Corn farmers from the municipality of Gitagum received P3K each as part of DA-10’s assistance to temper farmers’ brunt on fuel expenses.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Three hundred, eighty-one corn farmers from Gitagum, Misamis Oriental received their fuel discount cards each amounting to P3K on Wednesday, July 14, 2022 at the Municipal Gym, here in this town.

Said recipients are the third batch of corn farmers regionwide, who have been provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Northern Mindanao through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, with fuel subsidy to temper the farmers’ brunt on fuel expenses, which forms an important component of the operating cost in farming.

In coordination with the local government of said town and the Universal Storefront Services, Corp., the fuel assistance was distributed to the corn farmer-beneficiaries, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the use of machineries and facilities as part of DA’s extensive promotion on mechanization to modernize and enhance productivity in the agricultural sector. # (JLO)

DA-10 and LGU Claveria convene with its Korean partners, as they target for the upgrading of the CPC in barangay Malagana.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and the local government of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, convened with its Korean partners, as they eye for the improvement of the corn processing complex (CPC) in barangay Malagana.

A rural development project funded by the Korean (P37.8-million) and Philippine (P26.06-M) governments, the facility comprising a warehouse, and production and postharvest equipment, among others, was completed in 2013.

Since then, it has helped corn farmers in the locality to produce quality grains and to reduce postharvest losses, overall enabling them to command better prices for their produce and earn decent incomes.

Particularly, the recent coordination stemmed from LGU Claveria’s request for the provision of experts to conduct an inspection of the CPC from the Korea Rural Community, Corp. (KRCC) thru the assistance of DA-10, in order to assess the facility and identify which portions warrant replacement, repair and/or maintenance.

To this end, a delegation was sent led by Jeong Min Ryu of KRCC and experts from the corn processing machine manufacturer, SH Dryer – Kyoungsub Choi and Philip Briston (Phl branch).

Citing the CPC’s vital role in catering to the drying needs of corn farmers, Rolando M. Alfanta, municipal engineer of LGU Claveria reported, that their office has set aside P7-M for the upkeep of the complex amid challenges in the availability of experts and some spare parts for its repair and maintenance.

He added that they have done modifications to the facility for a more localized setting, paving the way to easier pursue repair and maintenance works.

Agreeing to the value of the corn processing machine, Claveria mayor Meraluna S. Abrogar said, that it greatly aids farmers, as it can accommodate the drying of corn [in cobs] from 10 hectares with an average of 10 tons per hectare within a three-day interval.

With Claveria town devoting approximately 10,000 hectares of land to corn farming, the local chief executive even clamored for the expansion of the facility.

Given the limited budget, however, to work on the implementation of future development assistance to the municipality, Ms. Ryu asked the concerned office to prioritize items for fund assistance.

LGU Claveria presented its P11.8-M worth proposal, comprising the 30×10.8-meter building extension (P4.8-M); repair of the existing building (P1-M); and the provision of agricultural equipment support facility (P6-M). Of which, the amount excludes for improvement of the existing corn drying facility from SH Dryer.

The Korean team leader responded, that by next week, she will be relaying the results of the site visit and coordination meeting, and further laid down to the body the timelines for the potential project grant to LGU Claveria, in which the bidding process will likely start in August and for implementation towards the end of the year.

As it is midyear, DA-10 through Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga committed for the agency to cover for the maintenance and other operating expenses and provide technical assistance for the upcoming convergence project for Claveria town.

The agri official further recommended for LGU Claveria to explore in shouldering the duties and taxes, and demurrage fees, on top of providing the land area and manpower for their proposed project as their counterpart.

Reportedly, Claveria farmers are paying P1.50 per kilo (dried kernels) as a drying fee for the use of the CPC, but is still subject to changes in view of the increasing prices of fuel products. # (JLO)

Pan-ay IPM Kasakalikasan Farmers Association, Inc. of Clarin, Misamis Occidental receives their prizes for emerging as the champion for the Search of the Best Communal Garden regionwide.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Pan-ay IPM Kasakalikasan Farmers Association, Inc. of Clarin, Misamis Occidental, declared as the champion for the Search of the Best Communal Garden regionwide, was conferred with prizes along with other participating farmers’ associations and local government unit (LGU).

