The Department of Agriculture (DA) formally opened the third week of the 2023 National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month (NFFM) celebration with the launch of the week-long exhibit and bazaar featuring livestock and poultry products at the DA grounds.
During the opening program, DA Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Agnes Catherine T. Miranda celebrated the Php 61.66 billion or 14.4 percent contribution of the livestock industries to the country’s overall value of production during the first quarter of 2023 as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The poultry subsector, on the other hand, contributed Php 64.95 billion or 15.1 percent of the total value of production for the same period as per the latest PSA data.
Both subsectors reportedly registered increases in annual production value despite the threats posed by the African Swine Fever (ASF), the Avian Influenza (AI), and other issues in the agriculture sector.
“The DA – National Livestock Program and its livestock attached agencies have prepared a week-long exhibit, bazaar, online seminars, and cooking demonstration not only to celebrate these successes of our livestock and poultry farmers, but also to showcase the various interventions provided by the Department and the results of its fruitful partnerships with the stakeholders in these subsectors,” Usec. Miranda expressed.
The opening program was succeeded by a thanksgiving mass at the DA Carpark in honor of the Feast Day of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, peasants, day laborers, agriculture, and rural communities.
Various cooking demonstrations and online webinars will also be held in celebration of the NFFM’s Livestock and Poultry Week. ### (Krystelle Ymari A. Vergara, DA-AFID)
