Agri dept in NorMin assures continued support to the agri-development of Malaybalay City under its Mayor-elect Pabillaran. 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To keep up and further boost the province’s agricultural production capacity, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado paid a courtesy visit to the newly elected mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The said meeting discussed ways forward in implementing more potential programs and projects between DA and the local government to aid farmers within the city under its new headship.

This includes the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant Assistance, and farm mechanization assistance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, among others.

Also present during the meeting were DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Field Operations Division chief, Luz I. Guzman, PhD, and Provincial Operations Chief for Bukidnon, Janet D. Lopez, DVM. # (RDMElloren)

Corn farmers of Manolo Fortich is the first batch to get their fuel discount amounting to P3,000.00 each.

Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon – To cushion the impact of fuel price hikes on farmers and fishers in ensuring food security, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) officially launched the Fuel Discount Program for Corn Farmers at the Municipal Gym of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on June 3, 2022.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C Collado said, under the program, each qualified corn farmer is granted with P3,000.00 in fuel discount as part of DA’s instituted measures with the constant increase of fuel prices which affects agricultural operations, thus maximizing the utilization of farm machineries and facilities.

Some 131 corn farmers from said town were the first batch of the fuel subsidy program-recipients throughout region 10, which were pooled from funds of the DA-Corn Program.

Pursuant to the Special Provision of the General Appropriations Act for the current fiscal year, a total amount of P500 million (M) is apportioned to provide fuel discount to corn farmers, including that of fisherfolk for the machineries used in corn production from land preparation to postharvest activities and motorized boats for fishing operations.

For NorMin, the target is pegged at about 9,500 corn farmers with a total allocation of P28-M.

According to Richan D. Lacanaria, DA-10 corn focal person, the subsidy shall only be used to buy gasoline or fuel diesel from accredited petroleum retail outlets.

To qualify for the fuel subsidy, he added, a corn farmer must be duly registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System (FFRS), and an individual or his/or farmer’s cooperative or association must also own functional machinery with proof of ownership and must be further listed in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System (ABEMIS).

Marymee H. Castro of the Aggies Multi-Purpose Cooperative of barangay Maluko conveyed her appreciation for said assistance saying, “Lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa DA na naisipan nila ang programang ito na makakatulong talaga sa aming mga magsasaka dahil sa taas ng bilihin ngayon, at halos ang mga gamit naming pansaka ay gumagamit ng gasolina na nakakadagdag sa production cost sa aming tinatanim na mais.”

She added that the fuel subsidy will be used for their coop’s corn sheller, corn mill and other postharvest facilities.

Recognizing that most of the municipality’s fuel discount program-beneficiaries are farmer cooperatives, association-members, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga further urged the attending farmers to form into clusters in order to avail more agri interventions from the government, especially those big-ticket projects such as the provision of farm tractors, combine harvesters, solar dryer facilities, warehouses, among others.

Under the Duterte administration and Secretary Dar’s helm, she said, that the agri department is advocating for farm consolidation and clustering, as it involves the integration of government interventions to organized farmer-groups, with the aim to empower stakeholders to reduce production costs and reap benefits in the agri value chain.# (Joanne L. Olson)

DA-10 conducts an agribiz coordinators meeting for said group to revisit the different services under AMAD.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A two-day agribusiness coordinators meeting was spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) on May 30-31, this city.

Provincial and municipal agribusiness coordinators from Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin converged to beef up the implementation of programs, projects and services under DA-10’s agribusiness division in coordination with the different local governments.

Discussions focused on credit facilitation and availment, market development services, and price monitoring of various agri commodities.

In her message, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Carmelita T. Bajarla recognizes the crucial role of the agribiz coordinators, as they serve as the bridge between the farmers and that of DA, to extend agri interventions down to the grassroots level.

Being the chair of the Civil Society Organization (CSO) accreditation, the director also urged the local governments to closely work hand-in-hand with the different CSOs in their respective areas.

“DA recognizes the role of CSOs in community development and acknowledges capacities in the successful implementation of agri-fishery programs and projects, that is why we encourage them thru the agribiz coordinators to enlist and register themselves for documentation and accreditation,” RTD Bajarla concluded. #(JCAnito)

DA-10 and PA signs an MOU for the provision of various agri inputs for the implementation of the Army Green Camp program.

