CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) hands over various rice machinery to qualified farmer cooperatives, associations (FCAs) of Misamis Occidental.

A total of 18 FCAs from the municipalities of Aloran, Baliangao, Bonifacio, Clarin, Panaon, Plaridel, Tudela, and the cities of Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub will benefit from the rice machinery worth P37.59 million under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Of the total amount, P25 million is allocated for the 10 FCAs of the first district and P14.5 million is allocated to the second district with eight FCAs as part of the 2021 budget.

The machinery distributed includes 13 units floating tiller, 11 units rice thresher, 8 units 4WD tractor, 3 units each of recirculating dryer and hand tractor; 4 units rice combine harvester; two units for each rice reaper, PTO driven disc plow; and, 1 unit each of walk-behind and riding type transplanter, multi-stage rice mill and de stoner.

The Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 allots P10 billion yearly from tariffs of imported rice for six years, from 2019 to 2024, for the RCEF program aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the Philippine rice industry.#(CRSeraspe)

DA-RFO 10 supports NIA’s implementation of irrigation projects in the region’s bid to achieve food security.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 extends its support to the National Irrigation Authority – 10 (NIA-10), as they turn over more than P1.8 billion worth of projects on November 23, 2021, in the city of Cagayan de Oro.

NIA-10 Regional Director Engr. Constancio G. Bana-ay, Jr. reported, that 6,157 farmers will benefit from the 51 turned-over irrigation projects covering three irrigation management offices (IMOs): Bukidnon (29 projects); Lanao del Norte-Misamis Occidental-Misamis Oriental-Camiguin (LAMISCA IMO) for 19 projects; and Lanao del Sur (3 projects).

Meanwhile, NIA-10 Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Engr. Czar M. Sulaik said that these irrigation projects are geared towards boosting rice production to achieve food security.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga shared, that despite NIA not being under DA, they have continued their partnership as they are serving the same clientele.

“These irrigation projects are also in line with the ‘OneDA reform agenda’, which pushes for agriculture modernization with the end goal of being self-sustaining,” Madriaga added.

She also reported, that amidst the pandemic, DA has continued to serve its agri-clienteles, and thanked the rice farmers for their hard work and perseverance in ensuring food security in the region.

“Amidst the challenges brought by COVID-19, the agriculture sector in Region 10 has increased by 1.5%, and we congratulate you for being resilient,” shared National Economic and Development Authority – 10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño, further assuring NEDA and the Regional Development Council’s support for the sector. # (AMBManto)

DA-10 through its Corn Program handed over 150 bags of hybrid corn seeds to the Congressional Office of CdeO City 2^nd district Congressman Rodriguez for distribution to farmers in barangays F.S. Catanico, Tablon and Balubal.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To aid corn farmers with their agri-input requirements, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) turned over 150 bags of hybrid yellow corn seeds to the Congressional Office of CdeO City 2nd district Representative Rufus R. Rodriguez on November 24, 2021.

Said provision amounting to P750K will be distributed to corn farmers of barangays F.S. Catanico, Tablon and Balubal.

Pooled from the funding of the agency’s Corn Program under its Production Support Services, each bag of corn seeds at 9 kilograms can be planted to half a hectare of land with an estimated average yield of 6-7 metric tons per hectare. # (JLO)

The 4ID, PA supports DA-10’s initiatives in boosting food production through their Army Green Camps Program.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army received various vegetables seeds from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in support to its “Army Green Camps Program.”

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla handed to TSG Rey A Viña (INF) PA Jones E. Betantos, Chief Clerk, OG7, 4ID, PA, 20 packets each of pinakbet seeds (pole sitaw, okra, squash, ampalaya and eggplant), sinigang (radish, kangkong, tomato, pole sitaw, okra) and garden salad seeds (lettuce, tomato, cucumber), in the presence of High Value Crops Development Program coordinator Kersten S. Pagalan.

