Sec. Piñol visits Guimaras

by: RS Orquia

 

Department of Agriculture Secretary, Emmanuel F. Piñol visited the island Province of Guimaras last August 8, 2017.  His first stop was at the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry-Guimaras National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center where he was welcomed by the Center’s staff, headed by its Center Chief, Mr. Yondre J. Yonder and the local officials of the Province of Guimaras.

The Secretary visited the different facilities of the Center like the production, nursery, screenhouse, greenhouse and experimental areas.  During the visitation to different facilities he was briefed with the different activities and projects of the Center in support to the mango industry particularly in the production of quality planting materials and generation of relevant technologies.

He also grabs the chance to experience asexual propagation on mango through grafting.  He committed to share to the Center his collection of foreign mango variety with prolific bearing habit, which could be utilized for breeding project on mango. A proposal on concreting of road network of the Center was also handed to the Secretary for funding.

Moreover, he took pleasure to taste the by-products of the different commodity of the Center to include roasted cashew nuts, mango juice, fresh ripe mango, boiled cassava and banana.

The Secretary then proceeded to the Provincial Gymnasium for “Tapatan” forum with the farmers and fisherfolks of the province of Guimaras.  Issues and concerns of the farmers and fisherfolks were attended by the Secretary and the concerned agencies of the Department.  A ceremonial turn-over of funds, equipments and other supports to farmers and fisherfolks beneficiaries were done. 

The Center took part in extending supports to the farmers through the distribution of rice starter seeds to some farmer associations of the province.  The registered and certified rice seeds came from the stocks of BPI-La Granja and the production of the Center through the Rice Program of the Bureau.

The visit of the Secretary in one of the smallest and poorest provinces (Guimaras) of the country shows the commitment of the current administration to help alleviate the lives of the farmers and fisherfolks in the countryside.