Quezon province’s farmers and fisherfolk attend the “Educating Farmers on Cooperative Membership Thru Pre-Registration Seminar” in Barangay San Isidro Ilaya-Pidac in General Nakar, Quezon on July 31, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Quezon-OPA)
LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) assured on Tuesday to intensify programs for farmers and the agriculture sector.
Governor David C. Suarez has directed to make these programs sustainable through the Serbisyong Suarez sa Agrikultura and multi-sector engagements.
Provincial Chief Agriculturist Roberto Gajo said OPA is strengthening the farmers and fisher folk organization for an inclusive and sustainable agriculture program through production enhancement program, farm mechanization, enterprise and development of marketing support for the farmers and agriculture sectors including cooperative education and livelihood projects.
“Sa ganitong paraan, mas mabibigyan natin ng kakayanan ang ating mga magsasaka o mga kababaihan para mas magkaroon sila ng mga negosyong sustenable na makakatulong sa pag-angat ng kanilang mga pamilya (through these programs, we could capacitate the skills and know-how of our farmers and the women sector for them to engage in sustainable enterprises to uplift the lives of their families),” Gajo said.
As of Tuesday, the OPA has conducted its “Educating Farmers on Cooperative Membership Thru Pre-Registration Seminar in Barangay San Isidro Ilaya-Pidac in General Nakar, Quezon.
Gajo also said the provincial government is poised to promote Quezon-made farm products like the Quezon Zest calamansi juice which is produced in the towns of Sariaya and Unisan, and the refreshing health drink is even served during gatherings and events to enhance product patronage and marketability.
Owing to the provincial agriculture office’s goal of “growing people towards inclusive and sustainable development,” Gajo cited the now popular agricultural and tourism destination site known as the Quezon Food and Herbal Processing Center in Barangay Talipan in Pagbilao, Quezon.
“Dito ginagawa ang complimentary at supplementary food na mula sa monggo at bigas na ibinibigay sa mga underweight na kabataan sa lalawigan (This produces the complimentary and supplementary food made from monggo and rice for the underweight children in the province),” he added.
He also thanked the immense support and assistance of the ALONA Partylist headed by Representative Anna Villaraza-Suarez to the provincial government in putting up various food processing centers being managed by the various farmers associations and village-based sectors.
These include the Ube Processing Center in San Andres town; Arrowroot Processing Center in Mulanay; Suman Processing Center in San Antonio, among other training and livelihood centers.
He relished at the provincial government’s achievements in agriculture for making it to the Department of Agriculture (DA) “Gawad Saka” (regional level) Hall of Fame distinction and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award on Tuesday, July 31 at the PICC, Manila.
The NNC’s CROWN Award is conferred to a local government unit for bagging three consecutive years of outstanding performance at the regional level in nutrition program and reduction on the prevalence of the malnutrition level the LGU’s jurisdiction.
“Simula 2015 nakamit natin ang Green Banner Award hanggang 2017 at dahil dito tatanghalin tayo bilang CROWN Awardee (we have achieved the Green Banner Award from 2015 to 2017 and because of this we are conferred as the CROWN Awardee). This is the highest award given by the National Nutrition Council to local government units for the best nutrition programs implemented and initiated by a provincial or municipal local government unit. Isa po itong malaking karangalan pagdating sa programang pang-nutrisyon ng lalawigan ng Quezon (this is a great honor pertaining to our nutrition program in Quezon),” Gajo said. (Gideon Belen/PNA)
