Friday, December 20, 2024

Tag: Department of Agriculture

DA joins presidential assistance distribution to El Niño-hit farmers, fishers in NorMin

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu P. Laurel, Jr., along with other cabinet members joins President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in his visit here for the distribution of government assistance to El Niño-hit farmers and fishers in identified areas in Northern Mindanao on May 16, at the International Convention Center

Forty (40) qualified farmers and fisherfolk from Cagayan de Oro City, and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Bukidnon received PhP10K each in assistance from the Office of the President.


President Marcos Jr. also handed over PhP10 million worth of El Niño mitigating assistance to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the Provincial Government of Camiguin, while the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon each received PhP50-million in assistance.


“Ang sadya po namin dito ay upang personal na i-abot sa ating mga lokal na pamahalaan ang Presidential assistance para sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda na napinsala, naapektuhan ng El Niño. Ito ay nagkakahalaga ng sampung libong piso na tulong sa mga kwalipikadong magsasaka, mangingisda at mga pamilyang labis na naapektuhan ng tagtuyot na dinadanas natin ngayon. Maliit na halaga po, ngunit umaasa akong magagamit ninyo ito upang makapagsimula muli.” he said.


For his part, DA Secretary Laurel bared that the department under his helm has drummed up its initiatives to ensure that farmers and fishers in Region 10 have access to the agency’s programs and projects such as the provision of various agricultural assistance like agri inputs (vegetable, corn and rice seeds, and fertilizers), machinery and equipment, Fertilizer Discount Vouchers (FDVs), Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance, among others.


The DA official added that it continues to pursue and complement the efforts of other government agencies to hurdle challenges in ensuring the continued supply of adequate food at economical prices.


“Our initiatives bring together our commitment to strengthened regional efforts to provide more efficient public services.” the agricultural secretary noted, underscoring that convergence is the key to coming up with concrete and sustainable [agricultural] enterprises in the area [NorMin].


Citing the downpour of interventions for NorMin to cushion the impact brought about by El Niño, the president assured that more help is underway from the government to uphold regional development.


“Makakaasa naman ang lahat na hindi lamang sa panahon ng hirap ay nariyan ang inyong gobyerno. Dahil tuloy-tuloy ang mga programang imprastraktura sa inyong lungsod at rehiyon, gaya ng pagpagawa ng mga paliparan, kalsada, at iba pang mga proyekto.” President Marcos furthered.


DA-Regional Field Office 10 headed by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan along with its attached regional line agencies, bureaus, and corporations, are among the government instrumentalities who took part in the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, held at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, where farmers and fisherfolk availed of mobile agri-fishery techno services. (JLO/ATT)

5 public servants in Bukidnon get Gawad Parangal award

Posted on by Melchor Madera

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (May 16, 2024) – Bukidnon public servants won five out of six categories in the 2024 Gawad Parangal Award for Mindanao Island

Four of them are elected officials, while the fifth is a social welfare officer.
The award was presented on May 15, 2024, at the National Assembly of the Association of Local Social Welfare Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. in Iloilo City.
Mayor Azucena P. Huervas of Valencia City, the last termer chief executive, accepted the award as the most outstanding local chief executive in the Philippines’ component city category in Mindanao.
Kibawe Municipal Mayor Reynaldo S. Ang Rabanes was named the most excellent local chief executive in the first through third-class municipal category.
Damulog Municipal Mayor Melino L. Buro was named the most outstanding local chief executive in the fourth to fifth-class municipal category.
Meanwhile, Minerva C. Casinabe, a Bukidnon Provincial Board member, was named the most outstanding legislator in the province category.
Lastly, the fifth recipient of the 2024 Gawad Parangal Award from Bukidnon is Larina B. Tagaloguin, San Fernando town’s social welfare officer III for rank and file in the 1st to 3rd class municipal category. (melbmadera)

Rice farmers sa Malaybalay gihatagan og ayuda

Posted on by cmn

Ang Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 10 mitunol sa ikaupat nga higayon og tag P 5,000.00 nga cash assistance ngadto sa matag mag-uuma sa humay sa Malaybalay

Sumala sa kasayoran sa dakbayan, ang mga benepisaryo narehistro sa Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) nga adunay luna nga dili molapas sa duha ka ektarya sa humayan.

