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February 1-28, 2007
DA sets 10 priority commodities for 2007 Philippine agri and fishery
by Rita T. dela Cruz
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has set its priority commodities both for the agriculture and fishery sectors in view of its overall goal of increasing the profitability of stakeholders (production- and income-wise) which must be reflected in major programs and activities of the Department.
Specifically, the 10 priority commodities identified are palay, hogs, chicken meat, municipal fishery, aquaculture, corn, coconut, commercial fishery, banana, and sugarcane.
This was announced during the recent DA Management Committee (ManCom) Meeting on 19 February 2006, at the DA Building.
The current focus is on the entire supply chain, from production to market. Thus, it is inevitable that the current working framework should go hand in hand across all commodities, particularly in terms of planning DA programs and resources.
In the improvement of the entire supply chain, meaning from the production side down to the market area, the Department is instructed to infuse its various interventions through the Five Developmental Pillars for Agriculture and Fisheries. These include: 1) irrigation facility; 2) postharvest and storage; 3) market access; 4) R&D education, and extension; and 5) credit facilitation.
It is hoped that through these interventions, projected profitability of concerned stakeholders, particularly those of the marginalized farmers and fisherfolk, is ultimately achieved. All concerned agencies must also contribute to this overall goal with a business sense.
The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar represented the R&D education and extension sector.
BAR will support these priority commodities set by the Department, particularly in implementing its R&D agenda and programs into specific activities. These programs must be in line with the Five Developmental Pillars for Agriculture and Fisheries, and with specific focus on the 10 poorest provinces of the country, namely: Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Masbate , Mountain Province, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Camarines Norte, and Sarangani.
Prioritization and expanded investments particularly for the 10 poorest provinces, have also been strongly emphasized by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the recent ASEAN and China Summit in Nanning with Chinese PM Wen Jiabao. She emphasized the need for investment opportunities for these poorest provinces of the country. 
February 1-28 2007 Articles:
:: BAR, PhilRice, SEARCA boost RP agri through systematic analysis of productivity growth
:: DA sets 10 priority commodities for 2007 Philippine agri and fishery
:: ACAP ensures support to DA programs
:: Program leader of USDA’s RDE agency visits BAR for possible R&D collaboration
:: BAR sets 2007 National and Regional technology Forums
:: DA-BAR, ICRISAT, and UPLB sign MOU for sweet sorghum project
:: Quisumbing shares key elements to establish successful research org
:: BAR sets guidelines in availing of CPAR grants
:: BAR centralizes linkage in R&D info system
:: PEN commits support to DA programs
:: BAR sets new R&D directions; focuses projects for poorest provinces
:: BAPNET in 2007: On the trail of an elusive banana killer
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