In partnership with MisOr PAGRO, DA-10 conducts a Digital Info Mgt. Training-Workshop for the agricultural report officers from the 21 LGUs in MisOr to adopt AIMS, an electronic reporting method.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In partnership with the Misamis Oriental Provincial Agriculture Office, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 conducted a Digital Information Management Training-Workshop for the Agricultural Report Officers from 21 Local Government Units in Misamis Oriental, on Thursday, December 2, in Gusa, this city.

The training specifically aims to capacitate the Municipal Agriculture Offices of the different LGUs in Misamis Oriental to adopt electronic reporting method, using the Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS), an electronic database developed by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO).

According to Engr. Evy Elago, head of PAGRO’s Agricultural Biosystem Engineering Division, the AIMS was developed in 2019 to improve the province’s agricultural information management.

The system eases updating of information that is crucial in the planning and decision-making, to further develop the province’s agriculture.

“Information is a resource. If we have enough information we know our priorities and we are better guided in developing our programs and services. We can project the support needed by the farmers in terms of production and marketing. Thus, it is imperative that we invest in information” Engr. Elago said.

Through the AIMS agricultural data such as kinds of crops planted in the province, the number of crops planted, farmers’ profile, farmers associations’ profile, and the market situation can be easily accessed from the AIMS.

The LGUs’ report officers were trained on data consolidation, data encoding, and uploading, and report generation to navigate the AIMS.

Restraining data management issues and concerns were also addressed during the training.

Chona Nacalaban, Chief of the DA-10 Provincial Operations Center in Misamis Oriental highly encouraged the LGUs to adopt electronic reporting, particularly in their submission of agricultural accomplishments and agri-related updates to the PAGRO and the DA-RFO 10.

“Electronic reporting is paperless, thus a more convenient reporting method for the LGUs and for the DA. Not to mention, it can also systematize the LGUs’ reporting system,” said Nacalaban.

She added that specific agricultural data needed in the provincial and the regional levels are readily accessible in the system, making it more convenient to make timely decisions to improve the programs and services of the DA.

Engr. Elago thanked the DA-RFO 10 for continuously supporting the PAGRO’s initiative in digitizing the province’s agricultural information database.

“We encountered resistance in the early stages, but we are happy that we have gone far with the support of the DA-RFO 10 particularly the Provincial Operations Center, who constantly backed our efforts in digitizing our information management in the PAGRO” Engr. Elago remarked.# (ATalib)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To encourage the youth to engage in agri-fishery based enterprises, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) named its three regional awardees for the Young Farmers Challenge Fund: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program.

The awardees include Andre Paolo Paraguya (Impasugong, Bukidnon) – Bottled Fresh Milk Processing and Marketing; Gretchen Raiz (Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental) – Cacao Processing (Tablea and Cacao Spread); and Daryl Ann M. Gonzales (Malaybalay City, Bukidnon) – Agro Tourism Venture through Farm Diversification.

Out of the top 20 provincial entries who have made their business proposal presentations on November 23-24, 2021 in Cagayan de Oro City, said individuals stood out after a thorough deliberation based on their entrepreneurial attitude, innovativeness, potential revenue, and value-adding of their products and venture.

Said winners will receive P150,000 each and will vie for a spot at the national level competition. # (AMBManto)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In collaboration with the LGUs, the academe and communities in advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and the Philippine Association of Agriculturists 10 (PAA-10) jointly launched the communal garden contest in the region’s five provinces.

The search for the best garden in the five provinces with its respective associations will enhance the availability of food at the community levels.

The participating associations includes the following: Tangaro Young Farmers, Catarman, Camiguin; Barangay Calaocalao, Don Carlos, Bukidnon; Sinai RIC Multi Purpose Cooperative, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental; Barangay Libertad in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; and Pan-ay Vegetable Farmers in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and PAA Northern Mindanao chapter President Carlota S. Madriaga emphasized that communities need to strengthen local food production.

Each communal garden measuring not less than 500 square meters will be judged based on its physical arrangement, varieties of crops planted, technology innovations, production, and garden space utilization.

Inputs comprising vegetable seeds, organic fertilizers, biopesticides, and the provision of knapsack sprayer were provided by the department in support of its Plant, Plant, Plant Program.

PAA is a professional organization based on the development of agriculture and fisheries that supports the government’s advocacy of the establishment of a community or school garden.

The awarding for the outstanding communal garden will be in March 2022. #(MPTablon)

In support of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, DA-10 apprises its employees on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Gender and Development Unit conducts Advocacy Campaign on Violence against Women and Children, Thursday, November 25 this City.

The activity was staged in support of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women”, a nationwide campaign advocated by the Philippine Commission on Women, in pursuit of VAW-free communities across the country.

Participating male and female employees of the DA-10 were apprised on ways to discourage gender-based violence and sexual harassment that are likely to occur in an organization.

