The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday culminated the celebration of the 2024 National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month by underscoring their role in the country’s food security and nation-building.

In a news release, the DA cited the recognition of several farmer organizations with critical contributions in the agriculture sector.

These include the Bliss Lingion Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative, Kalasag Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Organic Farmers of District 6 Bulacan, Inc., Rosario Livestock and Agriculture Farming Cooperative, and San Agustin – San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative.

Besides these groups, the DA also recognized 10 farmer directors and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) chairpersons in the country.

Senator Cynthia Villar, likewise, mentioned several key legislation in support of farmers and fishers, being the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Agrarian Reform, Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change.

On Monday, DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro lauded how farmers secured the “single largest harvest” for palay, equivalent to 20 million metric tons (MT) last year.

“As of December, the agriculture and fisheries sector has created 500,000 new jobs in the Philippine countryside,” he said in a speech.

Besides job creation, the sector also secured more than 25 million MT of crops, more than a million MT of fish, and more than 500,000 MT in livestock production, among others.

“This production has in turn sustained and supported our country’s robust economic expansion,” Navarro said.

The DA – Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), meanwhile, released an almost two-minute video as it joined the Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas challenge on social media.

It featured several farmers and different rice varieties in the country, advocating support for local Filipino farmers.

PhilRice’s Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas challenge has so far earned at least 54,000 views with more than 2,000 shares on Facebook. (PNA)