Various stakeholders in the Philippines agreed to strengthen the low performers among Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Councils (MAFCs) for the next year.
The said agreement was established during the Agriculture and Fisheries Councils (AFCs) Year-end Assessment and Operational Planning Workshop held at Tanza, Cavite last November 28 and 29.
In relation to this, they also plan to boost up the relationship between the AFCs and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Units, and push for the inclusion of Provincial AFCs to the Local Development Council (LDC).
DA IV-A Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Acting Chairperson Pedrito R. Kalaw said that the initiatives were aligned with the intents of RAFC Chairperson Argosino James Agripino, which he expressed even before he filed a leave of absence due to his ailment.
Moreover, the Acting Chairperson also eyes to increase the number of pilot Municipalities, to hold a very first PAFC Summit in the CALABARZON region, and to lower the price of pork and chicken meat through using Cassava as substitute to corn feed ingredients.
Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Region IV-A (PCAF IV-A) Area Coordinator Lorenz Alfante who also attended the meeting has commended the 2017 accomplishments and 2018 targets that were showcased. He also appreciated the expression of commitment and expectations for the year 2018, but he emphasized that it is better to present the resolutions to be made for the progress of agriculture and fisheries based on the mandate of the AFCs.
Other settled action plans to be implemented next year include training farmers and fisher folks to become entrepreneurs, whereas, aside from growing their yield, they must likewise be taught about direct selling to increase their profit; teaching cooperatives and organizations to sell their products in trading centers, supermarkets and urban cooperatives; seeking assistance from the private sector like Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI) to train the farmers in formulating marketing plans and building linkages with the private sector; and coordinating with government agencies like the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and DA in packaging and promoting their products.
2017 Philippine Information Agency