DA-7 Turnover Some Agriprojects to Cebu City Farmers

The High Value Crops Program (HVCDP) of the Department of Agriculture-7 (DA-7) turned over one (1) unit hauling truck and some agricultural inputs to the Cebu City Federation of Farmers Association in Barangay Taptap, Cebu City.

Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Research and Regulatory Joel Elumba of DA-7 said that the farmers are (our) the frontliners for agricultural development. He said the interventions distributed to the Cebu City farmers are just some of the projects that will be implemented. "We have special projects for implementation to include the mango rehabilitation, cutflowers and urban gardening projects which the city will be a recipient, aside from the banner programs like rice, corn, HVCDP, Livestock and organic.
Elumba also encourage the farmers to adapt integrated farming system. Farmers need not focus to one commodity but instead have varied commodities in their farm like crops and livestock. He cited that in case a calamity will strike, farmers can still stand-up because not all of his farming enterprise will be affected like the livestock.
Elumba futher said that the farmers and the government must be united so that food will always be available and accessible.
On the other hand, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena said that the city is doing its best for the farmers like putting-up the farmers market. He said farmers should look at agriculture as a business, but what is lacking to them (farmers) is the devotion to agriculture, that there is money in farming.
The TOM's garden was also opened.
The activity was also attended by Congressman Raul Del Mar, Cebu City councilors, Cebu City Agriculture Office, DA-7 personnel and farmers from the different mountain barangays.