To ensure unhampered food production, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) orients agri-fishery suppliers on the financial grant assistance under the enhanced “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain”.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga said, the program aims to capacitate farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations, including community-based organizations by granting them financial assistance to upscale the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita operations.

The Kadiwa project is part of DA’s efforts in ensuring affordable and available food for all by directly linking suppliers to consumers, bringing their produce in communities, in time for the implementation of the community quarantine due to COVID-19.

Further, participants were introduced to two DA’s information systems, the Kadiwa Agribiz Portal and the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS).

The Kadiwa Agribiz Portal is an online information system where consumers and suppliers may interact for business engagements.

Meanwhile, the FFEDIS, under the Sagip Saka Act, is a registry system that seeks to create a database of registered/accredited farmers and fisherfolk.

As provided in the Memorandum Circular 16, series 2020 of DA, the financial assistance may be accessed in three forms.

Type “A” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P200,000 up to P1 million to finance value-adding activities as assemblers of farmers’ produce such as procurement of produce aggregation and pre-processing (cleaning, sorting, packing, drying, etc.).

Type “B” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P500,000 up to P5 million to finance value-adding activities as consolidators and distributors of farmers’ produce to consumer markets such as assembly, storage, transport, delivery of produce/products to distribution centers or buyers.

Meanwhile, Type “C” Grant, the beneficiary may receive P50,000 up to P150,000 to finance the start-up cost requirement of operating and maintaining Kadiwa retail markets (palengke) or retail stores.

Since the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program rolled out in Region 10 on March 30, 2020, there has been a total of 66 assisted agri-fishery suppliers.

To date, the program has generated a total sales of P12.7 million and has served 49,414 households. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

LANTUD, TALAKAG, Bukidnon – A new partnership geared towards the Plant, Plant, Plant Program of the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Region 10 provided livelihood options of the Maranao-Higaonon Tribe.

Located 1,761 feet above sea level, sitio Kibulag has a potential agricultural area suitable for high value development crops.

IP leader Sultan Abdul Amoran, recounted, “Pasalamat mi sa NICA nga maoy nag link namo sa DA ug nahatagan mi ug mga vegetable seeds.”

The IP community benefitted 150 packs, assorted 5-in-1 vegetable seeds constituting squash, pole sitao, eggplant, okra and ampalaya funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of the agency.

DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program or the ALPAS COVID-19 or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat laban sa COVID-19 eyes to drum up adequacy in food production amid the ongoing health crisis.

NICA 10 Regional Director Manuel M. Orduna requested from DA-RFO 10 to provide vegetable seeds for distribution in the communities that their agency engaged for their community-based dialogue.

As part of their mandate in the implementation of the provision of Executive Order No. 70, instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, their agency is involved in community-based engagements in far flung barangays affected or vulnerable for communist terrorist group.

Sultan Amoran recalled, “Usa ni ka lugar nga hotspot sa una tungod kay usa kini nga political boundary. Dili magkasinabot ang mga tawo. Pero karon malinawon ug kontrolado na.”

NICA has identified the basic needs of the people, and among the requests of the local populace is the provision of vegetable seeds, so that they can plant in their backyard and in their small farms as a form of livelihood.

However, with the distribution of vegetable seeds, he proudly expressed, “Dako ang kausaban sa una ug sa karon nga panahon. Sa una walay mga vegetables diri kung magsuroy ka sa among lugar. Karon, duna na kay makita nga klase klaseng tanom,” said Sultan Amoran.

In a sloping area, Alfredo Amoran, one of the IP community farmer-members, showed his one-fourth hectare farm planted with eggplants.

He recounted, he has harvested nine times already and sold eggplants in major markets in Cagayan de Oro City.

Buyers also flocked in his farm. Lately, he sold around 120 kilograms at P18 per kilogram, to him, that’s far better than having no earned income with the onset of the pandemic.

Joanie A. Buaya of the Canitoan Farmers Association, one of DA-10’s Kadiwa suppliers, directly buys eggplants and other farm produce of said IP community and sells in Kadiwa outlets in Cagayan de Oro .