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and the Mindanao Army Training Group (MATG), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Philippine Army, Executive Officer Major Gerald Dennis J. Loneza (Infantry), Philippine Army (PA) signed a memorandum of undertaking (MOU) on May 30, 2022, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, this city.

As a convergence partner in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), MATG requested from the department farm machinery and equipment and other agri-related interventions for their Army Green Camp Program.

Included in the P3.18 million worth of production-related assistance set aside for the group are 1 unit farm tractor with trailing harrow, disc plow, and trailer, 1 unit corn sheller, 1 unit hand tractor/multi-cultivator, and 5 heads of cattle as a source of livelihood to promote the culture of food-sufficiency.

According to DA-10 RED Collado, the signing is in support of the said program, which is essential to mitigate food shortage and hunger and to secure from the threats of insurgency.

The cited interventions were procured under the Socio-Economic Component of the Normalization Process and Special Area for Agricultural Development programs as part of DA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ collaborative efforts to bring government services closer to the communities, he added.

Also witnessing the MOU signing are DA-10 Field Operations Division Chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD and Provincial Operations Chief of Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez, DVM. # (RDMElloren)

Former DA officials Lorenzo and Delima visit Agri NorMin’s soils lab which offers services such as soil and fertilizer tests, plant tissue analysis, among others.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Former agriculture officials paid a visit to the Regional Soils Laboratory (RSL), Integrated Laboratories Division of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) at Antonio Luna Street, this city, to see the agency’s facilities and services.

Welcoming the ex-DA chief Luis Lorenzo, Jr. and Dante S. Delima, former DA undersecretary, is RSL chief Engr. Elena C. Susaya. Engr. Susaya highlighted that the lab offers free-of-charge services for those farmers listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, who have two hectares and below of the farm area.

DA-10 lab services include soil and fertilizer tests, plant tissue analysis, among others.

Both former agri officials are now engaged in farming and expressed how the extension of lab services would be beneficial, especially in aiding marginalized farmers.

Lorenzo cited that the department’s services can help cushion the plight of farmers, who have been indirectly affected by the Russia-Ukraine dispute.

Delima said that with the delivery of timely and accurate results from the soils lab, unnecessary farmer expenses can be reduced; which would contribute to increased farmers’ income.

Reportedly, the soils lab receives and tests an average of 140 soil samples a week using the Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) technique, major and minor compositions of soils are identified.

Along with the Feed Chemical Analytical Laboratory, RSL of DA-10 acquired Certificate of Authority to Operate (CATO), through the Professional Regulatory Board of Chemistry pursuant to the Chemistry Profession Act, a law regulating and modernizing the practice of chemistry in the Philippines, the first-ever DA regional field office to do so for two of its laboratories.# (EMB)

DA-10 SAAD program hands over native chicken and feeds to Anlag-Ani Tapukanan Coop represented by Compas.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of its Integrated Agriculture Livelihood Project, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao (DA-10) provided manok pinoy or native chicken and feeds to Anlag-Ani Tapukanan Cooperative of the 1st CAFGU Active Auxiliary Company-II headquarters in Mandangoa, Balingsag, Misamis Oriental.

The poultry inputs worth P35,122.72, comprised of 10 male and 40 female native chicken and five bags of grower feeds, were received by former rebel Julio Romania Compas, a member of the Anlag-Ani Tapukanan Cooperative.

Compas surrendered to the 58th Infantry “Dimalulupig” Battalion (58th IB) in 2019 and has been raising chicken and goats in the headquarters.

“Pasalamat lang po ako sa DA sa ibinigay nila sa akin, yung manok, aalagaan ko yan ng mabuti para magawa kong hanapbuhay sa sarili ko. Yun ang pinkamalaking pasalamat ko sa DA,” Compas said.

Compas shared that his life was hard when he was still a member of the rebel group as he had to travel under the heat of the sun and the rain while being chased by the military troops.

“Dahil dito, makakatulog na ako, makakain at merong sariling trabaho at negosyo hindi kagaya doon na wala,” he said.

After the turnover of the chicken, Compas with the soldiers under the 58th Infantry Battalion also underwent chicken raising orientation conducted by SAAD’s Veterinarian Dr. Dianara Celeste Ua-o.

The native chicken, sourced from the SAAD Chicken Multiplier Farm in the DA’s Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD) in Dangcagan, Bukidnon, is expected to lay eggs by late July or early August this year.

