R-10’s aggie department urges for the adoption and support to OA, as Proclamation No. 1030 provides the observance every month of November as the Nat’l. OA Month. (L-R) Kicking off the celebration is Samuel C. Natindim, Jr., reg’l. OA focal person, Carlene C. Collado, regional executive director, Mylin Verador Tayapad, organic practitioner and proprietor of MYLIN Herbal Products of Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental, and Carlota S. Madriaga, regional technical director. (Photo Supplied)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) continues to push for the adoption and support to organic agriculture (OA).

Proclamation No. 1030, declares the observance every month of November as the National OA Month.

Marking its sixth year, said celebration is in support to Republic Act 10068 or otherwise known as the OA Act of 2010 and the National OA Program (NOAP) with the aim of mainstreaming OA practices throughout the country.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado bared, this year’s theme focuses on ‘Pagsasakang Organiko, Ani at Kita ay Sigurado. Kalusugan ay Garantisado‘ during its kick-off activity on Wednesday, November 18.

Collado added, through the NOAP, the department has vigorously promoted OA to contribute to the overall agricultural growth and development of the country in terms of sustainability, competitiveness and food security.

“It will also aid in enriching the fertility of our soils, increase farm productivity, at the same time, preserve the environment and protect the health of farmers and consumers,” he added.

DA targets to have at least five percent of the nation’s total agricultural area practice organic farming.

Previous year’s record indicates, the Philippines has more than 52,500 hectares organic area, attributing 12,786.67 of these to Region 10.

Specifically, the province of Misamis Occidental leads NorMin with the biggest OA area at of 7,376 hectares, followed by Lanao del Norte (2,495.5), Misamis Oriental (2,053), Bukidnon (656.17), and Camiguin, pegged at 52 hectares.

Collado accounted Region 10’s strides, which includes being the home of 3,058 organic practitioners with 4 organic third party certified farms, namely: Tropical Harvest Farm (Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental), MOMS Happy Farm (Mambatangan, Manolo Fortich), Potter’s Garden and Alomah’s Place (Dahilayan, Manolo Fortich).

He noted also, the total volume of production for Region 10 is listed at 5,166.37 metric tons.

With OA as one of the banner programs under the department, he stressed, the effective and successful implementation of the program and projects of DA needs strong coordination among relevant government agencies and stakeholders through the conduct of sustained and massive national and community-based action.

“With the different challenges besetting the agriculture sector amid this ongoing pandemic, the adoption of OA as a farming system is a sustainable tool in attaining increased yield and income,” Samuel C. Natindim, Jr., regional OA focal person concluded.# (JLO)

DA-RFO 10 RED Collado and RTD for Operations Madriaga meet with COA Team in Region X for the Entrance Conference Audit for CY 2020 together with heads and representatives of the agency thru a virtual conference.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Audit (COA) in Region X with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted an Entrance Conference Audit for CY 2020 on November 5, 2020.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said, audit engagement is arranged to perform audit of the department’s accounting records and financial statements to uphold the highest standards of public service.

The Audit Team is headed by its Regional Supervising Auditor Josie J. Rodriguez and State Auditor II and Acting Audit Team Leader (ATL) Nashiba L. Macaraob.

DA-RFO 10 presented its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows, following the Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standards.

Discussed further were the objectives, focus, and limitations of the audit, including the responsibilities of the auditors and the management.

Rodriguez expressed, “We are here as your partners, even an enabler. We are here to support the agency on its aim to give exceptional service to farmers and fisherfolk along with good governance through transparency and accountability.”

She added, the mark they can give to the agency is set forth on the requirements relevant to the audit of financial statements.

Also present thru virtual conference were Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga with the members of the ManCom of DA-RFO 10. # (Irish Mae Juntahan)

DA-10 RTD Madriaga handed over 100 packets of vegetable seeds to Maribojoc Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative- President, Diomedes O. Tapulgo.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The provision of free assorted vegetable seeds is eyed to boost the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10)’s advocacy on food security.

On November 4, Diomedes O. Tapulgo, president of Maribojoc Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MACOFARCO) received a total of 100 packets of vegetable seeds, comprising of radish, lettuce, tomato, carrot, and okra from the department.

