Agri-10 breaks ground for the P1.89-million cattle feedlot in one of its research stations to help boost the production and quality of cattle stocks. 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To strengthen the production of cattle in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) breaks ground for the construction of the P1.89 million (M) worth cattle feedlot at the agency’s Malaybalay Stock Farm in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the facility provides a controlled environment for raised cattle to receive a balanced and nutritionally optimized diet to promote rapid growth and weight gain.

The facility has a total land area of 356.38 square meters with a capacity of 60 heads and is funded under the Livestock Program 2023 headed by its focal person Jamaica L. Docdoc.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga added that the facility aims to improve the operation of the farm and boost the production of quality stocks which will be used for distribution to target beneficiaries regionwide.

Supporting the ceremony were DA-10 RTD for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca, Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, Research Division chief Lorena V. Duna, and other of the agency’s personnel.# (MPMTablon)

R-10 farmers’ coops, associates and food terminal operators undergo training on food safety regulations. 

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — To promote the sale of food safety-compliant agricultural commodities, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) conducted a training on food safety awareness on September 13, 2023, this city.

Food Terminal (FT) operators and farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) were apprised by resource speakers from the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry on the importance of food safety and postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables.

The participants were also oriented on the proper handling of animal meat products and trained on good agricultural practices (GAPs) through resource speakers from the National Meat Inspection Service and the DA-10 Regulatory Division, respectively.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the training forms part of the necessary measures taken by the Department to ensure the safety and quality of agricultural commodities being sold in the market, especially through the food terminals in Region 10.

AMAD chief Larry E. Paraluman also said that the awareness training on food safety aims to empower FCAs and FT operators here in institutionalizing GAPs in their daily operations, which, in turn, also inspires confidence among consumers on the quality and safety of agricultural commodities for sale.

Also supporting the activity were DA-10 Provincial Operations Center Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, AMAD Supervising Agriculturist Ferdinand F. Caraballe, Agribusiness and Industry Support Services (AMAD-AISS) section chief Jenny D. Alcobilla, and other AMAD staff.# (GDA)

DA-PRDP 10 through its IPLAN component supports CdeO for CCIP enhancement.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To address the challenges and create intervention strategies for the commodities of the city, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) through the IPLAN component, in partnership with the City Local Government Unit of Cagayan de Oro, holds a City Commodity Investment Plan (CCIP) updating workshop on September 15, 2023, in this city.

The CCIP is a document that provides direction for LGUs in prioritizing investments to develop the agri-fishery sector.

The CIP is used as a basis to pinpoint interventions for a certain sector. The said workshop enables the stakeholders to gather and discuss concerns and identify interventions for commodities such as abaca, banana cardava, cacao, coffee, and vegetables.

The identified interventions are based on the gaps, constraints, and challenges of each commodity with value chain analysis (VCA).

The workshop also integrates factors with climate considerations such as risks and its mitigating measures.

“We have so many challenges right now because of climate change. We hope that through this workshop, we can identify the challenges of each commodity so we can address each problem from the planning stage to the production stage,” said Paterno L. Gonzales, CdeO City agriculturist, in his message.

He added, “We hope that we can proceed and implement the plan for our five industries; abaca, banana cardava, cacao, coffee and vegetables, which are our focus for this workshop.”

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Executive Director and DA-PRDP 10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized that it is vital for the city to update the CIP to align with future project proposals under PRDP Scale-up.

The Jamaican Training and Assessment Center, one of DA-PRDP’s value chain coffee players, exhibited its products during the workshop, showcasing the potential of locally-produced coffee in the market to the stakeholders.

Joining the event are CdeO’s Agricultural Productivity Operations Office (APOO), Planning & Development Office (CPDO), Local Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Veterinary Office, Engineering Office, and local farmers. # (IAgawin)

DA-10 spearheads a field day on OneRicePH in Barangay Kahapunan, Valencia City, Bukidnon. 

VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Research Division, conducted recently a field day on OneRicePH: Expanded On-farm Technology Demonstration for the wet season, in Barangay Kahapunan.

