Hydroponics farming opens doors for young agripreneur in Ozamiz City

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Jury Rey Catapang, one of the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) awardees of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-NorMin), shared his success story in agripreneurship during an episode of Usapang Agrikultura, aired on January 7 via Radyo Pilipinas 1 DXIM.

A certified public accountant venturing into hydroponics farming and now owner of OZ Fresh Greens Hydroponics in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, he urged farmers and would-be agripreneurs to explore innovative and sustainable farming methods like hydroponics. With the initial plan of going abroad as an accountant, entering into agriculture has changed his mind.

Started self-learning through video tutorials during the pandemic, when hydroponics gained popularity, the aspiring agripreneur then started his 800-square-meter lettuce production farm in 2021, seizing the opportunity to address the local demand for lettuce in his city.

“Hydroponics is ideal for limited spaces and urban areas, because it uses nutrient-rich water instead of soil, unlike traditional farming. And I saw this as an opportune time because Ozamiz City is far from other lettuce producing areas like Bukidnon and Don Victoriano [town],” Catapang said.

“Without delivery, [the city] doesn’t have access to fresh lettuce. That’s why I decided to venture into hydroponics.”

According to him, 70-80% less water is used compared to the conventional soil-based farming, as the system recycles water. He also mentioned that operational costs are lower due to fewer pests in a greenhouse setup.

“Do thorough research and learn. It’s essential to fully understand what you’re getting into, from planting to growing the crops,” advised Catapang.

He cited that hydroponics requires a clean space with proper air circulation, and protection from direct sunlight and rain, or the use of greenhouses. The young agripreneur furthered that different plants require specific nutrients, and equipment such as pumps, grow trays, and pH meters are essential for ensuring quality harvests.

Now, his farm produces approximately 12k heads of lettuce every month, generating an average income of PhP50k-70k, depending on demand. He supplies his produce to grocery stores, public markets, and restaurants through contract deliveries and also caters to walk-in consumers.

“Start small and do not be swayed [merely] by the potential income. It’s important to make sure of your market before making a big investment,” Catapang pointed out.

As a YFC provincial awardee in Misamis Occidental and an eligible participant for the YFC Upscale program, he shared that joining the YFC has opened him doors to additional funding, exposure, and access to the DA’s support services.

He added that, aside from lettuce, his product offerings include pre-packaged salads and value-added products such as pesto paste made from basil, even having monthly orders from a Bulacan-based café.

Through the agency’s support, he served as one of the exhibitors in the DA Pavilion during the World Bazaar Festival 2024 last December at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. He displayed 72 jars of pesto paste, which were sold out on the second day of the exhibit.

With the DA’s continuous support to the youth to contribute toward agricultural sustainability and food innovation, Catapang, as one example, at just 29 years old, balances his role as an accountant at a private firm while managing his farm – creating employment and providing food for his community.# (BJCE)

DA-10 enhances Commodity Price Monitoring in NorMin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Aiming to maintain reasonable rice prices in the market, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, convened stakeholders to discuss price monitoring initiatives on January 6 at the agency compound.

Attended by rice importers, members of the city’s Local Price Coordinating Council, and representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry-10, the activity centered on key discussions on the importers’ participation in the Kadiwa Rice-for-All program of the DA-10.

Through this program, rice is sold at prices ranging from PhP36 to PhP45 per kilo at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosk in Cogon Market, which eyes to encourage the general market to offer selling their rice at lower prices.

Likewise, Executive Order No. 62 was highlighted during the meeting, as the issuance modifies import duty rates for various commodities, including a reduction in rice tariff rates from 35% to 15% for imported rice as it aims to ensure affordability for consumers.

To enhance monitoring efforts, the reactivation of the Regional Bantay Presyo Monitoring Team (RBPMT) was agreed upon. The team will strictly oversee commodity prices in the market, focusing not only on rice but on all major agricultural and fishery products to ensure fair pricing and accessibility for consumers.

The RBPMT is initially established by the agency in 2018 under Special Order No. 271, directing the conduct of regular price and supply monitoring of agricultural commodities across the supply chain, from farms to public and private markets.

DA-10 still plans to continue discussions on price monitoring initiatives to ensure their effective implementation across the region.# (EJLG)

Agri-10 inks MOA with Plaridel MLGU for KADIWA Trading Post Enterprise

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – 10 (DA-10), headed by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental for the establishment of KADIWA Trading Post Enterprise on Friday, December 20, at the agency’s compound in this City.

Spearheaded by the DA-10 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the agreement provides a PhP5-million (M) financial grant under the FY 2024 KADIWA Financial Grant Assistance Program, to enhance the distribution of agricultural products by directly connecting farmers and fisherfolk to consumers, creating new markets for small producers, and ensuring affordable access to agri-fishery products and basic goods.

The MLGU Plaridel shall adhere to the implementing guidelines and procedures for the grant of the financial assistance and provide twenty percent equity of the total project cost as its counterpart.

Under said program, the DA continues to provide financial grant to participating eligible Farmers and Fisherfolk Cooperatives/Associations (FCAs), Community-Based Organizations, State Universities and Colleges (SUC), and Local Government Units (LGU) to enhance their capacities in value-adding activities in the food supply chain from aggregation, processing, packing, storing, warehousing, transport to distribution.

