OneDA signs a MOA with CMU and LGU Maramag for the P56-M RPS in said town.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and the DA-National Food Authority (NFA) in partnership with DA-Regional Field Office 10, signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the LGU of Maramag, Bukidnon, and the Central Mindanao University (CMU) on February 22, 2022, to mark the construction of a P56 million Rice Processing System 2 (RPS 2) in said town.

DA-PhilMech Director Baldwin G. Jallorina, Ph.D signed the MOA with DA-NFA-10 Regional Director Engr. John Robert Hermano, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, CMU President, Jesus Antonio G. Derije, Ph.D, DVM and Maramag Municipal Mayor, Atty. Jose Joel P. Doromal.

The said OneDA converged project is funded under the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), as provided under RA 11203 or the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL).

Being the funding agency, PhilMech appropriated the funds required for the RPS2 implementation, while the NFA provided the site needed for the project.

The LGU and CMU on the other hand shall jointly operate the RPS 2, with the technical assistance of the latter. Once completed the Rice Processing System will feature 1 unit of Multi-Stage Rice Mill and two units of Recirculating Dryer.

Director Collado said the facility is instrumental in improving the local rice farmers’ efficiency in terms of post-production and distribution system, reducing post-harvest losses, and maximizing the utilization of rice by-products.

“We thank PhilMech and NFA for the materialization of this project. We are hoping that more areas in Northern Mindanao will be provided with the RPS 2 in the future so we can further boost the region’s rice industry” he said.

He underscored this OneDA undertaking is material to the DA-10’s ultimate goal of attaining food security in the region. Construction and installation work for the RPS 2 shall commence this year and are expected to be fully operational before the end of 2023.#(ATalib)

DA-10 and other concerned stakeholders meet to address prices of pork and livestock products.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department of Northern Mindanao (DA-10) facilitated the conduct of the Bantay Presyo Taskforce meeting with various stakeholders and its concerned attached agencies, to help address the increasing prices of pork and livestock products in major public markets in the city.

According to the DA-10 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) chief, Larry E. Paraluman, the reduced supply of hogs due to the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in some parts of the region, was contributory to the increased prices of said commodities in the local market.

“As part of the technical working group and as consumers alike, we should come up with a solution that would intensify our collective efforts in regulating and stabilizing food prices, particularly on pork products,” he added.

Reportedly, as of February 24, 2022, the prevailing prices of live hogs per kilogram in Misamis Oriental for commercial farms is at P202.00 while P170.00 for backyard farms.

As agreed, the team will conduct a follow-up meeting tentatively in mid-March to tackle recommendations from the different parties where DA will present the solutions to address the said concern.

Also present in the meeting were Cagayan de Oro City Local Price Coordinator Council chair, Atty. Jose Edgardo Uy with 1st district Councilor George S. Goking, Cogon Market Vendors Association, and other concerned agencies. # (RDMElloren)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Cluster 8 of Audit Team No. R10-34 of the Commission on Audit – Region 10 (COA-10), and the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) meet for a two-day CY 2021 Audit Exit Conference in February 28 – March 1, 2022, in this city.

As is prescribed under COA Memorandum Order No. 2014-011, the conduct of an audit exit conference is a must before the finalization and transmittal of COA’s year-end audit report on the performance and operations of the concerned government agency.

In said gathering, the COA findings and recommendations and the DA-RFO 10 comments on the undertaken Financial and Compliance Audit for CY 2021 were tackled for formalization.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, together with Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Carmelita T. Bajarla, and Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga led the DA-RFO 10 management in the said audit conference.

The Division Chiefs, Assistant Division Chiefs, and Section Chiefs of the different DA-RFO 10 Divisions also attended the activity, along with the Provincial Operations Center Chief, and the Focal Persons of the various programs of the agency.

Ms. Josie J. Rodriquez, COA-10 Regional Supervising Auditor, and Ms. Nashiba Macaraob, Acting Audit Team Leader and staff of the R10-34 Audit Team presented the audit observations and findings to DA-RFO 10 management for discussion.

The audit conference is an avenue for both government instrumentalities to come to terms in matters concerning the improvement of the DA-RFO 10 operations, in consonance with appertaining government laws, rules, and regulations.#(Azbie Talib)

DA-SAAD 10 musters the LGUs across the region to craft said Program’s priority projects in prospect assisted LGUs for the next six years starting 2023.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As groundwork for the proposed Phase 2 implementation of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture, SAAD Region 10 convened 29 LGUs in the region for the program’s Extension and Expansion Planning Workshop.