“Pasalamat mi sa Kadiwa kay nakatabang ko sa mga IP sa Kibulag ug naay merkado sa ilang produkto, kini dako nga tabang alang nila ug sa ubang mga mag-uuma,” said Buaya.

DA-10 OIC Regional Director Carlene C. Collado shared, the Kadiwa project is part of DA’s efforts in ensuring affordable and available food for all by directly linking suppliers to consumers, bringing their produce in communities in time for the implementation of the community quarantine due to COVID-19.

Importantly, NICA’s strategy yields a harmonized and strengthened partnership for agri-fishery development.

“Kung tan-awon nato ang insurgency sa Mindanao, isa ra ang solusyon – ang panginabuhian sa mga tawo. Walay pwedeng mag-anha anang bukid kung tanang tawo nabuhi, walay mag-anha sa bukid nga magkontra sa gobyerno. Ang agriculture maoy solusyon, walay lain,” conveyed Sultan Amoran.#(ATCabig)

TALAKAG, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) delivers its agri interventions and commitments worth P1.9 million in support to the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) launching on June 30 in barangay Lantud of said municipality.

PRLEC is composed of the different line agencies which responded to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 70, instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict.

“The agri-interventions is in response to the needs of the IP community, based on the validation and assessment conducted by DA,” said Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations.

Sultan Abdul Amoran, IP leader of the Maranao-Higaonon Tribe received the agri interventions comprising hybrid corn seeds, lowland and inbred rice seeds, garden tools and organic fertilizer worth P425,700.

Moreover, RTD Madriaga handed certificate of commitment to Sultan Amoran amounting to P573,000 which include livestock animals (carabao, goat, cattle), poultry and duck, upland rice seeds, cacao, coffee and fruit trees seedlings.

“Kung unsay itabang sa gobyerno nato, kita maningkamot unsay matabang pud nato,” said Sultan Amoran.

Col Ferdinand T Barandon, INF (GSC) PA, Commander403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, 4ID, Philippine Army received the certificate of commitment as an additional support to civil military operations amounting to P649,840.

Commitment contain livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep), free range chicken, inorganic fertilizer, cracked corn and open pollinated variety corn seeds.

Likely, the 8th Infantry Battalion received the certificate of commitment amounting P264,000 comprising of livestock animals (cattle heifer, bull, native pigs, sheep) and free range chicken.

Col Barandon stressed, “Communities will benefit the interventions. Kami ay magiging instrument lang para maihatid sa inyo ang serbisyo. Ito’y hindi para sa amin, para po ito sa inyo.”#(ATCabig)

The agriculture department in Region 10 continues to support the local government and other government agencies in their bid to cushion the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, thru vegetable seeds provision.

With the aim of expanding the household urban gardening project in Cagayan de Oro City, the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) obtained its requested 159 packets of assorted veggie seeds from DA-Regional Field Office 10 on July 2, 2020.

According to CHUDD-Social Entrepreneurship Program Section Head Kris S. Buntag, three packets will be given to each homeowners association (HOA) of the 53 relocation sites in CdeO, where 10 among the associations have their own existing communal garden.

She said, currently there are about 764 households in 35 HOAs are already practicing the urban container and household gardening since 2018 in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

“DA’s veggie seeds provision is vital to the projects of the local government, especially during this health crisis. Through this, marginalized communities can eat their own harvest and even sell some excess produce as their livelihood,” she exclaimed.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla handed said provisions.# (EMB)

CABANGLASAN, Bukidnon, July 1 – In a bid to contribute in the government’s peacekeeping efforts, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) accorded farm inputs assistance to the conflict affected areas of sitios Tumbaga, Tagbakan, Katablaran and Saluringan, all of barangay Canangaan.

Held at the town center, a total of 100 bags of hybrid corn seeds worth P500,000 were turned over to select leaders of such communities, as crop production assistance that can cover at least 50 hectares of land.

Lt Sancho S Tomaquin, Charlie Company Commander, 88th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, said the recipients are among those nearly 200 displaced individuals, who fled from their farmlands and homes brought about an armed confrontation between the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the government troops which transpired nearly two weeks ago.

