Agri-10 provides PNP-10 agri inputs in support of their self-sustainability and resilience efforts.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) under the tutelage of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, extends its support to the Philippine National Police-10 (PNP-10) by providing agricultural inputs on March 15, at the agency compound.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca and High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) focal person Kersten S. Pagalan turned over provisions, comprising a tin can each of hybrid squash (Soledad Improved), hybrid eggplant (Checkmate), ampalaya (Makiling) and pechay (Black Behi) to PNP-10 representative Amenodin S. Sangcopan.

Requested by the company commander of the Technical Support Company of PNP-10, which operates as a specialized division within the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10, Police Major Aiman Khuzaimah P. Pantaran said that the agri-assistance will enable them to promote self-sustainability and resilience in vegetable production and also ensure a stable and sustainable food source for its personnel, especially in emergencies and challenging situations.

“We would like to thank DA-10 for its response in providing seeds to the PNP. This would greatly help us in [achieving] food security and also allow us to generate economic benefits through the sale of [any] surplus produce,” Amenodin said.

The assorted veggie seeds is funded under HVCDP’s Production Support Services.# (TJTL)

DA-10 through its AMIA trains agri extensionsists of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte provinces on climate info service.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To strengthen agricultural resilience amid climate change, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) recently conducted two batches of Agro-Climatic Advisory Portal (ACAP) Training cum Updating of Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Dalwangan, this city.

Spearheaded by the agency’s Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) program, attendees were agricultural technologists (ATs) from the provinces of Misamis Oriental (March 5-6), Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte (March 12-13).

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado remarked that the training aims to apprise the participants of accessing real-time weather data, climate forecasts, and advisory services to empower them in making informed decisions that are crucial to their locality’s agricultural production.

AMIA-10 Project Leader Joel J. Gabo tackled the agro-climatic portal, in partnership with PAGASA, where one can access the climate outlook and overview in the region for a semester and the ten-day weather forecast.

Likewise, he explained that the CRVA is vital in determining crops that are most vulnerable to climate risk. Said data was assessed under the latest climate change scenarios and incorporated current data on natural disasters and climate stresses.

Moving forward, Gabo pins his hopes that local government offices through the aid of ATs will utilize such tools to create strategic plans and effective investments to enhance resilience and adaptability.#(AMBM)

NorMin’s Coast Guard District and DOH receives agri inputs for their planting activities.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with its commitment to nurturing a more sustainable environment, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, turned over agricultural inputs to Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao (CGDNM) and the Department of Health – Regional Office 10 (DOH-X) on March 11, at the agency compound.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga, together with High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) focal person Kersten S. Pagalan, handed over 30 packets of 5-in-1 sinigang seed and garden tool set, comprising of 2 pieces apiece of shovel, weeding bolo, sprinkler, and light hoe to Ma. Rachel D. Escatron, DOH-Center for Health Development-Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHD-NM) senior health program officer.

On the other hand, CG Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Carina G. Dayondon, CGDNM officer-in-charge, and chief of staff, received 25 pieces each of Rambutan, Mangosteen, Cacao, and Coffee seedlings for their tree-planting activity which is scheduled on March 16, 2024, at Purok 5, Siculon, Barangay Mauswagon, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

According to Dayondon, said activity is in celebration of the 25th founding anniversary of CGDNM, which will help them reinforce their commitment to safeguarding the environment and fostering a greener environment.

“We are dedicated to commemorating this historic event with an activity that celebrates our past achievements and invests in our future. To contribute positively to the local ecosystem, we aim to plant 200 seedlings, promoting biodiversity and environmental sustainability,” she conveyed.

Meanwhile, Escatron said that the garden tools and seeds they have received will be utilized for their vegetable gardening activity in their office.

“I am grateful to DA for giving us seeds and garden tools. With El Niño, this provision will help us a lot in our vegetable gardening activity in the office. This will create a sustainable food source among us employees and it will also encourage them to farm,” Escatron said.

Funded under the HVCDP of DA, it aims to provide farmers and other relevant stakeholders with resources to encourage them to actively engage in agricultural endeavors that will overall contribute to the development of the high-value crops sector.# (RDME)

DA-10 rice farmers to secure fertilizer assistance through the Fertilizer Discount Voucher program.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – RFO 10 (DA-10) is set to provide P380 million worth of fertilizer assistance to rice farmers in Northern Mindanao for the wet and dry cropping seasons this year.

