DA chief accepts challenges, pressures facing PH agriculture

FILE: President William Dar speaks on the dwindling water supply in Nueva Vizcaya during the recent Water Summit in Bayombong. (PIA NV Photo)

MANILA — With less than a month into office, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said he accepts the challenges and pressures faced by the country’s agriculture sector, promising to fully discharge the “new thinking” approach to address them and transform farmers and fishers into prosperous agri-preneurs.

Working hand-in-hand with the private sector, Dar has been pushing for inclusive growth for all sectors involved in food production and rural development.

“Maraming problema, maraming challenges, pero di tayo susuko (There are many problems and challenges but we will not give up),” he said in a forum held in Candon City, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday.

During his visit, Dar also assured farmers in Candon and nearby municipalities of readily available government assistance.

He said the DA needs to get a good hand on various big issues in the next four months, among them the falling prices of palay and copra, and the swine disease that has yet to be confirmed by laboratory tests.

“Kaya natin ito kung tayong lahat ay nagkakaisa (We can do this if we are united). We will bring all the minds and the best ideas into the table and really harness the best measures possible to help the sector,” the DA chief said.

“Lahat ay gagawin namin para maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga farmers (We will do everything to ease the burden of farmers),” he added.