TSG Viña said that the seeds will be used in the launching of their “Army Green Camps Program” in boosting food production within their camps amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that the Philippine Army supports DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program through urban gardening in attaining food adequacy.# (JCAnito)

Member-agencies of RMC of DA-10 meet for the Reg’l. Integrated Workplan to discuss key issues besetting the agri-sector for inclusion in the preparation of a national workplan.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Pursuing efforts towards a transformed Philippine agriculture, the Regional Management Committee (RMC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) convened in a Consultation-Workshop for the Regional Integrated Workplan on Monday, November 22.

Said activity is geared towards soliciting inputs from the participating member agencies on how to address key issues besetting the agriculture sector for inclusion in the preparation of a national workplan, with reference to the 2022 targets and national expenditure program budget.

Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 regional technical director for operations underscored, that the output for the said activity should be aligned with the OneDA reform agenda, which adopts the four pillars and 18 key strategies to level up the region and the country’s agricultural sector.

“We must work on a sound and realistic workplan to lay down our network, and see the harmonization of functions and services related to the delivery of our services,” the director added.

Discussions incorporated into the plan and were affirmed by the attendees include the better management and control of African Swine Fever to ramp up DA’s hog repopulation program; challenge on the increasing fertilizer prices; the highly intertwined relationship among the yellow corn, livestock, and poultry subsectors; acceleration in the provision of legislation of fish hatcheries; and better sharing of information of the coconut industry.

Also covered were the large-scale implementation of crop diversification in marginal rice farmlands in view of the midway implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law; rice farmers’ financial assistance; food inflation; social protection for farmers; and cross-cutting issues.

RMC is chaired by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with member agencies composed of DA-10’s attached bureaus (ATI, BFAR, BSWM, BAI-NVQS, and BPI PQS, SPAL, NSQCS), agencies (ACPC, FPA, NMIS, PhilMech, PhilFIDA, PCC, and corporations (PhilRice, SRA, NDA, PCA, NFA, and NTA) in partnership with NIA and PCIC. # (JLO)

OA practitioners from Buk’non and MisOr provinces display their organically grown harvest and by-products in line with the Nat’l. OA month celebration this month of November.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Some organic agriculture practitioners from the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental convene on November 23, 2021 to feature their organically grown harvest and by-products, in this city.

Said activity is in observance for the month of November as the National Organic Agriculture (OA) Month with the theme: ‘Organikong Pagsasaka, Sagot sa Pandemya’, as per Proclamation No. 1030.

Marking its seventh year, the celebration continues to support the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which aims to mainstream organic agriculture practices adoption across the country, with emphasis on ensuring healthy and safe food for Filipino households, especially amid the ongoing pandemic. # (JLO)

Agri dept of NorMin pays P2.5-M to ASF affected hog raisers in CdeO City on November 23.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A total of 81 hog raisers from the three rural barangays of Cagayan de Oro City received its African Swine Fever (ASF) indemnity fund from the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao on Tuesday, November 23.

Hog raisers received P5K for every culled hog affected with the said virus.

Homer Cezar Tumampos, of barangay Tagpangi who received P100K for his 20 culled hogs shared, “Naintindihan ko ang layunin ng gobyerno ukol dito sa ASF, kaya sinurender ko ang aking mga baboy para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit sa ibang lugar.”

Tumapos is planning to use the money for an alternative livelihood to recover from his losses.

The rural barangays of Lumbia, Pagalungan, and Tagpangi with 502 culled hogs is the last batch of DA’s ASF indemnity payment for the city.

DA-10 ASF focal person Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling explained that starting July 1, 2021, ASF indemnification requests for depopulated hogs will not be accommodated under the Quick Response Fund but under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation’s swine mortality insurance.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado encourages all hog raisers of Region 10 to apply for the insurance of their hogs to the PCIC.

