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A new investment in climate-smart agriculture is taking shape in Samar, as the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO8), through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), breaks ground for a 1,000-square-meter automated greenhouse in Barangay San Vicente, Catbalogan City.

This β‚±5-million project is designed to introduce a more controlled, efficient, and technology-driven approach to the production of capsicum, or sweet pepper, one of the region’s high-value crops.

For Governor Sharee Ann Tan, the groundbreaking represents another opportunity for Samar to strengthen its agricultural sector and make innovative farming technologies more accessible to local communities.

She emphasized that the greenhouse is envisioned not simply as a production facility but also as a demonstration and learning center for modern agriculture. β€œπ‘€π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦π‘œ π‘‘π‘œπ‘”π‘’π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π·π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π΄π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’, π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”π‘›π‘Žπ‘› 𝑑𝑖𝑛 π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘™π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘˜π‘’π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘” π‘”π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘¦π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘– π‘π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘ π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ . π·π‘–π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘›π‘Ž π‘–π‘‘π‘œ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Ž π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘› 𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑔 π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘”π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘™ 𝑠𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦,” she shared.

[We will continue working together with the Department of Agriculture while looking at what else we can do in our community to support our farmers. This facility will also serve as a laboratory for agricultural students, giving them an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn from actual farming practices.]

This is also reflects the province’s continuing commitment to supporting projects to enhance productivity, improve agricultural resilience, and provide new opportunities for farmers and the younger generation.

Meanwhile, in his message, USec. Arrey Perez, DA Undersecretary for Operations, underscored that the success of agricultural programs and infrastructure projects depends on the active participation and support of both the government and the farmers. β€œπΎπ‘Žπ‘šπ‘– π‘ π‘Ž π‘”π‘œπ‘π‘¦π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘œ π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘” π‘ π‘’π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘¦π‘œ, π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦π‘œ 𝑑𝑖𝑛 π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› 𝑛𝑔 π‘ π‘’π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘”π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘›. πΌπ‘›π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑖𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘¦, 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘  π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘›π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’, π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘œπ‘›π‘”-π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘œ π‘›π‘–π‘›π‘¦π‘œ π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–π‘›π‘” 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑙 π‘–π‘‘π‘œ. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘›π‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ πΊπ‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘›π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘†π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿ 𝑖𝑠 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘€β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘  𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑑 π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑀𝑒𝑙𝑙 π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘,” he said.

[We in the government need your support, just as you also need ours. Infrastructure development is not easy, and seeds take time to nurture and grow. That is why, we must work together to make this initiative successful. The Provincial Government of Samar is committed to ensuring that all the needs of our farmers are properly provided for.]

He also emphasized the importance of investing in agricultural technologies which can help farmers adapt to emerging challenges, particularly those brought about by climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured the blessing of the project site, lowering of a time capsule and ceremonial shoveling of soil – a symbolic act marking the beginning of what government officials hope will become a lasting investment in the province’s agricultural future.