Sec. Dar leads the turnover of the P6.34-M trading post and other marketing logistics to the farmers in Magsaysay, MisOr to provide farmers a venue to command better prices for their quality and fresh produce by saving transport time and costs. (Photo credits: MPTablon)

MAGSAYSAY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar turned over the P6.34 million trading post and other marketing logistics to the officials and members of the Mindulao Farmers Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (MFARCC) and Magsaysay Peddlers Association on December 6 at barangay Kibungsod, this town.

Said facility, which comes with a package of interventions such as a transport truck and equipment, comprising of a digital weighing scale, retail weighing scale, pallet and plastic crates, is pooled from DA through its Enhanced Kadiwa (P5-M) funds and a counterpart (P1.345-M) from the local government unit (LGU) of Magsaysay headed by Mayor Rey B. Buhisan.

Strategically built close to CARAGA region and with an access to the vegetable-producing town of Claveria, MisOr, the trading post will provide farmers in the locality a venue to command better prices for their quality and fresh produce by saving transport time and costs.

At the same time, it aids wholesale buyers from the eastern part of Magsaysay to significantly cut their hauling expenses.

“Malaki po itong tulong sa mga magsasaka sa Magsaysay, lalung-lalo na para sa mga produkto na galing pa sa malayong kabundokan at mahirap ang paghanap ng mga buyer. Magsisilbi itong access point para pwede nilang maibenta ang kanilang produkto sa saktong halaga,” Ediver Joy V. Buyan, MFARCC chairman conveyed.

Further, the Project is seen to enable the community to have greater access to a healthier and sufficient supply of agricultural products at reasonable prices.

Under the ‘OneDA reform agenda’ to level up the country’s agriculture, Secretary Dar likewise reiterated the department’s key strategies for farmers to enjoy higher efficiencies in operations and improved profits.

“Pinapaigting po ng DA itong linkage between production and market para sa ganun, at the end of the day, mas mataas ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka,” the DA chief said, attributing reduced transport and distribution costs from production to consumption areas through the trading post.

“Para mas maganda pa yung serbisyo na maibibigay ng DA at LGU, dapat ang ating mga magsasaka ay maging miyembro po sila sa isang kooperatiba, ‘pag binuklod meron tayong ma-isuporta collectively doon sa mga farmers, cooperatives or associations (FCAs). Through collective action by farmers joining FCAs, ang serbisyo na galing sa gobyerno, national man o lokal, ay doon isi-sentro para mas maraming makinabang at masilbihan,” the agriculture secretary further emphasized.

Beside the cited Project, Sec. Dar also led the ceremonial turnover of cash subsidy to 151 qualified rice farmers at 5K each through DA’s Rice Farmers Financial Assistance in a bid to cushion the impact of the Rice Tariffication Law.

Gracing the turnover were DA Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel O. Reyes, Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga of DA-Regional Field Office 10, other department heads and staff of LGU Magsaysay and municipal residents. # (JLO)

Farmers and residents of Claveria, MisOr are seen to reap the benefits brought about by the interventions under the RDP-MIC.

GINGOOG CITY – As part of his regional visit, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar accepted the P117.9 million worth of interventions under the Rural Development Project for the Multi-Industry Cluster (RDP-MIC) Zone in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on December 6, 2021.

Turning over the certificate to the DA chief is Mr. Sea Chul Son, project manager of the Dong IL Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, which he later on handed over to the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental represented by Provincial Board Member Erik Khu, and was finally received by the benefitting municipality through Claveria Mayor Meraluna S. Abrogar.

Strategically placed in cassava, corn and high value crops producing barangays of Aposkahoy, Gumaod and Hinaplanan, RDP-MIC overall aims to uplift the lives of farmers through wider access of agricultural and social infrastructure, and production technologies, and enhanced social community capacity.

Said amount is just a portion of the P157.8-M agricultural interventions for MisOr province, which includes marketing support, unconditional cash transfer and African Swine Fever indemnification assistance.

Witnessing the ceremony are MisOr farmers, local government units, DA-10 management led by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and staff, Regional Management Committee – 10 members, media practitioners and other stakeholders. #

Cassava mechanical dryer in Brgy. Hinaplanan.

Warehouse and greenhouse in Brgy. Aposkahoy.

Water system in Brgy. Aposkahoy.

Small bridge in Brgy. Gumaod.

DA chiefs leads the ceremonial launching of the RCEF-RFFA program in R-10. Said cash subsidy is intended to assist rice farmers in light of RTL implementation.

MAGSAYSAY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar leads the ceremonial launching of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program in Northern Mindanao on Monday, December 6.

Launched in Gingoog City and Magsaysay of Misamis Oriental, around 330 smallholder rice farmers covering the towns of Medina, Talisayan, Magsaysay and the city of Gingoog who are tilling farms with an area of two hectares and below will benefit the cash subsidy at P5K each with a total amount of P1.65 million.

