DA-10 conducts training on livelihood initiatives, empowers Kibuwa community in Impasugong town

BUKIDNON — Consistent with its goals in strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable agriculture, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) empowered the indigenous people (IP) and non-IP farmers of the Kibuwa community in Impasugong, Bukidnon through a “Training on Backyard Gardening and Presentation of Feasibility Study for Kibuwa Community-based Participatory Research (CPAR)” on April 15 to 16.

The study, “Enhancing Sustainable Livelihoods through Community-led Initiatives with Scientific-Based Technologies,” aimed to assess the long-term sustainability of proposed livelihood programs tailored to the unique biophysical and socioeconomic landscape of Sitio Kibuwa.

At its core, the initiative emphasized the importance of grounding development efforts in community readiness, synergy among partner agencies, and the consolidation of resources to ensure the program’s success.

Training sessions covered topics such as soil media preparation, nursery management, organic farming, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

As additional support, gardening tools, including slashing and weeding bolos, A-Nets, chicken nets, and cyclone wire fences, along with seeds and organic fertilizers, were distributed to the Cluster 1 members of the project.

The training were attended by 24 officers and members of the Kibuwa-CPAR project together with the representatives from the local governments of Impasugong town and Bukidnon province.

With DA-10 at the helm, this said capbuild highlights the critical role of empowering communities to lead their livelihood programs toward agricultural resilience and economic self-reliance.# (BJCE)

Agri-10 continues YFC 2024 judging for Start-up and Upscale categories

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — In support of young agripreneurs across Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), conducted the second batch of the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2024 Provincial Start-Up and Regional Upscale Judging on Tuesday, April 15, here.

This initiative, spearheaded by the DA, aims to build entrepreneurial capacity among the youth and promote inclusive, innovative, and sustainable agri-fishery ventures.

For the Start-Up category – Provincial Level, six individuals pitched their respective agri-fishery business proposals:

Oink and Quack Farms
Solar Smart – Batoy Hydro Farm
La Farmia Cornana
Magtagad’s Sustainable Swine Farming
RTL Chicken Enterprise
Farm Goodies Buddy

Each of these proponents stands a chance to receive PhP80k in financial grant as seed capital to implement or enhance their proposed agri-enterprises. Winners at this level will move forward to compete in the regional level of the competition.

Meanwhile, for the Upscale category – Regional Level, two previous YFC awardees returned to vie for the PhP300k grant intended to support the expansion and sustainability of their operations. These include:

Isidro’s Integrated Farm (YFC 2023 Provincial Awardee)
Dream’s Arabica Coffee (YFC 2023 Provincial Awardee)

Said component is open exclusively to former YFC Start-Up awardees who have demonstrated commitment and progress in running their enterprises and are now seeking to scale operations through upgraded facilities, expanded production, and improved market reach.

Participants in both categories were evaluated by a panel of judges from the DA-10 and partner institutions based on criteria such as innovation, enterprise viability, social responsibility, and growth potential.

Through the YFC program, the DA-10 continues to encourage the youth to become active players in agriculture, strengthening food systems and generating livelihood in their communities.# (EJLG)

DA-SAAD NorMin rolls out animal care drive to sustain MisOr farmers’ agri livelihood projects

The Department of Agriculture Special Area for Agricultural Development Program – Northern Mindanao (DA-SAAD NorMin) recently rolled out animal care drive as a support mechanism to expand and sustain the agricultural livelihood projects of SAAD-assisted farmers in Misamis Oriental.

Together with personnel of the Municipal Agriculture Office, DA-SAAD NorMin staff trained in animal care administered deworming drugs and vitamin supplements to the goat raised by the SAAD Kalitian Farmers Association (SKFA) of Kinoguitan town, and free-range chicken grown by the Mapua Farmers Agri-Ventures Association (MAFAVA) of Balingoan town. The team also administered Newcastle Disease vaccine for the free-range chicken.

The MAFAVA was previously granted 350 head free-range chicken as a start-up multiplier project by DA-SAAD NorMin while the SKFA received 30 head start-up goat multiplier projects after undergoing Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA).

The grant of such projects hinges on the farmers’ interest, capacity, and resources to operate the project as an added source of livelihood.

To date, the MAFAVA has hatched 136 chicks out of the parent stock while the SKFA managed to reproduce 5 head goat offspring out of the start-up herd.

With the animal care assistance, it is hoped that the SKFA and MAFAVA will be able to guard against and come around the poultry and livestock diseases that can potentially stall their projects’ sustainability and expansion.

The DA-SAAD NorMin’s capacitation support is geared toward the end goal of helping the members of the SKFA and MAFAVA to establish a community-based agricultural enterprise producing and marketing chicken and goat as live animals and as meat.

