Gov to DA: go for innovative

Solutions to food production

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov 16 (PIA)—Wanting to further impact on producing food that sustains Bohol and its never-ending stream of tourists, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, has asked the Department of Agriculture to consider improved and innovative solutions to food production, something that brings Bohol to its vision of agricultural productivity that translates to increased household incomes.

Speaking to keynote the on-going province-led agriculture and fisheries extension systems (PAFES) yearend physical and financial assessment as well as planning workshop at the Bluewater Hotel in Panglao, governor Aumentado asked the Department of Agriculture, instead of giving small fiber-glass boats, commercial sized fishing boats would be more efficient.

He said when the government gives out individual fishing boats, a fisherman could hardly catch enough for his family within municipal waters.

But if the government gives big commercial fishing boats to fishermen’s organizations, they can sail out further where there is more fish to catch and everyone in the organization strives to compete with commercial fishers, for a more impactful catch.

Here, the governor personally appealed to the DA through Engr. Roger Navarro, the DA Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization as well as Undersecretary for Rural Credit, to hear him out.

Consider the request to give individual pumpboats, if give pumpboats, paddleboats or fiberglass boats, these individual fishers can harvest but it these are not even enough for his family.

Moreover, he shared that Bohol has plans to take over these abandoned fish ponds, but needs the help of the government in helping rehabilitate these fish production facilities so they can turn them over to organizations to manage and operate as food production areas.

We will have the Provincial Government and the DA together supervising, he proposed, however, this needs the government’s permission.

You know we can have owners of these idle facilities use this as capital, so they could earn from these unused areas, or the government can rent from these areas to make them productive.

Speaking to welcome the participants of the national gathering graced by top DA officials, Aumentado said Bohol is eyeing to apply cooperative or corporate farming in these areas, and for landowners who do not have the capacity to develop the idle lands, for the government to find a measure to make this work.

Ho lamented that the DA is asking huge budgets, but at the end of the day, what comes are projects that people do not need.

This way, Bohol can transition from traditional conventional farming practices to climate smart agriculture where farmers use sustainable methods in food production while responding to the demands of Boholano households, businesses and industries.

At the planning workshop, and gathering of extension workers and officials from across the country, Aumentado said this should be a viable opportunity for all involved to reflect the achievement of PAFES their areas, present plans and explore opportunities that lie ahead by improving institutional capabilities and support services to farmers and fisherfolks.

Through the PAFES, he said Boholanos can learn new technologies, access necessary support and learn science based food production even as he said Bohol has established its own local PAFES in partnership with DA to strengthen our capacity to sustain growth in the Agri sector while providing a platform for all stakeholders can collaborate to enhance rural livelihoods and increase household incomes.

We can always support the growth and modernization of our agricultural sector efforts that will only lead to self sufficiency and economic progress for farmers and fisherfolks, the governor assured. (PIABohol)

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. While Bohol is producing less that what its people demands spiking prices up, the steady stream of tourists exacerbate the situation that creative solutions have to be implemented to increase food production, and this is where RAFES can significantly contribute, says Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado in his keynote address to the annual planning workshop of aggie extension workers. (PIABohol)