This, after they have been named among the winners, during a virtual awarding ceremony held a week earlier.

Launched in November 2021, the contest which is initiated by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) in partnership with the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA)-Northern Mindanao, Pineapple Chapter, eyes to attain food security and adequacy at the community levels.

Leading the handover of cash prizes and various agricultural interventions is DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and PAA Northern Mindanao Pineapple chapter President Carlota S. Madriaga.

For bagging the top spot, Panay IPM received P77K worth of agri interventions (10 modules of free-range chicken, 1 set of garden tools, 1 unit wheelbarrow, 10 units plastic crate, and 30 packets of 5-in-1 assorted vegetable seeds), P15K cash prize and a plaque of recognition.

Finishing second, Calaocalao Rice Small Farmers Association, Inc. of Don Carlos, Bukidnon was granted with P52K agri interventions (8 modules of free-range chicken, 1 set of garden tools, 30 packets of 5-in-1 assorted vegetable seeds, and 1 unit wheelbarrow), P12K cash prize and a plaque of recognition.

Third placer, Brgy. Libertad of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, accepted the P38.5K worth of agricultural interventions (6 modules of free-range chicken, 30 packets of 5-in-1 assorted vegetable seeds, and 1 unit wheelbarrow, P10K cash prize, and a plaque of recognition.

Consolation prizes amounting to P5K each were also turned over to the Sinai Rural Improvement Club Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, and Tangaro Young Farmers of Catarman, Camiguin.

“This search is timely in response to President-Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s marching order for the agency to work fast and attend to the food production matter properly,” RTD Madriaga remarked.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado commended the farmers’ association and LGU, and pinned his hopes that the existing communal gardens will be replicated, maintained, and sustained.

“Through communal gardening, we are not only providing a solution for the coming food crisis as what Pres-Sec directed, but we get our own sources of food right in our own backyards, for us to grow and manage together with our families, neighbors, and our friends,” RED Collado concluded. # (JCAnito)

DA-10 in coordination with LGU Malaybalay City hands over agri interventions to aid IP farmers from barangays Kibalabag and Can-ayan.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – Aiming to increase farmers’ productivity and income, the Department of Agriculture Regional – Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in partnership with the local government unit of Malaybalay City handed over agricultural interventions to barangays Kibalabag and Can-ayan, this city.

Around 50 farmers received about P301K worth of agricultural interventions comprising, 5,000 pieces of abaca seedlings, 100 bags of chicken manure, 200 bags of organic fertilizer, 10 rolls of garden hose, 5 units of knapsack sprayer, 5 rolls A-net, 5 rolls laminated sack, 5 pcs water plastic drum, and 150 packets of assorted vegetable seeds.

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, said intervention is in support to the development of the Ancestral Domains of the Indigenous Cultural Community (ICC)/IPs for the enhancement of agricultural productivity, uplift rural people from poverty, improve livelihood and increase farmer’s income.

Said agri assistance is funded by the department’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) program which is intended to help in the development of tribal communities in the country.

He added that DA’s efforts are also in support of Executive Order No. 70 (EO), instituting the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

Malaybalay City Mayor, Jay Warren R. Pabillaran challenged the farmers to properly manage the interventions provided by the government and sustain its gains.

Meanwhile, Bukidnon 2nd district representative Atty. Jonathan Keith T. Flores said, “With this aid, IP farmers here in Bukidnon will have a sustainable livelihood and I hope the planting of these abaca seedlings is just the beginning for the future production of fiber.”

Kibalabag Abaca Planters Association (KAPA) president Jemry L. Sagubay extended his gratitude to the department with the hope of developing their agri community .#(RDMElloren)

The DA regional and city agri offices and Pilmico convene, as they collectively target to help Iligan farmer-groups have a marketing tie-up with the latter.

Cagayan de Oro City – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, commits to continuously work with its agricultural partners for the development of more farmer-groups producing yellow corn in Iligan City.