According to PhilRice Central Office representative Pinklet Athen Canilang, OneRicePH is a collaborative project of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), DA, and the local government units (LGUs) to unify rice breeding dissemination strategies that will increase genetic gain and improve grain quality and nutrition.

“The project aims for the development of a product concept for target rice market segments and the establishment of a national breeding network,” she said.

With a total area of 5.1 hectares implemented by co-operators, comprising of a seed grower and three farmers, said techno demo showcased inbred rice varieties such as NSIC Rc 512, NSIC Rc 506, and NSIC Rc 508, which are intended for irrigated lowland ecosystem.

The performance of the said varieties as a result of also employing optimum nutrient management and associated rice cultivation technologies, was witnessed and evaluated by farmer representatives of the different 13 Irrigators’ Associations in the city.

Initially, the results of the participatory varietal selection were presented, yielding higher results compared to the targeted 7.50 tons per hectare.

Maridith A. Flores, senior science research specialist and OneRicePH focal person of DA-10, remarked that the activity also paves the way to showcase the benefits of using recommended rice varieties and their yield potential, streamlining the country’s rice breeding strategies and variety dissemination.

Likewise, supporting the activity are Research Division Chief Lorena V. Duna and Provincial Operations Center-Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM of DA-10, Mayor Azucena P. Huervas, City Councilor Rogelio P. Hera, committee on agriculture, and other City LGU Valencia officials and staff.# (RDMElloren)

Agri-10 train agri extension workers on Hydroponics veggie production.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To promote hydroponics among farming communities, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado held a training for hydroponics vegetable production at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The training brought together 28 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the different municipalities and cities of Bukidnon through DA-10’s Various Production Support Services (VPSS).

According to DA-10 VPSS focal person Marnelly Ann P. Flores, the activity will equip the trainees with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and manage hydroponic vegetable production and enable them to convey the advantages of the technology to their fellow local farmers.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga expressed her gratitude to the participating AEWs for attending the training, “I am thankful that you are here to learn the technology firsthand, and I hope you’ll use it in some creative way in your endeavor.”

Hydroponics expert Jerwin B. Quiñal, owner of Quiñal Hydroponics Farm and Supplies, shared the principles and concepts of hydroponics technology, Plant Nutrients Solutions, Pest and Disease Management, and other types of hydroponics, among others while also engaging them in a hands-on activity.

Present during the activity are DA-10 Field Operations Division (FOD) chief Eduardo N. Pit, Ph.D., Provincial Operations Center (POC)-Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, and other DA staff. # (RDMElloren)

Agri-10 gathers FT operations in its yearly assessment.

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) convened the food terminal (FT) operators in Region 10 for its annual assessment and planning workshop on September 12, 2023, this city.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that through the assessment, the Department can better understand the operational status of the food terminals across Northern Mindanao, and provide guidance and support to boost its productivity.

He added that the event also serves as an opportunity for FT operators to share best practices in operating their food terminals.

Twenty barangay and municipal FT operators from the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental presented updates on their operations, finances, and related issues and concerns.

AMAD Supervising Agriculturist Ferdinand F. Caraballe said, “These facilities and equipment are provided by the government for us to better serve our communities. Let us align our efforts of keeping our food terminals operational with its intended purpose which is to ensure easy access to fresh, high quality, and reasonably-priced agricultural produce.”

Updates and concerns raised during the plenary will be shared with the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service during a coordination meeting for FTs slated later this month.

Supporting the event were DA-10 Provincial Operations Center Bukidnon chief Janeth D. Lopez, DVM, and AMAD staff.# (GDA)

Korean government agency’s EPIS visits DA-10’s SMART Greenhouse Project to evaluate the status of said project implementation.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – A team from the Korean Government’s Agency in Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (EPIS) led by Prof. Park Sauk Hee visited the DA-Region 10’s Korean-funded SMART Greenhouse Project through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado on September 6-7, 2023, in this city.

As the implementation of said project culminates this year, the field inspection is the final visit of the EPIS, which aims to evaluate the status of the project implementation and gauge the project’s milestones in relation to the agricultural development agenda of the Philippine government.

