An economist-lawmaker is pushing for an additional P12 billion funds for the Department of Agriculture (DA) for 2022, saying that its expansion is critical to economic recovery.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Monday boosted DA Secretary William Dar’s request for an additional budget, citing the significance of the expanded programs in making the price of key commodities such as meat and vegetables “stable.”

The Department of Agriculture (DA) convenes the 2021 National Food Security Summit (NFFS) on May 18-19, 2021 to address major challenges and enhance physical and economic access of every Filipino to sufficient, safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

The Rice Competitiveness Extension Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) had reached hundreds of thousands of rice farmers and stakeholders through training and communication services since the Rice Tariffication Law was signed in 2019.

AURORA PROVINCE -- The School-on-the Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) regional technical working group (RTWG) composed of Agricultural Training Institute-Central Luzon (ATI-CL), Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office III, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Aurora State College of Technology, and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist-Aurora convened on February 4, 2021 through an online meeting for the implementation of the program.

NORALA, SOUTH COTABATO – ATI-Regional Training Center XII headed by Center Director Abdul I. Daya-an attended an RCEF-FFS Harvest Festival organized by B.E.S.T. College of Polomolok, Inc., one of ATI RTC XII’s accredited Learning Site for Agriculture and TESDA's accredited Farm School.

Held last January 9, 2021 at Brgy. Puti, Norala, South Cotabato, the event featured the 50 farmer graduates of Farmers' Field School under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Gracing the event were TESDA representative Joel Aldea and Edmund Amigo from Local Government Unit of Norala.

LIPA CITY, BATANGAS -- Agriculture Secretary William Dar visited recently one of the community beneficiaries of the “Stables and Greens: Agri-Livestock Integrated Support to COVID-19- Prone Areas” (ALIS-COVID), a collaborative project of the Agricultural Training Institute -International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-ITCPH), East-West Seed, and the Local Government of Lipa City, Batangas. This project was launched in 2020 in support of the ‘Plant, Plant, Plant’ program of the Department of Agriculture.