By Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday the establishment of 39 farm clusters across Eastern Visayas under the Farm and Fisheries Consolidation and Clustering (F2C2) program, with the goal of enhancing production.
Rodel Macapañas, DA Eastern Visayas field operations division chief, stated in a phone interview that over half of the confirmed farm clusters are located in Leyte province, with the remainder distributed between Samar and Southern Leyte provinces.
Among the major crops and commodities covered are corn, rice and high-value crops, while others include livestock, organic agriculture, and Philippine Rural Development Project-based enterprises.
“We expect these clusters to craft a cluster development plan that will address their needs across the value chain, including marketing, production, operation, organizational development and financing,” Macapañas said.
Under Administrative Order No. 27 Series of 2020 and Memorandum Circular No. 21 Series of 2022, the DA will mainstream, promote and support clustering and consolidation of farmer and fisher groups to become sustainable business enterprises.
The F2C2 program aims to achieve economies of scale, stronger linkages among producers and markets, improve bargaining and market power, establish better access to credit and financing, encourage active big brother-small brother partnerships, and raise the overall productivity of the agriculture sector.
Clustered farms will also receive other assistance, such as scholarships and distance learning programs; and access to modern communication and information technologies like drones to improve production efficiency and management. (PNA)
