DA 2 Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino presents their significant accomplishments on agriculture and fishery in Cagayan Valley. (PIA Photo)
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) – – Cagayan Valley remains the top producer of corn in the country and second in rice production, the Department of Agriculture-Region 2 (DA-2) said in today’s episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino said that in 2023, the region was able to harvest more than two million metric tons of corn, which is 23 percent higher than the national production.
In rice, it reached more than three million metric tons, or 17 percent of the national production.
“Although we rank second in production, we have the highest sufficiency level of 304 percent,” said Aquino, expressing her gratitude to all farmers, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
The director added that the region also boasts four commodity capitals, including San Mateo, Isabela, as the Mungo Capital of the Philippines; the City of Ilagan as the Corn Capital; Enrile, Cagayan, as the Peanut Capital; and Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, as the Citrus Capital of the North.
“The commodities that have 100 percent sufficiency and have opportunities for business investment are mangoes, bananas, pineapples, and citrus,” she further said.
Through the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, Aquino also said that the agriculture department has supplied an average of 488,952 kilograms of vegetables daily to the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Calabarzon, and Cordillera.
In fisheries, the region is the source of export-quality shrimp, crabs, alamang, and other rare species, particularly at DATAJ Aquatic Farm in Sta. Teresita and the town of Buguey are both in Cagayan, according to Aquino.
“These achievements were achieved because of the continuous support provided to farmers through the distribution of quality seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural interventions, the expansion of irrigation networks, agricultural infrastructure, marketing, and the conduct of training for farmers and other stakeholders to learn the well-packaged technology and smart agriculture that they can adopt,” said Aquino.
For its projects and programs for agricultural development, Aquino said that a total of P7.3 billion was disbursed for the implementation of priority commodity programs and services such as rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, organic agriculture, the Halal Food Industry Development Program, market development, an integrated laboratory, research for development, and regulatory services.
In addition to the regular funds that we receive, there are also other programs and special projects that aim to draw attention to some other important issues and sentiments of our farmer-fisher beneficiaries and stakeholders, such as the Philippine Rural Development Project and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo at the Special Area for Agricultural Development,” she added.
The agriculture department is also continuously encouraging farmers to become members of Farmers Cooperatives and Associations to protect the rights and interests of each farmer, freely practice knowledge and skills, and increase their yield and income in their livelihood.
“In the implementation of the programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture, we are aware of your continued support for the agency so that we can further perform our duties for our farmers and fishermen throughout the Cagayan Valley,” Aquino added. (OTB/MDCT/PIA Cagayan)
