CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A total of 73 aspiring young agripreneurs from the four provinces of Northern Mindanao hailed as Provincial Winners of the Young Farmers Challenge: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program on Friday, October 15.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 awarded the winners in the Virtual Awarding Ceremony organized by the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division via Facebook Live.

Winners include: Bukidnon (31); Misamis Oriental (17); Lanao del Norte (9); Camiguin (8); and, Cagayan de Oro City (8).

The said program was created to provide financial grants to deserving young farmers who are planning to start agri-fishery enterprises, by way of agribusiness pitching competition.

It was conceived to lure the country’s youths to engage in the agri-fishery sector, especially given the youths’ waning interest in agriculture in recent years.

In his message DA Secretary William D. Dar assured the country’s young agripreneurs of the DA’s continued support, believing that the youngsters are the future of the country’s agriculture.

“The agriculture sector is vital in re-energizing the country’s economy. Always remember that the Department of Agriculture is always here to provide support and craft policies and programs that will help our young farmers and agripreneurs,” he remarked.

In his part DA-Region 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado urged the awardees to remain steadfast in their commitment to contribute towards agricultural development.

“The country needs the millennial to commit with a passion to advocacies in developing the agriculture sector of the country. Agriculture is the foundation of food security and the youths are the future of food security,” he accounted.

He added that given the opportunities in agriculture, the youths must open their hearts and minds to be industry players, taking advantage of the economic benefits in the government’s food security agenda.

A total of 125 eligible aspiring young agripreneurs signed up for the provincial leg of the Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program in Region 10.

The participants went through scrutinous evaluation and screening of the Provincial Screening Committee organized by the respective Provincial and City Government Units.

The 73 Provincial Level Winners were adjudged based on their entrepreneurial attitude, innovativeness and revenue stream of the business proposal, and value addition.

Each winner will receive P50,000 worth of financial grant from the DA as start-up capital in materializing their proposed agribusiness.

Out of 73 Provincial Winners, 3 outstanding competitors will be named Regional Winners by the Regional Evaluation Committee of the DA-Region 10, to represent Northern Mindanao in the national leg of the competition.

Six National Winners will be chosen from among the Regional Winners nationwide.

The Regional and National Winners will receive P150,000 and P300,000 in financial grant, respectively.# (ATalib)

DA Undersecretary for Consumer and Political Affairs Kristine Y. Evangelista leads the distribution of the 4th and 5th batches of the African Swine Fever (ASF) indemnification fund in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental on Thursday, October 14.

A total of 281 hog raisers from the 10 barangays of said town received the total amount of P5.98 million for their 1,197 culled hogs that were affected with said virus. #

ASF affected hog raisers in MisOr receive indemnification assistance from DA-NorMin.

The agriculture department of Northern Mindanao (DA-10) released the African Swine Fever indemnification amounting to P1.77 million to 86 farmers from the five municipalities of Misamis Oriental province on Wednesday, October 13.

Nine ASF-affected farmers from Manticao received P310,000.00; Initao with P945,000.00 (49 farmers); Libertad with P110,000.00 (5); Opol with P385,000.00 (22); and one ASF-stricken farmer from Laguindingan accepted P20,000.00.

Farmers were paid P5,000.00 for every culled hog as part of DA’s response in curbing the spread of the hog viral disease. # (MPMTablon)

POC-LDN of DA-10 conducts a Prod’n Tech Training following Halal Standards for farmers in Lanao Norte.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In pursuit of boosting production and market access of Halal agri-fishery products, the Provincial Operations Center in Lanao del Norte (LDN) of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 staged a Production Technology Training following Halal Standards for the farmers of Sultan Naga Dimaporo town.

On October 7-8, 2021, said capabuild was attended by 25 participants who were expected to help increase the number of Halal practitioners, aside from encouraging other farmers to produce Halal certified products in a predominantly Muslim province.

To jumpstart their Halal activities, each training participant was granted with 1 module (2:10 male to female ratio) of free range chicken.

Similarly, farmers from the municipalities of Matungao and Munai have received said provision after also completing the held trainings last September 15-16 and September 22-23.

As way of rolling out said Project, they will return the same number of animals, which will be pooled for distribution in the next batch of target beneficiaries. # (JLO/Photo supplied: POC-LDN)

DA-10 celebrates WFD through staging the ‘OneDA Kadiwa’ at the agency grounds on October 14-15.

Cagayan de Oro City, October 14 – With the yearly observance of the World Food Day celebration every October 16, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) kicks off the activity with an opening of the ‘OneDA Kadiwa’ today at the agency grounds.

Centered on this year’s theme, “Our Actions are our Future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and better life”, the exhibit which will run until tomorrow, features various agricultural commodities and other by-products of the assisted farmers of the department, to promote awareness and action on the need to ensure food security and healthy diets for all.

Also displaying are DA-10’s research stations: RCUD, RCHD and NMACLRC, and attached offices: National Food Authority, National Dairy Authority and the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Leading the event is DA Undersecretary for Consumer and Political Affairs, Kristine Y. Evangelista, DA-10 Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga, representing Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and other officials and staff, DA Regional Management Committee members: ATI, BFAR, BPI-PQS, BPI-SPAL, NMIS, NDA, NFA, PCA and PCIC, in the presence of exhibitors and buyers. # (JLO)

DA-10 conducts an early procurement activity for its big ticket projects for CY 2022 in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10, headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado conducted an Early Procurement Activity for big ticket projects for CY 2022 in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon starting October 12-15, 2021.