The stocks produced from the chicken will be dispersed to the other members of the said cooperative.

For his part, First Lieutenant Vincent Mark Maddul, the Civil-Military Operation officer of the 58th IB, expressed his gratitude to the DA-10 and SAAD for the livelihood projects that have been a big help to the former rebels for them to sustain their living and help their families.

“Itong mga livelihood projects na binibigay ng ating mga agencies, especially Department of Agriculture, is a big help for them (former rebels) to have a sustainable livelihood in support sa kanila na bago sila makabalik sa mainstream society, meron silang livelihood to sustain their living and also to help their families,” Maddul said.

“As part ng Civil-Military Operations ng 58th IB, natutuwa kami na nagsa-succeed or successful ang ating mga former rebels tungod sa mga programs and livelihood nga gihatag ng ating DA,” he added.

The DA-10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is continuously giving free agricultural assistance to uplift the lives of the former rebels in support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).#(DA-10 SAAD)

DA-10 through NMACLRC hosts the third corn derby for this wet season, to feature the different hybrid seed varieties of participating private seed companies.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in partnership with private seed companies, started the third leg of its corn derby this wet season featuring different hybrid seed varieties at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, this city.

Six participating seed companies simultaneously planted their corn seed entries in a 1.1375-hectare area in the agency’s complex, which was led by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado together with Executive Officer Major Gerald Dennis J. Loneza of the Mindanao Army Training Group, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army (PA) on Monday, May 30, 2022.

According to RED Collado, the performance of each hybrid corn seed variety will be showcased, highlighting the yield vis-a-vis its production cost, as well as the technologies applied.

Through this, the farmers will learn on the advantages of adopting the planting protocols and technologies used by the seed companies, and from hereon, choose their preferred varieties suitable in their respective areas, the director added.

Staged at the derby are the following companies and their respective corn entries: Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, Inc. (J505, SUPREME5150); Corteva Agriscience (P3660YHR, P4124YHR); Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc. (BC108G, H101G, BIO CORN HI-FLY); Evo Gene Seeds, Corp. (EVO 709VR, EVO 9310); Bayer Crop Science Philippines (DK8131S, DK8899S); and Syngenta Philippines, Inc. (NK306BGT, NK6505BGT).

Meanwhile, Carmelito R. Lapoot, NMACLRC chief shared, that said activity is a way of showcasing promising corn cultivars to respond to the small farmers’ need to enhance their corn farming productivity and transform this to increased profitability.

He pinned his hope for the corn derby to be sustained in the department’s research centers, and later on, be replicated in more areas in the region.

Of which, DA-10 is set to conduct similar derby at the agency’s partner in agri-development through the Mindanao Army Training Group (MATG), Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Philippine Army at Kibaritan Military Reservation, Malinao, Kalilangan, Bukidnon.

Further citing last year’s cropping [dry] season results, the director bared the average yield for each seed company’s highest yielding variety, as follows: Bayer – 12.36 metric tons (MT) (DK81315), Corteva – 9.15 MT (3660YHR), Syngenta – 9.09 MT (NK306BGT), Bioseed – 8.97 MT (BC108), Evo Gene – 8.76 MT (EVO709), Asian Hybrid – 7.21 MT(J505 RRYG), and Green and Grow Technologies – 6.11 MT (X5).

With the generated results of said activity and upcoming MATG’s demo farm, the agri department under RED Collado eyes for more informed corn farmers in a bid to further develop the corn industry. # (RDMElloren)

DA-10 assures continued support to the agri-development of Tangub City under its  Mayor-elect Canama.  

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) reaffirmed its continuing partnership with the City Government of Tangub in Misamis Occidental for the development of its agricultural sector.

In a recent meeting at the agency compound, newly elected officials of the said city headed by Mayor-elect Sabiniano Canama paid a courtesy visit to the department headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado along with the different program coordinators.

During the courtesy call, Mayor-elect Canama expressed, that under his leadership, the city eyes to have a strengthened partnership with DA by requesting programs and projects that will help expand their agricultural technologies portfolio, especially since they target Northern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSC) as a techno hub.

Accordingly, program focal persons tackled their implemented, ongoing plans for the year 2023, particularly those activities already pipelined for the province, including Tangub City.