In a meeting with the partner merchants and the Provincial, City and Municipal agriculturists in Bukidnon province, Thursday, March 7, Chona H. Nacalaban, DA-10 Rice Program Focal Person, said the fertilizer assistance will be rolled out through the Fertilizer Discount Voucher (FDV) program of the DA.

She emphasized, “the fertilizer assistance is an augmentation to the fertilizer requirement of the rice farmers, to help them attain optimum yield.”

Through the FDV, the rice farmers duly registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) may choose to avail of fertilizers such as complete, urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate or muriate of potash, whichever suited their farming needs.

RSBSA-registered rice farmers in clustered rice areas are entitled to an FDV for a maximum of 10 hectares each, while rice farmers in non-clustered areas may receive an FDV for a maximum of five (5) hectares rice fields.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, urged the DA’s partner merchants and the LGUs to work in cohesion with the DA, for smooth implementation of the FDV program in 2024.

“We aimed for speedy and transparent implementation of the FDV program. For the farmers’ benefit our main priority is to provide them quality and reasonably priced fertilizer” he said.

Under the FDV program each eligible rice farmer can receive P3,400 per hectare worth of fertilizer voucher, which they can claim from the DA-accredited merchants.

Dir. Collado signed a Supplemental Agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Vice President, Mary Joyce B. Salgados, setting forth the guidelines for FDV project funds

utilization, particularly for payment to partner merchants.

The FDV program will cover 111,992 hectares of rice area in the whole of Northern Mindanao and is seen to benefit 51,962 rice farmers.#(ATT)

Iligan City farmers are eyed to boost their corn production with the provided agri inputs and facilities from DA-10. 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To improve the local production of yellow and white corn to meet market demand, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) turned over P535,500 worth of corn inputs and facility to the farmers of Iligan City.

Funded under the Corn program, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga together with Provincial Operations Center chief for Lanao del Norte, Abdulharis P. Paporo, handed over said agri interventions to Iligan City mayor Frederick W. Siao during the city government’s flag raising ceremony hosted by its agriculture’s office, held earlier this week, March 4.

The roster of agri assistance includes 35 bags of hybrid white corn (8888) seeds (P3.5K at 9 kilos) and 100 bags of urea fertilizer (P1.4K per bag at 50 kilos), which are intended for 20 farmers of Brgy. Ditucalan.

Rounding up the list is the provision of a mechanical corn sheller unit to the 35-membered Gawgawon Farmers’ Association of Brgy. Mainit with an estimated corn cultivation of 50 hectares.

With said provisions, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is optimistic that it will help enhance the region’s corn production by increasing the grain yield per hectare of yellow and white corn and closing the gap between supply and requirements of different corn processors, given the increasing demand of corn for food and other industrial uses.

Likewise, he underscored the need for farmers to be part of an active corn cluster organization and have its members be enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to be eligible to receive such support.

As development partners of the agri department, the Iligan city government complemented DA’s Organic Agriculture program as it also launched the “Basura ni Juan: Tabang sa Kaumahan Project” as a means to address the solid waste disposal challenges and promote organic farming practices in the locality.

On the same occasion, the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. also turned over an indemnity check worth around P120K to 40 Iligan City farmers whose farms were stricken by pests and calamities.# (JLO/Photo supplied: CLGU Iligan)

DA-10 shares laboratory practices to DA-5 in a benchmarking activity.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A team from the Integrated Laboratory Division (ILD) of DA-RFO 5 led by its chief Lorenzo L. Alvina visited DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) for the conduct of a benchmarking activity on the latter’s laboratories on March 5, at the agency compound.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, OIC ILD chief Viralou L. Tuquib, DVM welcomed the group, as DA-RFO 5 ILD embarks on adopting new technologies or methodologies that can further enhance their existing operations.

“I felt honored by your presence, I hope that this activity will provide you with valuable insights about our operational processes, quality control measures, and technological advancements,” she said.