The workshop is a blended activity attended onsite and online by the Provincial Agriculturists, Provincial Veterinarians, Municipal and City Agriculturists, and staff from the Municipal and City Agriculture Offices of the different LGUs from the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin from February 21-23, 2022.

Primarily, the three-day planning workshop was aimed at programming and streamlining SAAD priority projects in prospect assisted LGUs in the region, for the next six years starting 2023.

Ms. Lana May Racines, SAAD Region 10 Focal Person discussed the criteria for the selection of SAAD-implementing LGUs and beneficiary Farmers Associations (FAs), SAAD Program components, and priority livelihood projects in the said gathering.

Fifth and six class municipalities and those with the highest poverty incidence rate in Northern Mindanao are preferred for inclusion in the SAAD Region 10 phase 2 implementation.

Registered FAs with members duly enrolled to the DA’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), shall be eligible for the SAAD assistance.

With the anticipated extension and expansion, the SAAD Program ultimately intends to assist beneficiary FAs in the region to establish community-based enterprise by producing suited agricultural products in their area.

The program shall provide production-to-marketing support in capacitating the FAs.

As a strategy, the FAs will be encouraged to practice farm consolidation schemes in implementing SAAD agri-enterprise projects.

In his message, DA-Region 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado urged the LGUs to implement applicable and doable SAAD projects in their towns.

“We are counting on the full cooperation of the LGUs and the local agriculture offices to carry out SAAD projects in your localities. We must strive to sustain those projects to improve the farmers’ livelihood and ease the poverty situation in your towns” he said.

Director Collado also shared the OneDA Programs and Projects being implemented, and to be implemented by the DA-attached agencies and bureaus in Northern Mindanao for possible participation of the SAAD-assisted LGUs.

For its phase 2 implementation, SAAD will be implementing strictly need-based projects, hence the LGUs’ inputs and FAs’ participation in programming SAAD projects in the region.

DA-Region 10 Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga said, the SAAD program has been instrumental, one way or another, in addressing the poverty situation in the region, in its phase 1 implementation.

Gearing for SAAD extension and expansion, she enjoined the LGUs to implement the most-needed projects by underprivileged farmers in their localities.

DA-Region 10 Field Operations Division’s Chief, Mr. Audy Maagad also attended the workshop along with SAAD Region 10 Regional and Provincial Project Management Support Offices’ staff, and DA-RFO 10 Provincial Operations Center Chiefs and staff.#(ATalib)

Agri dept in R-10 strengthens its support to EO 70 thru the distribution of free-range chicken in different MisOcc municipalities.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) has distributed a total of 880 heads of chicken in selected towns of Misamis Occidental starting February 15-22, this year.

The ready-to-breed and lay free-range chickens distributed are produced by DA-10’s Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD), with a total worth of P880K.

Don Victoriano town received 330 heads of chicken; the municipalities of Aloran, Clarin, and Tangub received 110 heads each, while Concepcion, Sinacaban, Jimenez, and Tudela received 55 heads each.

Each beneficiary was given a module, comprising of 1 male and 10 female.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that the intervention is in support to Executive Order No. 70 or the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), which aims to put an end to insurgencies in the remote and conflict-afflicted areas of the region.

DA-RFO 10 Livestock Coordinator Maria Lourdes M. Sypiecco added, that the Livestock Program together with other banner programs of the department continuously supports the government’s initiatives in providing livelihood programs employing the ‘whole-of-nation approach’ under the NTF-ELCAC.

“These interventions will provide initial inputs to our RTF-ELCAC recipients as a start-up for them to establish sustainable livelihood,” Sypiecco said. # (EMB/Photo Supplied: LP)

Agri NorMin preps for the hog sentinel program by doing environmental swabbing in some ASF-stricken parts of the region.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao has conducted environmental swabbing in some African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected areas in the region in preparation for the recovery and rehabilitation program.

A total of 39 barangays in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro were subjected to environmental swabbing starting February 2022 as part of the process of the hog sentinel program.

DA-10 ASF Focal Person Julesben Caesar Maquiling, DVM explained, environmental swabbing is the process of collecting samples from the pig pens and surrounding areas of previously ASF-affected backyard raisers.

Said samples were then submitted to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of DA-10 subject for laboratory analysis to determine whether it is safe to put sentinel pigs.

Dr. Maquiling added that prior to the 20 days of environmental swabbing, one-month cleaning and disinfection were conducted to ensure that the place is clean and safe where the hogs will be placed.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said that local government units (LGUs) can declare their respective areas as ASF-free after validation by the provincial veterinary office and/or DA-RFO 10, as stipulated in the DA Admin Order No. 30, series of 2021, “Guideline on the Recovery and Declaration of Freedom from ASF for Local Government Units” signed by DA Secretary William D. Dar.