 

Kini pinaagi sa Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance sa DA.

 

Gipahigayon ang pagpasiugda pinaagi sa koordinasyon sa buhatan sa City Agriculture kabahin sa pagpang apod-apod sa tabang pinansyal ngadto sa mga benepisaryo didto sa barangay Violeta Covered Court ning dakbayan niadtong Pebrero 27, 2024.

 

Mahinumdoman nga adunay iskedyul sa distribusyon usab ang nahitabo niadtong Disyembre 1-2, 2022 ubos sa RFFA 3 ug Marso 4, 2023 ubos sa RFFA 2.

 

Kasamtangan, adunay 1,918 ka mga mag-uuma ang nalista ug na-validate alang sa RFFA basi sa DA Farmers and Fisherfolks Registry System.

 

Ang programa gitambongan nila ni Provincial Operations Head Janeth D. Lopez, Vice Mayor Estelito R. Marabe, mga konsehal nga si Alan Ryan O. Legaspi, Niko P. Aldeguer, Brian Nelson T. Flores, Zoltan Dindo D. Dinlayan, Cromwell Kiril D. Dinlayan, Erwin A. Damasco ug Christopher Lambert N. Tortola.

 

Kauban usab ang presensya ni Kapitan Efren Omallao ug Engr. Richard B. Leono, OIC sa City Agriculture Office.

 

Gipasabot ug gidasig sa nitambong nga mga opisyal ang mga mag-uuma nga gamiton ang tabang nga nadawat sa pagpalit sa farm inputs aron mapauswag ang ilang kinitaan sa pagpanguma. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

RDC-10 economic dev’t committee approves DA-10 2025 proposed budget

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (March 03, 2024/PIA) — The Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 approved the P20.32 billion proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 for the year 2025 on February 20

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado said 24 percent of the said budget is proposed under Tier 1 of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), while the remaining 76 percent will be lodged under Tier 2.

 

As part of its priority programs for 2025, DA-10 seeks to fund catalytic projects such as farm-to-market road development; agricultural machinery, equipment, and facilities support services; irrigation network services; production support services; Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD); metropolitan and agri-based products cluster approach; corn processing center expansion; and biosecurity and climate-resilient production facilities.

 

According to Collado, the proposed budget is a product of consultative planning, encompassing the needs and priorities of the agricultural stakeholders in the region.

 

“We craft the budget using a bottom-up approach. The projects we propose are mainly based on the endorsement of the LGUs and the validated intentions we received from farmers’ cooperatives and associations in the region,” Collado said.

 

Statutory appropriation for gender and development, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and the youth, capacity development programs, and capacity building for devolved functions and services (Mandanas-Garcia ruling implementation) are also among the programs proposed for funding by the agency in 2025.

 

Under the proposed budget, DA-10 also seeks to complete the construction of its regional office, upgrade its research facilities, and establish a new integrated laboratory complex in the region.

 

This year, DA-10 secured a 19 percent GAA-approved budget from the RDC-10-endorsed budget proposal. (DA-10/PIA-10)

PLGU Bukidnon midawat og P3.2-million truck gikan DA-10

Posted on by cmn

Ang Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) nagtugyan og isa ka hauling truck nga adunay balor nga P3.2 million ngadto sa Provincial Local Government Unit sa Bukidnon niadtong Pebrero 22, 2024

Sumala sa kasayoran sa DA-10, tumong niini ron mapaspasan ang pagpalapad sa serbisyo sa agrikultura.

Ang proyekto sa sakyanan nga gipundohan ubos sa Corn Program sa ahensya gi-turnover sa mga opisyal sa DA-10 ngadto kang Acting Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon.

