Sunday, March 16, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
[ Benguet ] IN A bid to document every individual engaged in farming in Benguet, the provincial and local governments and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have poured in more than P4 million for the agricultural profiling project.
The Provincial Government will also deploy 74 personnel in every municipality to gather the needed data. Municipalities will also have to deploy field personnel to complement those hired by the province.
Provincial agriculturist Lolita Bentrez said the number of individuals who will be hired by the Municipal Governments depends on the number of farmers in each town.
A total of P4,447,000 has been allocated for the project, which will last until the end of the year. Actual data gathering from the fields will start on April up to May.
The DA allotted P500,000 for the undertaking, while the Provincial Government provided P1,345,000. Municipalities and barangays also allotted funds for the project.
The agricultural profiling aims to get the actual number of farmers in the province, their individual volume of production, area cultivated, and the post-harvest facilities they are availing.
Agricultural planners said this would help them in coming up with a practical crop production programming while providing them accurate data on the agriculture industry that will also be used as guide in formulating agricultural programs. (JC)
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