CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The local government of Tubod, Lanao del Norte and Mindanao State University – Lanao del Norte Agricultural College (MSU-LNAC) in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, LDN each received P5 million worth of projects for the establishment of Goat Multiplier Breeder Farm project in their localities from the Department of Agriculture -10 on April 28.

Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over said checks to the beneficiaries represented by Tubod Municipal Administrator Margarito D. Bete, Jr. and MSU-LNAC Head Dr. Indihra B. Dimaporo-Tawantawan, Al-Hadja with an aim to improve the goat industry of the province.

Funded under DA’s National Livestock Program, the goat multiplier project comprised the following components: goat breeders worth P1.53 million, supplies (P500,000), equipment (P815,000) and farm housing facilities amounting to P2.1 million and admin cost (P50,000).

RED Collado urged them to fast track their procurement and the availability of their pasture to aid in upgrading goat breeds which could contribute to the small ruminants industry of said towns.

He also encouraged them to avail DA’s assistance for sorghum production, as an alternative nutritious and economical feeds to poultry and livestock farming.

Administrator Bete expressed, that DA’s initiative is very helpful to their community, not only to provide livelihood to farmers, but also populate high-grade small ruminants in their municipality.

Tawantawan said, they can showcase the multiplier farm to their agriculture students, farmers and other interested individuals being a service provider and learning site in SND.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga advised them to collaborate with the Provincial Agriculture’s Office of LDN to come up with a proposal for the establishment of a Halal Slaughterhouse, which can be a pilot project in the region.

Of which is covered under DA Memorandum Order No.34, Enterprise Development through Establishment of Sustainable Livestock and Poultry Halal Multiplier Farms.

To further augment their income, DA-10 Livestock Program Coordinator Maria Lourdes M. Sypiecco shared, they can venture to other value adding products of goat like dairy products and soap making. # (EMBentulan)

On April 26, four NorMin FCAs receive financial grants under DA’s Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain program.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) handed in P7.2 million worth of checks to four Farmer’s Cooperative and Associations (FCAs) in Northern Mindanao for the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program on April 26, 2021, in this city.

Receiving P4.5 million is the Kahusayan Consumer’s Cooperative of Kitaotao, Bukidnon while Miarayon Highland Farmer’s Association in Talakag, Bukidnon, Paglingkawas Women Federation in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, and Canitoan Farmer’s Association Multipurpose Cooperative in Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City received P900,000 each.

OIC-Chief of Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD-10) Larry E. Paraluman said, that the grant aims to uplift the FCAs in terms of enterprise.

“This financial grant aims to upgrade and enhance existing enterprises of benefiting FCAs by providing them with additional working capital, logistics, among others. With this grant, they can improve their services and run their enterprise more efficiently and provide accessibility and availability of food in their respective areas, especially in this time of the pandemic.”

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado challenged the recipients to properly manage their grant to avail more assistance from the department soon.

“I hope that you can properly implement the assistance that the department has given you so you can still avail for more grants and projects from DA in the future. By that time, we are confident that with your capabilities, we can entrust you with even bigger projects.”

The Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program is part of DA Secretary William D. Dar’s commitment of harnessing farmer’s participation in the food supply distribution system by scaling up their activities from production to marketing.

Said grants are funded under the Bayanihan Act II as part of the COVID-19 interventions response. # (CRSeraspe)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) convened with the organic agriculture (OA) focal persons and report officers from some of the local governments in Region 10 for the crafting of the 2022-2027 OA roadmap.

Said three-day activity which started on April 21 focused on the conduct of a workshop to lay down a blueprint for the priority programs, projects and interventions to be implemented regionwide for the cited period towards the promotion and development of OA.

With the roadmap serving as the guide, DA and its partners at the local levels eye for the attainment of RA 10068 or the OA Act of 2010’s goal of having a thriving OA industry, contributing to better farm income, improved farmers and consumers’ protection, enhanced soil fertility and farm biodiversity, and environmental protection. # (JCAnito)

DA-NorMin convenes with MisOr LGUs to help the agency have more farmers listed in the RSBSA to avail government’s assistance for agri-sector development.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – “Ensuring food security and sufficiency can be sustained if our farmer- and fisher-food producers will have ease in accessing the services and assistance provided by the government with the use of the basic data under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).”

