CATARMAN, Northern Samar, May 4 (PIA)--The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 through Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez lauded the province of Northern Samar for its precise management of African Swine Fever and its remarkable rice production in 2020.

This was disclosed during the zoom meeting Panindugan with PIA and Friends hosted by PIA Regional Director Olive Tiu in celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolks Month traditionally observed during the month of May.

DA RED Enriquez appreciated the efforts done by the Provincial Government through the Provincial Veterinarian in containing the spread of African Swine Fever in this part of the Region.

"ASF started in Northern Samar on March 25, they submitted samples that turned out all negative. The province had a very intensive information campaign, which was done by the provincial government through the Provincial Veterinarian."

They are on top of the situation, they managed to control and have very strict border control, that was one good practice, said RED Enriquez.

During the PANINDUGAN with PIA and Friends, PIA Regional Director Tiu disclosed and congratulated the Department of Agriculture Eastern Visayas for being the saving grace of the economy of Eastern Visayas during the time of pandemic of its positive growth when all the other sectors declined.

Director Tiu further said the growth in the Agriculture Sector was brought by more production because almost everybody engaged in gardening/planting not only plantito/plantita but those that produce food for the table.

With that report, DA affirmed and recognized that Northern Samar greatly contributed to the good performance of Eastern Visayas on rice production.

"Northern Samar performance pulled up the production in Region 8, the province reached 79% sufficiency in rice. For 2019, the harvested area was 34,392 hectares but in 2020 it recorded 42,924 hectares with a variance of 8,532 that is around 24.8 percent, and an increase in the volume of production to 33.6%," RED Enriquez informed.

"This is because of the collaboration between DA and the efforts and support of the provincial government of Northern Samar in terms of assistance to the rice farmers," she added.

"I really would like to express our utmost gratitude to the provincial government of Northern Samar, we can only sustain the programs and projects of DA.

The local government should invest in the provision of seeds, fertilizers, pieces of machinery, for its sustainability and food security, and I think Northern Samar has already started that, said RED Enriquez.

The observance of this year's Farmers and Fisherfolks Month celebration is anchored on the theme: "May Pandemya man o wala, Magsasaka't Mangingisda, Maaasahan ng Bansa." (nbq/ADiaz/PIA-N. Samar)