CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Enhancing farmers’ productivity through the provision of agri-assistance to maintain accessibility, affordability, and availability of food, remains the thrust of the Department of Agriculture (DA), especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addressing said thrusts, the DA-Regional Field Office 10 thru the Planning and Monitoring Evaluation Division (PMED) spearheaded the briefing on the agency’s new programs and projects in leading the implementers of the department, on Thursday, August 27.

Among these are the institutionalization of the Agriculture Dialogue and Information Network Group (ADING); Establishment of the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) towards a greater inclusive agri-business development in the country; Balik Probinsya-Balik Pag-asa (BP2) for returning Overseas Filipino Workers and individuals affected by the pandemic, who will be returning to their respective provinces; and the ACEF Scholarship Program, a financial aid granted to students pursuing agri-related courses with a basic family annual income of P300,000 and below.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado emphasized the department will support said programs at all cost, particularly the BP2 program. Of which, DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development ( SAAD) program and its banner programs will allocate budget to provide livelihood projects to the affected individuals.

He further requested the support and participation of everyone in the program implementation.

“As frontliners handling the food-producing sector, much is expected from us, and we cannot afford to lose the confidence of so many people depending on our assistance,” Collado said.

In addition, production and marketing assistance can be availed by farmers through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

AMAD will facilitate the loan programs which include Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) for young farmers aged 18-30 years old; AgriNegosyo (Anyo); Expanded Sure Aid and Recovery (SuRe) program; Agricultural Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF); and, the Sagip Saka program.

These financial assistance allows the borrower to loan an amount ranging from P 300,000 to P15 million with 0-2 percent interest payable up to five years, depending on the approved business plan submitted by the proponent to finance their respective agri-fishery small and micro-enterprise.

Interested farmers, associations and cooperatives are requested to submit their letter of intent, followed by a project proposal through the municipal, city agriculture’s office for endorsement to DA regional office through AMAD for review and validation of their proposed project.

On the other hand, Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota Madriaga, hoped that the briefing will help the DA implementers to internalize the programs and projects that the department is going to implement in the succeeding years.

“By understanding its different implementation schemes, more farmers will benefit, and success will not be far from our grasp,” Madriaga concluded. # (Mary Grace B. Sta. Elena)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado leads the signing of the pledge of good governance and zero corruption for the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10).

RED Collado’s move is in response to the call of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and DA Secretary William D. Dar to serve the Filipino people with utmost integrity and competence.

Supporting the DA executive are DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota Madriaga and RTD for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarala together with the division chiefs, program coordinators, provincial operations center chiefs of the region.

RED Collado emphasized, the core values practiced by the department in its bid to deliver its services to the farmers and fisherfolk, which include transparency, accountability, efficiency that will guide the DA family for good governance.

He reminded them to perform their duties with highest degree of moral integrity, during the briefing of DA programs.#(ATCabig)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Packages of farm machineries worth P10.4 million were turned over by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) to farmer-cooperatives, associations (FCAs) cultivating rice in Misamis Oriental (MisOr).

In a turnover ceremony held at the Provincial MisOr Capitol Grounds on August 27, the roster of interventions handed over to Linugos Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. of Brgy. Kibungsod, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental included one unit each of four-wheel drive tractor, hand tractor, riding type transplanter and combine harvester.

Meanwhile, the Bal-ason Farmers Producers Cooperative, Inc. (BFPCI) of Brgy. Bal-ason, Gingoog City, was granted with one unit each of hand tractor, reaper, mobile rice mill, and mechanical dryer, and six units floating tiller.

Funded under the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the distribution of agri-machineries is the third distribution in Region 10 within the month, following the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte with an accumulated worth of P67.1 million rice mechanization interventions to 16 farmer-groups.

“Said distribution only represents about 40 percent of DA-PhilMech’s budget for 2019, while the remaining 60 percent [amounting to more than P16.5 million] for MisOr province, is still under procurement stage, and three more FCAs are being eyed as additional recipients,“ Carlene C. Collado, regional executive director of DA-Regional Field Office 10 said.

Apportioned with a yearly P5 billion budget under the P10 billion RCEF portfolio, brought about by the Rice Tariffication Law to be implemented for the 2019-2024 period, rice mechanization is seen to drum up across the country to increase productivity, reduce labor cost, increase income and strengthen the global competitiveness of rice farmers in a liberalized rice industry.

Based on DA-PhilMech data, up to 3 percent milling losses, 5 percent drying losses, and about 2-3 percent postharvest losses can be saved with the use of mechanized rice mills, mechanical dryers and combine harvesters, respectively.

