NOVEMBER IS NAT’L RICE AWARENESS MONTH

This month of November the whole country is celebrating the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) with the theme: “Quality Rice, Quality Life”.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 lined-up different activities such as the Agri-Trivia shows for elementary and junior high school students; feeding program; press conference on the Suggested Retail Price for rice and radio guesting, among others.

The celebration focuses on improving farmers’ competitiveness to produce quality rice, while reaching out to all rice eaters to be aware on responsible rice consumption.

Specifically, it aims to strengthen the bond between rice farmers and the consumers towards quality life. Accordingly, DA encourages farmers to produce quality rice and instill the values of responsible rice consumption among consumers, thus contribute in achieving rice sufficiency in the country.

Through these, farmers will be more inspired to farm through the use of efficient farming technologies, have access to rice information and engage in agri-preneurship.

Consumers should also do their part by not wasting rice, eating brown rice, valuing safe and nutritious rice, and most all, thanking rice farmers. #(SVA)

DA-BAFS apprises stakeholders on OA updates

To keep organic practitioners and other relevant stakeholders posted on the adoption of organic agriculture (OA), the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards of the Department of Agriculture staged a three-day Awareness Seminar on the Revised Department Circulars, New Guidelines and Philippine National Standards (PNS) relative to OA, here in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

Participated by more than 50 delegates from DA regional field offices, local government units, private sector and the academe from regions 9, 10, 11 and 13, the activity was primarily done to further the implementation of RA 10068 or otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.

Kicking off the series of lectures was Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang’s discussion on the PNS for OA. Other matters lined-up include the Revised Guidelines for the Official Accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies; Rules and Procedures for both BAFS Registration of Organic Farmers and Organic Input Producers, and Registration of Primary and Postharvest Organic Food and Non-food Products; Transition Period for the Registration of Establishments of Primary and Postharvest Food and Non-Food Products; and Food Systems for Healthy and Sustainable Diets. #

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, MBA delivered her welcome address before the 200 participants during the opening of the Seminar- Workshop on Rice Value Chain and Comparative Efficiency in the Philippines.

RICE STAKEHOLDERS STRATEGIZE FOR SCIENCE-BASED POLICIES

Cagayan de Oro – Rice stakeholders from Visayas and Mindanao attended the two-day Seminar Workshop on Rice Value Chain and Comparative Efficiency in the Philippines, held in the city.

The purpose of the seminar-workshop is to address the major concerns of the rice industry in the country and address the gaps of knowledge generation and application of these knowledge, and to institutionalize the science-based policies towards the development of the rice industry.

“We are optimistic that we can deliver better tasks and outputs for the enhanced implementation of DA’s programs and projects, not only in our region but for the whole country, as well, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 Regional Technical Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, MBA said before the 200 participants, comprising of rice stakeholders from the different regions of Visayas and Mindanao.

The government will continue to support the agriculture sector to achieve notable economic growth because feeding a growing population is always a major challenge,“ she further said.

At the end of the workshop, the participants were able to strategize and come up with their science-based outputs and these will be consolidated and analyzed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the lead implementing agency.

Attendees are rice focal persons, stakeholders, regional federation presidents of Small Water Impounding System Associations (SWISAs) and irrigator’s associations, millers and traders.

This is also attended by the Agricultural Training Institute, National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, Agricultural Credit Policy Council, DA-Central Office, representatives from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, PhilRice and agri-extension workers from the provincial/city/municipal local government units. # (SVA)

R-10 NOMINEES FOR OUTSTANDING AFC CHAIRPERSONS EVALUATED FOR NAT’L SEARCH

Cagayan de Oro City – Outstanding AFC chairpersons in Region 10 were evaluated for the Philippine Council for Agricultural and Fisheries (PCAF)’s search for Outstanding AFC Chairpersons and Coordinators on August 6-9, 2018.

In line with this, Region 10 nominees for the said search Edgardo D. Layug, chair of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC), Mario S. Jamis, chair of the Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) of Misamis Oriental and Marcelino M. Patindol, chair of the Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council (MAFC) of Claveria, Misamis Oriental were evaluated by the National Technical Committee (NTC).

The said awards, due for December this year, aim to give recognition to the individuals in the private sector who have shown excellent performance in the development of the agriculture sector. # (AMBManto, DA-RFO10)

DA UPDATES STAKEHOLDERS ON CORN, CASSAVA PESTS

To keep stakeholders informed about the different pests that may threaten the corn and cassava industry in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Regulatory Division conducts a two-day Training and Updates on Corn and Cassava Pests Identification and Management, starting on August 7, 2018, here in Cagayan de Oro.

In her message, Regulatory Division Chief Juliet B. Araos stated that the said activity is in line with the mandate of the Regulatory Services which is to keep the region from pest outbreaks.

Further, she said that the training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of the attending agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmers in handling pests on corn and cassava, especially amid climate change.

