MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — Facing mounting climate and economic pressures, the
Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (Aggie-10) is urging farmers to embrace
research-based technologies and climate-resilient practices to help future-proof the region’s
agriculture sector.

The call was highlighted during the Regional Agricultural Technologies Innovation Forum held
Sept. 16–18 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex

(NMACLRC), where farmers and other stakeholders were introduced to technologies developed
through agricultural research and innovation.
The forum, organized by the Aggie-10 Research Division, showcased technologies for crop
production, processing and other farm-based enterprises developed and promoted by the
agriculture department in partnership with research institutions, government agencies and the
private sector.
With the possible onset of Super El Niño, as projected by the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Aggie-10 Regional
Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan stressed the need for stronger coordination among
the Department of Agriculture, local government units and farmers to prepare for prolonged dry
conditions.
“Ang Super El Niño isa ka dakong hagit sa atong sektor sa agrikultura sa rehiyon,” Pacamalan
said, noting that the DA has begun identifying areas that could face severe water shortages and
those likely to remain less affected, particularly rice-producing communities.
He said the assessment would allow the agency and its partners to plan and prepare appropriate
assistance for farmers who could be affected by drought.
Pacamalan also encouraged farmers to learn and apply the climate-resilient vegetable production
technologies featured during the forum, particularly as alternative livelihood and production
options in areas where El Niño could disrupt conventional farming.
“Kinahanglan magtinabangay kita — kami sa DA, mga LGUs ug kamo nga mga mag-uuma —
sa pag-asdang sa epekto sa El Niño,” he said.
Beyond farm production, the forum featured food-processing technologies designed to help
farmers add value to their harvests by turning raw agricultural products into processed and
potentially marketable food products.
Aggie-10 partnered with government agencies, including the DA-Agricultural Training Institute
(DA-ATI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) and Department of Tourism (DOT), as well as academic institutions such as Central
Mindanao University (CMU) and the University of Science and Technology of Southern
Philippines (USTP) through the Northern Mindanao Food Innovations Center (NMFIC).
The participating agencies and institutions also presented their respective training, capacity-
building and support programs for farmers and other agriculture stakeholders.
The forum underscored the role of public investment in research, technology and innovation in
helping farmers expand their options beyond traditional farm production, including opportunities
in processing and other value-adding activities.

About 300 participants — including farmers, Municipal and City Agriculture Office personnel,
private companies, women and youth representatives — from Lanao del Norte, Misamis
Occidental, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental attended the Regional Agricultural Technologies
Innovation Forum. (ATT/melbmadera)