In a dialogue with the Korean delegates, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga underscored the impact of the SMART Greenhouse project as a precursor for the expansive adoption of SMART farming in Northern Mindanao.

“Within our capacity, we introduced necessary interventions to sustain the project and assist our farmers in replicating the technology on a smaller and more manageable scale. The innovations we instituted in implementing the project are self-discoveries,” she said.

To promote SMART farming technology, Madriaga added that the agency has trained numerous farmers and accepted hundreds of agriculture students for their on-the-job training in the said facility.

As part of the project evaluation, the Korean delegates interviewed farmer leaders assisted by DA-RFO 10 through the said project.

The team also visited a farm owned by a farmer-beneficiary who grows Capsicum by employing greenhouse technology.

The EPIS experts commended the agency’s initiatives in helping the farmers develop locally viable SMART farms by drawing inspiration from the Korean SMART greenhouse.

The Korean delegates also expressed DA-RFO 10’s optimal utilization of the project as an education center for farmers, particularly in honing and educating young farmers.

As a way forward, the Korean experts stressed the importance of a “sense of ownership” to ascertain the SMART Greenhouse Project’s sustainability.

While acknowledging other areas for improvement, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, conveyed his optimism about the success of the Korean-Philippine collaborative project.

As he thanked the DA’s Korean counterparts, Collado averred that DA-RFO 10 welcomes future collaboration with the Korean government.

Also present during the occasion are DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca, Research Division chief Lorena V. Duna, Regional Agricultural Engineering Division chief Engr. Deliza T. Camaro, Regional Crop Protection Center chief Lucille T. Minguez, Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex chief Carmelito R. Lapoot, and High Value Crops Development Program focal person Kersten S. Pagalan.# (ATTalib)

Region 10 agencies reveal their efforts relative to the implementation of EO 39, or the imposition of mandated price ceilings on rice.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, together with the concerned agencies, bares its efforts amid the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 39 or the imposition of mandated price ceilings on rice, in a media interaction held on Thursday, September 14.

Said issuance by President Marcos, who concurrently acts as the head of the agri department, is in response to easing the brunt on consumers on the surge in the retail prices of rice, setting price caps for regular milled rice at P41 per kilogram and P45/kg for well-milled rice.

In over a week of its implementation, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga reported that there is an adequate supply of rice for the region saying that the total supply for the month of September is recorded at 190,192 metric tons (MT), which can satisfy the 61,015 MT requirement of NorMin based on its population, leaving with an ending stock of 129K MT good for 88 days.

With the padded costs that it takes to produce rice, the assistant director added that DA continues to provide support to rice farmers through the provision of seeds, fertilizer and fuel subsidies, and cash and mechanization assistance, as well as the conduct of regular monitoring in the movement of rice stock inventory in the different DA-Bureau of Plant Industry-accredited warehouses across the region.

As part of its directive to monitor and investigate abnormal price movements, RTD Madriaga underscored that the agency is also tasked to issue a notice of non-compliance for those rice retailers who fail to adhere to the mandated price ceilings and as such, will not qualify for cash assistance being accorded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Sustainable Livelihood Program in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Ang hatagan ang micro rice retailers affected by EO 39. Pasabot katong namaligya, nag follow sa EO 39, kay we understand nga mahal ang ilang pagpalit [sa bugas] and sa EO 39, barato ang ilang baligya, so naa sila’y lugi so mao nang naa si DSWD para sa financial assistance,” Julie Nieva, DTI-10 information officer pointed out.

She clarified that per definition, micro-enterprises are those businesses with an asset of less than P3 million and have less than ten employees.

Reportedly, the payout has started on September 13 for the first batch of benefitting micro rice retailers, while the trade and industry spokesperson emphasized that more payouts will follow, as there are more rice retailers with stocks that need to be verified and monitored in the market.

With the city identified as a major hub for the distribution of rice, the City Government of CdeO has also conveyed through Atty. Jose Edgardo Uy, co-chair of the city’s price coordinating council, and Councilor George Gualberto S. Goking, on the initiatives and plans of the local government in light of the enforced price caps on rice.