Since June, of this year, the army official reported, that they have set off to the municipality of Cabanglasan to conduct its Community Support Program (CSP), particularly in barangays Paradise, Mandahican, Mandaing, Cabulohan and Canangaan.

Out from the five barangays, they have identified that most of the enemies are in the hinterlands of Canangaan, of whom have set up camps in the sitios.

“From here, we have undertaken our CSP to clear the area from being CPP-NPA infested. After the operations, we need to sustain the peace and order situation for development to come through. Once absent ang basic services, talagang magre-rebelde ang tao,” Tomaquin remarked.

In particular, the CSP aims to bring people back to the fold of the government while empowering communities through a synergy of development efforts among soldiers, government agencies, and the local governments.

Further, he emphasized that such initiative uses the whole-of-nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, as provided in President Duterte’s Executive Order 70.

“Hindi maganda ang nangyari, but we can turn the negative into positive. Mas nakikita talaga ng gobyerno kung sino talaga ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin,” he said, recognizing the downpour of agri-interventions from DA-10.

Meanwhile, OIC-Provincial Operations Chief of Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez of DA-10 corroborated the army official’s statement, saying that despite encountering setbacks, a blessing has come thru the additional farm inputs.

“This [100 bags of hybrid corn seeds] is on top of the 300 bags that were previously handed over to Cabanglasan town,” she explained. Such reinforcement is eyed to drum up the municipality’s corn production.

Based from reports of the local agriculture office, as of June 2020, there are 4,408 corn farmers, cultivating 5,937 hectares with an annual average production of 6.4 metric tons, specifically for hybrid corn.

“We, at the department, encourage you to form a group, as this will be instrumental in gaining more access and availing of assistance from the government such as DA,” Lopez added.

Such declaration is also opportune, as the government troops are set to assist the locals in the affected sitios to fully organize and have them registered with DOLE, Lt Tomaquin stated.

“Kini nga grasya na atong nadawat karon bisag simple ug gamay, dakong panghinaot nga kung kana atoang ampingan ug atong itanum ug ipahiluna ang atong umahan, basin mao nani sinugdanan sa pag arang-arang sa atong kahimtang,” Kagawad on Committee on Agriculture Claudio Canillas expressed.

After about a week of taking shelter in schools at barangay San Vicente and Iba, which was realized via the convergence of efforts from the provincial down to the municipal governments, the army official left and posed the affected residents a challenge as they can now return to their homes.

“Nagbigay lang man din tayo ng binhi, sana yung tinatanim natin yung binhi ng kapayapaan…hindi lang sana ito manatiling binhi, magyabong sana ito. Isang binhi lang yan pero kung nagbunga yan, mas marami pang binhi nga maitatanim natin na kakalat ang kapayapaan. Yung itinatamin ngayon nga kapayapaan, alagaan nila, pagyabungin nila hanggang mamunga at itanim ulit nang sa gayon ay dumami,” Lt Tomaquin concluded.

Also witnessing the ceremonial turnover are Cabanglasan Municipal Vice-Mayor Lolita N. Obsioma, Municipal Agriculturist Dr. Anita S. Macabugto and other local officials and employees, DA-10 Regional Corn Focal Person Richan D. Lacanaria, and Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Alson G. Quimba. #

Geared towards the continuous production of farm animals, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over 18 heads of sheep to the local government units (LGU) of Misamis Occiental, earlier today, July 2, 2020.

The three modules with 1:5 male-female ratio per module, was handed to the three government offices of Misamis Occidental, Tangub City, Tudela and Panaon through their respective veterinary and agriculture offices.

DA-RFO 10 Livestock Program coordinator Ma. Lourdes M. Sypiecco shared, the said animals come from the agency’s production center, Malaybalay Stock Farm and will be used as stocks for the multiplier farms of said areas.

“The program aims to boost the livestock production which would translate to the provision of additional income for backyard raisers in the province, especially during these trying times.” she added.