Nestor Magdugo, chair of the Kasimpitan Santiago Farmers Irrigators Association of Gingoog City shared, “Malaki ang maitutulong ng programang RFFA ng DA-10. Kahit papaano, may maidagdag kaming pampuhonan sa land preparation ng aming palayan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya.”

DA NorMin through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is set to complete its distribution to the 23,556 rice farmer-beneficiaries before the year ends covering its five provinces, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, and Lanao del Norte with a total amount of P117.78 million.

The farmer-beneficiaries were enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The RFFA is intended to assist rice farmers who are most affected by the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

Sec. Dar was joined by Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, DA-10 RED Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga with local officials of Gingoog City and Magsaysay, MisOr.#(ATC)

DA-10 continues to support LGU Bacolod, LDN through the provision of OPV corn seeds for distribution to farmers.

CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) provided Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) corn seeds to the Municipal Agriculture’s Office (MAO) of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado handed 50 bags OPV corn seeds to Bacolod agricultural extension worker Kim dela Cruz on Thursday, December 2, in barangay Lanise.

Dela Cruz noted that they target to distribute said provision to the upland corn-producing barangays of their town.

He added that to complement DA-10’s efforts in improving the plight of farmers, they will ensure that their crops will be covered by insurance with PCIC.

The registered PSB Cn 93-27 variety of OPV corn seeds were pooled from the seed production of DA-10’s Research Center for Hillyland Development (RCHD) of said barangay.

Each bag at 20 kilos can be planted to one hectare of farmland. # (JLO)

In partnership with MisOr PAGRO, DA-10 conducts a Digital Info Mgt. Training-Workshop for the agricultural report officers from the 21 LGUs in MisOr to adopt AIMS, an electronic reporting method.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In partnership with the Misamis Oriental Provincial Agriculture Office, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 conducted a Digital Information Management Training-Workshop for the Agricultural Report Officers from 21 Local Government Units in Misamis Oriental, on Thursday, December 2, in Gusa, this city.

The training specifically aims to capacitate the Municipal Agriculture Offices of the different LGUs in Misamis Oriental to adopt electronic reporting method, using the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS), an electronic database developed by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO).

According to Engr. Evy Elago, head of PAGRO’s Agricultural Biosystem Engineering Division, the AIMS was developed in 2019 to improve the province’s agricultural information management.

The system eases updating of information that is crucial in the planning and decision-making, to further develop the province’s agriculture.

“Information is a resource. If we have enough information we know our priorities and we are better guided in developing our programs and services. We can project the support needed by the farmers in terms of production and marketing. Thus, it is imperative that we invest in information” Engr. Elago said.

Through the AIMS agricultural data such as kinds of crops planted in the province, the number of crops planted, farmers’ profile, farmers associations’ profile, and the market situation can be easily accessed from the AIMS.

The LGUs’ report officers were trained on data consolidation, data encoding, and uploading, and report generation to navigate the AIMS.

Restraining data management issues and concerns were also addressed during the training.

Chona Nacalaban, Chief of the DA-10 Provincial Operations Center in Misamis Oriental highly encouraged the LGUs to adopt electronic reporting, particularly in their submission of agricultural accomplishments and agri-related updates to the PAGRO and the DA-RFO 10.

“Electronic reporting is paperless, thus a more convenient reporting method for the LGUs and for the DA. Not to mention, it can also systematize the LGUs’ reporting system,” said Nacalaban.

She added that specific agricultural data needed in the provincial and the regional levels are readily accessible in the system, making it more convenient to make timely decisions to improve the programs and services of the DA.

Engr. Elago thanked the DA-RFO 10 for continuously supporting the PAGRO’s initiative in digitizing the province’s agricultural information database.

“We encountered resistance in the early stages, but we are happy that we have gone far with the support of the DA-RFO 10 particularly the Provincial Operations Center, who constantly backed our efforts in digitizing our information management in the PAGRO” Engr. Elago remarked.# (ATalib)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To encourage the youth to engage in agri-fishery based enterprises, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) named its three regional awardees for the Young Farmers Challenge Fund: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program.

The awardees include Andre Paolo Paraguya (Impasugong, Bukidnon) – Bottled Fresh Milk Processing and Marketing; Gretchen Raiz (Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental) – Cacao Processing (Tablea and Cacao Spread); and Daryl Ann M. Gonzales (Malaybalay City, Bukidnon) – Agro Tourism Venture through Farm Diversification.

Out of the top 20 provincial entries who have made their business proposal presentations on November 23-24, 2021 in Cagayan de Oro City, said individuals stood out after a thorough deliberation based on their entrepreneurial attitude, innovativeness, potential revenue, and value-adding of their products and venture.

Said winners will receive P150,000 each and will vie for a spot at the national level competition. # (AMBManto)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In collaboration with the LGUs, the academe and communities in advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and the Philippine Association of Agriculturists 10 (PAA-10) jointly launched the communal garden contest in the region’s five provinces.