It added, up to 10 percent increase in yield can be achieved with good crop growth and higher density planting using mechanical transplanter, while a significant increase in yield is also aimed with proper soil tillage and better land levelling with the use of tractors.

“Nais ng programa [RCEF Mechanization] na isulong at ipakilala sa mga magsasakang Filipino ang paggamit ng mabisa at matipid na makinaryang pansaka. Nais din nitong mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang lahat ng magsasaka na makagamit nang angkop na makinarya sa produksyon ng palay hanggang sa makatapos-ani,” Engr. Baldwin G. Jallorina, Jr., PhilMech national director expressed, in a message, delivered by Engr. Edgar B. Testa, head of Mindanao Cluster A of DA-PhilMech.

Dir. Collado also challenged the province thru Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano to have more FCAs accredited with DA, considering the two benefiting FCAs, comprising of 271 rice farmers.

“Mao ning basehan nato kung kinsa ang makadawat og package of machineries under DA-PhilMech. This will now be the chance of our farmer organizations to be given with this kind of intervention, which has not been done in the previous years,” Collado noted.

He also appealed to the recipients to properly manage, operate and handle the farm machineries and equipment, with hopes to augment their income and livelihood, including non-members who may wish to avail of their services.

Meanwhile, Gov. Emano stressed, “Dako kaayo ang gihatag nga gahum sa inyo nga gi-abagan sa dako nga responsibilidad. Atong ipakita sa ilaa nga ang gigasto sa gobyerno nga mahimuslan pag-ayo. Ang gipangayo nga balos, areglahun, pangga-on ug mahalon ang mga makinarya ug ekipo ug motaas pod unta ang inyong abot ug kita.”

Lolita Sanico, BFPCI president responded, “Pangitaan gyud namo og pamaagi nga magamit ang mga makinarya ug ekipo nga gitugyan kanamo gikan sa pangagamhanan. Wala namo damha nga ma-angkon namo ni ug mapasalamaton kami sa inyoa [partner agencies] nga nagpaluyo sa mga small farmers.”

On top of the provision of agri-machinery and equipment from DA-PhilMech, the provincial government also handed over knapsack sprayers and fertilizers assistance to the two FCA-recipients. # (JLO)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- In line with the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) food resiliency program dubbed as Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) kontra sa COVID-19 or popularly known as the Plant, Plant, Plant program, the 8th Air Reserve Center (ARCen) Philippine Air Force sought the availment of seeds assistance to support farmers and tribal communities to restore their agricultural livelihood amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 26, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga handed over 100 packets assorted vegetable seeds to 8th ARCen represented by Staff Sergeant Jeneño S Macahilos.

Particularly, the targeted beneficiaries of the vegetable seeds will be the Indigenous Peoples Community in Barangay Besigan, this city.

SSg Macahilos said, through the provisions, they’d be able to promote an alternative source of livelihood for food production, especially in this trying period.

Of which, he added, is part of their quarterly community engagements of ARCen. Each packet of 4-in-1 garden salad seeds, comprise of cucumber, tomato, iceberg and romaine lettuce, which can be planted to around an area up to 300 square meters.

Aside from the vegetable seeds, additional inputs will also be provided in the form of corn seeds, a week prior their distribution activity in the barangay on September 15. # (John Carl Anito)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, August 20 – In a bid to provide inputs for the implementation of Urban Agriculture Project, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over assorted vegetable seeds to the Tactical Operations Group 10 (TOG-10), the unit of Philippine Air Force stationed at Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao, Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City.

DA-RFO 10 Administrative and Finance Division Chief Lester A. Jaducana handed over 100 packets of Garden Salad consisting of lettuce (romaine and iceberg), tomato and cucumber; 1 pack at 250 grams of okra; and 2 packets at 50 grams of eggplant seeds to Civil Military Operations apprentices Marjohn L. Igot and Mark Emmanuel R. Gerona.

The requested provisions is in support to the national health emergency, as TOG-10 eyes to distribute them to the Indigenous People of barangays Pigsag-an and Bayanga, this city.

Further, they aim to introduce the concept of hydroponic vegetable production in their areas for sustainable gardening.

Said agri intervention is part of DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program to scale up food production in the households amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.#(Irish Mae Juntahan)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, August 20 – Align with Secretary Dar’s aim towards sustainable food security, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), represented by Regulatory Division Chief Juliet B. Araos turned over assorted vegetable seeds to the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City.

