DAVAO CITY — In time for the 1st High Value Crops Week celebration, the Department of Agriculture XI has engaged the Davao Muslim youth in developing the 1.8-hectare idle space in Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City into an agricultural production area planted to high value crops such as vegetables and for livestock and poultry production area.
United Farmers Association of Tamayong (UFAT) chair Benjamin Musa said they partnered with DA-XI to address the major problem in their farming community– the aging population of farmers in the area.
“With the growing market demand for Davao’s champion commodities such as high value crops, we want to increase the number of people in agriculture and what better way than to engage the youth in the sector,” said Musa.
In January this year, DA-XI Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. sent his technical staff from HVCDP and DARCES-Manambulan to assist and facilitate the said request from UFAT.
“With Agriculture Secretary Dar’s inclusive approach in agriculture, we want to intensify our programs that would increase community participation. Our team proactively provided the needed inputs such as technical skills training and production support in partnership with our counterparts in MAO-Calinan,” said Oñate.
He added that: “Putting the country into a more food-secure position needs collective actions from every member of the community.”
Meanwhile, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Youth Commissioner Samer Musa Allong has thanked DA-XI for the support extended for the Muslim youth to be productive and contribute to the development of their community.-PR
