Malaybalay City, May 28 – The Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) Provincial Management Officer Kristine Cyvill Gregorio conducts briefing on Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) Program to President Jesus Antonio G. Derije of Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga of DA-RFO 10.

KAYA, a new loan program of the DA-ACPC will finance capital requirements of start-up or existing agri-based enterprises of young entrepreneurs and agri-fishery graduates aged 18-30 years old.

Each borrower may loan up to P500,000 which is payable for five years with zero interest rate, with not more than 3.5 percent management fee thru partner lending conduit GFIs, rural banks, coop banks and viable NGOs.

DA-ACPC will engage government financial institutions (GFIs) such as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and non-GFIs to implement said program.

Interested applicants may contact hotline numbers 09065055442/09474308576 of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-RFO 10 or thru 09559557333 of ACPC. # (ATCabig)

CdeO City, May 29 – The DA-National Dairy Authority – Northern Mindanao Department (DA-NDA-NMD) has given 300 bottles of fresh flavored milk to the DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) frontliners.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga received the provisions from DA-NDA-NMD Project Development Officer IV Debbie U. de San Miguel amounting to P10,500.

The bottles of fresh milk in melon and choco variants are among the products of Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives, popularly known for selling under its brand name, Highland Fresh Dairy Products.

NDA, an attached agency of DA is responsible for the development of the dairy industry in the country.

They purchased fresh milk to support the personnel of its mother agency, including those frontliners from other attached bureaus and agencies, in its collective battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, de San Miguel expressed, that drinking fresh cow’s milk will help boost the immunity among the agency’s personnel, especially amid the ongoing health crisis. #

MUSUAN, MARAMAG, BUKIDNON, May 26 – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) in partnership with Central Mindanao University (CMU) and nine seed companies launched the 50 hectares hybrid rice derby and technology demonstration in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon to boost rice productivity to attain rice sufficiency.

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and CMU President Jose Antonio G. Derije led the event in support to DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) kontra sa COVID-19 program.

President Derije acknowledges the strengthened partnership between CMU and DA in the agri development of the university.

“The hybrid rice derby and techno demo aims to increase national agri-fishery output through intensified use of quality seeds, appropriate inputs, modern technologies to increase levels of productivity across all commodities to ensure food productivity, availability, accessibility and affordability amidst the threat of COVID-19 pandemic,” said RED Collado.

He further explained, through DA’s Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), a quick response measure that addresses food security concerns amid the pandemic, focuses to intensify campaign for the adoption of hybrid rice technology among local farmers, which intends to produce more rice to increase the national sufficiency level from 87 percent to 93 percent.

Region 10 targeted for 94 percent sufficiency level, a 12 percent increase from its preceding year target with various mitigating programs implemented to boost rice production.

RED Collado further shared, the project pursues to convince farmers to plant hybrid rice by showcasing the best farming technologies and practices through the collective efforts of DA, CMU, PLGU and the private sector.

Through the best farming practices, farmers can feasibly adopt to increase their efficiency and productivity.

The techno demo will demonstrate the effect of various planting approaches which include mechanical, manual and direct seeding to yield using top hybrid rice varieties provided by participating companies.

The techno demo will cover 45 hectares, giving each seed company five hectares, to be planted with their most leading varieties, using their own cultural practices protocol.

The remaining five hectares will be utilized for the one common protocol for all cultural practices which will be adopted to all entry varieties.

Machineries and equipment will be provided by DA-10, while seed companies will provide the seeds, fertilizers and labor in each farming activities, including technical assistance.

The preparation of the techno the demo area will be handled by CMU.# (ATCabig)

Geared towards the promotion of agriculture and rural development, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado signs the Memorandum of Agreement with Central Mindanao University (CMU) through President Dr. Jesus Antonio G. Derije on the conduct of the ‘Masagang Ani, Mataas na Kita’ radio program over CMU’s radio, DXMU-FM 88.9 on May 26, 2020.

The said initiative is in line with Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s directive of sustaining a massive information and communication campaign.

Through this, DA-10 partnered with CMU in the conduct of the ‘Masagang Ani, Mataas na Kita’ community radio program as a medium for information-dissemination of DA’s programs and projects.

RED Collado said that the agency will tap the seed companies, including the provincial and municipal agriculture offices in Bukidnon and DA attached agencies to share their expertise in the radio program.

