Section 6December 22, 1997, Sec./Art. 6

Network of Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development. - The Department shall, within six (6) months after the approval of this Act, and in consultation wit the local government units , appropriate government agencies, concerned non-government organizations (NGOs)and organized farmers' and fisherfolk's groups, identify the strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ) within the network of protected areas for agricultural and agro-industrial development to ensure that lands are efficiently and sustainably utilized for food and non-food production and agro-industrialization.

The SAFDZ which shall serve as centers where development in the agriculture and fisheries sectors are catalyzed in an environmentally and socio-cultural sound manner, shall be identified on the basis of the following criteria

a. Agro-climatic and environmental conditions giving the area as competitive advantage in the cultivation, culture, production and processing of particular crops, animals and aquatic products;

b. Strategic location of the area for the establishment of agriculture or fisheries infrastructure, industrial complexness, production and processing zones;

c. Strategic location and of the area for market development and market networking both at the local and international levels; and

d. Dominant presence of agrarian reform communities (ARCs) and/or small owner-cultivators and amortizing owners/agrarian reform beneficiaries and other small farmers and fisher folk in the area.

The SAFDZ shall have an integrated development plan consisting of production, processing, investment, marketing, human resources and environmental protection components.