This is consistent with SAAD’s mandate to abate the impact of poverty among the marginal farmers in low-income, isolated and conflict-stricken outskirts of the country.#

DA pushes for harmonized implementation and performance-driven agri initiatives at Operations Management Group meeting in Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) hosted the national Operations Management Group (OMG) meeting of the Department of Agriculture, from April 10 to 11, in this city. The event served as a springboard to align national and regional initiatives, emphasizing a results-driven approach in contributing to the country’s overall agricultural development.

Presiding over the meeting is DA Undersecretary for Operations, Engr. Roger V. Navarro. It converged the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, service and program directors, regional executive and technical directors, consultants, and other key officials of the department, to assess the performance of the programs and projects being implemented across all regions, in order to address on-the-ground challenges and operational bottlenecks.

Speaking before the attendees, USec Navarro enjoined them to synchronize the activities being conducted at the regional levels as well as the different sectors to maximize resources and keep programs on track, following a streamlined operational calendar—procurement in the first quarter, awarding [of contracts] in the second, implementation in the third, and evaluation in the fourth quarter.

Given the completion of the agriculture budget, the senior DA official stated that per instruction of DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr, it is now ready to be cascaded to the DA regional field offices (RFOs) and as such are directed to submit their program proposals by the end of the month, taking into account local conditions to ensure its responsiveness and impact.

He reiterated that the DA chief’s marching order of working toward food sufficiency while increasing farmers’ yield and productivity remains a priority, while also citing the need for a comprehensive food balance sheet and the integration of data systems into a unified Enterprise Resource Planning platform, a part of the agency’s digitalization efforts to manage and streamline its core functions.

As head of the host agency, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan upheld the outlined direction, sharing the region’s progress under the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Investment and Development (PAFID) framework. Under this, the DA-10 is reinventing its ways of planning to unify agricultural plans and programs by ensuring that pooled investments and development efforts correspond with provincial priorities. Further highlighted is the synergy among the DA, government line agencies with agri project plans, the local government units (LGUs), and the private sector.

The agri chief exec added that the DA-10 is driving toward its role as a technical advisor to the provincial governments by means of capacitation among its LGU counterparts to ably manage programs. For its part, the agency will focus more on the financing, monitoring, evaluation, and providing of expertise.

Consistent with the said digitalization efforts, RED Pacamalan also tackled the region’s real-time information system, where it is eyed as a potent decision-making and planning tool that will help in monitoring project performance, rationalizing support and resources, and forging production-to-market linkages, which are crucial for data-informed governance.

DA USec Navarro also conveyed that the DA is set to redirect its focus next year from merely providing production-based support to centering on postproduction machinery, equipment and facilities, urging the DA regional execs to leverage the use of existing dryers, tramlines, warehouses, among others to aid farmer-producers in significantly reducing their postharvest losses and logistics costs.

The two-day meeting also covered the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid and Agrisenso Plus Lending programs, the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System and the Sagip Saka Act, which all aim to strengthen farmers’ access to credit, data, and technical support.

To boost the agency’s operational efficiency, updates were also relayed on the Performance Appreciation System (PAS) for operating units and DA’s proposed restructuring, with talks on Clustering by Functions, the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) program and the Agricultural Cooperative Enterprise Development Service (ACEDS).

Meanwhile, aimed to upscale the DA’s operations, presentations on Promoting Greener Food Systems and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Goat and Sheep Expansion project, and World Bank’s Program for Results (P4R) were also explored.

In view of the numerous agri-related initiatives, USec Navarro further instructed his fellow senior DA officials to strengthen partnerships with the offices under the Regional Management Committees across all regions, including private entities and the Agriculture and Fishery Councils (AFCs), as the DA continues to strive for inclusive growth in the agriculture sector.#

Over 7K MisOcc farmers get fertilizer subsidy from DA-NorMin

Some 7,535 rice farmers in Misamis Occidental is set to receive PhP9.97 million worth of fertilizer subsidy for the wet planting season as the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao Field Office (DA-NorMin) rolled out the Fertilizer Discount Voucher (FDV) distribution.

The FDV distribution caravan was slated in 11 towns and 2 cities of Misamis Occidental starting April 2 until April 14.

The FDV is the main modality of the DA’s fertilizer support to rice farmers across the country.

Through which, RSBSA-registered rice farmers tilling a minimum of 1,000 square meters and a maximum of 10-hectare rice area are entitled to receive PhP3,400 worth of inorganic fertilizer per hectare.

Eligible rice farmers may claim their fertilizer voucher from the DA-accredited merchants located nearest to their vicinity.

“Kaning gipanghatag karon sa gobyerno dako kaayo ni og ika tabang sa amu mga mag-uuma. Kami nanghinaot sa kanunayong suporta sa among pag-uma aron magamay-gamayan sad among gasto sa pagpanguma,” said Victoria Ramientos, an officer of the Mialen Lupagan Pan-ay Farmers Irrigators Cooperative (MLPFIC) based in Clarin town.

