ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov 20 (PIA) - Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar emphasized that they are continuously encouraging and advocating backyard gardening or engaging into livestock small business where it can help communities especially at this time of pandemic and with the recent natural disasters experienced in the country.

"Let us not forget to be part of the solution, in spite of this crisis, together we will rise," Sec. Dar said.

Due to the successive typhoons experienced in parts of Luzon, crops, fruits and vegetables farms were affected with the heavy rain and flooding, Sec. Dar encourages Local Government Units and partners to mobilize goods production in provinces to support supply in areas affected with typhoons. "The facilitation we are doing will be successful to stabilize the market and the regular conduct of Kadiwa is also a big help," Sec. Dar added.

In the interview today (November 20, 2020) during the Network Briefing program with PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, the Tuburan town in Basilan promotes their community farming with almost 20 hectares of rice and assorted vegetables in ten barangays that seeks to help the farmers and the community especially during the pandemic.

Furthermore, Tuburan Mayor Durie Kallahal requests support from the National Government to help improve their community farming program. Sec. Dar commended the program and will also look into the possibilities of providing farming equipment to the municipality.

Meanwhile, DA also provides assistance to farmers and fisher folks in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through provincial industry of agriculture and fisheries. They continue to give certified seeds and hybrid seeds that will help increase harvest.

Sec. Dar also assures Tuburan Municipality in Basilan that DA have allocated funds for agriculture sector in BARMM and hoping for the joint planning and implementation of programs to cover more areas in BARMM.

Moreover, DA also assures the public that we have enough rice supply in the country and they continue to monitor and maintain the low price of the rice, "our agriculture is stable and to everyone let us continue to plant, plant, and plant," Sec Dar added. (RVC/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)