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.

By: William D. Dar, PhD
Secretary

2020 has officially become the most challenging year for the Philippine agriculture sector. Massive stresses faced the country’s farmers and fishers—from volcanic eruption, infectious animal diseases, crop pest infestations, a viral pandemic that resulted in a health crisis, to falling prices of staples, and then finally a series of typhoons in the last quarter.

After attaining increased palay production during the 2019-2020 dry season and the current main season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now aiming to promote rice varieties preferred by consumers.

“We need to adapt to the changes brought about by the rice tariffication law, one of which is consumers’ preference for quality rice. This is now an integral part of the overall transformation of the country’s rice industry,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar was chosen as the “Lifetime Contributor” awardee for the public sector by the board of judges of Asia CEO Awards 2020, which recognizes leaders for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the country as a whole.

Richard Mills, chair of the award-giving body, said Secretary Dar is cited for his leadership and unwavering efforts to transform Philippine agriculture into a dynamic high-growth sector.

Aware of the agriculture sector’s role in the government’s economic recovery efforts, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will continue implementing much-needed interventions to match the scale of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA will vigorously pursue comprehensive, science-based, inclusive and innovative programs to build efficient and resilient food production and distribution systems to adequately feed the country’s growing population, now and in the future.

By Secretary William D. Dar, Department of Agriculture

1. It is my distinct honor and privilege to virtually join you today as we launch the World Bank’s “Transforming Philippine Agriculture: During COVID-19 and Beyond.”