In a simple program held yesterday, Director Isidro Acosta Sr. bids adieu as Farmer Director for May 2019 but vowed to continue pushing for the plight of farmers in Cagayan Valley.

“I would like to thank the Department of Agriculture (DA) for giving us the opportunity to hold office in a span of one month,” he said. “It was indeed a great experience to personally lead the operations of the DA-Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) and implement programs and projects in the field.”

As per policy, the department shall designate a Farmer Director during the month of May in relation to the observance of Farmers and Fisherfolks Month every year.

“Yes, there are still pressing problems on agriculture that we need to tend such as low prices of mango, lack of irrigation and drying facilities, mechanization and others,” announced Acosta.

“But there will be solutions to these. We only need to get our acts together and find solutions that will benefit our clients.”

Acosta assured that he will always be supportive of the interventions that will benefit the smallholder farmers.

Meanwhile, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulatory Rose Mary G. Aquino thanked Acosta for his outstanding performance despite limited time.

“We will always be indebted to you because we have seen how hard you worked in the past month,” she said.

“We are looking forward to a more collaborative undertaking with your group because we only have one purpose – to strengthen and sustain the growth of the agriculture sector in the valley.”

Acosta, a hands-on farmer, is currently the Chairperson of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) for the region.