Tapulgo said, they will be distributing these to their 70 active members to plant their own food.

“Tungod sa COVID-19, nakatuon ang katawhan sa pagtanom aron adunay makaon. Pinaagi sa buhatan sa DA naka-avail mi ug libreng vegetable seeds nga mas nahatagan ug importansiya ug kasigurohan nga adunay pagkaon,” he shared.

[With COVID-19, the people learned to plant their own food. Through DA, we were able to avail of free vegetable seeds, giving more importance to food security.]

He added, aside from vegetable gardening for daily consumption, they will sell the surplus of their harvests to the local market as an additional source of income.

Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 regional technical director for operations remarked, “With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has confronted challenges on food security and sufficiency, and to curb these, we have been pushing to accelerate food production to ensure its sufficient supply through the Agri 4Ps (Plant, Plant, Plant Program).,”

Otherwise known as the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) laban sa COVID-19, the Agri-4Ps is the flagship program by DA to ensure the country’s food sufficiency, availability, accessibility, and affordability level during this health emergency situation trigged by the pandemic. #

DA-NFA NorMin, PLGU Lanao Norte converge efforts to aid rice farmers in commanding better prices for their produce.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) are pushing for competitive palay buying price following reports of dipping farmgate prices.

Due to peak harvest season, palay prices plunged to as low as P12 per kilo for fresh weight in October, based on DA-10’s palay price monitoring report in the different provinces in Region 10.

The provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte sell dry palay while Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin sell fresh palay.

As the price lowers, NFA 10 assures rice farmers in the region of its continuing effort to purchase their palay at a higher, profitable price.

“We are buying dried and clean palay at P19 per kilo. The price is set based on a standard P12 per kilo for production capital. Minus all postharvest costs, the farmers can earn an estimated P6 per kilo net income if they sell their palay to us,” said NFA 10 Regional Director, Engr. John Robert R. Hermano.

He added, since October they have procured roughly 300 thousand sacks of palay regionwide. By the end of November, they anticipated the figure to be at 500 thousand sacks.

Currently, NFA allocates an average of P48 million weekly funds to procure palay in the region depending on the agency’s target procurement per week.

NFA can absorb 8-10% of the region’s palay production, which is equivalent to 560 thousand to 700 thousand bags, considering the region is producing 7 million bags of palay per production cycle.

“We have no problems with funds. We can always accommodate farmers that intend to sell their palay to us,” he added.

Aside from regular palay farmgate price monitoring, NFA deployed mobile procurement teams to penetrate far-flung rice areas and non-traditional palay sources in the region.

The agency’s effort is highly concentrated on areas where palay prices are low.

“One of the reasons why our farmers cannot sell their palay at a higher price is because we are short of drying facilities. Wet palay are sold cheaper. That is why we are proposing for the establishment of two more drying facilities in Lanao del Norte and another two in Bukidnon,” Hermano disclosed.

In the meantime, NFA welcomes farmers who wish to use their drying pavements to dry their produce.

He vouched for every farmer who will seek NFA’s assistance will be accommodated and treated fairly.

“We highly encourage our farmers to sell their palay to us. Not only their palay will be bought at a higher price, but they can also contribute to the region’s food security, as well,” Hermano remarked.

NFA is guided by its minimum palay buying specifications of 14% moisture content, 13% discolored and damage kernel, and 90% purity, in assessing farmers’ palay quality.

PLGU Lanao Norte’s initiative

According to Hubaib Cayongcat, Lanao del Norte’s Provincial Grains Processing Center’s (PGPC) manager, amid plunging palay price, the provincial government is reaching out to the farmers by buying their palay at a standard of P1-2 pesos higher than local palay traders’ price.

“By buying the farmers’ harvest at a higher price, we can directly and indirectly help our rice farmers by compelling traders to catch up with PGPC’s price,” Cayongcat said, explaining the local government’s strategy in keeping the palay price advantageous to the rice farmers.

He added, the facility (PGPC) is born of the local government’s intent to help the rice farmers in the province by mitigating a decent palay buying price.

The PGPC has been operational since 2012. In cooperation with the Provincial Agriculture’s Office of Lanao del Norte, the facility has bought 516.7 metric tons of palay from farmers in the province in 2019.

