CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture -10 (DA-10) conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Lunokan Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) amounting to P18.077 million on October 14, 2021 at Miglamin, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Said facility, which will soon rise in sitio Lunukan is intended for the Lunokan Farmers Small Water Irrigation System Association, Inc. (LUFASWISA).

In an interview, LUFASWISA President Rico Cabillo said, that he is very thankful for the intervention of the agri department to their association for an improved cropping intensity.

“In a year, we can only do one cropping, heavily depending on rainwater for our crops to grow. With this SWIP, we might be able to do 2-3 croppings a year, which is a great help for us farmers, here in Lunokan. On behalf of all the members of LUFASWISA, we are thankful to DA-10 for this intervention,” he added.

Meanwhile, OIC-Chief of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Division of LGU Malaybalay, Engr. Joel Delos Reyes said, that the construction of SWIP can help in expanding their existing agricultural lands.

From 60 hectares, he detailed, it can water an additional 40 hectares which will be beneficial to other farmers in the area.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado urged for the cooperation of the association, contractor, and the local government units to maximize the benefits of the project.

“Your cooperation for the completion of this project is greatly needed. I ask everyone to extend their hands to the contractor during the construction phase. If the results of the construction are good, then we will look for ways where we can give more interventions that the association has requested.”

Overall, the SWIP will benefit the 120 members of LUFASWISA, which includes indigenous people from the Umayamnon ang Higaonon tribes. # (CRSeraspe)

ASF-affected farmers in CdeO from eight barangays receive indemnification for their culled hogs as means prevent the spread of the hog viral disease in the city.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 19- The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) distributes P2.445 million worth of African Swine Fever (ASF) indemnity to 112 hog raisers in eight barangays in the second district of Cagayan de Oro City, earlier today.

The DA indemnifies each hog raiser P5,000.00 for each hog depopulated on account of the ASF contagion.

Dr. Julesben Maquiling, DA-RFO 10 ASF Focal Person urged the hog raisers to capitalize on the financial assistance given by DA to start other means of livelihood as they are temporarily prohibited to grow pigs, until cleared by appropriate government authorities.

The agency headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado will also distribute another

P7.285 million worth of ASF indemnity to 331 ASF-affected hog raisers in 13 barangays in the first district of Cagayan de Oro City within the week.# (ATalib)

R-10’s agri dept and CdeO vet office prep up for ASF recovery in the city.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado meets Cagayan de Oro City Veterinarian, Dr. Lucien Acac, for bilateral dialogue to lay down initial plans for the DA-CDeO LGU African Swine Fever (ASF) Recovery Program.

After the full rollout of the ASF indemnification this year, the DA-10 is eyeing the implementation of a long-term ASF Recovery Program in Cagayan de Oro City next year, to help ASF-hit hog raisers to get back on their feet.

Once implemented, the LGU-led, DA-assisted ASF Recovery Program will benefit at least 1,161 hog raisers in eight barangays in the city toppled by the ASF.

Part of the program is the implementation of the Swine Sentinelling Project to explore the possibility of swine repopulation in ASF-infested areas.

Through the Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BaBAY ASF) Program of the DA, pilot areas will undergo a meticulous assessment before swine repopulation will be started. Enforcement of stringent biosecurity measures in pilot hog farms – commercial or backyard, is also a requisite to commence the Swine Sentinelling Project.

ASF-hit hog raisers who wished to venture into other livestock-based livelihood may opt to avail of alternative agri-enterprise projects such as free range chicken and egg production businesses.

Through the conceived ASF Recovery Program, the DA in cooperation with the LGU will provide bonafide hog raisers the inputs needed to start such ventures.

Director Collado urged the City Government through its Veterinary Office to speed up preparations for the implementation of the ASF Recovery Program next year, by complying with the requirements set under the DA guidelines.

DA-10 will also implement the ASF Recovery Program in other ASF-stricken towns and cities in the region in 2022.# (ATalib)

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)