Tangub, a chartered city located in the northwest part of Mindanao, has vast tracts of farmlands for corn, rice, and coconuts (copra), owing to their main occupation in farming to these agri commodities.

In particular, DA-10’s Regulatory Division chief Audy G. Maagad cited the programs and projects set for NMSC, which includes the Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa as well as Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita programs; hydroponics, mushroom houses, multiplier farm, cacao development enterprise, nursery, and processing facilities, among others.

Maagad further added that the local government works closely with NMSC to enable the submission of a project proposal to DA’s attached agency, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), with the city set for the campus to act as a technology bank and learning site for farmers and students alike.

Also present in the meeting is Farmer-Director for the month of May, Reynaldo M. Cabanao, and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division chief Larry E. Paraluman. # (RDMElloren)

Libona town farmers graduate from DA-spearheaded climate-resilient FFS.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, through the Climate Change – Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (CC-AMIA) culminated the 16-week Climate Resilient Farmers Field School (CRFFS) on May 18.

Twenty-eight corn farmers from Gango-Kinawe-Kiliog AMIA Village in Libona, Bukidnon graduated from said activity.

Carmelito R. Lapoot, DA-10’s Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) chief, at the same time AMIA-10 focal person shared that the activity aims to equip the farmers with knowledge on the 10-day weather forecast which will serve as farmers’ guide in planting and other cropping activities.

“This activity will also enhance their knowledge in planting activity, particularly on timing, considering the effects of climate change. We also taught them how to adjust to the planting calendar based on the forecasted rainfall, thus enhancing their climate resiliency in terms of agricultural productivity. With this, farmers now have better options in corn farming vis-a-vis the effects of climate change,” Lapoot added.

Cora A. Dumayaca, DA-10 Research Division chief, congratulated the graduates for surpassing the four-month-long workshop and wished that the lessons learned in the training will benefit them.

“We hope that through this DA empowerment strategy backed by our local government counterparts, your learnings will be helpful to you, especially since we are feeling the effects of climate change.” # (CRSeraspe)

DA-10 thru the Livestock program monitors the different beneficiaries of its poultry and livestock projects under the Bayanihan funds to ensure its sustainability.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure the efficacy of the agency’s programs funded under Bayanihan Act I and II, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-NorMin) has undertaken monitoring and evaluation of its poultry and cattle production projects in the region.

Implemented in March 2020, the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act (Republic Act No. 11469) is the country’s move to address the national emergency brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, under Bayanihan Act I, more than 600 qualified farmers from the different provinces in Northern Mindanao have received 6 heads of free-range chicken (1 male and 5 females) through the Expanded Livestock and Poultry Production and Livelihood Project for COVID-19 Response program; while 400 farmers from Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental have also benefited from the department’s Cattle Feedlot Fattening Project (CFFP) under Bayanihan Act II.

Maria Lourdes M. Sypiecco, Livestock Program coordinator of DA-NorMin emphasized, that said activity was conducted in coordination with the local governments to ensure the sustainability of the project and further its expansion.

One of the recipients of DA’s free-range chicken, Mariesa I. Honculada, shared that the project has been beneficial for their family, especially at the height of the pandemic.

Honculada, a mother of six from barangay Soro-Soro, Mambajao, Camiguin, elaborated that the chicken has sustained their food source during the crisis.

“Nang dahil sa ibinigay ng DA-10 na free-range chicken naitataguyod ko ang aking pamilya sa gitna ng pandemya. May naipapakain ako sa aking mga anak, at nakakapagload para sa kanilang online class mula sa aking pagbebenta ng mga manok dito sa amin,” she said.

The Municipal Mayor of Catarman Kiterio Antonio U. Palarca II expressed his gratitude to DA-NorMin for the agri interventions to the farmers, not only in Catarman, but the entire province of Camiguin.

Palarca said that with the appropriate training for the farmers, and in partnership with DA and other national agencies and the LGUs, the produce of farmers will be further improved to become locally and eventually, globally competitive.

In Misamis Oriental, Sugbongcogon Municipal Agriculturist Johnny G. Sumaylo explained, that as recommended by RED Collado, they have modified DA’s CFFP into a semi-dispersal project, where each beneficiary will pass on its first heifer calf to the next beneficiary within the barangay.

Sumaylo confirmed, that the project has now started to progress as one heifer calf has already been passed on to another recipient, while others are currently pregnant.#(EMBentulan)