“With this facility, we were able to somehow free our farmers from being tied to traders-decided palay price,” Coyongcat accounted.

He also shared, they are planning to establish a mechanical drying facility in the future which will help their farmers improve the quality of their palay, especially during the rainy season.

“The PGPC will always find ways and stick to its objective in helping our farmers in Lanao del Norte,” he vowed.

DA-10’s resolve to address plunging palay price

On the other hand, DA-10 through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) is closely monitoring the palay price situation in the region.

According to Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10’s Regional Technical Director for Operations, the agency is on top of the situation and is primed to provide the needed technical and bureaucratic interventions and assistance to local government units (LGUs) and the farming sectors should the scenario snowballs.

“Keeping the palay price high and competitive requires the concerted effort of all concerned sectors. Government agencies, the LGUs, and the farmer organizations should reach out to each other to come up with a cohesive action plan,” said Madriaga.

She also cited the “big brother-small brother” marketing strategy to help farmers command a better market prices for their products.

According to her, through the big brother-small brother strategy, rice farmers cooperatives, associations in an area will be clustered, where one association will lead the converged groups (as a big brother) to consolidate farm products of other allied associations (small brothers) for bulk selling to potential buyers, thus enabling them to profitably market their produce.

The said strategy will be widely implemented in the region as DA-10 will put in full swing the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program next year.

“With the pandemic adversely affecting our agriculture sector, we are appealing to our private partners, the agri traders to help our farmers by buying their produce be it palay, corn and other produce at a higher price. Our farmers need our help more than ever this time,” she concluded. # (Azbie Talib)

DA targets farmers and fisherfolk to register in FFEDIS, to maximize efforts in pooling resources for enterprise development.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 1 – Escalating efforts in the pooling of resources for enterprise development, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) is urging farmers and fisherfolk to register in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS).

As provided in Republic Act 11321 or otherwise known as the Sagip Saka Act and DA Memorandum Circular 25 series of 2020, FFEDIS is a web-based information system that contains a list of possible and implemented programs and projects, a registry of agricultural and fisheries enterprises, and a roster of private companies engaged in such enterprises.

Its scope includes farmers and fisherfolk enterprise and other enterprises engaged in agriculture and fishery related economic activities.

“This [FFEDIS] will assist the government in formulating plans and programs on enterprise development,” DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said.

He further noted, this will also empower producer groups, the private sector, the local governments, and potential donors to respond to the needs of the markets.

Two modes of registration are being employed, either via the FFEDIS Registration Desk at the agency’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) or thru Web-Based Registration using the link: ffedis.da.gov.ph.

Documentary requirements include accomplished FFEDIS enrolment form, valid business permit, and applicable certificate of registration (SEC/CDA/DTI).

Upon completed validation of said documents, the registration officer of DA-10 thru AMAD shall prepare and endorse the FFEDIS Certificate of Registration to the agency head for approval.

Once approved, the data on the Enrolment Form shall be encoded in the DA FFEDIS database.

“With the inclusion of our farmers and fisherfolk in the enterprise registry system, the agriculture department targets to improve their production, productivity and access to financing; and provide business support and development services and access to improved technologies,” Collado concluded.

For further queries, the Registration Desk of AMAD Region 10 may be reached thru mobile number 0906-505-5442. # (JLO/Photo credits: EMB)

DA-RFO 10 presents the 312 gallons of disinfectants for distribution across the region as ASF preventive measure with (L-R) Dr. Rhea Villa Chiu, RED Carlene C. Collado, RTD Carmelita T. Bajarla and Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling. #

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – With nearby regions stricken with the disease, the Agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) continues to intensify its preventive measures to maintain Region 10’s African Swine Fever (ASF)-free status.

Through its Regulatory Division, the department has procured 317 gallons of disinfectants amounting to ₱412,100 for distribution to the different provinces, cities and municipalities within the region.

Dr. Julesben Caesar Maquiling, Veterinarian II of DA-10 said, to combat the growing threat of ASF and other animal-related diseases in the region, the department strengthens its support to the local government units by augmenting their supplies of disinfectants.

Maquiling added, this will be sprayed on vehicles entering the region and to be used in footbaths in their veterinary quarantine checkpoints.

