10-yr agriculture master plan for BARMM readied

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will help the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in crafting a 10-year agriculture master plan which will be aimed at increasing food production and decreasing poverty incidence in the area.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on his Facebook page that together with BARMM Agriculture Minister Mohammad Yacob, they would convene a multisectoral workshop to prepare the master plan that would set a direction for the development of the region’s rich agro-fisheries resources.

Despite its vast fishing grounds and fertile soil, BARMM has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. It is composed of five provinces—Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Maguindanao, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Cotabato.

“With its rich volcanic soil and the distinction of being typhoon-free, the DA is eyeing BARMM as a prospective food and fisheries production area for the country,” Piñol said.

Yacob said the region “has to leave [corruption] behind us and do it right this time,” following the number of ghost projects, uncompleted road networks, missing bridges and dysfunctional irrigation systems that hindered the regions development.

The DA and the BARMM agriculture ministry are set to begin the master plan shortly after the election period this month.