Also present during the MOA signing are DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, Plaridel Vice Mayor Niete O. Gornez, and Municipal Agriculturist Virginia C. Namocatcat.# (EJLG)

DA-10 braces local agri sector as ‘economic driver’ in 2025

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) remains committed to advance and support the interests of the region’s agriculture sector through its various programs and projects for the year 2025.

In an episode of Usapang Agrikultura aired on January 6 via Radyo Pilipinas 1 DXIM, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan reiterated the agency’s unwavering commitment to support local farmers, in accordance with the policy thrusts of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

“Our mandate remains unchanged, and our efforts remain grounded on fulfilling our country’s need for food security and sufficiency, particularly concerning staple foods such as rice, corn, and other crops,” Pacamalan said.

“Among the marching orders of President Marcos is to transform [the agriculture sector] as a local economic driver. We achieve this by directing our efforts to develop the region’s leading agricultural commodities, particularly coconut which remains a widely produced crop in Northern Mindanao,” the director added.

Relative to said crop, RED Pacamalan expressed that DA-10 eyes the establishment of coconut processing plants in the region’s five provinces, in an effort to spur competitive prices for said commodity, thereby driving local economy, particularly in major coconut-producing towns and barangays.

Cognizant of its promising market opportunities, the NorMin agri dep’t also reassured its support for the production and marketing of coffee, cacao, bamboo, and high-value crops for food and industrial purposes, through its existing banner programs and interventions.

“We are instructed by our Secretary to develop a coffee production area of at least 1,000 hectares in Northern Mindanao, as a response to the growing volume of coffee we import. Currently, about 80% of coffee in the Philippines is imported, and we see that investing in local coffee production will reduce that figure by 10 percent,” Pacamalan said.

Innovating on current practices to better support local farmers, the agri chief exec said that the DA-10, in collaboration with the Provincial and Municipal agriculture offices here, has pioneered a digitized agriculture information system in region 10 during the past six months, through which the agency has been able to generate and monitor agri production data pertinent to the provision of appropriate production, post-harvest, and marketing support.

Pacamalan emphasized that the agency aims to take on a more ‘proactive’ approach in dealing with periods of oversupply by making use of data generated from the digitized system, which also informs the strategic provision of cold storage facilities in high-production areas.

“The primary goal of our digitization efforts is for us to be prepared during the harvest season, especially when there is more produce than previously anticipated. We establish cold storage facilities in areas that were able to produce large volumes, to make sure it is properly stored,” Pacamalan said.

“In fact, we have nine cold storage facilities to be turned over in region 10, which further ensures our capacity to respond to oversupply in the harvest season, and prevent spoilage while we await for optimal market conditions to sell,” the director added.

Building on its major strides during the previous year, DA-10 is also set to continue its provision of farm machinery to local farmers, geared at increasing the country’s mechanization rate; as well as seeds, planting materials, and fertilizers, thereby scaling up the production of the region’s top agricultural crops while reducing costs in production.

In closing, RED Pacamalan urged the continued collaboration between the national and local governments, the private sector, and all sector stakeholders, citing the present administration’s strengthened resolve to intensify convergent efforts in achieving food security, increasing income, and realizing an inclusive agricultural and fisheries sector for the region and the country.# (GDA)

Agri NorMin provides affordable rice options thru “Rice-for-All” program

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a bid to ensure access to affordable rice, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) monitors the KADIWA ng Pangulo “Rice-for-All” program in Cogon Market, here, on January 3.

In collaboration with importers and local dealers, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, shared that the initiative seeks to provide quality rice at a reasonable cost.

Under the “Rice-for-All” program, rice is being sold from Php 36-45 per kilo at the KADIWA ng Pangulo kiosk in Cogon Market, which is generally lower than the prevailing market prices.

Additionally, the team also conducted price monitoring at the city’s Carmen Market to gather data on prices of different rice varieties. #(AMBM)

Agri-10 holds operations planning, workshop

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Ushering the year, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) led by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan conducted an operations planning-workshop and presentation on January 2 to 3, here.

The said activity was staged for the agency to move forward effectively, revisiting key strides and bottlenecks encountered in the previous year which have altogether contributed and challenged to the DA-10’s attainment of its deliverables.

Importantly, it paved way to pinpoint best practices adopted and make them a baseline to scale up in the delivery of agri-fishery interventions and services to farmers and fishers in the current year.

Factoring in the discussions, RED Pacamalan further enjoined the DA-10 personnel to redefine their focus and energy, bringing along the lessons learned to ensure that 2025 targets are met, with emphasis on aligning all efforts and initiatives toward Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.’s ten-point agenda of achieving food security by amplifying agricultural production and developing the agri-fishery sector as a profitable industry.# (JLO/Photo credits: JLO/CRS)

Agri dept delivers corn seeds to Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY – Aimed at addressing farmers’ productivity and profit, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) delivered 100 bags of hybrid yellow corn seeds (DK8899S) to the Office of Congressman Celso G. Regencia, Lone District of Iligan City, on December 26, in Brgy. Hinaplanon, here.