The visiting ILD team went on a guided tour to DA-10’s ILD – RSL, FCAL, and the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which extends tests and analyses on soil, feeds, animal and plant health and nutrition.

The former group was apprised of the various equipment and facilities employed by the agency, offering an overview of their daily functions and best practices.

According to Alvina, this initiative marks a crucial step in achieving our goal of having a standard laboratory, as it enables us to gain significant insights that would contribute to the overall operational efficiency of our laboratories.

“Through this, we can establish a laboratory that provides accurate and reliable results and services that meet international standards,” he conveyed.
Capping the benchmarking activity, Tuquib pinned her hopes that it has in some ways helped their Bicol region counterpart and is open to the possibility of being of further assistance to them. # (RDME)

DA-10 through HVCDP provides veggie seeds to CdeO lactating mothers.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To provide proper nourishment, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado intensifies urban gardening through vegetable seed distribution to lactating mothers, in this city.

RED Collado said that urban gardening aims to establish vegetable production areas on the available lands of every household and enhance food security through sustainable practices such as composting, rainwater harvesting, and organic gardening methods.

On March 6, around 80 mothers received vegetable seeds such as pechay and 5-in-1 pinakbet seeds from the High Value Crops Development Program of DA-10, while the City Agriculture Office (CAO) here also provided seedlings on okra, eggplant, and guava during nutrition advocacy, held at the City Hall grounds.

During the event, DA-10 Field Operations Division Agriculturist II Ronald Allan P. Camaddo also tackled the advantages of urban gardening with an emphasis on hydroponics, as it paves the way for easier access to fresh produce and encourages healthier cooking, and at the same time, it promotes water conservation and lesser use of space for crops production.

One of the beneficiaries from Barangay 14 of CdeO, Marie Angelie R. Nalual expressed her gratitude for the opportunity shared, the knowledge on urban gardening and the provision of seeds from DA-10, which will augment the income through their soon harvested crops and ensure children’s healthy growth and development.

“Dako ako pasalamat sa mga seeds nga gihatag sa DA-10 ug sa dugang nga kahibalo kabahin sa urban gardening ug inig harvest sa among gitanum nga utanon kini gyud makatabang kay pwede sab kini mabaligya para sa dugang kita ug ilabina makatabang sa maayong pagdako sa akong anak.”

The activity was spearheaded by Nestle Philippines, Inc. together with the City Council for the Protection of Children of the City Government of CdeO.#(MPMT)

DA-SAAD 10 delivers various agri interventions to FCAs in Misamis Oriental.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Consistent with its commitment to uplifting marginal farmers’ livelihood, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-SAAD NorMin) continues its delivery of various agricultural interventions to farmers’ associations, cooperatives (FCAs) in Misamis Oriental, on February 27-28.

As part of said delivery, the Kaulayanan Strawberry Growers Association of the Sugbongcogon town received 70 bags of chicken manure as the DA-SAAD NorMin’s assistance for its strawberry production enterprise.

Five rolls of chicken net were provided to the Kauswagan Vegetable Farmers Association of Lagonglong town in support of their free-range chicken production enterprise.

Similarly, the Mapua Farmers Agri-Ventures Association of Balingoan town also received 5 rolls of chicken net and 30 pieces of waterer for its free-range chicken production enterprise.

The Mosangot Women’s Producer Cooperative of Binuangan town also received 1 pack of egg tray as the DA-SAAD NorMin’s aid for its chicken egg production enterprise.

On the same occasion, the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division of the DA-10 also conducted a technical inspection of SAAD-granted chillers intended for the Kaulayanan Strawberry Growers Association and the Pugaan-Tangkub Vegetable Farmers Association of the Libertad town.

The technical inspection is a mandatory procedure to ensure compliance with the technical specifications of the procured chillers for optimal utilization of the FCAs.

The concerned farmer’s groups have earlier received other enabling production tools and materials from the DA-SAAD NorMin.

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director and DA-SAAD NorMin focal person, Carlene C. Collado, the said interventions were provided to SAAD-assisted FCAs in the province to capacitate them in producing viable agricultural products suited to their location, as alternative sources of livelihood.

