Regional Secretary Nasar A. Salmani of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the expanded autonomous region has launched the drive of the new ARMM management under Governor Parouk S. Hussin to provide one of the most needed basic services - the production of sufficient, affordable and accessible food for everyone.

In route on his tour of the provinces to consolidated the agriculture department's manpower and program resources, Regional Secretary Salmani also presided over the conduct of various provincial activities under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) food production program.

In Tawi-Tawi, Salmani distributed 342 sacks of certified palay seeds and 155 sacks of registered seeds that will be planted in the newly opened 497 hectares rice area in the Municipality of Languyan. The seeds were handed by the Secretary as the province is being developed as a new rice area of ARMM, in addition to Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. The seeds, distributed on February 22, 2002 at the DAF Provincial Office, will be planted in the later portion of the dry season - November 2001 to April 2002. With a substantial rice-eating population, Tawi-Tawi has been importing rice from Zamboanga and Sandakan, Malaysia. Tawi-Tawi has 8,000 to 10,000 hectares potential area for rice.

Tawi-Tawi's Provincial Agricultural Officer (PAO) Sangkula A. Tindick announced during the meeting that the Local Government Officials of the province have committed to support the rice farmers in their areas by providing the farmers' counterpart of the purchase cost of the rice seeds under the so-called 50-50 subsidy of the Department of Agriculture. The LGU will pay half of the P 650.00 or P 325.00 per bag of 40 kilos seeds out of their 20% agricultural development fund. The LGU noted that the difficulty of the farmers in meeting the 50% counterpart required under the Department of Agriculture's GMA Rice Program may affect program implementation. In support to the Tawi-Tawi GMA Rice Program, a consultative workshop conducted on February 21, 2002 at the area raised the issue on the lack of working animals and farm implements and post-harvest facilities and technical trainings. On the same occasion, Secretary Salmani and Operations Director Keise Tan Usman committed to provide five (5) power tillers, five (5) multi-purpose drying pavements with five(5) mini-warehouse in the municipalities of Languyan, Panglima-Sugala, Tandubas, Mapun and Bongao. Secretary Salmani also distributed eleven (11) heads of cattle; six (6) heads of carabaos and sixty (60) goats for Rural Improvement Clubs and 4-H Club members. The Secretary also launched the artificial insemination program for livestock using imported Brahman cattle semen The livestock industry of the province has taken a backseat while the province took a lead role in seaweeds production. In a multi-sectoral meeting attended by farmers and DA officials, a proposal for the establishment of a stock farm and ten multiplier farms was endorsed for inclusion in the GMA livestock program of the government. A farmers group committed an area of at least one hundred hectares for the stock farm development. Tawi-Tawi has been importing its meat requirements from the Zamboanga area. Tawi-Tawi contributes 80% of the national dried seaweed production. In fish production, Tawi-Tawi contributes the bulk of ARMM's total output that is 15% of the national output. Overall fishery regional production ranks ARMM second to Region IV. By provincial ranking, Tawi-Tawi is probably the country's top producer as seaweed production falls under the fishery category.

The Secretary and the ARMM Rice Task- Force also met with the National Food Authority Provincial Manager Israel "Tots" S. Jadjuli on the mechanics of the DA-NFA Rice procurement and distribution scheme in support to the rice program

High Value Commercial Crops production in Tawi-Tawi still needs the full support of the department. Currently DAF-ARMM has programmed the provision of quality planting materials, post-harvest facilities for cassava, and establishment of technology demonstration on sweet corn and vegetables.

In an interview with DAF-ARMM Media, Professor Romeo Taup and Redentor Lauddin, President and V-President of the Tawi-Tawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, great optimism for the agri-fisheries sector with the opening of the cross-border travel with the neighboring Malaysian state was apparent. Among the local products that will be marketed via this route are dried seaweeds and other fishery products. The officials, however, prescribed a joint government-private sector move for product quality improvement in order to raise sufficient export demand and consequently generate expansion in production.

Also aimed to improve productivity, the Research and Development activities of the agriculture department were also inspected by Secretary Salmani. Among these were the sea fish cages for Lapu-Lapu, a highl-priced fish with ready export market. A newly-built Research Center for Germplasm collection, conservation and evaluation was also inspected. This facility is designed to develop and conserve plant species in the area for long-term use.

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