Director Collado emphasized, that the activity is conducted to iron out challenges encountered during the procurement process.

“As early as today, we need to review the specifications and other enabling documents required in the bidding process of the project, so that by end of this year, we can finish the bidding process pending the award upon release of the approved budget for CY 2022,” Collado said.

Gracing the activity are the Regional Management Committee of DA-10, focal persons for organic agriculture, Rice, Corn, Livestock and High Value Crops Development programs and other special projects of the agency, who also presented their respective budget for next year. # (MGBS)

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) paid out the African Swine Fever (ASF) indemnification in the total amount of P2.41 million to 158 affected hog raisers in El Salvador City. Each farmer received P5,000 for every culled hog on Tuesday, October 12. # (JCAnito)

DA-10 hands over vegetable seeds assistance to DMFI for marginalized communities in Talakag, Bukidnon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 11 – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga handed over 50 packets of assorted vegetable seeds to Del Monte Foundation, Inc. (DMFI) at the agency compound.

Lovah Jane Escobido, DMFI supervisor said, that the provision of seeds will be distributed to marginalized communities in Talakag, Bukidnon for them to grow and harvest for their everyday consumption.

As the foundation’s counterpart, they will also provide bags of complete and urea fertilizer for the said undertaking. # (MPMTablon)

Adlay harvest from the Cabanglasan model farm is being processed using a multi-crop thresher.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Set on developing more areas to be planted to sorghum as an alternative grains crop, a Field Day on Sorghum Model Farm implemented by the Cananga-an Forestland Managers Association with Romeo S. Sabayton as farmer-cooperator was held at Purok 1, barangay Cananga-an, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

On October 7, 2021, local farmers, agri-extensionists from the provincial and municipal local governments of Bukidnon, other town residents and officials, have mustered to learn a package of sorghum technology.

Of which comprises ranging from its production, care and maintenance, pest and diseases management, postharvest operations and its marketing aspect, among others.

“Said activity is aimed at increasing production and improving quality of sorghum, which will support the livestock and poultry industry, as sorghum can be utilized as ingredients for animal feeds,” according to Jurrybe J. Lachica, sorghum focal person of the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10).

He added that the field day comes as an opportune time with DA Secretary Dar’s issuance earlier this year, citing memorandum order 15 on including sorghum under the agency’s Corn Program.

Per implementing guidelines, ten hectares shall be devoted for the sorghum model farm.

Wherein, the agri department provided farm inputs, while the association counterparted an area as well as shouldered the labor costs to realize said Project, in close coordination with municipal agriculture’s office of Cabanglasan.

For farmers still eyeing to engage in sorghum, Ken Christian Ramos, area operations head of the Agribusiness Department Group of San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SFMI) assured, that the company giant will buy their products come harvest seasons.

Reportedly, SMFI buys sorghum with a year-round price pegged at P14 per kilo [assembler’s price].

“This is our way of extending help to farmers. Instead of relying on imports for the demand of our raw materials intended for feeds, we are here so that by the time you [farmers] harvest, you won’t have any problems in looking for a market for your produce,” he conveyed.

Ramos also noted, for farmers to constantly coordinate with the agriculture’s office, be it at the regional, provincial or municipal levels, or with their assigned technicians in the locality, for them to come up with the corresponding purchase requests and have them approved by their management.

Also ahead of the field day, an assessment and evaluation of the documents of another farmer’s group through the Paradise Multi-Purpose Cooperative was also conducted towards passing the requisites of SMFI in becoming a sorghum assembler.

“For many years of farming, I am very thankful for this opportunity to become one of the partners for the implementation of a sorghum model project, as I believe that learning is a continuous process,” Sabayton shared.

He accounted, that there is still room for improvement in following sorghum farming protocols, but went on to say, that he has seen the potential of such resilient crop that only requires lesser maintenance and asserted in producing it in the coming seasons.

Said establishment of a sorghum model farm in barangay marks as the first adoptors regionwide, with learning hub sites in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; Clarin, Misamis Occidental; and Bacolod, Lanao del Norte to follow suit. # (JLO)

The P4.5-M trading post in Magsaysay town serves as venue for farmers where they can earn decent income while buyers can enjoy quality agri-fishery products at affordable prices.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the goal of providing a venue where farmers can earn decent incomes and buyers can command quality agri-fishery products at reasonable prices, the Department of Agriculture – 10 (DA-10) turned over the P4.5 million trading post to the Local Government Unit of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental on October 7, 2021.

Located at barangay Kibungsod, the agri department turned over the project to the local government, which was then accepted by Ediver Joy D. Buyan, president of Mindulao Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative whose members include farmers of coconut, cassava, and corn, among others.

Magsaysay Vice Mayor Charlie B. Buhisan expressed his gratitude for the newly turned over facility, which is also seen to minimize trading layers; thereby, helping farmers save on transportation and logistics costs.

“The trading post is anchored in our agricultural development plan because Magsaysay is a very strategic location. With the presence of this newly turned over trading post, buyers and sellers from the different regions can directly go here instead of going to other areas which are farther from their farms,” shared Magsaysay Mayor Rey B. Buhisan.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga who represented DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, lauded the LGU for their efforts in implementing said facility.

“Under Bayanihan II, we were given a deadline in implementing the project. However, the LGU was able to construct and finish the trading post, so a huge congratulations to the people behind the success of this project. Indeed, LGU Magsaysay deserves assistance like this [trading post] with the efforts they put in and with all of the bountiful resources the municipality offers.”

Said facility is funded under the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program which is funded under Bayanihan II. # (CRSeraspe)