Additional agri extension workers expected to improve data-gathering

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said he supports rebuilding the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) pool of extension workers to improve the collection of on-the-ground farm data, thereby improving the DA’s responsiveness to issues confronting farmers and fisherfolk. The statement was reported by BusinessWorld.

Mr. Laurel said deploying DA personnel would improve forecasting and shorten response times should constituents report problems. The additional extension workers are expected to enhance data-gathering at the local level, enabling more timely interventions.

The move comes as the DA seeks to strengthen its field presence and leverage better data to support the agricultural sector. Improved data collection is seen as critical for addressing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and climate-related impacts.