Sypiecco further called for interested applicants of the multiplier farm project and encouraged them to submit project brief and letter of intent addressed to the DA-10’s Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado. # (AMBManto)

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon – To develop the agricultural sector in conflict-affected areas, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over three units farm tractors to the 403rd Infantry Brigade on June 25, 2020 in Impasugong, Bukidnon.

OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 led the turn over of said machineries worth P7.470 million with accessories, 100 horsepower four-wheel drive farm tractors with trailing harrow, disc plow and trailer to Col. Ferdinand T Barandon INF (GSC) PA, Commander, 403rd Infantry (PEACEMAKER) Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

The tractors will be used by its Infantry Battalion units under its operational control, the 8th Infantry (DEPENDABLE) Battalion, 88th Infantry (MARINGAL) Battalion and 1st Special Forces (Anytime Anywhere) Battalion as its recipients.

RED Collado said, the assistance is in support to the agency’s thrust in increasing productivity and income and reduce poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture and fishery in pursuit of the country’s peace agenda.

Collado underscored the support is in line with Executive Order 70 signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte which aims to end local communist armed conflict.

Col Barandon stressed, the farm machineries will greatly help the production of farmers, including the army’s peace and order programs.

“Rest assured that these machineries will be maximized in helping conflict-affected areas into becoming productive and resilient communities,” he added.

Meanwhile, 8IB Commanding Officer LTC Edgardo V Talaroc, Jr INF (GSC) reminded the farmers, “There is only one government” and urged them not to be swayed by false promises of leftists.

Said turnover of machineries forms part of the P10 million agri-fishery assistance which DA-10 poured to farmers in barangays Kalabugao, Hagpa and Bulonay of said town. # (AMBManto)

June 26, 2020 – Banking on public-private partnership, at least 500 DA-assisted farmers in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon rebounded after struggling with the COVID-19 setbacks.

The farmers who belong to an Indigenous Peoples community are now expanding their market reach, profitably supplying fresh vegetables produce to the neighboring regions.

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic our farm products’ prices plunges so our sales drops. Thanks to unwavering support of the Department of Agriculture and our partnership with PITAC MPC, we were able sell our products in other region, for now in Butuan, but we have plan to penetrate Cebu, once our production can cope with the demand” Said Ryan Danio president of Miarayon Highland Farmers Association.

The Philippine International Travel Assistance Center Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PITAC MPC) is a financing institution based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The cooperative provides agri financing support to Bukidnon farmers.

Through DA-ACPC’s Sure Covid-19 loan, the company ably support the Miarayon farmers’ financing needs during the pandemic.

“Our engagement with the farmers associations in Talakag started last year, but we provided added support during this crisis. Right now we are helping them to sell their products in new marketplace” Ricky R. Chamen, PITAC MPC Special Project Manager remarked.

By partnering with PITAC MPC farmers in Talakag were able to sell 25 tons of carrots, cabbage, and potato at decent price, earning them not less than P400,000 sales in a month time.

The Miarayon Highland Farmers Association, Talaandig Farmers Agriculture Cooperative, Pagsabuwahan Ipalambo Sa Organisasyon and Talakag Potato Farmers Association form strategic alliance by consolidating their farm products for bulk selling to PITAC MPC.

With this scheme the farmers are assured their products will be sold profitably. “Our aim is to help the farmers engage not only in agriculture production but also to diversify into other forms of business ventures suited to their place.

We wanted the locals to benefit from the potentials of their place” Chamen added. Chamen disclosed PITAC MPC is presently helping Miarayon Highland Farmers Association to start their water refilling business.

He also shared the possibility of helping the farmers explore agri-tourism in Miarayon in the future. Vegetable farmers in Miarayon are recipients of several agricultural interventions from DA-10.

To boost their vegetable production the farmers are granted projects such as establishment of spring development irrigation system, provision of farm machineries and equipment, draft animals and high quality vegetable seeds.

The farmers are also technically assisted in the production and marketing of their products.