Receiving 250 packets of chopsuey (pechay, radish, carrots, cauliflower) and 250 packets of garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber) seeds on behalf of SP Tamula’s Office, is Kathleen V. Mantalaba, who said, they have a program that advocates the natural way of farming for the benefit of all the Iliganon households in the urban areas.

Eyed to increase agricultural productivity, competitiveness and profitability amidst the country’s fight against the COVID-19 crisis, Office of the City Councilor Rudolph Charles Tamula initiated a program dubbed as ‘Tatak Iliganon’ to provide income generating activity and livelihood through seeds distribution to the Iliganons.

“Nakita namo nga pag start sa COVID-19 daghan na kaayo ganahan mag gardening, mao nag come up mi ani nga program para promotion napod sa food security mao nang gi grab namo ang opportunity nga naay assistance gikan sa DA ug nagpasalamat mi kay paspas ilang response sa among request,” she added.

[We have noticed that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people have gained interest in gardening, so we came up with a program to promote food security. We have also grabbed the opportunity of the assistance from DA, and we are thankful for their immediate response to our request.]

She likewise expressed that they are also promoting Urban Container Gardening to those areas with limited spaces.

Importantly, they encouraged their members into gardening for their daily consumption and to sell surplus of their products to the local market.

The program of the Tatak Iliganon family in the Office of the City Councilor in Iligan has reached more than 3,000 online members up to date.

Of which, they are also conducting weekly monitoring on the growth and development of the plants through photo documentation from their beneficiaries. #(Irish Mae Juntahan)

The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 amplified its agricultural services in Northern Mindanao by adopting six other towns in the region this year.

With the expansion, the SAAD program is anticipated to aid another 665 poorest of the poor farmers, increasing the total figure of SAAD-assisted farming constituents in the region to 3,452 individuals.

The farmer-beneficiaries were profiled and validated by DA-SAAD-10 last year and earlier this year.

The municipalities of Aloran and Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental; Magsaysay and Munai in Lanao del Norte, and; Lantapan and Sumilao in Bukidnon join SAAD-10’s existing roster of 24 beneficiary LGUs.

The SAAD-implementing LGUs are identified based on Philippine Statistics Authority’s official poverty statistics.

Upon intent and commitment by the local executives, towns with the highest poverty incidence are favored for inclusion to the SAAD program of DA-10.

As a special program of the Department of Agriculture, SAAD aims to uplift the lives of poor farmers in Northern Mindanao.

The program provides the farmers capacitating and enabling agricultural interventions to develop them as enterprising farmers.

Depending on LGUs’ proposal, the beneficiaries are due to receive agri-livelihood projects such as rice and corn production and vegetable production.# (Azbie Talib)

In support to Department of Agriculture’s Plant Plant Plant Program, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of DA-10 will be distributing P5.6 million worth of basic farm inputs as COVID-19 assistance to SAAD-implementing local government units (LGUs).

The provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental will receive the farm inputs composed of 20,192 packs vegetable seeds, 1,125 packs sweet corn seeds and 2,500 bags organic fertilizers.

The intervention will be fully distributed this August which are procured through the 2020 regular and emergency procurements with an aim to augment DA-10’s COVID-19 response measure in Northern Mindanao.

At least 30 towns in the region will benefit from the intervention, urging farmers in the area to continue farming at an increased production.

Adhering to DA’s campaign for sustained and unhampered food production amidst the enduring health crisis, SAAD-10 refocused P11.2 million of its 2020 appropriation to fund the procurement of basic inputs for crops and livestock production this year.

Provision of basic farm inputs are deemed imperative to whip up food production in the region as the country is in continuous battle against the pandemic.

Notwithstanding inevitable drawbacks, SAAD-10 continuously lived up to its mandate, serving the marginalized farmers in Northern Mindanao.#(Azbie Talib)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Urban dwellers may now have access in buying fresh, quality and affordable agricultural produce straight from farmers and fisherfolk.

Starting August 23, a new distribution outlet coined as the ‘Farmers’ Produce’ is now open to the public, which will initially run until September 20 at SM City Mall Cagayan de Oro (CdeO), Masterson Avenue.

Said food market sprung after an agreement was formed among the Department of Agriculture (DA), SM Supermalls and the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH) to provide agri-fishery producers a venue to directly sell their produce, while eyeing for the involved to spur economic activities amid the ongoing pandemic.