“Participating seed companies of DA-CMU’s 50-hectare hybrid rice techno demo will also be invited in the radio program for farmers to know the latest technologies that they can adopt,” Collado further said.

Meanwhile, President Derije is hopeful for the success of the project and thanked DA for its continued partnership.

In CY 2012, DA funded P4 million for the rehabilitation and conversion of Radio Station DXMU-AM to DXMU-FM in intensifying the agri-fisheries information, education and communication campaign thru broadcasting.

Collado revealed that DA-10 has committed to further develop and improve said radio station to further intensify its operation.#

Cagayan de Oro City, May 26 – Anchored on the theme, “Pagpupugay sa Magsasaka at Mangingisda Natin, Tungo sa Sapat na Pagkain”, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) joined the simultaneous nationwide celebration of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, during the kickoff of its weeklong conduct of Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita until this Friday at the agency grounds.

For almost three months operation, the direct marketing scheme under DA has assisted 38 exhibitors, comprising of farmer-associations, individual farmers, merchandisers and partner government agencies and served an estimated 26,718 households in the region.

Over the period, the Kadiwa has been held in 52 sites, generating sales amounting to about Php7 million.

“We are happy to note that our Kadiwa has served a two-pronged goal of providing fresh, safe, nutritious and affordable products to our consumers at the same time help producers and growers directly link their products to the market,“ Carlota S. Madriaga, Regional Technical Director for Operations of DA-10, in a recognition program dedicated for food security frontliners.

This employed marketing approach has eliminated middlemen, which pads the costs of agri-fishery products being bought by consumers, the assistant executive added.

Kadiwa, now institutionalized within CdeO City, will be heading out to the different barangays for the week, including Macabalan, Gusa, Macasandig, Kauswagan, Indahag, Patag, Agusan and Iponan.

Highlight of the activity include the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between DA-10 and the Department of Agriculture Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DAMPC) for the Kadiwa online market, another marketing platform which paves much ease and convenience of bringing agri-fishery products right at the doorsteps of consumers.

“We have partnered with DA-10 through its suppliers. Basically, we will deliver the orders of our consumers either thru call or Facebook, especially for those who cannot possibly go out of their homes to market,” Larry E. Paraluman, DAMPC chair explained.

Likewise, a minimal delivery fee will be charged to cover reasonable costs for transportation of the goods, the DAMPC chair detailed, adding that food packages can be delivered on the same day orders are placed while bulk orders can take up about two to three days to be delivered.

Citing such development, RTD Madriaga also recognized that this has been the result of the overwhelming response ranging from the consumers, the local governments across Region 10, especially the farmers and fisherfolk.

“We would like to thank our suppliers, who have been with us in our Kadiwa from its inception until now. In the process, consumers have reaped benefits in availing agri-fishery products at farmgate prices while farmer- and fisher-producers can sell directly to their consumers, even some of whom have initially thought will be difficult to do amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” the DA-10 official remarked.

On top of the agency’s assistance in terms of marketing endeavors via Kadiwa, she also assured the department’s continuous support to them, especially amid the ongoing health crisis such as the distribution of assorted vegetable and corn seeds under the Plant, Plant, Plant program, dispersal of livestock and poultry, provision of rice and fertilizers under the Rice Resiliency Project, farm machineries and equipment, among others. #

CdeO City, May 26 – The agriculture department here in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) finds another ally in its Plant, Plant, Plant, Plant Program (Agri 4Ps) through the Del Monte Foundation, Inc. (DMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Del Monte Philippines, Inc.

As support, DA-10 thru Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga turned over 150 packets of veggie seeds, comprising of okra, ampalaya and pechay to DMFI, represented by Raymund L. Bandalan.

Said foundation sought from the agency the provision of vegetable seeds for the implementation of their ‘Utanan sa Kabalayan Program’, which is jointly undertaken by the company with the agriculture’s office of the local government of Sumilao, Bukidnon.

The Program shares the agency’s thrust of ensuring sustained food production, availability, food accessibility and affordability amid the COVID-19 pandemic with its eight target benefitting poor barangays in said locality, as identified thru the Zero Extreme Poverty 2030 Movement.#

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON, May 21- The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) turned over P6.2 million agricultural interventions to farmer-organizations and a local government unit in Bukidnon.