Further, this has been reinforced with the recent installation of automated disinfectant systems in Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, including Malaybalay Stock Farm, DA’s research station in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

As of October 28, a total of 130 gallons of disinfectants were already distributed to the DA- Bureau of Animal Industry National – Veterinary Quarantine Services-10 (DA-BAI-NVQS-10) and the provincial and city veterinary offices across the region.

Thru the veterinary quarantine checkpoints, apprehension, confiscation and condemnation of undocumented or smuggled pork meat or its by-products coming from ASF-affected areas are being enforced.

“ASF can significantly affect the hog industry in the Northern Mindanao, that is why, tighter security measures are being observed, beefing up our efforts, especially in the regional borders,” DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado explained.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported as of first semester this year, Region 10 ranks third in hog production  registering at 101,911.9 metric tons, with a swine inventory  of 620,866 and 492,038 heads for backyard and commercial farms as of July 1 this year, respectively.

“By maintaining Northern Mindanao’s ASF-free status, this will also help in ensuring adequate pork supply and stabilizing pork prices,” the agency head added.

Information and education campaign efforts are being carried out by the department along with its other engagements with other national government agencies, local government units and the private sectors such as the OroVets and NorMinHog.

ASF is a fatal and contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, of which no vaccines and treatment are currently available. # (John Carl Anito)

DA-SAAD 10 provides OPV seeds to 18 SAAD-adopted municipalities and the Philippine Army.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao allotted P775,000 worth of open pollinated variety (OPV) white corn seeds to 18 SAAD-adopted towns and the Philippine Army.

The 1,125 bags OPV corn seeds agri intervention is part of the priority agri-livelihood of DA-SAAD to the 2,048 corn farmers from the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental in Region 10 for the cultivation of their 1,125 hectares corn areas.

Meanwhile, the 8th Infantry Battalion (8th IB) of the Philippine Army is allocated with 100 bags corn seeds to support its community livelihood projects in conflict-affected areas in the region.

The procured corn seeds are part of the DA-SAAD Region 10 Corn Production project in 2020.

DA- 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga said, OPV corn seeds require less yield-boosting inputs, thus helping farmers minimize their production cost.

Initially, 328 bags OPV corn seeds were turned over to LGUs of Linamon, Matungao, Tangcal, Munai and Poona Piagapo of Lanao del Norte for distribution to 328 farmer-beneficiaries in said towns on October 12-16.

SAAD recipients in Baliangao, Bonifacio Concepcion, Panaon, Sapang Dalaga, Aloran and Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental; and Kalilangan, Damulog, Kibawe, Impasugong, Sumilao, Lantapan in Bukidnon, including the 8th IB will receive their OPV corn seeds in November, this year.

Aside from corn seeds, recipients will also receive fertilizers from DA-SAAD. # (Azbie Talib)

RED Collado hands over the symbolic key of responsibility to Letecia G. Ditucalan, Lanao del Norte Provincial Agriculturist, as DA-RFO 10 turns over to the province a 300-square meters, 306 MT storage capacity seeds warehouse on October 27, 2020.

KAPATAGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE – Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado formally handed over to the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte the P4.8 million fully operational seeds warehouse and P1.5 million drone sprayer on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Construction of the warehouse and provision of the drone sprayer are funded under the DA’s National Rice Program.

Granting of the drone sprayer is part of DA-10’s farm modernization projects in the region. The sprayer is useful in automating fertilizer application in rice fields at 5-10 minutes per hectare field capacity.

The intervention is a pilot project of DA-10 in Lanao del Norte, subject to cost-efficiency assessment and feedback from the recipients before widespread implementation.

Meanwhile, the 300-square meter warehouse rises inside Lanao del Norte’s Provincial Nursery and Seeds Farm (PNSF) in Kapatagan town with a storage capacity of 306 metric tons.

It is strategically situated and accessible to the municipalities of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lala, Sapad, Tubod, Baroy, Nunungan, Salvador and Baroy.

It will be utilized to shelter DA-granted farm equipment, farm inputs such fertilizers and seeds, and harvested palay of bonafide farmers in the province.

Said warehouse will also serve as field office of the province’s Agricultural Technicians (ATs) and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs).