In a brief meeting on July 12, 2022 at the agency compound, RED Collado convened with the City Agriculture’s Office (CAO) of Iligan City helmed by Kevin R. Fernan, officer-in-charge, and Pilmico Foods, Inc. represented by Maria Theressa N. Castillo, external relations manager, as they collectively eye in tapping and assisting farmer cooperatives, associations (FCAs) in the said city, to ink a marketing agreement with the latter, and eventually, deliver a portion of its corn requirements.

To enable the corn-producing groups capture an assured market through Pilmico, the involved parties are considering the downpour of more agri interventions such as the provision of farm machineries, drying facilities and storage, and the conduct of corn derbies and capability building activities, to ensure quality corn outputs.

Next week, another round of meeting will ensue, with focus on tackling Pilmico’s buying price, quality parameters, and documentary requirements to secure a marketing tie-up with them; CAO-Iligan’s report on the likely farm hectarage and FCAs to be committed in the cited engagement, among other relevant matters.# (JLO)

Iligan LGU receives a hauling truck from DA-10 to capacitate ICGEMPC in linking farm and fishery producers, and consolidators to the consumers.  

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Iligan City Government Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ICGEMPC) received P1 million financial grant from the DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through the Enhanced KADIWA ni Ani at Kita program with the coop’s equity of around P500K.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado turned over the hauling truck amounting to P1.5 million to Aida R. Abarquez, ICGEMPC Kadiwa Coordinator on Wednesday, July 6 at the DA-RFO 10 Compound in Cagayan de Oro City.

The project is expected to capacitate the ICGEMPC in linking farm and fishery producers, and consolidators to the consumers by operating a “rolling store” employing the farm and fishery consolidation approach.

The vehicle will be utilized in transporting the products of at least 412 farmers and fishers from nine farming and coastal barangay in Iligan City to the storage areas, and finally to identified market locations within the city particularly subdivisions and relocation sites.

As part of their service expansion, four other barangays in Iligan will be included as target beneficiaries of the project.

The cooperative sells fruits and vegetables, fish and basic grocery supplies with their rolling stores.

The KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Program is a strategic marketing scheme initiated by the DA to link farmers and fisherfolk to the consuming public.

Such a cause primarily aims to make food readily available at a reasonable price for the consumers through the roll out of mobile retail stores in key urban locations.#(ATalib)

Minguez and Apa-ap forms part of the sixth batch for the year, who have professionally advanced.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Two newly appointed and promoted employees of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) took their oath of office at the agency compound, here in the city on June 30.

The newly promoted and appointed DA-RFO 10 personnel with their corresponding positions and assignments are:

Lucille T. Minguez- Supervising Science Research Specialist (Regional Crop Pest Management Center)

Gilbert A. Apa-ap- Agriculturist I (Field Operations Division)

Administering the oathtaking for the sixth batch of the year, who has professionally advanced is DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, in the presence of Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, who is at the same time the Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board chair, and Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Carmelita T. Bajarla, and concerned division chiefs.# (JCAnito)

In a recent meeting, DA-10 expresses its support to the Oro Chamber for the forthcoming conduct of the 2022 Mindanao Food Congress and Oro Best Expo, to be held in October 2022.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-FO 10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, has expressed its support to the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) in staging the 2022 Mindanao Food Congress and Oro Best Expo in this city on October 26-30, 2022.

In a meeting with the DA-RFO 10 Management, Wednesday, June 29, Ruben Vegafria, Regional Director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the rationale and objectives of the congress and expo.

Vegafria said the Oro Chamber partners with the Embassy of India in organizing the Mindanao Food Congress and Oro Best Expo this year.

The activity aims to gather Mindanao’s agri-fishery and food industry stakeholders in one venue to forge ways forward in transforming, improving and sustaining Mindanao’s food supply chain amid the continuing adversities of the CoVID-19 Pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.

For his part Director Collado commits to helping Oro Chamber invite esteemed resource persons for the congress and urges DA-assisted Farmer Associations/Cooperatives and partners to be among the expo’s exhibitors.

The Oro Best Expo will feature the best food and agricultural products and services in the food sector, enabling micro, small and medium-scale enterprises in the region to forge future business partnerships and expand their market reach.

Participants of the 2022 Mindanao Food Congress will be attending plenary sessions to explore product and service innovation strategies and learn about government programs and legislation imperative to grow their businesses.