Mr. John Rey P. Catalan, Program Manager and Head of the Gender and Women, Peace and Security Division of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was invited as resource speaker of the activity.

Attending the activity via an online platform, Mr. Catalan averred that an organization’s approach towards gender-based violence or harassment should be “preventive” in nature.

“An organization should (strictly) adopt the government’s policy on anti-sexual harassment. The conduct of the survey, interview, and common group discussion are helpful to gather data (and identify preventive programs). Men should be engaged and involved as partners to prevent gender-based violence or harassment,” he explained.

In her message, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, urged the agency’s employees to uphold healthy relationships among themselves by being sensitive towards each other’s emotions.

“We need to respect our differences and be sensitive to others. At all times we need to be wary of gender-related violations so that we can work peacefully, respecting one another’s personal rights in the office,” she remarked.

In her part, Director Carmelita T. Bajarla, DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, reminded the employees to observe good office practices to discourage violation of gender rights.

“You, the young ones, are the future leaders of the DA. Therefore, you should be a model to each other in nurturing harmonious work relationship,” she asserted, supporting the call to cast down gender-based violation and harassment in the entity.# (ATalib)

To capacitate the youth in the agribusiness sector, DA-10 through AMAD conducts an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop to about 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from MisOr and CdeO City.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To harness the potential and strength of the youth towards transformed agriculture, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA RFO 10) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) conducted an Enterprise and Development Training-Seminar Workshop on November 25-26, 2021.

About 50 young farmer-leaders and select 4-H club members from the towns of Claveria and Balingasag of Misamis Oriental, and from the city of Cagayan de Oro were convened to apprise the group into the agribusiness sector, and at the same time, hone their entrepreneurial skills.

“It’s very common to see young individuals who’ve taught themselves innovative techniques through social media exposure with the freedom they possess. As today’s generation has grown along with the latest technology, it’s best for their advantage to utilize this knowledge and enhance their entrepreneurial skills in any of their chosen agriculture-based endeavours,” Cleofe O. Ampatin, DA-10 AMAD senior agriculturist remarked.

Topics focused during the activity included Taking Advantage of Digital Marketing for Start-Ups, and Proper Packaging and Labelling of Farm Products.

Likewise, they were introduced to some innovations on the production of banana chips, and business preparation and marketing for banana flour.

DA’s attached agency, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, bared its different loan portfolios to actively engage the attendees in agriculture and fisheries through the availment of its credit programs. # (RDMElloren)

On November 24, 2021, DA-10 initiates a meeting with concerned agencies to discuss the inflow and outflow of agri commodities which will be used as bases for the region’s agri situationer.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To validate data on the commodity flow of agri commodities, the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-10 initiated a meeting with concerned agencies on November 24, 2021.

DA-10 AMAD Agribusiness and Industry Support Section Chief Jenny Alcobilla said that AMAD is regularly conducting data gathering and analysis on agricultural commodities shipped in and out from the region.

The movement or flow of agri commodities captures data carried through air and sea which are inbound or outbound in the region.

The inflow and outflow of agri commodities will be used as bases of the region’s agri situationer.

Data captured includes volume, declared value, description of commodity, origin, and destination.

Banner program coordinators of the agency which includes, livestock, corn, rice, high-value crops development, and organic agriculture with the Philippine Statistics Authority 10, DA-Bureau of Plant Industry Plant Quarantine Services in Region 10 (DA-BPI PQS 10) and DA-Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Services 10 were referred as sources of the said data.

The output of the activity will be finalized and presented for another round of validation with other concerned agencies.#(RDMElloren)

On November 25, 2021, DA-NorMin honors Girlie T. Vedra, the 2021 regional outstanding rural woman.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Region 10 lauded Girlie T. Vedra, an exemplary woman farmer-leader from Cagayan de Oro City as the Regional Outstanding Rural Woman this year.

Ms. Vedra was laurelled in an awarding ceremony held November 25, 2021, in Cagayan de Oro City.

Coming from a humble beginning, Ms. Vedra has come a long way in her plight against poverty through agriculture.

As president of the Rural Improvement Club in their area, she has inspired many people in her community to embrace farming and make it a bankable livelihood for sustainable income.

“As women, we should not limit ourselves. There are many ways for us to help our family. We need to be involved” Ms. Vedra said, suggesting that women should take active roles in deciding for their family’s livelihood today.

“In the midst of this pandemic, one program of the government that women must adopt is digital farming. Housewives can make use of their gadgets to sell their products. In that way they can better help their family financially” she added.

She pointed out that women should act instead of just making plans, urging women to start making moves if they wish to transform their life’s situation.

DA-PhilMech hands over agri-machinery to the FCAs in MisOr to augment their level of farm mechanization; thereby, increasing their productivity and income.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To increase farmers’ rice production, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) turned over P7.6 million worth of agri-machinery to the farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Misamis Oriental.

