DA Secretary visits agri projects, talks with farmers, fisherfolks in Biliran

June 1st, 2012

By Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala is visiting high impact agricultural projects now in the island province of Biliran and to dialogue with farmers and fisher folks in the province today, May 31.

Jaime G. Casas, provincial agriculturist in Biliran province, said that Secretary Alcala will first visit the Biliran Mariculture Park in Biliran, Biliran in the morning. The mariculture park situated in the coastal water of Biliran town near the Biliran Bridge, that consists mainly of fish cages for raising bangus and other marine products, is a public-private partnership agricultural project.

Secretary Alcala will then proceed to Barangay Busali in Biliran town to visit a DA funded agricultural project implemented by the provincial office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in coordination with KAANIB, a non-government organization composed of coconut farmers in the province, Casas revealed.

He further said that the DA chief will visit the on-going construction of P17-million worth irrigation project funded by the agriculture department and implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Barangay Calumpang, Naval, Biliran.

The irrigation project, which is the concreting of lateral canals that will traverse the rice farms of Barangays Calumpang, Caray-Caray and Sto.Nino in Naval town, will greatly help increase the harvest of rice farmers in the area, he added.

Secretary Alcala will also inspect the dam site located in Sitio Lomboy in Barangay Calumpang, Naval which is the main source of water of the P17-million worth irrigation project. He will also have a meeting with the board of directors of the Naval farmers irrigators association, Casas further informed.

After his projects site visit, Secretary Alcala will have a conference with elected local officials, officials, and employees of DA attached agencies like the PCA, BFAR, FIDA and leaders of farmers groups and associations in the province of Biliran, the provincial agriculturist said.

Casas further said that Secretary Alcala will attend a forum where an estimated 500 farmers and fisherfolks are expected to attend. They will discuss issues and concerns relative to the agricultural development of the province.

The agri secretary will give farm implements, seeds, farm equipment and machinery, and planting materials after the forum to identified farmers and fisher folks organizations in Biliran province, he said.

A raffle draw will also be held as one of the highlights of the forum where the Secretary will give tractors, threshers, seeds, planting materials, and other farm implements Casas further said.

Secretary Alcala will travel on Friday, June 1, to the province of Eastern Samar as part of the DA chief’s activities to visit provinces in the country where he was not able to visit yet being the secretary of the agriculture department. (rvictoria-PIA 8, Biliran)

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Tags: Department of Agriculture, Secretary Proceso Alcala

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