In his message, Director Collado commends the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte in its effort of helping the rice farmers in the province by buying their produce at a higher rate, amid the plunging palay farmgate price.

He urged the Provincial Agriculture Office to propose for the establishment of more and bigger rice mills in the province, enabling the province to independently produce its own market and consumption-ready rice supply.

“As the national winner of the Rice Achiever Awards, Lanao del Norte should continually strive to upscale its rice production programs. You need to pinpoint the agricultural assistance needed by our farmers, especially in this pandemic. Propose the desired projects, so that we will be able to allocate the required funding,” Collado called unto the local agriculturists.

“As food security frontliners, we need to stay active in mobilizing assistance needed by our farmers amid the uncertainties of this crisis. We need to ensure food security,” he stressed.

For her part, Letecia G. Ditucalan, Lanao del Norte’s Provincial Agriculturist said, the warehouse will be optimally utilized to secure the farmers’ seeds, providing them proper storage facility.

“We are grateful of DA-10 for granting us this project. We dream of this facility to resemble DA-10’s research center. The construction of this warehouse is a step closer to that dream,” Ditucalan accounted.

In 2021, Lanao del Norte will be granted another agri infrastructure project from DA-10 for the construction of a P10 million Cold Storage in Lala, Lanao del Norte.

“This facility is of great help in protecting our farmers’ seeds, machineries and equipment. However, to help solve our farmers’ problems we need to think outside the box, work together, and go the extra mile in serving our farming constituents,” Audy G. Maagad, DA-10’s Field Operations Division OIC-Chief remarked. #(Azbie Talib)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) assures that hog supply and hog price in the region remains stable despite cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in some areas in Mindanao.

“Amid the threat of ASF, region 10’s hog supply remains stable. More importantly, the region is still free from the said deadly disease,” shared Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of DA-10.

Among the agency’s measures in ensuring that the region remains ASF-free include implementing strict quarantine checkpoints, including the conduct of various information-dissemination activities.

Importantly, the strengthened partnership with the provincial and municipal/city local government units in the region on the strict enforcement on the prevention and control of ASF.

It can be recalled that the agency has also recently turned over two units of automated disinfection system in DA-RFO 10’s Malaybalay Stock Farm in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City and Alae Quarantine Station, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, which is the first of its kind in Mindanao and in the region.

Philippine Statistics Authority reported, as of July 1, this year, Region 10 ranked third in volume of production at 101,911.97 metric tons next to Central Luzon and CALABARZON, respectively.

According to Chedy V. Ansale, Chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of DA-10, based on their regional price monitoring of liveweight data, hog price remains stable at around P90-100 per kilogram during the month of September up to present.

She further clarified, there is enough supply despite circulating reports of its shortage, “Based on our data, our demand in the region for first semester of this year is 23,737 metric tons while our available volume of pork for consumption is 60,096 metric tons. Thus, we have a surplus of 153% and a sufficiency level of 253%.”

She added, it is an opportunity for hog raisers in the region to sell their supply to other areas in the country.

Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association (NorMinHog) President Leon Tan, Jr. cited, that their organization continues to supply in areas outside the region such as Manila, Leyte, Surigao and Caraga. # (AMBManto)

POONA PIAGAPO, LANAO DEL NORTE- Seventy farmer-beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) received vegetable gardening materials worth P2.1 million.

Each farmer-beneficiary from barangays Pendulonan and Poblacion of said town was granted with assorted vegetable seeds, fertilizers and gardening materials on October 8, 2020.

The 5-in-1 vegetable seeds comprised of ampalaya, okra, squash, string beans and eggplant, while gardening materials include hand rake, flat hand shovel, hand gloves, knapsack sprayer, water drum and plastic seedling tray.

Carlota S. Madriaga, Regional Technical Director for Operations of DA-RFO 10 said, the intervention aims to augment the farmers’ household income amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The turnover ceremony held in barangay Pendulonan Hall was graced by Mayor Muslima T. Macol, Municipal Agriculturist Nasif O. Mamarinta, barangay captains Jamilah L. Musa (Poblacion) and Monabe T. Fernando (Pendulonan) and SAAD representatives.

SAAD is a special program of DA designed to empower and capacitate marginalized farmers in the country. # (REBermundo)