Eight agri-machinery were distributed to the 3 qualified FCAs in the said province: Cogon Farmers Association, Inc. of Balingasag; Gingoog Farmer Irrigators Association, Inc.; and Bal-ason Farmers Producers Cooperative, Inc. both of Gingoog City.

Machinery such as four-wheel tractors, walk-behind transplanters, combine harvesters, and destoner were provided to increase productivity, reduce labor cost and increase the income of rice farmers.

Rice mechanization is one of the components of Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, which stipulates the creation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that would be funded from rice tariffs collections, with P10 billion allocation annually from 2019 to 2024 or a period of six years.

DA-PhilMech, Assistant Cluster Head, Mindanao “A”, Engr. Ian D. Madjus, shared that the farmers will be trained on the proper operation of the machinery.

The DA-PhilMech team will be monitoring the utilization of the units every cropping season, plant preparation, and harvesting to ensure its operation and functions.#(MPTablon)

DA-10 caps off its ASF indemnification payments to MisOr affected hog farmers with the recent distribution of P9.11-M.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- In support to backyard hog raisers stricken by the African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado paid fully the remaining P9.11 million (M) to complete the set P66.11-M for ASF indemnification assistance in the region.

On November 23-25, 2021, the agency distributed indemnity to some barangays of Cagayan de Oro City and the different municipalities of Misamis Oriental which includes Balingasag, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Manticao, Opol, and El Salvador City for its last batch payment.

In El Salvador City, young hog farmer Archie M. Apus said, “Malaki ang tulong nito [ASF indemnification] sa aming pamilya dahil ang pagbababoy ang inaasahan namin na pangkabuhayan at pangpa-aral. Sa ngayon, ang matitirang pera para sa pangmatrikula ibibigay ko sa aking magulang para puhunan sa maliit na negosyo.”

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga assured, that the agency will continue to provide farmers with technical or financial assistance.

Madriaga added that the agency strongly pursues its efforts to contain, manage and regulate the ASF, and afterward, recover the region’s swine industry.

She encouraged hog growers to avail themselves of insurance coverage from the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC).

As of July 1, 2021, all insurance and indemnification will be covered by PCIC, with a 1.75% premium for fatteners and 3.5 percent for breeders, which are waived as free for backyard raisers.

The insurance covers P10,000 per head for fatteners, P14,500 per head for breeders, and P34,000 per head for parent stocks.

DA-10 ASF focal person Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling urged hog raisers to observe biosecurity measures to prevent their hogs from ASF contamination.

He said that its implementation will also help in repopulating hogs in ASF-affected areas.

Repopulation for  ASF-stricken areas from early this year until June will take start in the first quarter of 2022.

Villanueva Mayor Jennie Rosalie T. Uy-Mendez said they will wait for DA’s notice for repopulation which includes the conduct of a series of tests, cleaning, and disinfection to abate disease outbreak, further adding that it will help in reviving the swine industry, not only in our municipality but the whole region, as well.

“To the local government units and the communities, be vigilant in the entry of hogs and swine products and by-products that may cause the spread of the virus,” she added.

In total, 3,294 ASF affected farmers with 13,223 culled hogs were paid completely since April this year, where the agency covers P5,000.00 for each hog depopulated on account of the ASF contagion.

On top of the ASF indemnification, recipients have also received food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. # (JCAnito)

DA-PhilMech turns over farm machinery to FCAs in LDN to drum up their mechanization level; thereby, increasing their productivity and income.

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE – Some 19 Farmers’ Associations, Cooperatives (FCAs) in Lanao del Norte received P44.2 million worth of farm machinery from the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) at Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The FCAs represent 2,964 rice farmers in the province, entitled to various farm machinery and equipment funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), mechanization component.

By virtue of the Rice Tariffication Law, the RCEF will be funded P10 billion annually in a span of six years starting 2019, to mobilize key programs for rice production as the country liberalizes its trade policy on rice importation.

FCAs from the municipalities of Lala, Kapatagan, Baroy, Maigo, Tubod, Salvador, Sapad, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo were granted with 11 units four-wheel tractor, 2 units hand tractor, 4 units floating tiller, 1 unit PTO driven disk plow/harrow, 1 unit walk-behind transplanter, 2 units riding type transplanter, 8 units rice combine harvester, 1 unit recirculating dryer, 1 unit impeller rice mill, 1 unit single pass rice mill and 2 unit de stoner.

Lanao del Norte is the second rice-producing province in Northern Mindanao with a total rice area of 23,045 hectares.

The provision of such machinery is seen to boost the province’s rice production capacity, by mechanizing pre and post-production stages.

The activity was graced by the DA Undersecretary for Regulations and Infrastructure, Engr. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, PhilMech FMFOD Chief, Mr. Joel Dator, and local officials, Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo, Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo, and other local chief executives.#(ATalib)