TABUK, Kalinga — Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), vowed increased government support for farmers and irrigators during a recent meeting with stakeholders in Kalinga.

Farmers and irrigators’ associations from the province’s seven municipalities and lone city directly presented their operational concerns to national officials.

The Mankapata Irrigation Association requested assistance for a solar irrigation project. Laurel instructed the group to submit a formal proposal, noting that the DA and the National Irrigation Administration currently manage a solar pump irrigation program that could potentially fund the project, provided the site has an adequate water source.

Farmers from Lubo municipality also requested additional irrigation infrastructure and solar-powered systems to secure water supply during dry seasons.

Meanwhile, the Tabuk-Pinukpuk Federation of Irrigators Associations sought farm machinery assistance to improve productivity in irrigated areas.

Beyond irrigation concerns, discussions also covered agricultural policies, fertilizer subsidy distribution, rice importation, and the Rice Tariffication Law.

Laurel explained that the current subsidy distribution follows a formula intended to ensure equitable sharing among farmers, but assured stakeholders that the department would review the concerns raised regarding distribution issues.

The agriculture chief also announced plans for the National Food Authority (NFA) to implement a purchase order system during the upcoming cropping season.

Under the proposed initiative, the NFA would handle the hauling and transportation of unhusked rice from remote areas once farmers present their produce.

Laurel and other officials also discussed strategies to encourage more young people to enter the farming sector, as well as the rollout of aquaculture livelihood programs focused on tilapia and milkfish production.