MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 2 (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Provincial Office is intensifying efforts to boost local farmers’ productivity and subsequently uplift their standard of living.
The assurance came from DAF Provincial Head Pangalian Balindong Jr. saying they will continue to provide support and assistance to local farmers through the provision of farm implements and machineries, conduct of projects to educate the farmers, and proper implementation of programs patterned to the four banner agricultural programs of the national government.
He said these programs, aimed at sustaining food security and sufficiency, are the agri-pinoy rice program, agri-pinoy corn program, agri-pinoy HVCD program, and the agri-pinoy livestock and poultry.
Data from the DAF-Lanao del Sur shows that 235 bags of registered palay seeds and 650 bags of organic fertilizer were distributed to local farmers under the agri-pinoy rice program during the period January to June, this year.
In addition, some 122 bags of OPV white corn seeds and 98 bags of yellow corn seeds were handed-out to farmers under the agri-pinoy corn program while 1,427 pieces of assorted fruit tree seedlings and 1,114 packs of vegetable seeds were distributed to farmer-beneficiaries during the same period in line with the agri-pinoy HVCD program.
Balindong said five corn demonstration farms and 13 vegetable demonstration farms were also established in selected municipalities of the province during the first semester of 2012.
“Specifically, a demonstration farm was established in the Basak area to enhance the knowledge of farmer-beneficiaries on utilizing and applying organic fertilizer,” he added.
He further reported that a training of trainers on organic agriculture was also conducted during the period in collaboration with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Bureau of Soils and water Management (BSWM).
Balindong said the livestock section of the DAF has distributed 1,000 chicks and 170 ducklings, both with starter kits, and 50 heads of goats since January, this year, under the agri-pinoy livestock and poultry program
According to him, veterinary civic action programs were also undertaken in the municipalities of Butig, Balindong, and Saguiaran during the first semester.
In terms of institutional development, the DAF-Lanao del Sur has organized this year a total of 17 4-H clubs with 425 members and 16 Rural Improvement Clubs with 400 members.
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