THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon has launched its radio station DWEE 107.10 FM 'D' Ani Kita housed at the Pampanga Agricultural State University (PSAU) in Magalang, Pampanga. Agriculture Secretary William Dar served as the program's guest during its maiden broadcast and talked about the culminating activity for Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, which gives tribute to the two sectors. 'We really give due recognition to the crucial role our farmers and fisherfolk play because they are the heroes in the countryside. Especially during this pandemic, they are still farming and fishing, and the country's food is enough,' Dar said. He acknowledged efforts of universities and agricultural colleges in partnership with the DA in using modern technology to increase the level of production of various commodity industries. 'The role of PSAU and various universities and colleges all over the country is important. We ensure the continuous communication and research, which is one of the responsibilities of the university. We also assist them to ensure they can focus in terms of technologies,' Dar said. Aside from the launching of the radio station, he inspected other projects at the PSAU funded under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, including the Information Communication Technology, Research and Development Facility. The facility aims to translate all science-based information for farmers and effect information technology transfer to the communities covered by Central Luzon. Five-million pesos is required for construction and equipment for the facility's operation. Dar also inspected a meat processing plant and cold storage being built at the university and the Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center-Upland Development Zone Multi-Purpose Research and Development Center. The DA provided pure goat breeds to the university for reproduction while Dar met with some of the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agriculture interns in the region.