Paambit ni Lagamon nga ang trak makatabang sa paghatod sa mga inputs sama sa seeds ug abono ingon man ayuda sa mga operasyon sa Kadiwa sa probinsiya.

Dugang niya nga “kining hauling truck makapadali sa paghatod sa agri-interventions ngadto sa mga benepisyaryo, ilabina sa lagyong mga dapit ug makapauswag sa mga aspeto sa produksiyon ug pagpamaligya sa mga mag-uuma sa probinsiya.”

Si Carlene C. Collado, DA-10 regional executive director ug Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque mipirma sa Memorandum of Agreement alang sa hauling truck niadtong Pebrero 19, 2024. (melbmadera)

Bukidnon wins Best AI implementer in NorMin

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON (February 20, 2024) – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) honors the top performing province and technicians of Artificial Insemination (AI) during the Unified Artificial Insemination Program (UNAIP) forum held on February 16 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in this city

In a press statement from DA-10, Bukidnon has been named the Best AI Implementer Province among the five provinces in Northern Mindanao.

Johnson C. Petalcurin, DA-10 Regional AI Coordinator, indicated that the winner was chosen based on the number of calves dropped and animals inseminated in a province’s breedable animal population.

Other parameters evaluated, he continued, include the amount of UNAIP-related actions carried out, such as meetings, heat synchronization, paraphernalia distribution, information dissemination, and activation of AI technicians.

Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10’s regional technical director for operations, commended Bukidnon and the other provinces for promoting AI in their respective areas.

She also assured the technicians that the department, led by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, will provide full assistance for the region’s livestock industry.

Meanwhile, exceptional AI technicians were recognized at the event for the Most Number of Animals Inseminated and Calf Drop categories.

 

Nix D. Melendez, an AI technician from Quezon, Bukidnon, who recently retired from government service, won first prize in both categories with a total of 591 animals inseminated and 86 calves dropped

Francis Ray B. Ditona of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, finished second in the calf drop category with 67 calves.

Alejandro C. Bag-ao of Libona, Bukidnon finished third in all categories, inseminating 219 animals and dropping 66 calves.

Cristopher Jiss C. Tabor, an AI technician at Camiguin’s Provincial Veterinary Office, inseminated 218 animals and finished second in the category, stressing the importance of AI in the province in light of the limited number of bulls and the diminishing number of livestock heads

“Using AI, we can increase the number of heads and help our farmers earn more. Some of my clients have told me that they were able to send their children to school because of the cash they earned from selling cattle, which was made feasible by artificial intelligence. Indeed, AI is a fantastic initiative that ought to be encouraged because of its impact, not just on technicians but also on farmers who need it as well,” Tabor said.

After the awarding, the Livestock program distributed different AI paraphernalia worth P277,872 to AI technicians and coordinators, including 108 bottles of lubricant, 101 packs of straw sheath, 4 boxes of arm-length gloves, and 159 packs of medications and biologics.

The UNAIP forum was attended by AI technicians from various towns in the region, as well as provincial AI coordinators from Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

Dr. Luz I. Guzman, DA-10 field operations division chief, was joined by chiefs and officials from the DA-10 Provincial Operations Centers and DA-10 research stations, as well as DA-10 Livestock Program staff led by Jamaica L. Docdoc in gracing the activity. (melbmadera)

Allium derby seen to boost farmers’ productivity, onion supply in NorMin

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Aiming to boost onion production in the region to attain self-sufficiency, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) stages an Allium Derby and Farmers’ Forum on February 22, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan here

Spearheaded by DA-10’s High-Value Crops Development Program in coordination with the Research Division, and private seed and chemical companies, the activity gathered 100 farmers and other relevant stakeholders to witness the showcase of different onion varieties and their corresponding farming protocols.

“We can see from the two locations that onion production is viable in Region 10,” shared DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado with the earlier conduct of the same in Tablon, Cagayan de Oro City, held last week.