Under the DA-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) machineries and equipment worth P5.9 million aims to help improve productivity and reduce poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture.

The local government of Talakag, Bukidnon received three units 35-horsepower mini four-wheel drive farm tractors with implements and two units corn mechanical sheller amounting P3.2 million.

The Upper Patag Growers and Farmers Associations, Inc. of Lantapan, Bukidnon received one unit rice combine harvester, one unit 35-horsepower four-wheel drive farm tractors with implements which include rotavator and trailer amounting P2.6 million.

“The need to increase the level of farm mechanization, to produce more food efficiency and quality will be beneficial both for farmers and consumers,” said Carlene C. Collado, OIC-Regional Executive Director of DA-10.

RED Collado explained, farm machinery will boost farming activities and ensure high production and reduce postharvest losses.

DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) reported that postharvest losses for corn accounts to 7.18 percent and 16.47 percent for rice, from harvesting, piling, hauling, shelling, drying and storage.

He has been emphasizing the need for farmers to adopt the different agri-machinery and equipment innovations to increase the country’s mechanization rate from 2.31 horsepower per hectare to 4 hp per hectare.

“Dako ug ikatabang ang mga makinarya kay ang wala na develop nga yuta tungod kay kulang sa galamiton maka expand na. Dako pasalamat namo sa Ginoo nga natabangan mi sa DA,” said Reynaldo Berdi, President of Dominorog Small Farmers Association of Dominorog, Talakag, Bukidnon.

[The machinery would be a big help in developing and expanding our farm. We’re thankful to God with DA’s assistance.]

DA-SAAD is a locally-funded program of the agency that addresses poverty alleviation among the marginalized sectors in agri-fishery.

Through this program, provinces with high poverty incidence rate have been given assistance in agri-fisheries since 2017.

Included in the turnover of agri-interventions were six units, 500-egg capacity automatic egg incubators amounting P306,372 under the Livestock Program of the agency.

The project intends to provide livelihood enterprise to qualified recipients who may engage in balut business, selling of days-old-chicks and production of live chicken or poultry meat.

The incubator comes with a module of 10 male and 100 female chicken or ducks as start-up agribusiness kit.

Six association-beneficiaries in Bukidnon received one unit each which comprised, the QUARBA Farmers Cooperative and Ambong Womens Organization of Impasug-ong; Dologon Fisherfolk Livelihood Association of Maramag; Bethany Christian Home for Children of Talakag; Kalilangan Cassava Farmers Association of Kalilangan and J.A Agro Employees Farmers Beneficiary Association of Quezon.# (ATCabig)

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In a bid to address food security during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has turned over native swine piglets, Itik Pinas and mushroom fruiting bags to some farmer-associations and rural improvement clubs (RIC) in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

Three associations each received 12 heads of native swine piglets with a total amount of P19,602.00.

Beneficiaries include, Miarayon Farmers Association of Talakag, Bukidnon, Del Monte Foundation, Inc. of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and San Isidro Farmers Association of Medina, Misamis Oriental.

“Dako ni ug ikatabang sa panginabuhian labi na kanamo, mga kababainhan. Daghan pa ang matabangan kung manganak ni pohon,” said Zaida D. Bueanbisto, RIC president of Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon.

[This would be a great help especially to us, women. In time, when they bear offspring, more women can benefit of it.]

Meanwhile, the Tigkalaan RIC of Talakag, Bukidnon received 75 heads of Itik Pinas amounting to P7,500.00.

OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of DA-10 said, “The intervention provides livelihood and food security for said beneficiaries.”

Native Swine piglets and Itik Pinas are the production of DA-10’s research station, the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City

“Said intervention is one of the main sources of cash income in rural areas and provides financial safety umbrella, especially on the onset of COVID-19 pandemic,” RED Collado added.

He further said, “aside from that, native swine production promotes self-sufficiency and provides greater food security and increases income.”

Meanwhile, farmer-associations in Don Carlos and Dalwangan, Malaybalay City in Bukidnon and one RIC of Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon, each received 100 pieces oyster mushroom fruiting bags with a total cost of P10,500.00.

Mushroom fruiting bags which costs P35.00 each could lasts for three months of continuous food supply for every household.