This was stressed by Regional Technical Director Carlota S. Madriaga of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 during the RSBSA re-orientation conducted on April 20, 2021.

RSBSA is an electronic compilation on basic information of farmers, farm laborers and fishers that serves as basis for DA in providing government-funded services that includes inputs, financial subsidies, and insurance, among others.

Reportedly, a total of 129,121 farmers and fisherfolk in Region 10 are already registered to the system up to date.

Before municipal agriculturists and encoders from the local governments (LGUs), RTD Madriaga encouraged them to lead in the holistic registration in the barangays to include all the commodities planted by farmers and fish cultured or caught by fisherfolk.

She added, this will aid the government in the equal distribution of assistance among farmers and fisherfolk across all commodities.

She also urged the participants to submit data for updating or registration to said system.

Documentary requirements for registration include: one (1) original copy and one (1) photocopy of any valid government identification card with ID number.

For registrants without valid IDs, however, a duly signed barangay certification containing his/her permanent residency should be secured.

Of which, they must present proof of farming activity, like land certificate (land title, certificate of land ownership, deed of donation, or lease of agreement) and municipal/city/ barangay business permit or geotagged photos of their farm.

Qualified to register are those Filipino citizens at least 18 years old at the time of registration and are not registered under Fisheries Registration (FishR) of the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). # (MGBS)

On April 22, DA-10 releases a total of P14.67 million indemnification fund to 575 African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected hog raisers from barangay Pugaan, Iligan City.

The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) released a total of P14.67 million indemnification fund to 575 African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected hog raisers from barangay Pugaan, Iligan City.

Juliet B. Araos, DA-10 Regulatory Division chief shared, that a total of 2,934 hogs were culled, where hog raisers received P5,000 per culled hog.

“We hope that the barangay would return to being a green [ASF-free] zone,” said Araos, adding that said cash assistance seeks to encourage hog raisers to engage into alternative livelihood for the time being.

DA-10 ASF Focal Person, Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling stated, that the agency and the city local government unit continues to strengthen its biosecurity measures to ensure the recovery and rehabilitation for the barangay.

The first confirmed ASF case in Region 10 was recorded in November 2020, of said barangay.

On receiving the assistance, hog raiser Romeo Camanse expressed, “This is a big help in terms of livelihood. For now, I will use the money to cultivate my crops. I will also be shifting to goat and chicken raising for the meantime.”

DA -10 under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado continues its call for the public to observe biosecurity protocols such as stepping in animal quarantine footbaths; refraining from bringing pork and its by-products from ASF-affected areas; and avoiding the practice of swill feeding to curb the spread of the virus. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

With the Mandanas ruling, LGUs are being provided with funds sourced from all ‘national taxes’ and not just limited to ‘national internal revenue taxes; thereby, paving for increased resources and greater demand for capacity and supervision at the LGUs’ level.

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted the second leg of the consultation meeting with the province’s city and municipal agriculture offices in drafting the science-based Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Infrastructure and Mechanization Plan for 2022-2027.

Thru the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of DA-RFO 10, the two-day activity capacitated the delegates on weighing in vital agri-fishery projects as Mandanas-Garcia ruling takes effect starting in 2022.

The Mandanas ruling provides basis for which local government units (LGUs) are being provided with funds sourced from all ‘national taxes’ and not just limited to ‘national internal revenue taxes; thereby, paving for increased resources and greater demand for capacity and supervision at the LGUs’ level.

Said activity is also in line with the goals of the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997, and the Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) law.

According to Engr. Deliza T. Camaro, RAED assistant chief of DA-RFO 10, the AFMA and AFMech Law aim to modernize and mechanize the country’s agri-fishery sector; thereby ensuring food security and poverty alleviation.

“With institutionalizing the Supreme Court ruling of the Mandanas-Garcia petition, every local government from the provincial down to the city/municipal level has to capacitate their technical staff and fill up engineer positions to facilitate technical matters on the provision, establishment, research and development of agri-fishery infrastructures, machineries, equipment, among others,” Engr. Camaro explained.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga urged the participants to take part in capacity enhancement thru trainings aside from its eagerness to learn modern ideas and techniques that can boost the province’s agri-fishery sector which could augment the livelihood and income of farmers and fisherfolk.