Funded under the agency’s Production Support Services for CY 2024, the department through the Corn program handed over the said provisions to the said office, which was received by Pablito D. Oblimow, Jr.

Packaged at 9 kilos per bag, the hybrid corn seeds are to be planted to a half hectare of land this dry season, with an estimated average yield of 8.26 metric tons per hectare.

With the conferment of such agri inputs, the DA-10 further eyes for Iligan City farmers to contribute in the region’s bid toward sufficiency for food, feed and industrial purposes.# (JLO/Photo supplied)

Agri-10 hosts AMIA year-end assessment

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) hosted the 2024 Yearend Assessment of the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) program from December 3 to 6, here.

Organized by the DA Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (CRAO) and DA-10 through its AMIA team, the gathering served as a platform for evaluating the program’s progress, exchanging knowledge on various aspects of AMIA implementation, and sharing ongoing climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) initiatives among AMIA regional focal persons and teams.

In his message, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan lauded the success of the AMIA program, noting its efforts of helping farmers to counter the effects of climate change and weather through climate-resilient agriculture.

Citing the use of different CRAs such as but not limited to stress tolerant crop varieties, relay and rotational cropping systems, irrigation, water harvesting, soil conservation, and crop diversification, among others, the agri exec pins his hopes that the farmers trained by the program will go beyond capacitation and translate these learnings in their farms—growing, harvesting, processing and marketing more, and result to the local government units’ integration of AMIA initiatives into their development plans.

He also underscored the adoption of digitalization as embodied in the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) project, which provides real-time data to enhance information systems, further urging for the refinement of data collections in the next phase, aligning them with clear and measurable success indicators.

For her part, CRAO Director, Alicia G. Ilaga stressed the program’s strides, which includes its advocacy campaigns, the AMIA members’ recognition at the Philippine Resilience Awards, the AMIA’s involvement in COP29, an initiative to help marginal farmers with sustainable solutions, among other concerns.

She likewise enjoined the attendees to continue working together to strengthen the agricultural sector amid the challenges on climate change toward a more resilient and prosperous Philippines.

During the assessment, DA-10 was also recognized for clinching third place for its AMIA team’s financial performance in terms of obligation, at the same time received a special award for initiation and organizing the first-ever AMIA Congress in the country.

Also in attendance to receive the honor is Climate Change-AMIA focal person, Carmelito R. Lapoot, along with the program staff.# (MAC/Photos supplied)

DA-10, Taparak coop, FICCO ink MOA for swine prod’n farm project

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), led by the Regional Executive Director, Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Taparak Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative of Alubijid town and the First Community Cooperative (FICCO) under the Modified Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, on December 27, here.

The signing was attended by key stakeholders, including the LGU Alubijid, represented by Municipal Mayor Emmanuel L. Jamis and the Taparak Farmers’ Cooperative through its chairperson Gaudencio B. Jadol and FICCO represented by its Chief Executive Officer Edgardo A. Micayabas. Of which, the said proponents will each receive one unit of a 30-sow level production farm project.

The total project cost is PhP10-million (M), which includes PhP 6-M for the construction of bio-secured facility, PhP1.71-M for 38 head of vaccinated gilts, and a package apiece of PhP2.195-M of animal and zoological supplies and semen amounting to P95k.

In his message, DA Undersecretary for Operations, Engr. Roger V. Navarro, expressed his optimism for the successful partnership between DA-10 and that of FICCO, and Taparak.

He highlighted the significance of scaling up agricultural projects in the region, emphasizing that Region 10 has the potential to lead pilot initiatives and make significant strides toward agricultural development.

“With this partnership, we hope to achieve the goals of the INSPIRE project and move forward in creating a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector,” said Navarro.

Present during the MOA signing were Livestock focal person, Jamaica L. Docdoc, Municipal Agriculturist, Frederick L. Labis, Municipal Accountant, Dollyn Jean A. Sabellina, Board Secretary, Pedro L. Leono, Jr., FICCO’s Board Secretary, Ester D. Mambayas, and Assistant Treasurer, Nicolas H. Veronilla.# (MAC)

DA management visits newly turned over IREAP subproject

In support to PRDP’s goal to provide quality projects based on the World Bank standards, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) Project Director, Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan together with DA Undersecretary Engr. Roger V. Navarro visits the Abaca Fiber Processing and Marketing IREAP subproject in Cadayunan, Iligan City on December 27.

The enterprise, valued at P9.1 million, consists of a delivery truck (P2.09 million), a hauling tractor with trailer (P1.94 million), a baling machine (P1.3 million), a spindle stripping machine (P800,000), decorticating machines (P600,000), a weighing scale (P140,000), and raw materials worth P2.2 million.

The subproject is expected to benefit 156 IP farmer-members cultivating abaca across approximately 82.7 hectares by improving product quality and reducing postharvest costs.

Funded under AF2-EU, the subproject was turned over on December 9, 2024.

The visit was accompanied by Agriculture focal person, Kevin R. Fernan with Lanao del Norte Provincial Operation Center chief, Engr. Abdulharis Paporo. # (IAgawin)