Dir. Collado added that declaration of ASF-free zoning can be upgraded from red to pink or infected to buffer zone following the DA AO 30 guidelines, and eventually lifts zoning status from pink to yellow after the sentinelling program.

He stressed that the rehabilitation program’s purpose is to increase pig production and subsequently stabilize pork supplies and prices.

For this, Dir. Collado urged all hog raisers to strictly follow biosecurity protocol in the farm to make the repopulation program successful.#(MPMTablon)

On February 23-24, 2022, about 70 attend the Training on Sustainable Smart Agriculture using Appropriate Technology for Strawberry and Tomato in Region 10, which forms part of the capacity enhancement component of the P70.2-million worth of smart greenhouse project at NMACLRC, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. (Photo credits: LTM/JVB)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – About 70 participants, comprising of farmer-members from different farmers cooperatives, associations (FCAs) and agri-extensionists from Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, including technical staff from the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), are eyed to help escalate local production of high value crops using smart greenhouse technology.

This, after they have completed a Training on Sustainable Smart Agriculture using Appropriate Technology for Strawberry and Tomato in Region 10 on February 23-24, 2022 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

One of DA-10’s research stations, NMACLRC also serves as the hub for the collaborative project between the South Korean and Philippine governments dubbed as the ‘Establishment of Smart Greenhouse and Capacity Building in the Philippines’.

Said joint project amounting to P70.2 million was realized primarily from the pooled funds of the South Korean government’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs thru the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Services in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and DA-10 under the leadership of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado.

DA-NorMin Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga shared, that the staged capabuild marks the first ever to be conducted, following the completion in the installation of 11 units smart greenhouse along with automation systems on complex environment control, farming management, growth and development information and management.

The short-termed training course covered a briefer on the smart greenhouse project, with lectures focusing on strawberry and tomato cultivation technologies using smart farm, which were discussed by commissioned Korean experts: Park Jongdae and Lee Joungmo, respectively.

Participants also underwent a virtual tour in strawberry and cherry tomato farms in Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, while also physically visiting the smart greenhouse site for a hands-on training for cited commodities.

“As part of the Project’s capacity building component, they [training-participants] are expected to have acquired basic knowledge of smart farm technologies, crop cultivation, and business performance, at the same time, gain understanding in smart farm management,” the agri official said.

Not only will the smart greenhouse project be a learning site for Korean technologies on strawberry and cherry tomato, but also including potato and pepper, RTD Madriaga also pinned her hopes that it will pave way to spark the interest of the youth to engage in farming with the Project’s state-of-the-art operations.

“Our Korean-partners have particularly developed a smart greenhouse operating system for crop growth information management based on Web and Mobile platforms thru the establishment of data systems such as greenhouse environment data management, greenhouse automated operation, and product sales management.”

Qualified farmer-participants for the pioneering batch of trainees are those small and mid-income high valued crop producer-members of DA-accredited FCAs from Talakag, Lantapan, Impasugong and Malaybalay City, who are in proximity to the project site, and who also have the capacity to adopt the greenhouse type of production. # (JLO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, February 23 – To further develop the agri-fishery sector in Northern Mindanao through improved delivery of agricultural programs and services, the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council 10 (RAFC 10) conducted its second consultative meeting for the year.

Being an integral development partner of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the meeting convened its members to tackle issues and concerns besetting the agriculture sector, to correspondingly and ultimately craft policy recommendations.

Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director for operations of DA-10, attributed the private sector stakeholders’ participation in terms of monitoring, evaluating, and sustaining DA-funded programs and projects at the grassroots level, on the positive growth of basic commodities to ensure regional food security.

In 2021, RTD Madriaga relayed, that based on NEDA’s report, Northern Mindanao ranked first, second, and tenth, in terms of hog, corn, and rice production, respectively.

“Now more than ever, we are challenged by the pandemic and other unprecedented circumstances. As a result, farmers need to maximize available technologies, and if possible, generate new ones fitted to the present times,” DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado underscored.

RED Collado added that the government is banking on furthering farmers’ and fishers’ skills to hasten the modernization of the country’s agri sector.

Matters discussed, among others, include the regional policy agenda as a guide in identifying priority areas and proposed solutions to be addressed per sector.