With the facilitation of Engr. Romil C. Española, head of the Programs and Project Management Section of RAED, each town and city was able to account and assess their existing projects, which could help further in considering priority projects for the 2022-2027 period.

He further said, the PPMS will also visit the projects twice a year to gauge its significance to the farmer-beneficiaries for further improvement.

Next conduct of said activity will be in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental, while its first batch was already held in Misamis Oriental on March 17, this year.# (EMBentulan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture –10 (DA-10) Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado met with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Branch Head Senior Assistant Vice President Mary Joyce B. Salgados to discuss on the fertilizer e-voucher system under DA’s Rice Resiliency Project (RRP) II on April 20, 2021.

Along with its Rice Program and Administrative and Finance Division, the meeting seeks to prepare initial steps on the implementation of the said project.

Of which, rice farmers will be provided with e-vouchers which they will present to different accredited merchants for them to claim their fertilizer assistance.

Dir. Collado stated, said program aims to boost the country’s rice production amidst the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. # (AMBManto, DA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) gains more allies in being food security and sufficiency advocates thru the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Kalilangan from Bukidnon province, especially amid this ongoing pandemic.

Earlier afternoon, April 21, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla turned over 300 packets of 5-in-1 ‘pinakbet’ vegetable seeds (ampalaya, squash, pole sitao, okra and eggplant) amounting to about P39,000 to said RIC club represented by Merrydie Rosell, its municipal president.

According to Rosell, said provisions is targeted to be distributed and planted in the club members’ communal garden and their respective backyard gardens coming from the 14 barangays of the town.

She added, it will strengthen women’s involvement in the locality to partner with the government towards home and community development with focus on small-scale food production. # (JLO)

On April 19, three R-10 municipalities receive P1.4-M worth of cheque each for the procurement of feeds, conduct of trainings, and to cover other materials expense to implement the CFFP of DA-NLP in their respective locality

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With the aim of boosting beef production in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) released a cheque worth P1.4 million each to three benefiting towns for the Cattle Fattening Feedlot Program (CFFP) of DA-National Livestock Program (DA-NLP).

On April 19, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado turned over the cheques to Sugbongcogon mayor Mildred Z. Lagbas, Lopez Jaena mayor Michael P. Gutierrez and representatives of LGU Kibawe, Bukidnon.

Said amount will be used for the procurement of feeds, conduct of trainings, and defraying for expenses of other needed materials.

Funded under the Bayanihan Act II, each benefiting CFFP town has a total project cost of P5 million, of which other components include P3.5 million for the provision of 100 heads upgraded cattle, and P100,000.00 for drugs and biologics.

Ahead from receiving the cheques, the agri department has already completed its deliveries of cattle, drugs and biologics to said municipalities. # (CRSeraspe)

During the culmination of the High Value Crops week of DA-10, representatives from MILALITTRA present their coffee making preparations at the agency grounds on April 16.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 16 – Aiming to boost the coffee industry in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) has committed a Coffee Community-Based Development Enterprise worth P8 million to MILALITTRA, Inc.

MILALITTRA which stands for Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan-Talaandig Tribal Association is composed of coffee farmers from around 2,500 households of said barangays of Talakag, Bukidnon.

They are also an awardee in the 2019 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition for Arabica category.

Said project is funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of DA-RFO 10, that aims to provide production and postharvest support services for coffee and cacao farmers, said Kersten S. Pagalan, the program coordinator.

Included in the package of interventions are the provision of hauling truck, processing equipment/facility, trainings, planting materials, and nursery establishment.

Representing Datu Dungkuan ‘Rio’ D. Besto, MILALITTRA president, Joannah P. Dumaquita expressed, that DA’s project support will greatly aid them with their more than 11 hectares of coffee plantation, at the same time in expanding their market with the slated trainings they will undergo.

She cited, that with DA’s assistance they will be able to modernize their equipment and facilities to preserve and maintain the quality of their coffee beans, especially with the green coffee beans, which are still raw and have not yet been roasted while stored.

Handing over the certificate of commitment on behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado was Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga.# (EMBentulan)