Negros Occidental has been named a pilot area for the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (PAFES) of the Department of Agriculture.
Officials of the DA Agricultural Training Institute turned over a P1.2 million check to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for the training of Negrense farmers and fisherfolk at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Wednesday, July 26.
Vianney Ojerio, ATI Partnerships and Accreditation Section chief, said PAFES aims to bring extension services to the grassroots level.
“We are providing financial assistance that will be used in implementing the proposed plans of the province regarding agriculture and fisheries,” he said, adding that Neg. Occ. chose rice and livestock as priority commodities of the program.
The program is also created in anticipation of the full implementation of the Mandanas ruling that will boost the financial capabilities of the local government units to implement agricultural programs and projects.
The national government agencies will co-finance the program as it will be focused on creating interventions on mitigating the effects of the African Swine Fever(ASF) and increasing rice yield in the province, he said.
Ojerio also said that part of the funding will be utilized for training of the barangay task forces against ASF to prevent its spread in local communities.*