OPA presents food sufficiency programs

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Ms. Imelda Inieto, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) head, reported their mandates and projects to address food sufficiency as they led in today’s flag-raising ceremony held at the Capitol Grounds, this City.

Pursuant to RA 7160 known as the Local Code of 1991, the OPA is mandated to provide agricultural extension and on-site research services and facilities which include the prevention and control of plant pests and diseases, assistance in the organization of farmers and fisher folk’s cooperatives and other collective organizations as well as the transfer of appropriate technology.

With the PGB’s vision of becoming the preferred location for eco-industrial investments leading to the highest human development index in the Philippines, the OPA’s contribution to its achievement is in ensuring food sufficiency in the province.

“With the many investments that will be coming and pouring in, plenty of jobs will be generated, hence, so many people to feed. Thus, the challenge to produce more agricultural crops to meet the supply of foods that will be needed to feed not only our constituents, but also the other people who will migrate to our province because of the employment that will be generated by these investments. In effect, tataas ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda at marami ding oportunidad na mabubuksan dahil dito,” said Ms. Inieto.

Based on the mandate, the office is providing agricultural extension services to farmers through ESETS or the Education, Support, Extension and Training Services like the conduct of Palay Check Field School and Farmers Field School.

“Ngayong first semester, nakapagpa-graduate kami ng 309 farmers mula sa 11 barangays in seven municipalities and one city. Sa matapat na pagpapatupad ng mga ganito at iba pang extension services, nagkaroon tayo ng dalawang Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) na tumanggap ng Outstanding AEWs Award sa National Gawad Saka Awards 2016 na ginanap sa Resorts World Manila nitong April 20, 2016. Sila ay sina Mr. Rolando Almario, Jr. at Engr. Johanna Dizon,” Provincial Agriculturist (PA) Inieto stressed.

According to Ms. Inieto, Engr. Dizon also received the Best Paper and Best Presenter Award in the 2016 Annual Agency In-House Review of Completed and On-Going Research Development and Extension Projects conducted last June 28-July 1, 2016. The title of the paper is “Testing of Salinas Variety in Saline Prone Areas.”

“In 2015, we were awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Provinces in the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Award 2014 having a rice production performance of 4.8 MT yield per hectare. This year, we were not able to make it in the finals of APRAA 2015 because our rice production performance of 5.87 MT/ha. in the first semester was pulled down by Typhoon Lando and Nona in the last quarter of 2015. In spite of this, patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay namin ng iba pang proyekto at technical services kaugnay ng pagpapataas ng ani ng different agricultural crops,” said PA Inieto.

One of the milestone programs of the OPA is the Farm Mechanization Program wherein the office helps farmers and fisher folks modernize and mechanize their farming and production activities.

The office has distributed 100 percent of their target farm machineries and equipments, post harvest facilities and equipment as well as fishing gears and paraphernalia to qualified and validated farmers and fisher folks association recipients.

“To ensure the sufficiency of fisheries products, we have developed 28 ARs, established and maintained fish sanctuaries and aquasilvi projects. Ang mga ito ang nagsisilbing taguan ng mga marine species para doon sila mangitlog, magpalaki at magpataba para patuloy na may mahuli ang ating mga mangingisda,” Ms. Inieto shared.

“In relation to food safety, we implemented the Organic Agriculture Program. With this, ligtas ang mga kinakain natin sa mga lason na dulot ng chemical fertilizers at pesticides na ginagamit ng mga magsasaka para masiguro na ang kanilang aanihing palay, gulay at prutas ay maganda sa merkado. Kaugnay nito, we have established an Organic Farmers’ Market Day every Thursday at the Organic Trading Post in the City of Balanga Public Market,” Ms Inieto added.

In closing, PA Inieto proudly reported that the Provincial Government of Bataan was already issued the No-Object Letter (NOL) 1 for the construction of a new farm-to-market road in San Antonio, Parang and Saysain in Bagac, Bataan which stretched 14.86 km. and costs P157M.

According to her, the issuance of the NOL 1 is thru the concerted efforts of the seven departments of the PGB like the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Legal Office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.