(This intervention of the government is of great help for us farmers. We look forward to the continued support for our farming needs, as this would greatly lessen our production cost)

The appropriated FDV is seen to augment the fertilization requirement of 2,933 hectares of rice area in Misamis Occidental. (ATT/Photo Credits: DA-10 Rice Program)

DA-NorMin showcases local products during High Value Crops week celeb

In line with the nationwide celebration of the High Value Crops (HVC) Week from April 7 to 11, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) promotes local agricultural produce and by-products during the staging of a product exhibit, held at the DA-Central Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City.

Region 10’s booth features a variety of fresh agri harvest and value-added products, including cacao-based items from Candi-isan Diversified Agricultural Farming (Malaybalay City, Bukidnon) and Jimenez Cacao Growers Association, Inc. (Jimenez, Misamis Occidental). Pineapple fruits and pineapple-based products were also showcased by Magsaysay Farmers (Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental) and Pineapple Growers Credit Cooperative (Magsaysay, MisOr), along with other product offerings from Del Monte Philippines, Inc.

Additionally, DA-10 brought along its research station products such as Adlai blend coffee and wine products made of roselle, sweet potato and yacon.

This year’s celebration marks the 30th anniversary of Republic Act No. 7900, otherwise known as the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995, which aims to promote the production, processing, marketing and distribution of high-value crops.

With the theme, “Pagkaing Sapat, Masustansya Dapat,” DA Assistant Secretary for High Value Crops, Atty. Joycel R. Panillo shared, that the theme underscores that food security is not just about availability or food sufficiency but it is also about nutrition access and quality.

“High value crops are at the forefront of that mission, from fruits rich in vitamins to vegetables that nourish families across the country to export crops that fuel our rural economies. These products are essential to both national health and economic resilience. We have a shared goal of ensuring that every Filipino has access to not just enough food but food that is nourishing, diverse and proudly grown by our local farmers,” Atty. Panillo added.

The HVC week also coincides with the national celebration of the Filipino Food Month this April, recognizing the unique culinary identity, rich agricultural resources, and hardworking farmer-producers that make Filipino food special. # (AMBM/Photos supplied)

DA-10 backs RNC-10’s 2025 G4 Search to promote gardening and counter malnutrition

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) has pledged its support for the 2025 Regional Search for the Best Garden of Go, Grow, and Glow (G4), a banner project of the Regional Nutrition Committee-10 (RNC-10), aimed at promoting gardening and countering malnutrition.

During a courtesy call paid by the National Nutrition Council – Region 10 (NNC-10) on April 6, at the agency compound, officials from the DA-10 and NNC-10 officials tackled strategies for implementing the said search and enhancing its draft guidelines.

As part of the partnership, DA-10 committed to providing logistical support and supplying gardening tools and materials to the winners.

Consistent with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDGs 2 (zero hunger) and 3 (good health and well-being), the G4 search aims to recognize households and regional line agencies (RLA) for their efforts in advancing gardening initiatives.

Further strengthening the inter-agency coordination, DA-10 Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, invited the NNC-10 to participate in the upcoming High Value Crops Week in April to conduct nutrition assessment and counseling.

Also present in the meeting were DA-10 RTD for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca; Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team, Vice-Chair, Engr. Reggie T. Vivas; RNC-10 Officer-in-Charge and Nutrition Program Coordinator, Reginaldo T. Guillen; and other personnel from the DA-10 and RNC-10.

Further coordination is set, including the DA-10’s participation in the G4 orientation for RLAs and the formulation of RNC-10’s resolution on urban gardening.

RNC is the regional governing body of the NNC, chaired by the DOH, with the DA and DILG as vice-chairs, and member agencies including DepEd, DOST, DOLE, DSWD, DTI, DBM, and NEDA.# (BJCE | Photo credits: MAC)

SAAD-assisted MisOcc farmers reap 1.7 tons white corn in dry cropping season

Members of the San Roque SAAD Farmers Association (SRFA) of Panaon town in Misamis Occidental revel over their 1.7 tons dry season white corn harvest on March 19.

The SRFA is a recipient of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program Northern Mindanao’s (DA-SAAD NorMin) Integrated Poultry, Corn and High Value Crops Production Livelihood Project.

With the corn seeds and fertilizer provided by DA-SAAD NorMin, the SRFA was able to establish a communal corn field co-tended by its 25 members.

Having gained such yield, members of the SRFA agreed to sell their harvest to build up capital funds for the association. As a project sustainability mechanism, 40% of the net sales will go back to the association, while 60% will be divided among the members as added household income.

