DA Aims to Achieve Veggie Sufficiency

Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from right) leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the 10th National Vegetable Congress in Butuan City, on July 24, 2012, attended by 1,000 farmers, local government officials and vegetable industry stakeholders and exhibitors. He said alongside achieving rice sufficiency by end of 2013, the Department of Agriculture will help propel the vegetable industry increase the current 65-per cent sufficiency level to 100 per cent within the medium term or 2016. Also in photo are (from left) Agusan del Norte 2nd District Representative Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, DA-CARAGA Regional Executive Director Edna Mabeza, Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board chairman Marcelino Remotigue, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr., and Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council Association of the Philippines President Edgardo Codilla. ­­(Photo by Jose Lucas, DA Information Service)