The search for the best garden in the five provinces with its respective associations will enhance the availability of food at the community levels.

The participating associations includes the following: Tangaro Young Farmers, Catarman, Camiguin; Barangay Calaocalao, Don Carlos, Bukidnon; Sinai RIC Multi Purpose Cooperative, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental; Barangay Libertad in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; and Pan-ay Vegetable Farmers in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and PAA Northern Mindanao chapter President Carlota S. Madriaga emphasized that communities need to strengthen local food production.

Each communal garden measuring not less than 500 square meters will be judged based on its physical arrangement, varieties of crops planted, technology innovations, production, and garden space utilization.

Inputs comprising vegetable seeds, organic fertilizers, biopesticides, and the provision of knapsack sprayer were provided by the department in support of its Plant, Plant, Plant Program.

PAA is a professional organization based on the development of agriculture and fisheries that supports the government’s advocacy of the establishment of a community or school garden.

The awarding for the outstanding communal garden will be in March 2022. #(MPTablon)

In support of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, DA-10 apprises its employees on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Gender and Development Unit conducts Advocacy Campaign on Violence against Women and Children, Thursday, November 25 this City.

The activity was staged in support of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women”, a nationwide campaign advocated by the Philippine Commission on Women, in pursuit of VAW-free communities across the country.

Participating male and female employees of the DA-10 were apprised on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

Mr. John Rey P. Catalan, Program Manager and Head of the Gender and Women, Peace and Security Division of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was invited as resource speaker of the activity.

Attending the activity via an online platform, Mr. Catalan averred that an organization’s approach towards gender-based violence or harassment should be “preventive” in nature.

“An organization should (strictly) adopt the government’s policy on anti-sexual harassment. The conduct of the survey, interview, and common group discussion are helpful to gather data (and identify preventive programs). Men should be engaged and involved as partners to prevent gender-based violence or harassment,” he explained.

In her message, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, urged the agency’s employees to uphold healthy relationships among themselves by being sensitive towards each other’s emotions.

“We need to respect our differences and be sensitive to others. At all times we need to be wary of gender-related violations so that we can work peacefully, respecting one another’s personal rights in the office,” she remarked.

In her part, Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, reminded the employees to observe good office practices to discourage violation of gender rights.

“You, the young ones, are the future leaders of the DA. Therefore, you should be a model to each other in nurturing harmonious work relationship,” she asserted, supporting the call to cast down gender-based violation and harassment in the entity.# (ATalib)

To capacitate the youth in the agribusiness sector, DA-10 through AMAD conducts an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop to about 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from MisOr and CdeO City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To harness the potential and strength of the youth towards transformed agriculture, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA RFO 10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) conducted an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop on November 25-26, 2021.

About 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from the towns of Claveria and Balingasag of Misamis Oriental, and from the city of Cagayan de Oro were convened to apprise the group into the agribusiness sector, and at the same time, hone their entrepreneurial skills.

“It’s very common to see young individuals who’ve taught themselves innovative techniques through social media exposure with the freedom they possess. As today’s generation has grown along with the latest technology, it’s best for their advantage to utilize this knowledge and enhance their entrepreneurial skills in any of their chosen agriculture-based endeavours,” Cleofe O. Ampatin, DA-10 AMAD senior agriculturist remarked.

Topics focused during the activity included Taking Advantage of Digital Marketing for Start-Ups, and Proper Packaging and Labelling of Farm Products.

Likewise, they were introduced to some innovations on the production of banana chips, and business preparation and marketing for banana flour.

DA’s attached agency, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, bared its different loan portfolios to actively engage the attendees in agriculture and fisheries through the availment of its credit programs. # (RDMElloren)

On November 24, 2021, DA-10 initiates a meeting with concerned agencies to discuss the inflow and outflow of agri commodities which will be used as bases for the region’s agri situationer.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To validate data on the commodity flow of agri commodities, the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-10 initiated a meeting with concerned agencies on November 24, 2021.

DA-10 AMAD Agribusiness and Industry Support Section Chief Jenny Alcobilla said that AMAD is regularly conducting data gathering and analysis on agricultural commodities shipped in and out from the region.

The movement or flow of agri commodities captures data carried through air and sea which are inbound or outbound in the region.

The inflow and outflow of agri commodities will be used as bases of the region’s agri situationer.

Data captured includes volume, declared value, description of commodity, origin, and destination.

Banner program coordinators of the agency which includes, livestock, corn, rice, high-value crops development, and organic agriculture with the Philippine Statistics Authority 10, DA-Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Quarantine Services in Region 10 (DA-BPI PQS 10) and DA-Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Services 10 were referred as sources of the said data.

The output of the activity will be finalized and presented for another round of validation with other concerned agencies.#(RDMElloren)