It has initially rolled out a weeklong selling of rice at much lower rates imposed under EO 39 at the City Hall, and they eye to continue such activity in strategic areas, and even in the remote parts of the city.

“Atong gi-adopt ang mantra sa DTI nga consumer welfare and protection, so tungod niana naningkamot kita nga ang atong konsumante, kitang tanan konsumante man, matabangan without sacrificing usab ang atong business sector,” Atty. Uy remarked.

Still, under DA’s wing, the National Food Authority-10 supports the imposition of rice price ceilings through the deployment of their quality assurance officers offering technical assistance on rice classification in terms of its milling degree.

On one hand, the law enforcement agency through the Philippine National Police-10 has so far conducted 24 activities to intensify awareness as well as monitor compliance with the existing price caps for rice.

On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment-10 can extend assistance to agribusiness, retail, and trade, among others through their integrated livelihood and employment program.

Recognizing that lean months are inevitable, DA-10 RTD Madriaga pins her hope that starting this September, when rice farmers are starting to harvest, will help improve the region’s current market prices for rice.

“Ang bulk and peak gyud sa atong harvest is naa sa October and November nga kung atong basehan, moabot na siya until December nga dunay tay local palay production with 113% sufficiency level…kay gawas sa local production naa pa gyud tay moabot nga imported. Mao na masiguro sa consumers sa NorMin nga dili ta mahutdan og bugas,” the DA official assured.# (JLO/Photo credits: MPMTablon)

Agri-10 through its F2C2 program facilitates the linking between institutional buyers and F2C2 clusters for potential market. 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, through the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program, conducted a stakeholders meeting on September 7, 2023, in this city.

Said meeting aims to link the farmers’ cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) from the different provinces in Northern Mindanao to potential institutional buyers who need supplies of various produce.

The institutional buyers include the National Food Authority (NFA), Misamis Oriental – Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, San Miguel Foods, Inc., and Bestfriend Goodies.

In her message, DA-10 F2C2 focal person Gay Nanette R. Aleria hopes that this activity paves the way for future marketing agreements between the FCAs and the institutional buyers.

“We wanted to provide a solution to one of the problems of our FCAs, which is the lack of market for their produce,” said Aleria.

Also joining the said meeting are representatives from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division-10, who assisted the buyers and FCAs through market matching and the roundtable discussions.# (CRSeraspe)

DA promotes agri programs, interventions in InfoCar Mis Or

INITAO, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) in collaboration with the Provincial Agriculture’s Office of Misamis Oriental (PAO-MisOr) conducted an Information Caravan for MisOr on September 8, in barangay Apas, to promote the different programs and interventions toward agricultural development.

This was participated by the farmers and agricultural extensionists from the towns of Villanueva, Manticao, El Salvador, Laguindingan, Tagoloan, Salay, Lugait, Initao, Lagonglong, Opol, Tagoloan, and Balingoan.

In her message, Mary Grace B. Sta. Elena, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) chief said that the InfoCar is the fourth leg to be held across the region, which aims to bring information and updates to the grassroots level, in order for the movers of the agri industry to avail, benefit and maximize various forms of assistance from the agri department and its partner agencies.

She added that the event also serves as a platform to solicit inputs in order to help improve and accelerate the implementation of DA’s projects and services.

Highlighted in the info sortie are updates on the programs, projects and interventions of DA-10 and PAO-MisOr; and El Niño: Its Effect on Agriculture and Mitigating Measures.

Other topics focused on Animal Health and Disease Management with emphasis on African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian influenza; livestock and crops insurance under the Philippine Crops Insurance, Corp. (PCIC), and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

DA-10 Provincial Operations Center chief of MisOr Wilson V. Lagdamin likewise underscored that farmers and other relevant agri clienteles should signify their intent to gain access from the roster of support from DA through the submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI), which is a basic requirement.

Lagdamin further stated that additional documentary requirements will then be requested following such submission depending on the criteria set per form of agri assistance.
Spearheaded by DA’s info arm, RAFIS, the activity was also supported by Luz I. Guzman, PhD, Regulatory Division chief, and Eduardo N. Pit, PhD, Field Operations Division chief. # (JLO)