Department of Agriculture Launches Color – Coded Agri Map

The Department of Agriculture recently launched a color-coded national agricultural map derived from combining factors affecting agri-fishery production such as soil properties, water availability, climate topography and at the regional level, economics and demography.

This is one one of several interventions that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol initiated in the last five months to fulfill President Duterte’s promise of food sufficiency by the end of his term.

The launching of the map which analyzes agricultural efficiency and land use was led by Piñol, DA officials and Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) officials.

AMIA defines the agriculture department’s national framework in addressing climate change in agriculture and serves as the umbrella program covering climate change across all programs, functions and agencies at the DA.

Piñol, speaking at the 50th anniversary of the breeding of IR8 or the Miracle Rice at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos Laguna Tuesday, bared four other major interventions since he took over the agriculture portfolio last July.

These include:

– The national food consumption quantification survey, currently being undertaken, which will give accurate statistics on food supply and consumption.

– Paradigm shift in irrigation wherein for the first time in the history of rice farming in the country, irrigation water will be provided free by the National Irrigation Administration starting next year. The DA is also moving towards solar-powered and small irrigation projects.

– Corporate rice farming which will directly link farmer producers with corporate buyers including the Social Welfare department’s 4Ps rice ration program to free them from the manipulation of traders and middlemen. It will also give farmers access to quality rice seeds and fertilizers.

– Mechanization and post-harvest facilities, one area where the DA will focus its resources on in the coming years of the Duterte administration.

Piñol bared that the $6-billion being offered by the Chinese government during the state visit of President Duterte may be used in completing the mechanization and establishment of post-harvest facilities.

Negotiations, he said, are also being initiated with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a long term equipment loan from the Japanese government.

“It has been a long and tiring five months for me but it is a journey which I have to continue doing until the end of the term of President Duterte,” he said.

Last October 10, during their visit to Lamitan City in Basilan, Piñol said he hold the president that, “the strong foundations of a sound agriculture program, including rice production, must be implemented during his term.”

He pointed out that he is comfortable with the thought that the President shares his vision of a sound agricultural program that will provide “available and affordable food for the Filipino people. (DA)