“We will support your vegetable production through the necessary interventions to increase productivity, improve the quality of your produce, and sustain your rank as a vegetable bowl of Luzon.”

In his message, Agriculture Secretary William Dar added that he will make sure that products from the farms reach the markets in good condition through the establishment of farm to market roads (FMR).

These were among the key commitments of  Secretary Dar during the presentation of the status of the Rehabilitation and Concreting of the Concepcion Palasan to Manggalang Kiling FMR project under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

Under the PRDP project, Sariaya folks will soon benefit from the 13.8-kilometer road network valued at Php187.40 million.

DA-CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel de Mesa explained that the project, which will benefit 40,000 residents from 8,862 households, will directly impact different local agriculture industries including coconut, rice, high value crops, green and yellow corn.

In his report, de Mesa stressed that with the completion of the FMR, the daily volume of producers and buyers coming in and out of production areas will increase.

Also during the event, Secretary Dar  vowed to push for the development of agri-tourism in Sariaya to maximize the untapped potential of the municipality as a primary producer of vegetables.

“Maganda po ang inyong lugar kaya malaki ang potensyal para sa agrikultura at turismo,” he said during a farmers’ forum held in the town on November 8, 2019.

Banking on the twin goals anchored on productivity and income, the Secretary committed to pour assistance for the improvement of the agriculture sector not only in Sariaya, but in other municipalities as well. ###(Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)