“Through DA-10 Kadiwa on Wheels the Miarayon farmers were able to sell their products directly to the consumers in Cagayan de Oro City amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Now we are glad to note that, despite the pandemic, they were able to expand their market, distributing their products to other regions” DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga accounted.

According to the director, Miarayon Highland Farmers Association is a model farmers group pioneering farm products consolidation in Northern Mindanao. The association is also one of only eight DA beneficiaries for Sustainable Potato Program in the country. The program is undertaken in partnership with the Universal Robina Corp. (URC) of which, the Miarayon Highland Farmers Association emerged as the top potato producers.

While grateful of the agricultural assistance and opportunities accorded to them by DA, moving forward the farmers are hopeful of DA’s continued support.

“Given our situation right now, we hope we can be assisted in terms of road construction in some remote production areas in our place. Having proper road will help us reduce the production costs. Also, we are looking forward to farming technology assistance from DA. This will be beneficial to keep us updated of modern farming methods” Danio shared.

A model farmer in Miarayon, Danio considered farmer’s ingenuity and dedication key to thrive amid this pandemic. “We should not fret of the crisis. This will pass. The DA will always be around to guide and help us” Danio concluded, assuring his fellows. #(ATalib)

To promote its advocacy on urban gardening amid the health crisis, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) harvests 5 kilos of pechay from its urban gardening project at the DA-10 office compound, earlier today June 30, 2020.

Spearheaded by its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the pechay was planted on the first day of June and was harvested after 29 days.

It can also be recalled that the agency has also harvested ampalaya, cucumber, red and green lettuce earlier this month.

Other crops planted at the agency compound include ampalaya, upo, watermelon and lettuce – of which were planted using recycled materials.

Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado urged the public to adopt urban gardening as they can be assured on its safety as well as food security despite the ongoing pandemic.

He further encouraged the public to avail of the agency’s free vegetable seeds at the agency’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa COVID-19 desk.

As of June 29, the agency has distributed a total of 20,748 packets (802.212 kgs) assorted vegetable seeds.#

OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 modestly observed the DA’s 122nd founding year by holding the annual employees’ medical check-up inside its compound in Antonio Luna St., Cagayan de Oro City on June 23, 2020.

Following IATF guidelines, safety protocols were strictly imposed as 188 DA-10 employees underwent medical evaluation in DA’s regional office.

“Because we are all invested in our duties as frontliners, we might have sidelined our health. As we face this pandemic, we need to see to it our employees are healthy so that they can carry out their functions effectively” Director Collado said, substantiating the agency’s milestone by advocating its employees’ health.

The initiative is material to DA’s 122nd anniversary theme – ‘Agrikultura ang Pag-asa sa Kabila ng Pandemya’.

While coping with the new normal, DA-10 takes pride in Northern Mindanao’s agriculture vibrancy.

Notwithstanding the crisis, the region’s agriculture sectors remain resilient and productive, supplying major agri-fishery commodities to other regions in Mindanao, including Luzon and Visayas regions.

“Food security is, and will always be, our main priority as we strive to attain our goals of masaganang ani and mataas na kita for our farmers in the region. With the interventions and assistance we provided our clientele, I am certain we will soar high in our pursuit of attaining our objectives” Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga accounted.

The director underscored the agency’s effort in capacitating the region’s farmers and fisherfolk to cushion their ways of coping with the COVID-19 crisis, providing them numerous enabling agricultural interventions.

“We need to be proactive as we are heading towards new normal in agriculture. We have to be ready and grounded as we stretch our services, reaching out the unserved agriculture sectors in the region” Director Madriaga stressed.

Noting agriculture’s indispensability especially in times of crisis, Director Collado urge the region’s populace to engage themselves in backyard or urban gardening.

“With or without the pandemic, we need to grow our own food. Food security should start from home. By producing our own food, our family is assured of safe food, we can save our hard- earned income, and teach our children the importance of agriculture at an early age,” Collado emphasized.

Moving onwards, the director challenged DA-10 employees to live up to their duties as the region’s food security frontliners.

“We have crucial role in the country’s battle against the pandemic. With this I am prompting all DA-10 employees to stay safe!”# (ATalib)