Farmer Director of Central Visayas Grace Cenas, who is the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council – 7 (RAFC7) Chairperson presided today, May 13, 2024, the Regional Management Committee (ManCom) meeting, held at the office of the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture-7 in Maguikay, Mandaue City.

Cenas acknowledged her gratitude to Director Angel C. Enriquez, for giving the opportunity to preside the ManCom, which was her 1st ManCom meeting conducted.

As the installed farmer Director for the month of May, Cenas, in her capacity shall act and perform the functions as stipulated in the DA Memorandum Circular No. 15.

Among the agenda she wanted for discussion include the top 5 accomplishments for 2023, soil and water conservation measures, issues and concerns that need policy support, projects for 2024 implementation and other important information and support like the return of investments (ROI) for cacao which was a request by the participants during the cacao seminar, programmed production of agri commodities to ensure the supply of commodities are enough per week during the market days, among others.

One of her recommendations on the fertilizer distribution under the rice program is to consider the impact of fertilizers on the environment, of which this was supported with the Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS), as shared by Normal Repol, the chief of the Integrated Laboratory Division. Repol added that some of the ricefields were already monitored and collected with soil samples for pH analysis.

On soil and conservation measures, Cenas suggested to identify the conservation measures adopted by farmers and if they (farmers) were able to sustain such measures. The project on Sustainable Corn Production on Sloping Areas (SCOPSA), which was already mainstreamed to the local government unit is a good model for soil conservation.

Director Enriquez, suggested the conduct of a corn planting festival, especially to areas shifting to new commodities like sugarcane to corn production.

Cenas, further shared that in the Agri and Fishery Plan, there are four players, who are part of the whole spectrum of the sector, namely the DA, special agencies implementing same technical support, the LGUs and the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) who are private individuals providing voluntary services for the agriculture sector.