Monday, May 30, 2016

Data: Vital for Agricultural Development


DA RFO 13 ARD Edgardo Dahino emphasizes the importance of data

Figure tells story.

To come up with a comprehensive outlook of the agricultural trends for rice and corn, the Department of Agriculture Caraga in partnership with the Philippine Statistics Authority is currently drafting an agricultural information and early warning system.

An initial step was the conduct of the orientation on rice and corn information and early warning system situation report preparation last May 24-26, 2016.

Armed with agricultural data, five provinces in Caraga Region including Butuan City, participated the activity and came up with their respective situation report.

Initially, the plan was to cover 2014-2015 cropping sessions but DA regional office geared towards expanding the scope to cover 2011-15 to come up a comprehensive outlook.

“This information is vital for our decision makers as well as for investors so they will have a clear picture what is the agricultural scenario here in Caraga,” Assistant Regional Director for Operations and LGU Support Edgardo Dahino said.

Reports from the respective local government units will be consolidated by the DA regional office to come up with the regional situation report and will be the basis for the crafting of the agricultural early warning system.

Data to be included are physical area of rice and corn and its ecosystems, weather pattern, production, government interventions and supports, marketing aspects, challenges, and more. 

To make it more comprehensive, data from attached agencies and other national line agencies engaged in serving the farmers such as National Irrigation Administration, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Food Authority, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Agricultural Training Institute among others will be incorporated.

Melchor Bautista, Statistical Operations and Coordination Division Chief of PSA Caraga said that agricultural information based on data is a vital tool in planning and decision making both for the government and farmers alike.(Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

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