There’s So Much Opportunities For Food Production In The Countryside

There’s So Much Opportunities For Food Production In The Countryside, If Only Our National Leaders Would Stop Fighting!
In a highly centralized governance and bureaucracy, any political upheaval at the national level will always leave people in the countryside victims of neglect.
There is a lot of opportunities in the countryside for us to achieve the dreamed Food Sufficiency but these are all now overshadowed by the divisive political battles which draw lines separating our people.
Nakakalungkot dahil ang daming kayamanan ang ating bansa na makakatulong sa pagpaparami ng pagkain pero napabayaan dahil sa sobrang politika.
Ang isla ng Olutanga, na binisita ko twice when I was Chairman of the MinDA, is one example of a hidden treasure trove in our Food Security Program na dapat talagang pagtu-unan ng pansin.
The town of Olutanga, one of the three towns in Olutanga Island which is part of Zamboanga Sibugay, was wihere the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) established the first-ever Steam-Powered Fish Dryer when I served as Chairman of the agency.
The Fish Dryer powered by steam produced by a mini-boiler designed and fabricated by a multi-awarded inventor, Engr. Roderico Cane, would have been set up in 21 other fishing villages all over Mindanao as part of the Mindanao Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Program (MinFAD) initiated by MinDA.
During my visit to Olutanga Island in 2019, I saw a good prospect for fishermen involved in Dried Bangsi production.
The drying process, however, was very poor and unsanitary as the fish was just placed in areas open to dust and flies.
After a consultation with local officials led by Mayor Jun Ruste and fishermen’s groups, a sanitary fish dryer complete with a vacuum packing equipment was identified as the priority project in the island.
In other areas where fishermen catch a lot of “Tamban” or the Sardines fish, the Steam-Powered Fish Dryer could come in tandem with a Retort Machine needed for Spanish Sardines making.
I call this strategy as Precise and Surgical Interventions which are results of face-to-face interactions and direct consultations with the people whose lives will be affected.
Unfortunately, walang panahon ngayon ang ating mga national leaders to look into these golden opportunities.
Sayang!
There is so much we could do to achieve Food Sufficiency if only our leaders would stop fighting and focus on programs and projects which could boost production in the countryside.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(The video presentation was prepared by the Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao Media Team for the Mindanao Development Authority.)