; proper balancing of both the development and regulatory role of DA; and strong partnership with farmers, fisherfolk, and the private sector.
She also underscored the importance of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), as also pointed out by the agri chief, “Instead of not purchasing the farmers’ produce who are not practicing good agriculture, we must provide them trainings on GAP, so they can learn the effects of the excessive use of pesticides, and equip them with the knowledge to responsibly care for the environment,” she stated.
Similar to the civil society organization (CSO) consultation, the DA’s banner commodity programs, as well as updates on CSO and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), and the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division presented their target PPAs, budget comparison of 2024 and 2025, and proposed budget for next year.
Moreover, the farmers underwent a series of tests to measure their knowledge with regard to the operations and program implementation of DA-CAR. During their workshop, the participants identified the interventions they needed based on their area and commodities. Dawayan also tasked them to identify possible projects that will support upland irrigation systems because they know very well where the water sources came from, as she also disclosed that the secretary will support projects on upland irrigation systems. The participants also had a plenary session that served as an opportunity for them to lay out their concerns in relation to some program and project implementations.
The first farmers’ consultation was held in Abra last February 8, 2024, and will also be conducted to the remaining provinces in the region this week. By Cy-j E. Waytan