In the next planting period, members of the SRFA will be planting peanuts in their corn farm. The association is adopting crop rotation farming method for improved soil condition and increased crop yield.

Apart from corn, the association is also engaged in the production of free-range chicken and chicken egg. The DA-SAAD NorMin has provided the SRFA a start-up package of 330 head chicken, along with feeds, veterinary drugs and vitamins, and chicken coop materials in the preceding year.

To date, the association has reportedly sold 1,315 pieces of fresh chicken eggs earning them over Php9k. Currently, the SRFA is aiming to increase their flock size by incubating fertile eggs from their coop.

The association is also set to start their vegetable farm this year in an attempt to diversify their farm products.

Members of the SRFA are marginal farmers making a meager living out of farming. The agricultural assistance granted by the DA-SAAD NorMin provides them an economic opportunity to augment their livelihood through collective and inclusive agricultural ventures.
“Daghang salamat sa gihatag [kanamo] nga binhi og abono. Amu gyud ni napahimuslan. Ubay-ubay gyud among abot karon nga cropping. Salamat sa ayuda nga nadawat namu. Sa ngalan sa among asosasyon, San Roque SAAD Farmers Association, thank you!” said Elmer Dahilog, SRFA president.

(We are grateful for the corn seeds and fertilizer being provided to us. Indeed, they are truly beneficial to us. For this cropping period we have sizable yield. On behalf of our association, San Roque SAAD Farmers Association, thank you!) # (ATT/Photo Credits: SRFA/CACV)

DA-10 turns over PhP133-M agri interventions to NorMin FCAs, LGUs

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) turned over on Friday, April 4, over PhP133-million worth of agricultural interventions to 122 eligible farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) and 21 local government units (LGUs) in a turnover ceremony at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, here.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director, Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan led the distribution of certificate of turnover to the recipients of 7 four-wheel drive farm tractors, 12 rice combine harvester, 5 corn combine harvesters, 13 hauling trucks, 12 hog delivery trucks, 15 walking type agricultural tractor rotary tilling, 7 hand tractor, 51 mini chainsaw, 1 mobile shredder, 2 pumps and engine, 2 poultry house, 1 goat house, 10 head carabaos and 10 head horses to the recipient FCAs and LGUs.

Funded under various programs of the DA-10, the interventions also include small farm equipment and farming inputs and materials such as knapsack sprayer, grasscutter, plow, fertilizers, chicken manure, plastic drums, plastic crates, plastic mulch, chicken net, UV film, A-net rolls, pole runner, hybrid white corn seeds, animal drugs and biologics, forage cuttings, and draft animals.

In his message, Dir. Pacamalan vowed the continued support of the DA to farmers and LGUs in the region in keeping with the three-year goal of the government to reduce poverty to single digit in 2028, by implementing expansive, inclusive and sustainable agricultural development programs.

To establish a coordinated and proactive agricultural program implementation, he urged the farmers and LGUs to register with the information system developed and pioneered by the DA-10, where farmers’ location, planting calendar and crops planted can be easily pinpointed.

“Having readily accessible information about your farm activities, can help us help you in providing immediate assistance needed, especially during harvest season. With the system, you can quickly inform us of the setbacks encountered in the field so that we can promptly implement corrective measures,” he said.

The turnover ceremony was also attended by DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca, Field Operations Division chief, Luz I. Guzman, PhD, DA-10 Provincial Operations Center chiefs and focal persons of the different DA-10 programs.

The turned over agricultural interventions may be conveyed to the eligible recipients’ location upon easing of the election ban.# (ATT/Photo Credits: MAC/BJCE)

DA-NorMin to scale up support for corn clusters in tapping feeds market

The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao Field Office (DA-NorMin) is set to maximize production and marketing support to corn clusters to meet the corn supply requirement of feed millers and the livestock industry in region 10.

In a consultation meeting on Friday, April 4, DA-NorMin convened the region’s major corn clusters and livestock industry stakeholders at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon to assess the corn supply situation and craft a production and marketing plan to meet the feeds market demand.

On a monthly basis, San Miguel Food, Inc. requires 3k metric tons (MT) corn, and Pilmico needs 2k MT of corn as raw material for their feed plant in the region, while the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers (NORMINHOG) requires at least 200 MT of corn in feed consumption.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan directed the scaling up of capacitation support to corn clusters by providing them necessary production and postharvest machinery and equipment to meet the buying specification standard of feed millers.

“We should directly link our corn clusters to the market so they can sell their products at a higher buying price without the middlemen. With this, we can attain the target corn production volume needed by the feed millers and steadily supply the feed consumption requirement of the livestock industry,” he opined.

As part of its marketing assistance to the corn clusters, the DA-NorMin also commits to provide logistic support and market linkage with prospective buyers to expand their market reach and to increase their earnings.# (ATT/ Photo Credits: MAC)