The month of May is very significant to the farmers and fisherfolk - the people who provide for the basic needs of the entire populace and who constitute two-thirds of the Filipino population. As stipulated in Presidential Proclamation 393 signed on March 21, 1989 by former President Corazon C. Aquino, the month of May of every year is declared as "Farmers" and Fisherfolk's Month.

This year's theme, "Makabagong Agrikultura Tungo sa Matatag na Ekonomiya" underscores the crucial role that agriculture plays in the overall development of the country's economy.

Highlighting the department's efforts is Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban's campaign of rice self-sufficiency by the year 2010 with the country producing more than 16 million metric tons of rice. This will be achieved through the use of high-yielding varieties and the rehabilitation of national and communal irrigation systems.

Envisioned as the DA's contribution tot pump priming the economy, the rehabilitation program aims to restore the productiveness of some 12,475 hectares of presently unutilized lands benefiting about 21,500 farmers. An initial P499 million has been released to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to fast track irrigation work. This is part of the P2 billion earmarked for the irrigation program for 2006.

This along with increased productivity in the other crops, livestock and fisheries sector will hopefully contribute to reaching the target of four percent growth for the agriculture sector in 2006.

Agricultural products with value-added and export potential will also take center stage during this.