Multi-sectoral consultation to tackle agri-fisheries modernization

Monday 19th of March 2012

DAVAO CITY, Mar. 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture in the region will be spearheading an area-wide public consultation on March 22 here to gather inputs towards modernizing the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The DA in partnership with the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) will hold the multi-sectoral conference at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, this city.

DA-XI Regional Director Dr. Oscar O. Parawan said the consultation seeks to generate comments, reactions and recommendations on the draft regional Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP) for 2011-2017, before the same will be finalized and consolidated into the national AFMP.

The consultation expects participation from officials and representatives of the national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, private sector led agricultural and fishery councils and state universities and colleges.

Parawan raised the importance of this multi-sectoral conference in an invitation to the Philippine Information Agency, saying that the various significant inputs from the participants “will surely help in advancing agriculture and fisheries modernization.”

He said that DA is leading the updating of the AFMP 2011-2017 in accordance with the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) which mandates DA to formulate and implement a medium and long-term AFMP.

This, he added, is in consultation with farmers, fishers, private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (Pos), and the appropriate government agencies and offices.

Parawan said the AFMP will ensure that all DA’s regional field units, agencies, bureaus and offices will have an action program that is cohesive, reinforcing and consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), AFMA and other national policy directives.

The AFMP will be utilized by the agri-fisheries sector as an instrument to sharply focus programs, projects and activities towards modernizing the agriculture and fisheries sector, he stated. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)