He also noted that the agency will be procuring onion seeds and likewise, encouraged interested farmers’ cooperatives, and associations to submit their letter requests to avail of the said intervention.

Meanwhile, each seed and chemical company was given time to share their respective onion technologies and also distributed Information, Education, and Communication materials to the attending farmers.

Andre Abonitalla, assistant Sales Manager for Visayas and Mindanao, is thankful to DA for the implementation of the field trials for Onion.

“Currently, our onions in Mindanao are from Luzon and the price per onion increases since there is an additional freight cost, however, if onions are produced locally here in Region 10, this cost will be removed, thus resulting in cheaper onions,” he added.

During the derby cum forum, Allied Botanical, Corp. emerged as champions while Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds, Corp. and Ramgo Seeds are awarded first- and second-runner-up, respectively.

Criteria for judging included the biggest yield volume (in kilogram), best quality, and best economic efficiency.

For her part, Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon, acting provincial agriculturist for Bukidnon, shared that they will be working closely with DA-10’s Research Division to look for more locations as potential onion-producing sites.

Also supporting the event are DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, with DA-10’s attached bureaus and agencies: Agricultural Training Institute and Bureau of Plant Industry as well as private chemical companies such as Envireau Pacific, Inc., FMC Agro Philippines, Inc., Aldiz, Inc., and Tropi-Cuke, Inc.

Another round of such events is also slated for DA-10’s Research Center for Hillyland Development in Claveria, Misamis Oriental on March 21, this year. (PR)

DA-PhilMech, Bukidnon LGU break ground for P101.5-M grains center

Posted on by cmn

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon (February 26, 2024) – Farmers in Bukidnon province and those in neighboring areas can soon benefit from the new P101.5 million Grains Center, as construction began on February 19 in Sinabuagan, Valencia City

Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque of Bukidnon province, DA-PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division Chief Mayville Castro, and Valencia City Mayor Azucenas P. Huervas led the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the project.

The Provincial Government of Bukidnon, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech), availed of the Rice Processing System (RPS) II facility under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) mechanization program to establish a grains center.

Out of the P101.5 million, DA-Philmech allocates P61.5 million for a rice processing system, while the Bukidnon local government unit (LGU) contributes P40 million for building construction.

The RPS package includes state-of-the-art components for the province, such as a one-unit 4-5 tons per hour rice mill with mist polisher, length grader, and color sorter.

The RPS package also includes four units of 6 tons per batch of mechanical recirculating dryers.

Once the construction of the Grains Center in Sinabuagan, Valencia City, is completed, the Bukidnon LGU will manage and operate it.

Said project aims to minimize post-harvest losses of rice in the province and increase the income of rice farmers by buying their Palay at a reasonable price.

Witnessing the MOA signing are DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado, DA-PhilMech Mindanao Cluster Head Engr. Edgar Testa, Vice Governor Clive Quiño, and Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia Lagamon. (ATC/IDMadjus/PIA 10/Bukidnon)

DA-10 launches upland hybrid rice demo farm in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To further boost Northern Mindanao’s rice production capacity, the Department of Agriculture – Region 10 (DA-10) through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado formally launched its first hybrid upland rice production technology demonstration farm in Bukidnon province

Together with the Bukidnon Tagoloanon Mulahay Ha Kabukalagan Agriculture Cooperative (BUKTAMACO), Bukidnon Provincial Agriculture Office, Malaybalay City Agriculture Office, and Seedwork Philippines, DA-10 recently held its inaugural planting of the three-hectare upland rice production technology trial demo farm in barangays Sumpong and Can-ayan, in Malaybalay City. 

 

The project is designed to undergo a trial phase before full-scale implementation of the eyed 300-hectare demonstration farm, to give way for production technology fine-tuning and area compatibility assessment. 

 

In her message, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca said the project is pivotal to the DA’s goal to increase the region’s rice sufficiency by utilizing upland production areas. 