“The first ever ‘Farmers’ Produce’ is staged at SM Aura’s Premier in Taguig City, which championed the abundance of supply and commodities in their respective area. At the moment, we are also replicating such marketing initiative here at the regional level, prominently featuring our fruits and vegetables,” Chedy V. Ansale, chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) said.

Through the agribiz arm of DA-RFO 10, different farmer-groups from the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon were tapped.

Majority of whom are also the agriculture department’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita suppliers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis.

Included in the roster of exhibitors are the Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives, Miarayon Talakag Highland Farmers Association, Tagpuangi Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, Canitoan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Manzano Farm, CNQ Agri Ventures, Farmgrown Association of Claveria, NM Foods, Kaycee’s Dragon Fruit, Puclawan Fruits, and Lantapan Vegetable Farmers Marketing Cooperative.

Commodities up for sale vary from fruits, vegetables, spices, dairy products, fish and other processed food products.

The joint undertaking will be beneficial for the farmer- and fisher-producers. They can earn decent incomes with the additional marketing platform and enjoy reduced costs for rental space, Ansale added.

She also emphasized, they would be more motivated to produce more with the eyed consumers’ patronage for their local produce, at the same time, the buyers gaining for availing of agri-fishery products at reasonable prices.

On the other hand, SM Supermalls has opened its premises for the food markets to be in place, where farmer-groups can use for free, but in the case of SM City Mall CdeO, for only a minimal fee for almost a month that they can display their produce.

“We encourage everyone, especially for those residing in the uptown area or from the neighboring barangays, to come visit and buy the fresh, quality and affordable products of our local farmers and fisherfolk,” Ansale urged.

She also assured that proper health protocols will be observed with the help of the mall operators and more importantly, that the agri-fishery commodities being sold were produced with the farmers’ adoption of good agricultural practices.

Further, the restaurants are likewise eyed to gain from the ‘Farmers’ Produce’, as they may directly buy in bulk raw ingredients to be used in the preparation of their dishes from the producers themselves.

“We will also be conducting a market linkage, where restaurant owners are invited, so that they can forge a contract with our producers, at the same time, support of our local farmers,” Ansale pointed out.

The Farmers’ Produce project is a collaborative marketing initiative between government and the private sector to invigorate local farmers and small businesses’ operations challenged by the current health crisis.#

CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – With the agriculture department set on further promoting and developing sorghum as an important crop for food and feed industries, a Sorghum Field Day and Technology Forum is staged at the Research Center for Hillyland Development (RCHD), in Lanise, of this town.

On August 20, more than 35 potential growers and marketers convened to learn the package of technology of grain sorghum, at the same time, the demand for such crop in the market.

Such undertaking also drums up the initiative of DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) in urging farmers to produce additional feed grains and silage to support the livestock and poultry sector, as sorghum is an alternative source of protein to corn and cassava.

“Through the technology demonstration, we can showcase the productivity performance and most adaptable sorghum varieties under different agro-climatic conditions,” Jurrybe J. Lachica, sorghum focal person of DA-RFO 10 said.

He added, the department has ongoing studies on the development of sorghum varieties through its research stations, namely: Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, Research Center for Upland Development and RCHD.

With the latter being the site for the field day, participants were guided on a tour that featured the 505 x 5 and 506 x 15 sorghum varieties, which originated from Texas, USA.

These provisions were provided to the DA regional field offices across the country after select DA officials were sent to a sorghum company based there.

Of which, the planting materials were then distributed in March at Davao City, and planted mid-May, of this year.

Particularly, the station has six components for its sorghum production technology demonstration project.

This includes the Varietal Evaluation of Grain Sorghum in Different Production Environments; Site Specific Nutrient Management of Grain Sorghum for Better Yield and Income; Influence of Biomass Management for the Fertility and Yield of Grain Sorghum; Tiller Management for Ratooned Grain Sorghum; Performance of Ratooned Crop in Different Production Environments; and Population Density for Optimum Yield of Grain Sorghum.

For this year, Lachica also bared that the Region targets to establish six techno demo farms, ideally having at least five hectares, that would serve as demonstration site and learning center for farmers who wish to engage in sorghum farming.

“Should any group be interested, the department will be providing seeds and fertilizers while farmer/project partners will shoulder the labor as their counterpart,” he explained.

Reportedly, a giant agribusiness company guarantees to buy P14 per kilo of sorghum or even higher, depending on prevailing prices.

With generated results from research, farmers can make informed decisions which appropriate sorghum varieties and production technologies to choose from that are best suited to their agro climatic condition. #