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)

Agri NorMin’s celebration of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month highlights the laudable contribution of farmers and fisherfolk to nation-building.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In celebration of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month this May 2022, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) launched the activity with the conduct of Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita trade exhibit, showcasing the produce of local farmers and fishers at the agency compound on May 16.

In his remarks, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado noted, that the celebration is annually observed to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of the Filipino farmers and fishers in ensuring food security and sustainability.

Said activity is also in observance of the feast of St. Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of farmers and fisherfolk, which falls on May 15.

RED Collado also emphasized, that with the two-day Kadiwa display, local farmers and fishers, and other small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can showcase and sell their products to the employees and the public at reasonable prices for the consumers, as trading layers are already eliminated.

Participating in the Kadiwa exhibit are DA’s identified farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) and other stakeholders, namely: Paglingkawas Women Federation; Tagpuangi Fisherfolk Association; Lantapan Vegetable Farmers Marketing Cooperative; Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association; Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative; Milalittra Farmers Agriculture Cooperative; and Imbayao Community-based Participatory Action Research Association.

Together with the newly installed Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC) chair Reynaldo M. Cabanao, who is at the same time, the farmer-director for the month of May, the FCAs were recognized for their efforts in supporting the department in providing adequate food, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We proudly say, that Northern Mindanao is sufficient with the major crops and livestock products, as our farmers and fisherfolk have worked hard on their farms to provide us with fresh and nutritious food. Importantly, we were able to supply other regions with the commodities they needed,” Collado expressed.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga shared, that the department has started celebrating the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month since May 1989, through Presidential Proclamation No. 33.

She revealed, that this year’s Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month bares the theme: “Modernisasyon at Industriyalisasyon tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.”

Likewise, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region-10, through Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez handed over the certificates of award to the following farmers and academe as learning sites for agriculture: Casa Amante Farm; Tikala Natural Farms; Gono Farm; JB Strawberry Farm; and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) Claveria’s Pandemic Farm and Center for High Value Crops.

Further launched in its first-ever year, DA-RFO 10 employees also showed off their athleticism, as they participated in the Larong Lahi in the ‘Hugyaw’ Sports Festival, held at the agency compound, which aims to foster employees’ sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie.# (EMBentulan/Photo Credits: RDMElloren)

PhilRice partners with DA-10 to boost the promotion and consumption of Golden Rice.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To promote awareness and consumption of Golden Rice in the country, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado in collaboration with DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) held a stakeholder meeting on May 17, 2022, this city.

DA-PhilRice Agusan Branch Bureau Director, Dr. Caesar Joventino M. Tado stated, that said event aims to introduce and seek support from different stakeholders on the production and deployment of Golden Rice.

Said rice variety is genetically modified that contains beta carotene which is a source of vitamin A. It is safe to eat and it costs and tastes just the same as regular rice.

Further, Golden Rice can help in the fight against Vitamin A Deficiency which weakens the body’s visual and immune system, especially in children.

In 2019, it passed a biosafety assessment and was declared, “as safe as conventional rice” by DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).

Additionally, the Philippines is the first-ever country in the world to have approved genetically engineered rice with nutritional benefits.

Lanao del Norte, being listed as one of the priority provinces of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) with high stunting incidence from the 2015 Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) data, is one of the chosen pilot areas for the program.

“As part of the pilot-scale deployment, we have allocated seeds to be planted in Lanao del Nortethis year, which will then be deployed to farmers and consumers,” shared Program Leader Dr. Ronan Zagado of the Golden Rice-Project Management Office of DA-PhilRice.

Said meeting was attended by representatives from different government agencies such as DA-PhilRice, DA-BPI, DA-Agricultural Training Institute, Department of Health, NNC, Provincial Local Government of Lanao del Norte, International Rice Research Institute and the academe. # (AMBManto)

The Research Center for Upland Development of DA-NorMin in Dangcagan, Bukidnon, hosts the conduct of a corn derby to feature different hybrid corn varieties produced by private seed companies, and their corresponding package of technologies.

DANGCAGAN, BUKIDNON – To seek promising corn varieties and technologies available in the market, the Corn Program of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO10) administered the ceremonial planting at the agency’s Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD) on Friday, May 13, 2022, this town.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said the activity will serve as a venue for showcasing the different cultural management practices and performance of corn varieties for eventual adoption at the farmers’ level.

