The City Agriculturist Office (CAgro) is strengthening its partnership with the barangays to implement effective agricultural programs.
Newly installed Cagro Officer In-Charge Dr. Antonio Obsioma told reporters on Thursday last week that part of their initiatives this year is harnessing barangays in creating “programatic” plans.
“We are now strengthening our partnership with the barangay council, we talked with them and we told them that the barangay agricultural plan should emanate from them, not from us. Pwede kaming tumulong but kung anong plano doon sa kanilang community dapat kanila (we can help but whatever plan they have for the community must come from them),” Obsioma said, adding that they also encouraged barangays to create a barangay agriculture and fisheries campaign.
He said that mirroring this campaign, they are also strengthening the district offices as these are farmers’ closest link with the CAgro’s programs on the ground.
“We are trying to strengthen the district offices, add more people and we will be conducting a training program for them and for the farmers,” Obsioma said.
“We look at the community and see how we can improve the whole community, yun ang programatic. Dapat may 5-10 years plan and what do we expect after five years, 10 years, so meron tayong programatic plan (We should have a 5-10 year plan and what do we expect after five years, 10 years, so we have a programatic plan),” he added.
Obsioma also said that they are strengthening the support system for agricultural councils that are commodity based and are also trying to strengthen partnerships with national government offices.
“We are also trying to strengthen our ties, partnerships with agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Coconut Authority. Kasi sabi ko nga (just like I said ) in our office na let us align some of our programs with the programs of the DA because they have money but we have the people on the ground. Hopefully, jointly we will able to run impactful agricultural programs,” Obsioma said. CIO
