BUTUAN CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of agricultural support to farmers’ groups and associations in Agusan del Norte and this city at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court here on Wednesday, July 12. Along with officials of the Department of Agriculture, the Chief Executive handed over more than P34.8-million worth of farm support during the occasion, consisting of fertilizers, discount vouchers, machineries and equipment, fishing needs, including fiberglass boats, and livelihood projects. “The government is doing everything to uplift the lives of the farmers and fishers in the country through various government interventions,” Marcos said, adding, “Whatever we do, if the sector in agriculture will be left behind, we won’t be able to strengthen the economy in the country.” “Magtulungan tayo upang maabot natin ang ating mga pangarap (Let us help each other to achieve our goals),” added the Chief Executive. The President opened the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the capitol grounds here. He was welcomed during his first visit to Butuan City and Agusan del Norte as President by city officials led by Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada, Agusan del Norte officials led by Gov. Maria Angelica Rosedell M. Amante and  Reps. Jose Aquino and Dale Corvera, and DA-Region 13 (Caraga) officials led by Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. Meanwhile, projects worth P18 million to boost the coconut, cacao, and coffee industries in the Caraga were turned over by the DA-Region 13 to farmer-recipients recently. As part of the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) led  by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) of the DA, the Calamba Farmers Association received the amount of P10 million as intervention under the Coconut Based Coffee and/or Cacao Enterprise Development Project (C3EDP). The money covers the provision for farm improvements through diversification or intercropping with coconut and cacao, including the processing facility, nursery, machinery and equipment, and other planting materials. Calamba FA also received 3,000 cacao planting materials, 700 kilos of organic fertilizer, and 5,000 trees for technology demonstrations for cacao rehabilitation to boost cacao production in Cabadbaran City, this province. On the other hand, P8-million worth of Cacao Community-Based Development Enterprise was turned over to the National Guthrie Plantation Inc. Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NGPI-PC) from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. The amount will cover agricultural inputs, facilities, equipment, and training funded through the High-Value Crops Development Program. Oñate recognized the effort of the farmers and pointed out that DA-Caraga is open to any initiatives for the development of the agricultural sector. “I salute all our farmers. We will never achieve food security without them. So, whatever is doable, may it be a short, medium, or long-term plan, we are open to trying anything, especially now that we have our sites on expanding and developing our coconut, coffee, and cacao agricultural sector.”