Topics covered during the course of the activity include Pest Identification and Management on Corn and Cassava as well as an Introduction to Monitoring Forms and Protocols. # (AMBManto, DA-RFO10)

BAFS CONDUCTS CONSULTATIVE MEETING FOR DRAFT PNS ON GAHP FOR DUCKS, FREE RANGE CHICKEN

The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) assisted by the Regulatory Division and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) staged a Public Consultative Meeting for drafts on the Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) for Ducks and Free Range Chicken, Chicken Cuts and GAHP for Hatchery from August 7-9, 2018 in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

Regulatory Division Chief Juliet B. Araos stated that the PNS will then be used as the basis for the GAHP certification protocols. She further explained that farms will be certified through the creation of the certification protocols and that this will be beneficial to the poultry sector in the region, which is also one of the top producing poultry region in the country, as it will give them an edge in the market since the certification is a guarantee that their products are of good quality and safe for consumption.

Attended by around 40 livestock practitioners in the region, the participants solicited comments and suggestions on the PNS drafts which will then be consolidated for its finalization. The consultative meeting is said to be the last of the series, in which two previous meetings were held in Luzon and Visayas. # (AMBManto, DA-RFO 10)

R-10 FINALIZES ENTRIES FOR CORN, CASSAVA AWARDS

The Regional Search Committee gathers for the final evaluation of region 10’s nominees for the National Quality Corn Achievers Awards (NQCAA), Cassava Cluster Management Excellence Award (CCMEA) and Cornupia Awards, on August 6, 2018 in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

During the event, scrapbooks of the nominees were evaluated for endorsement to the National Search Committee. For the NQCAA, a total of 24 nominees were endorsed, comprising of 18 agricultural extension workers (AEW), three (3) local government units, one (1) corn coordinator, one (1) city agriculturist and one (1) municipal agriculturist. For the CCMEA and Cornupia awards, two (2) farmer organizations were each nominated for both categories.

Meanwhile, the said awards aim to give recognition to the local government units and farmer organizations who have shown excellent performance in the development of the corn and cassava sector in their respective areas. # (AMBManto, DA-RFO10)

MISOR RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM SEEDS DISTRIBUTION DURING SERBISYO CARAVAN

Residents and farmers benefit from the free seeds distributed by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) during the conduct of the ‘GO Serbisyo para sa Bayan’ caravan on July 13, 2018 held at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol in Cagayan de Oro City.

Around 360 packets of 5-in-1 vegetable seeds (Ampalaya, Eggplant, Okra, Sitao and Squash) were given by the agency through its Provincial Operations Center of Misamis Oriental.

A raffle was also held, in which 14 farmers each received one (1) bag of 20 kg Open Pollinated Variety corn seeds while 10 farmers each received one (1) bag of 40 kg certified rice seeds.

Aside from seeds, farmers also availed of the free information, education, communication (IEC) materials displayed at the booth.

The GO Serbisyo para sa Bayan served as a venue for the public to avail of the free services offered by the different national government agencies. # (AMBManto)

DA-10 Supervising Agriculturist Luisito S. Ofngol discusses the effects of aflatoxins and how it can be prevented during the training for PHILGAP for corn and certification protocols.

DA-10 STAGES TRAINING FOR PHILGAP FOR CORN, CERTIFICATION PROTOCOLS

Cagayan de Oro City – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) staged its three-day training on Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PHILGAP) for Corn and Certification Protocols on June 25-27, 2018 in the city.

The Regulatory Division of DA-10 spearheaded the activity with an aim of imparting knowledge regarding the concepts and principles of GAP, its protocols and certification, food safety act of 2013 and the prevention and control of aflatoxins, which was attended by corn farmers and Agricultural Extension Workers from region 10.

Apart from the discussions, the training also included a mock inspection at Mantibugao, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon in which the participants were able to go through the checklist for GAP application.

“We expect that through this training, farmers may be encouraged to apply for a GAP certification,” said Christine Jane L. Quiamco, agriculturist II of DA-10. She added that since GAP certified farms follow a set of standards, the certification is a guarantee that their products are safe for consumption and of good quality. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

DA-10 INFOCAR WRAPS 5TH LEG IN BUKIDNON

In line with its advocacy of updating farmers and fisherfolk about the programs, projects and services in the agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO10) finishes its last leg of Information Caravan in the province of Bukidnon on June 22, 2018.

Spearheaded by the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) in collaboration with DA’s attached agencies and bureaus and the provincial agriculture and veterinary offices of Bukidnon, around 200 farmers and fisherfolks gathered for the conduct of the event.

Anchored on this year’s theme, “Pagpanguma ug Pagpangisda alang sa Kalambuan sa Panginabuhian,” the said event featured a series of discussions by the representatives of government agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), National Dairy Authority (NDA), Philippine Crops Insurance, Corp (PCIC), National Irrigation Administration and the National Food Authority (NFA). After which, an open forum was conducted for farmers to voice out their issues and concerns.

Prior to being held in the province, the activity was also conducted in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin and Misamis Oriental. # (AMBManto, DA-RFO10)