Agriculture Sec. William D. Dar urged agriculture officials to break from traditionalism, especially in implementing programs, during the department’s recent management committee meeting held at DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). 

“The old way of doing things just doesn’t cut it anymore. Moving to the realm of pragmatism, I acknowledge the time constraints; however, implementation is the name of the game. The strategies we set in motion must be delivered with adept speed and action,” he stressed.

He also recognized everyone’s “relentless work for the past years” despite the challenging scenarios in the sector during this pandemic, and encouraged them to continue their efforts.

“These remaining months of the current administration, however uncertain they may seem, can still be guided by science, technology, and skills. Increasing unpredictability should be the impetus for us to sharpen our methods. I pray that our fervor will not be lost in the long run,” Dar said.

Committee members reviewed the Department’s financial and physical performance in 2020 and 2021 and financial and physical targets for 2022.

Issues confronting the agriculture sector such as food inflation, African Swine Fever, crop diversification, high fertilizer prices, and social protection for farmers were also tackled in panel discussions. The salient features in operationalizing the four pillars of OneDA Approach in 2022 were also discussed. 

The four pillars of the OneDA agenda include consolidation, modernization, industrialization, and professionalization. 

Consolidation implements bayanihan agri clusters, collective action or cooperatives development, province-led agriculture and fisheries extension systems, mobilization and empowerment of partners, diversification, and credit support as strategies.

Technology and innovation including digital agriculture, farm mechanization and infrastructure investments, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and food safety and regulations are employed as means to achieve modernization.

Industrialization is hoped to sustain through agri-industrial business corridors, global trade, export development and promotion, postharvest, processing, and logistics and marketing support.

Professionalization in the sector is ensured through the agriculture career system, agribusiness management, youth and women engagement, ease of doing business, and transport procurement. 

The event is attended by DA undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, deputy chiefs of staff, senior technical advisers, directors of attached agencies and corporations, heads of bureaus, administrators, regional field office directors, planning officers, executive assistants, technical directors, banner program directors, and service directors.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute