Part II.

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA), Majayjay, Laguna The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) addresses programs that considerately deal with the actual need of the small scale to medium scale farmers. OMA holds rice and livestock projects to help farmers with regards to increase in produce and income. The Office also aims demonstrate modern and effective technologies to the local farmers. Some of the rice programs currently being imposed by the central office were furthermore discussed, such as improvement of establishments that are beneficial to farmers, substantiate accessible farm to market routes for faster and unstrained transport of produce, rehabilitate the current local irrigation systems for a more sufficient water source and hold trainings and seminars to uphold and improve the knowledge and advertency of the farmers. Trainings and seminars aim to provide answers to what the farmers need and want to know. Farmer Field School is one of OMAs group-based learning projects that circulate around helping farmers learn more about farming. This project has been constantly producing successful farmers that contribute to their local agricultural development. OMA also pursues to regulate and improve livestock production. Same as rice farmers, Vegetable Farmers, and the like, Livestock farmers also belong to OMAs priority target group. The office implemented policies for the regulation of livestock in the market. Some Policies: 1. Animal Health- this involves: Anti-rabies Vaccinations, Deworming of cattle, Abstain hemorrhagic septicemia
2. Regulation- this involves:

Slaughter house monitoring and sanitation, Castration Animal handling 3. Animal Production 4. Rabies Advocacy Program

5. Meat

Processing Seminars- to provide farmers adequate knowledge about proper handling and processing of meat

The office aims to empower the local people. Through extension programs such as FSS, farmers are certificated and credited to be independent and confident farmers regardless of scale of their farm area. Technology demonstrations are also implemented on the locals for the purpose of introducing and explaining the ease and benefits of modern practices such as upland farming. The main concern of OMA today is its insufficient budget. Before, OMA was under the national level of Department of Agriculture but was later transferred to municipal level. Although the transfer that happened had not entirely affected the extension services that they provide to the farmers, still, more benefits and a relatively bigger budget was given to them back when they were under Dept. of Agriculture; apart from that, farmers also used to receive free chemicals and fertilizers for their farm. With the help of private sectors such as NGOs and currently four other established cooperatives, the office is still able to provide sources for the farmers. It all falls down to the farmers initiative to ask for support. When a farmer in need approaches OMA, they are to help by holding extension programs. Continuous training of the local farmers partnered up with the application of what theyve learned through the program shows improvement and effectiveness. OMAs extension programs current status is ongoing and is expected to show better production in the years to come.