The generated results of the derby will be one of the bases for the department’s seed procurement and for location-specific recommendations.

For this year’s wet season, six private seed companies are participating and have started planting their hybrid corn varieties using their respective protocols.

With an elevation of 600 meters above sea level, the station allocated almost two hectares for the corn production area, where each company was allotted with 1,000 square meters per variety.

Joining with their entries are Corteva AgriScience (P3530YHR, P3660YHR); Asian Hybrid Seed Technologies, Inc. (J505, SUPREME 5150); Bioseed Research Philippines, Inc. (B108G, H101G); Evo Gene Seeds, Corp. (EVO 710, EVO 9815); Syngenta Philippines, Inc. (NK6410BGT, NK306BGT); and Bayer Crop Science Philippines (DK8899S, DK8131S).

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga led the activity with Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC) chair Reynaldo M. Cabanao, who is at the same time Farmer-Director for the month of May. # (MPMTablon)

DA-10 installs RAFC chair Cabanao as the farmer-director for the month of May in time for the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s celebration. This is to strengthen the government and private sector’s partnership in a bid to contribute to agri-fishery development.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with the annual observation of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) installed Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) chairperson Reynaldo M. Cabanao as the Farmer-Director (FD) for the month of May.

This is pursuant to the FD program launched in 2017 by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PCAF) which seeks to strengthen the partnership between the government and the private sector toward agri-fishery development.

The RAFC chairs are assigned to the roles and responsibilities of the regular regional executive directors of DA regional field offices across the country by taking charge of the implementation of the key programs of the department but are limited to non-policy determining activities.

Cabanao expressed, that said initiative will uphold multi-stakeholder engagement, transparency, and accountability in policy and program development processes for the agri-fishery sector. “This will ignite the spirit of participatory governance. We will be able to express farmer concerns, give recommendations and feedback mechanisms as to agricultural on-goings,” the farmer-director said.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado remarked, that the agency continually pipelines agricultural plans, projects, and programs in order to empower and assist more farmers and fishers under the OneDA reform agenda and its key strategies.

“This move will further help the private-led AFC understand the internal and external processes within the government as to the process flow in the delivery of services,” RED Collado added.

Also witnessing the event is DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and Cora A. Dumayaca, RAFC-10 Regional Executive Officer. # (JCAnito)

DA-10 through its SAAD program hands over various agri inputs for the food production of the army and former rebels.

The Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao (DA-10), through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD), turned over agricultural inputs to the Philippine Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion on Thursday, May 12, as part of the agency’s agri intervention in support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

SAAD’s agri inputs comprised 25 bags of organic fertilizers and 50 packs of assorted vegetable seeds intended for food for the army and former rebels who surrendered to the 58th IB.

DA-10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado continuously provides free planting materials, vegetable seeds, and other agricultural assistance to uplift the lives of former rebels.#(DA-10 SAAD)

DA-NorMin preps for the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s celebration, this May, as a way to pay tribute to the invaluable contributions of farmers and fishers to nation-building.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The management committee members and representatives from the different operating units of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) convened for a preparatory meeting for the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration, this May.

With the theme: “Modernisasyon at Industriyalisasyon tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita”, the department tackled the series of activities to be staged for said observance, which includes the awarding of outstanding farmers and fishers, and Kadiwa implementers, the conduct of a sportsfest and Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita exhibit.

Also welcomed during the meeting is Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council Chair (AFC) Reynaldo M. Cabanao, who is installed as the Farmer-Director for this month.

He will exercise routinary functions and semi-policy activities for a deeper understanding of how the agency works, which is eyed for a bolstered partnership between the government and the private sector.

Among his tasks include representing the regular regional executive director (RED) during opening and closing ceremonies, and program launchings; conducting lectures on the implementation of DA-RFO 10 key programs and projects; call for management committee meetings, and act as presiding officer with a focus on AFC matters to ensure successful advocacy of policy agenda and operations of targeted activities; conduct facilities visitation, and submit recommendations relative to his experience in fulfilling cited position.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized that by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 33, annually the month of May is declared the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month to give due recognition to the invaluable contributions of farmers and fishers to nation-building. # (JLO)