The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pledged to assist farmers in the Philippines in making their farms profitable.
In an interview, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted that one of the major challenges faced by both young and old farmers is how to make their farms profitable. This is the problem the DA aims to solve.
“We have to make farming bankable and profitable. That is currently the main mission of the DA,” according to Secretary Laurel Jr.
He provided an example of integrated rice-duck farming, a practice used in Vietnam and other parts of the country. According to the secretary, with this technique, rice farms can also be used to raise ducks. This way, farmers can earn income from ducks while waiting for the rice to be harvested.
“What’s important is that farmers, whether young or old, make a profit,” the Secretary emphasized.
To encourage youths to engage in new agri-fishery enterprises and earn more, Secretary Laurel Jr. said that their Young Farmers Challenge program should be continued. The program showcases how young farmers can profit from their farms using smart farming techniques and more.
