The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas’ newly installed Regional Executive Director (RED) Dennis R. Arpia pointed out that timely delivery of interventions and technology support to farming stakeholders is necessary for farmers and fishers in the region to achieve better yield and increased income.
Director Arpia, who previously led DA SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) and DA Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), officially received the banner of responsibility from former OIC-Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo who is now the DA Western Visayas’ full-fledged Director III and the Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension during a turnover program held on July 3 at Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC), Jaro, Iloilo City.
He said that although the agency has been providing subsidies to farmers to alleviate their plight, particularly during the pandemic and calamities, the DA, as a science-based and technical agency, should focus on delivering technical support and knowledge transfer to fully capacitate and empower the farming stakeholders.
“Ang tunay nating trabaho ay magbigay ng technical support sa ating mga kababayan para tumaas ang kanilang agricultural capabilities. Kung magbibigay tayo ng binhi, magbigay rin tayo ng teknolohiya para lumaki ang potensyal na tumaas ang kanilang ani,” said Arpia, who went on saying that farmers should not be considered as mere beneficiaries rather partners in community development.
Director Arpia advised MANCOM members and employees to implement their mandates strategically to sustain the gains in production, and income, and motivate farmers to push through with their production and marketing despite the emerging sectoral constraints.
“Walang bibisa pa sa pagtiyak na kikita ang mga farmers para sya manatiling productive agricultural development worker,” he stressed.
He told DA Western Visayas’ MANCOM members to upscale working technologies and research results ready for commercialization, intensify information dissemination to benefit farmers, and facilitate Good Agricultural Practices and Halal certification of farms to give farmers better and premium pricing for their crops. (SMHToreno/DA-RAFIS 6)