To sum up, DA has paid the total amount of P23 million to 1,161 affected hog raisers for their 4,610 culled hogs in CdeO.# (RDMElloren)

DA-NorMin continues to promote urban gardening through the distribution of veggie seeds to BUKTRAMCO and BNHS.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To ensure food accessibility and sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) continues its promotion of urban gardening through its distribution of vegetable seeds to various stakeholders.

On November 16, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla turned over packets of sinigang, squash, cabbage, and garden salad vegetable seeds to the Bukidnon Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (50 packets) and Bulua National High School (40 packets).

BUKTRAMCO Branch Chairperson Melvin L. Erederos said, that the intervention may provide additional income to the members of their cooperative.

On the other hand, BNHS Gulayan sa Paaralan Coordinator Grace M. Maghuyop shared, “Our goal is to cultivate the importance of gardening and push for a healthier lifestyle.”

Recently, DA-10 represented by Senior Agriculturist Wilson V. Lagdamin also turned over 200 packets of 5-in-1 Pinakbet vegetable seeds to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office – Field Service Extension Office X.

“We have a proposed two-hectare lot in Opol, Misamis Oriental for which our veterans can plant these seeds to serve as their farm-based vegetable pantry. The remaining seeds will then be divided so that they can grow vegetables in their own backyards,” PVAO FSEO Head Luisa P. Revecho said. # (AMBManto)

DA-NorMin turns over feed mixer units, one of the components under the SMP, to its beneficiaries. (Photo credit: Livestock Program)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 20, 2021 – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through its Livestock Program has turned over feed mixer units to the Swine Multiplier Project (SMP)-beneficiaries on November 19, 2021 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Funded under the current funds of the agency under its Production Support Services, said units are for the SMP implementers, including the three stations (Research Center for Upland Development in Dangcagan, Bukidnon; Research Center for Hillyland Development in Claveria, Misamis Oriental; and NMACLRC) of DA-10, and academic institutions through Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon; and Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.

Each unit costs P340K, which is one of the components of the SMP, along with the provision of stocks, drugs and biologics, feeds and a pig pen, with the latter still for delivery.

Overall, the SMP will act as breeding farms where the offspring will be the source of quality breeding stocks to qualified livestock raisers.

On the same day, an operational demonstration was also conducted before the representatives of the project-recipients to ensure the proper operations, maintenance, and management of said units. # (JLO)

DA-PhilMech turns over P114-M worth of various rice machinery to Buk’non FCAs to drum up rice prod’n through mechanization.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) turned over P114 million worth of various rice machinery to FCAs in Bukidnon.

Around 36 qualified farmers, cooperative and associations (FCAs) received on Thursday, November 18 various rice machinery in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Mechanization Program (RCEF), 5,616 farmer-members are expected to benefit from the 100 units of rice machinery under the CY 2021 funds.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with DA-PhilMech Head Facility Management and Field Operations Division Joel V. Dator and Bukidnon 3rd district representative Manuel F. Zubiri led the turnover and awarding of certificates to FCAs.

Said FCAs coming from the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia and the municipalities of Impasug-ong, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Maramag, Kitaotao, Manolo Fortich, Quezon, Pangantucan and Kalilangan availed the machinery which includes four-wheel drive tractor, hand tractor, floating tiller, PTO driven disc plow/harrow, walk-behind and riding type transplanter, rice reaper, combine harvester, thresher, recirculating dryer, impeller rice mill, single pass rice mill and de stoner.

The province of Bukidnon considered the food basket of Mindanao, contributes around 50-60 percent of rice sufficiency in Northern Mindanao with 90k hectares of the rice harvest area.

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

It aims to improve rice production in the country through mechanization that would reduce production and postharvest losses up to 20 percent and eventually increase production.

Director Collado said farm machinery will boost farming activities and ensure high productivity and reduce postharvest losses of farmers.

“The need to increase the level of farm mechanization, to produce more food efficiency and quality will be beneficial both for farmers and consumers,” he concluded.# (ATCabig)