DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines is a government agency.

It is neither a factory nor a trading company.

The Department of Agriculture is the primary policy-making, planning, implementing, and coordinating body of the Philippine government in the agriculture and fisheries sector. Its main mission is to ensure food security and to promote the sustainable development and growth of the agricultural and fisheries industries in the country.

Key functions include:

Formulating and implementing agricultural policies, plans, and programs.

Providing support services to farmers and fisherfolk, such as research and development, extension services, and access to credit and markets.

Ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural products.

Managing agricultural resources and promoting sustainable farming practices.

Regulating and monitoring the agricultural sector to ensure fair trade and protect consumer interests.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines is a government agency, not a commercial company. Therefore, it does not directly manufacture or sell commercial products for profit. Its primary role is to develop and implement agricultural policies, provide support services, and regulate the agricultural sector to ensure food security and improve farmers' livelihoods.

However, through its various programs, research, and development initiatives, the DA facilitates the production, distribution, and access to the following agricultural inputs and commodities, which are often provided to farmers as assistance or through subsidized programs:

1. Improved Seeds and Planting Materials

Rice seeds (hybrid and inbred varieties)

Corn seeds (hybrid and open-pollinated varieties)

High-value crop seeds and seedlings (e.g., vegetables, fruits, coffee, cacao)

2. Breeding Animals and Fingerlings

Livestock (e.g., cattle, carabaos, goats, swine)

Poultry (e.g., chickens, ducks)

Fish fingerlings and broodstock (e.g., tilapia, bangus, various freshwater and marine species)

3. Farm Inputs

Fertilizers (often distributed or subsidized)

Pesticides and biological control agents (for pest and disease management)

4. Agricultural Commodities (Supported by DA programs)

Rice

Corn

Vegetables

Fruits

Livestock products (meat, milk)

Poultry products (meat, eggs)

Fishery products (fish, crustaceans, mollusks)

High-value crops (e.g., coffee, cacao, spices, rubber)

5. Technical Services and Information

Agricultural extension services

Training programs for farmers

Market information and linkages

Research and development outputs (new technologies, farming practices)