He added that for its phase 2 implementation, SAAD will be capacitating the FCAs in establishing a sustainable community-based agricultural enterprise.

This will be mainly done by linking the FCAs to appropriate government and private organizations to help them produce, market and process their products.

The DA-SAAD NorMin has been assisting 26 FCAs in priority towns with high poverty incidence across the four provinces in Northern Mindanao. # (ATT)

Agri-10 aims to assist more farmers by providing market support, among other things

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Consonant with its efforts to scale up support for corn farmers in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) convened with the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC) to discuss proposed strategies and areas for collaboration eyed to benefit corn farmers in the region, particularly in the province of Bukidnon, on March 4, at the agency compound.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Field Operations Division chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD presided over the meeting which centered on the proposed collaboration of the DA and the Batangas-based cooperative, in line with the latter’s plans to augment their existing supply of corn for the production of mash, pellet, and crumble feeds for swine, poultry, broilers, and ruminants.

“Although we have been sourcing primarily from Luzon, we see the potential in establishing partnerships here in Mindanao, particularly in Bukidnon, and linking the corn producers here to the [SIDC],” said SIDC Business Development Manager Hazel Sastado, who also leads the cooperative’s corn project team for Mindanao.

Currently, the SIDC aims to work with the DA on the construction of a grains terminal facility in Bukidnon, eyed to consolidate a bigger volume of corn but with reduced logistical costs.

During the meeting, SIDC Chief Executive Officer Rico B. Geron also underscored the benefits of fostering DA-assisted partnerships here poised to aid regional agricultural development.

“The [Corn] program of the DA, especially here in Region 10, will be [of] great help for us to link with farmers, explore opportunities for marketing, financing, and other types of services helpful to them,” Geron said.

He also cited the region’s ideal position to meet the high demand for corn among feed millers in Luzon, due to the sizable volume of corn it can produce.

Further, Geron said that they also seek to set up branches here to empower local farmers and aid in increasing the local production of corn.

“SIDC is also looking at setting up branches in Bukidnon to encourage farmers to be members and attain the benefits that the cooperative [provides]. If they have corn planters, we can provide financing, we can supply inputs, and we can guarantee them the market,” the chief officer said.

In response, FOD chief Guzman assured the agency’s support for the initiative, reiterating this endeavor’s implications on the state of agricultural development in the region.

On the other hand, DA-10 Corn program focal person Richan D. Lacanaria also committed to assisting the SIDC in linking with corn clusters and the local government here, for the conduct of future meetings and consultations.

Also present during the meeting were SIDC Board Chairperson Dr. Angelito B. Bagui, Business Development Supervisor Miko Factor, Agriterra business advisors and consultants Jun Virola and Jan Kamphof, and DA-10 Corn program staff.# (GDA)

DA-PRDP 10 through its IPLAN component holds a stakeholder’s consultation to craft a Value Chain Analysis report for Calamansi in Region 10.

TUBOD, LDN – To craft the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) report of Calamansi for Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) through the IPLAN component holds a Stakeholders’ Consultation with calamansi farmers, traders, processors, input providers, and other players of the value chain here, February 28-29, 2024.

In his message, DA 10 Regional Director and RPCO 10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado encouraged the stakeholders to be very transparent with the data in the updating of the VCA report.

“Your inputs are vital in the creation of the VCA. PRDP’s priority is to provide interventions and this consultation is the first step in achieving that goal.”

Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte said that under her administration, agriculture is her priority and that it is vital to empower the farmers in LDN.

“If we can help the marketing for our calamansi farmers, why not? We will look for the proper market for our calamansi products, because our variety here in LDN is a unique one. This is my last term, and my priority is agriculture.”

The consultation is a venue to determine the major constraints and raise appropriate interventions to boost the industry in the region.

The data gathered were discussed and validated by the team members from DA, PRDP, LGUs, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the stakeholders.

The inputs from the consultation will be incorporated into the VCA report and could be incorporated in the updated Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) for the province and in the Commodity Investment Plans (CIPs) for the region, which is one of the basic requirements in the investment planning and prioritization of PRDP subprojects and the issuance of No Objection Letter (NOL) 1.

The consultation was attended by stakeholders from Tubod, Lala, Kapatagan, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo, this province. #