Each bag has an estimated production of 200 grams within the said period, which provide guaranteed food.

DA-10’s mushroom production target of 20,000 fruiting bags is an immediate COVID-19 response from its three research stations, Research Center for Upland Development in Dangcagan, Bukidnon and Research Center for Hillyland Development in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and NMACLRC in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Carmelito Lapoot, the officer-in-charge of DA’s Research Division shared, “providing immediate food assistance is one of our efforts in improving lives. We have to increase production effectively and efficiently.”#(ATCabig)

May 20, 2020 – Notwithstanding e DA-10 eyes 94% rice sufficiency in NorMin amid COVID-19 onslaught conomic backslide due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10) stays optimistic as regard rice sufficiency in Northern Mindanao.

The agency is projecting at least 94 percent rice sufficiency rate this year, an increase of 12 percent target sufficiency from the preceding year.

The projection is pinned considering various mitigating programs implemented by DA-10 to boost rice production in the region.

In May to June this year, the agency is slated to distribute Php407.3 million worth of farm inputs subsidy to an estimated 42,539 rice farmers in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin through DA’s Rice Resiliency Project (RRP).

Prior to this, DA-10 already rolled out the distribution of Php128.2 million financial aid to 25,578 eligible farmer-recipients of DA’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) and Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF).

The RRP subsidy comprises 206,320 bags fertilizer, 21,452 bags hybrid rice seeds and 58,986 bags inbred rice seeds for distribution to rice farmers regionwide. Inbred rice seeds are mostly funded by DA-PhilRice.

The RRP is part of DA’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS COVID-19) quick response measure approved by the IATF to address food security concerns amid the pandemic.

Considering favorable climatic condition, adequate irrigation and appropriate production technologies, the RRP subsidy is forecasted to increase yield of hybrid rice by 1.5 metric tons per hectare and 0.5 metric ton per hectare for inbred rice.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga substantiated the LGUs and the farmers’ roles in attaining the agency’s tripartite endeavor to increase the region’s rice sufficiency rate.

“While DA provides the needed assistance, the LGU and rice farmers are bound to their roles, too. The LGUs are responsible in identifying rightful farmer-recipients, collect and submit documents needed by DA, then spearhead the distribution of the subsidy. The farmers on the other hand should put the subsidy into proper use and adopt appropriate rice farming technologies,” Director Madriaga said, elaborating DA, LGUs and farmers’ interplaying roles.

Key to the attainment of the agency’s goal are close monitoring and evaluation of the RRP implementation, strong partnership with LGUs, seed companies, and commitment of the farmers to adopt appropriate technologies.

“By increasing our rice sufficiency we will be able to lessen rice importation. This, in return, will help our farmers to be more prosperous and profitable” Director Madriaga accounted.

“Our end goal really is to be self-sustaining. That means we have enough rice supply in the local level adequate for local consumption,” she added.

While settling for 94 percent rice sufficiency, DA-10 is confident the region’s 4.6 million inhabitants will not be experiencing rice shortage.

The six percent offshoot of the target sufficiency rate can be filled in through rice importation and consumption of alternative crops such as corn, banana, sweet potato, among others.

“Our priority is to ensure that Northern Mindanao is rice-sufficient, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic holds still. For now, we are looking at expansive rice production by providing optimal farming support to our farmers in the region,” DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado said.

“DA-10 will be utilizing all resources on hand to help our rice farmers. With this effort we are hopeful everything will turn out favorably,” Director Collado auspiciously concluded.

To continuously improve the rice industry situation in the region, DA-10 will continuously provide farm inputs subsidy, farm mechanization support, financial and rice production trainings.#

Cagayan de Oro  City, May 19 – Joint verification of documents with the Department of Agriculture Region 10 (DA-10), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Services (DA-BPI-PQS) on the delivery of imported rice from Vietnam, as part in intensifying efforts to ensure sufficient rice supply.

Aside from the Bureau of Custom’s clearance, the cargo truck with a foodlane pass issued by DA, loaded with 600 bags of imported rice, part of the 4,000 bags delivery is owned by an accredited importer.

According to DA-BPI-PQS  NorMin Regional Manager  Manuel A. Barradas, the importer’s documents are in order based on the agency’s issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance and phytosanitary certificate and other pertinent documents.#