CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao remains committed to advance and support the interests of the region’s agriculture sector through its various programs and projects for the year 2025.

Regional executive director Jose Apollo Pacamalan in the agency’s radio program Tuesday expressed unwavering commitment to support local farmers, in accordance with the policy thrusts of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

“Our mandate remains unchanged, and our efforts remain grounded on fulfilling our country’s need for food security and sufficiency, particularly concerning staple foods such as rice, corn and other crops,” Pacamalan said.

“Among the marching orders of President Marcos is to transform (the agriculture sector) as a local economic driver. We achieve this by directing our efforts to develop the region’s leading agricultural commodities, particularly coconut which remains a widely produced crop in Northern Mindanao,” the director added.

Pacamalan said that regional office eyes the establishment of coconut processing plants in the region’s five provinces, in an effort to spur competitive prices for said commodity, thereby driving local economy, particularly in major coconut-producing towns and barangays.

Cognizant of its promising market opportunities, the NorMin agri department also reassured its support for the production and marketing of coffee, cacao, bamboo and high-value crops for food and industrial purposes, through its existing banner programs and interventions.