Meanwhile, as a future DA RFO 10-Oro Chamber collaboration, the two entities agreed to look into possible opportunities to further expand the partnership forged by the former with local and foreign partners.

Particularly, the Oro Chamber is eyeing to explore further economic opportunities with AgriGlobal Ventures Food, Inc., a Makati City-based company linked by the DA-RFO 10 to the Lantapan Vegetable Farmers Marketing Cooperative (LVFMC) for the supply of fruits and vegetables; Daesang Philippines, Corp., a Korean food processing company buying fresh cassava tubers form the region’s cassava growers, as well as the Korean-funded Smart Greenhouse Project of the DA-RFO 10 for Strawberry, Cherry Tomato and Potato production.#(ATalib)

Agri 10 distributes fuel discount cards to aid corn farmers with the continuous price hike on petroleum products.

MALAYBALAY CITY – In coping with the continuous increase of petroleum products in the country, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao continues its distribution of fuel discount cards to the 1,471 individual corn farmers in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, June 28-29, 2022.

Through DA-10’s Fuel Discount Program, each qualified corn farmer received a discount card amounting to P3K worth of gasoline and diesel fuel.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado noted, that the program maximizes the utilization of the farm machineries for food production in contributing to the region’s food sufficiency.

The initiative is pursuant to the Special Provision No. 20 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the current fiscal year or Republic Act No.11639.

Under this provision, a total amount of P500 million is allocated to provide fuel discounts to corn farmers, who use machineries in their farming activities.

According to Richan D. Lacanaria, DA-10 Corn Program coordinator that 9,500 corn farmers across the region will benefit from the program with a total amount of P28 million.

Lacanaria emphasized, that the qualified corn farmer-beneficiaries of the said fuel subsidy are listed under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA); and must have owned any farm machinery for corn production, or a member of any association/cooperative that has functional farm machineries granted by any National government agency.

The said farm machineries will then be listed in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System (ABEMIS) for inventory purposes.

Zerubaben G. Lorenzo, president of the Aglayan Farmers Beneficiaries, Inc. shared, “Malaki ang aking pasasalamat sa fuel subsidy ng DA, lalo na ngayong pandemya at patuloy na pag-usbong sa presyo ng krudo at gasolina. Malaking tulong ito para may pangkrudo na kami sa traktor at corn sheller ng aming asosasyon.”# (EMBentulan)

DA-NorMin launches a hybrid-rice techno demo with the aim to contribute to rice sufficiency through the increased adoption of hybrid rice technology.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) launched the Province-led Hybrid Rice Technology Demonstration in a bid to achieve rice sufficiency through the increased adoption of hybrid rice technology.

In collaboration with 12 private seed companies, a farmers’ association, and the local government unit of Bukidnon, the activity will showcase 17 different seed varieties in barangay Violeta to be planted to a total of 37.5 hectares.

DA-10 Hybrid Rice Techno Demo Project leader Karl Roman O. Wong emphasized, that said techno demo will provide farmers a wider selection of available hybrid seeds suitable in their respective areas.

Farmers will be provided with input requirements as well as technical assistance following the package of technology recommended for a particular hybrid rice variety by the seed companies and rice institutions, Wong added.

“The featured high yielding varieties with their innovated technologies will ensure the agri-sector’s battlecry for an abundant harvest and projected high income of rice farmers towards a food secure country,” said Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Alson G. Quimba.

He added, that the adoption of hybrid technology and coping with technological advancements are keys to contributing to the rice sufficiency levels in the region and country.

Lalawan Abohan Sawaga Simaya Communal Irrigators Association, Inc. Chair Dario C. Adalim expressed, “Sa pamamagitan ng mga techno demo ay malalaman kung anong tamang variety ng palay ang angkop sa aming lugar. Isa itong magandang estratehiya upang mas tumaas pa ang aming kita lalo na ngayon sa gitna ng pandemya.”

Reportedly, Bukidnon is one of the top 15 provinces in terms of hybrid rice seed users across the country.

Also present during the activity were Malaybalay City Agriculturist, Remedios R. Sarzuelo and other DA rice program staff. # (JCAnito)