Agri NorMin thru its F2C2 program convenes FCAs, with the aim to strengthen their capacities to augment their production, income and access to resources.  

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) recently spearheaded a coordination meeting with the clustered farmers cooperatives, associations (FCAs) from the different provinces of the Region, this city.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the F2C2 program will help FCAs to give priority to community production and processing projects in order to promote better coordinated and organized production and value chain systems towards increased productivity as against the small stand-alone traditional farming and fishing practices.

Drawing from the agency head’s statement, Field Operations Division chief Luz I. Guzman added, that clustering and consolidation is one of the key strategies of DA to achieve its OneDA reform agenda to level up the region and eventually, the country’s agriculture by integrating government interventions to organized farmer and fisher groups.

Aimed at increasing production levels, incomes and better access to resources, technologies and markets, DA-10 F2C2 focal person Gay Nanette R. Aleria bared the strategies for adoption among clusters, which includes: mainstreaming of F2C2 in all of DA banner programs; enhance local governments, private sector, and state universities and colleges partnership; identification of existing clusters for strengthening; creation of new clusters; provision of appropriate assistance to existing and new clusters; and establishment and management of a cluster database.

On the other hand, attending attached bureau and agencies such as, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), and DA-10’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, also presented their programs and projects for availment of FCAs, in a bid to contribute in improving their capacities and raising farmers and fishers’ productivity, profitability and global competitiveness thru strengthened access and use of appropriate production and postproduction support.

Attending the blended meeting are the banner program coordinators and their report officers as well as representatives from the provincial operations centers of DA-RFO 10, its attached bureau and agencies, officials and representatives from the different FCAs. # (RDMElloren)