The Department of Agriculture in the Bicol region conducted a series of consultation workshops with the Municipal Agricultural Officers of the six provinces in the region.

        The workshops aim to validate the data and target for the four banner programs for 2008 implementation namely: rice, corn, livestock and high value commercial crops. Aside from this, the consultation also provided an update on the GMA banner programs and on hunger mitigation program giving emphasis on its implementing guidelines.

        According to Regional Executive Director Jose V. Dayao, the consultation is timely since the LGUs are also finalizing their plans and targets for the year. He said that it is important to consult the municipal agricultural officers since the LGUs are in the frontline in implementing the programs and projects of the DA. Likewise, it is also necessary to know their concerns and recommendations in order to effectively implement the different projects.

        For GMA Rice, a total of 197,220 hectares irrigated and 90,748 hectares rainfed farms is targeted for planting this year or an aggregate total of 287,268 hectares with a projected yield of 1,136,022 metric tons of palay. Under the dry season cropping from November 2007 to April 2008 the region targeted 14,000 hectares for hybrid rice production with an expected yield 92,912 metric tons of palay. For the same cropping the DA targeted a total of 37,174 hectares both for irrigated and rainfed areas using certified seeds with an expected yield of 162,268 metric tons. The total expected yield for both certified and hybrid is 589,595 metric tons.

        Under the GMA corn program the region has targeted 500 hectares for Goal 1 or newly developed agribusiness lands. A total of 31,210 hectares is targeted for Goal 2 which is the reduction of cost of wage goods is broken down as follows: Albay with 8,550 hectares; Camarines Norte 100 hectares; Camarines Sur 17,460 hectares; Masbate 5,050 hectares and Sorsogon 50 hectares.

        There are four priority commodities included under the GMA -HVCC program namely: pineapple, vegetable, mango and coffee. For pineapple the focus province is Camarines Norte with an existing area of 1,980 hectares and an additional 500 hectares is targeted for the year. The region is expecting a production target of 127, 260 metric tons or an increase of 8, 878 metric tons or 7.5% growth rate. For commercial vegetable production 750 hectares is targeted for the region while the Programang Gulayan ng Masa a total of 208,535 households and 3,177 schools are included in the program. The DA is targeting an additional 100 hectares for mango to its existing 528 hectares with a production target of 2,021 metric tons. The focus provinces for this commodity is Camarines Sur and Masbate. Coffee is another priority crop of the region considering its export potential. The region now has a total of 841 hectares planted to coffee with an additional 50 hectares for this year.

        According to ARD for Operations and Regulatory Marilyn V. Sta. Catalina, with the target already set for the year the region is now bent on working closely with the LGUs and all stakeholders in order to achieve the goals and targets set. She added that with the support of the LGUs specifically the municipal agricultural officers and the technicians who are directly working with the farmers plus the different support services and interventions extended to the farmer clients the growth in agriculture achieved this year will likely be increased next year given the favorable weather condition. mr.ilan