Accordingly, the Council selected representatives among its members for the different sectors, ranging from rice, corn, fisheries and aquaculture, coffee and cacao, fruits and vegetables, climate change, environment and natural resources, agricultural and fisheries mechanization, poultry, livestock, and feed crops, large ruminants and feed crops, coconut, fiber, rubber, and international trade and export.

Also during the consultation, it was unanimously agreed by the members that RAFC 10 chair, Reynaldo M. Cabanao, will retain the chairmanship of the council for a year; while Mischelle F. Egama will serve as the RAFC 10 coordinator.

Further, updates and best practices in farming were likewise discussed for wider information dissemination.

Said blended consultative meeting was participated in by 27 AFC members from the regional, provincial, municipal/city, and highly urbanized cities across Region 10. # (JCAnito)

DA-SAAD 10 validates different multiplier project sites in Region 10 for the granting of breeder animals and animal housing or animals-only.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of its agricultural enterprise projects, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program will be granting free range chicken, goat, and cattle multiplier projects to its assisted farmers associations in Northern Mindanao this year.

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, a total of 18 Farmers Associations (FAs) in 16 towns in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Occidental will benefit from such project, which comes in a package of breeder animals and animal housing or animals-only grant.

He added that the SAAD Program apportioned P13.94 million funds for the implementation of the said project.

Together with the DA-RFO 10 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, SAAD Region 10 has already validated six proposed poultry and livestock multiplier sites in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental as of February 18.

To qualify for the infrastructure component of the project which is the animal housing, the LGUs are required to provide LGU-owned land as a site for poultry or livestock multiplier farms.

Absence of such land voids the grant of animal housing.

Lana May S. Racines, SAAD Focal Person in Region 10 said with the implementation of SAAD’s Enhanced Poultry and Livestock Production Projects, it is anticipated that the marginal farmers assisted by the program will be able to scale up their livelihood, by providing them added source of earning.

“As the phase 1 implementation of SAAD in Region 10 will culminate this year, we are hopeful that this project will be a legacy project for our farmers. We are hoping that they can significantly better their living condition by sustaining the project and capitalize on it” she added.

Aside from the animal multiplier project, the SAAD program also validates target recipients of various agricultural equipment to be granted by SAAD this year.#(ATalib)

IP FAs in Impasugong, Bukidnon receives P2.1-M worth of agri-assistance from DA-NorMin. (Photo credits: EMB.)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –Four Indigenous Peoples (IPs) farmer’s associations of Impasugong, Bukidnon received P2.1 million worth of agri assistance from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) program.

A total of 12 heads of carabao, 24 heads of horse, 16 units plow, 16 units harrow, 40K pieces of abaca seedlings, 20 rolls trapal and 20 rolls of A-net were provided to the IP beneficiaries in a ceremony held in barangays Bulonay and Hagpa of Impasugong town on February 23-24, 2022.

Impasugong Mayor Anthony A. Uy received the assistance from DA-10 Field Operations Chief Audy Maagad, Provincial Operations Center Chief of Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez, DVM who represented DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado.

The IP group beneficiaries includes Grupo Hu Nagkasbuwa Hu Mga Mag-uuma sa Mahan-ao; Pigbuligaan Farmer’s Association; Mahagwa Buligay Farmers Association and Kahugpungan Association of barangays Bulonay and Hagpa.

“DA is providing livelihood opportunities to the IPs to enhance their agricultural productivity and eventually, increase their income,” said Director Collado.

He added, that DA’s efforts are also in support to fight against insurgency with the implementation of EO No. 70 or to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

The said agri assistance is funded by the department’s 4K program which is in support of the development of the Ancestral Domain of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/IPs.

April Grace M. Racines, DA-10’s 4K focal person explained, “The 4K is a three-year special project of DA where it provides assistance to the ICC and IP in the form of agricultural and fisheries-related livelihood opportunities.”

Racines added that the program aims to capacitate the IPs through community organizing, agricultural skills training, and workshops to increase knowledge and productivity.

Andrew Lingcoran, a farmer of barangay Bulonay shared, “First time naming magkaroon ng kabayo kaya lubos ang pasasalamat namin sa DA na nabigyan nang atensiyon ang kagaya naming mga katutubo. Malaking tulong po ito sa aming lugar lalo na sa transportasyon ng aming sinasaka. Alagaan ko po ang kabayo para balang araw ang anak nito ay makatulong na naman sa ibang katutubong magsasaka dito sa amin.”

The activity was in partnership with the 8th and 16th Infantry Battalions of the 4th and 2nd Infantry Divisions, Philippine Army and Municipal Agriculture’s Office of Impasugong, Bukidnon.# (ATC)