 

Using an area modeling approach, the project will optimize the potential and opportunities in developing the Ancestral Domains of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as an upland rice production area in the region. 

 

DA-10 Deputy Director for Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP), Joel S. Rudinas, said the project provides the base for future agricultural development. 

 

He said by employing an area-based development system, this undertaking can spin out to other commodities in the value chain and integrate other agricultural livelihood activities that can significantly address poverty situations among the IP communities. 

 

Using Seedworks Philippines’ TH-82 hybrid rice production technology, the upland rice demo farm is set to be fully established during the 2024 wet cropping season. 

 

Also, in attendance during the hybrid upland rice technology demo farm launching ceremony are Atty. Burt M. Estrada, BUKTAMACO General Manager, Jacqueline Julia A. Lagamon, Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist, Engr. Richard B. Leono, Malaybalay City Agriculturist, Janet D. Lopez, DVM, DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief, Lucille T. Minguez, DA-10 Regional Crops Protection Center chief. (ATT)

P100M Korean greenhouses in Bukidnon empower farmers, spark bounty harvest

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (29 January 2024/PIA)—The unveiling of P100 million Korean government greenhouse technology in Bukidnon marks a breakthrough in agriculture, sparks a bounty harvest, and improves farming techniques among the province’s high-value crop farmers

Packed with Korean tech, South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) donated the multimillion greenhouses to the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10) to demonstrate effective methods for growing strawberries, cherry tomatoes, potatoes, leafy vegetables, and high-priced crops in Philippine soil.

In a strawberry farm tour following the turnover ceremony at Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, last December, An Jae-rok, executive director of the Korean Agency of Education, Promotion, and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries presented how MAFRA’s Smart farm system gives farmers remote control over their greenhouses.

“In Smart Greenhouse, data is collected daily inside and outside the facility. There are sensors inside to check the amount of carbon dioxide, temperature, and air humidity. There are also sensors outside the greenhouse to check the rainfall, temperature, wind direction, and velocity,” he said.

Jae-rok said farmers need not worry anymore about the unpredictable weather and the backbreaking labor because farmers can easily monitor and adjust greenhouse conditions manually or remotely using the Smart Farm Mobile App with internet connectivity.

“This is unique. It gives us a chance to dream bigger, heaps of perfectly ripened strawberries at a time,” said Joel Rivera, a greenhouse farm adopter and red bell pepper farmer from Bukidnon, as he looked at the vibrant plants inside the facility.

Compared to traditional methods, which usually rely on manual labor and simple controls, greenhouses use modern irrigation and automation systems such as complex environment control and growth development information.

Finding new ways to produce more food

Cora Dumayaca, technical director for research and regulations for DA-Northern Mindanao, said the newly introduced greenhouse technology aims to provide innovative planting to increase productivity and ensure higher profits for Filipino farmers.

“It’s not just technology. It’s empowerment. This high-tech farming also combats climate change worries. Imagine vibrant strawberries thriving alongside climate-resistant leafy greens–that’s the future the government is building,” Dumayaca said.

She explained that Northern Mindanao’s agriculture department shared nearly 30 percent, while Korea’s MAFRA granted more than 70 percent of the project’s total cost.

Dumayaca reported that they had trained 70 Bukidnon farmers, extensionists, and other farmer organizations in nearby provinces on sustainable smart agriculture covering strawberries, cherry tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and potatoes.

“The project went beyond equipping 11 greenhouses with advanced technology. These serve as training hubs and show windows, crafting a Package of Technology (POT) as a roadmap for farmers to boost production through precision agriculture. The DA aims to inspire the next generation to adopt modern farming methods,” she added.

Yong Ho Jung, Korea’s director for international cooperation of MAFRA, said that by establishing smart farms in the Philippines, they have transferred proven Korean-style farm technologies adaptive to the Philippine climate.

“I thanked the Philippine government for its cooperation and interest in the project. These greenhouses mark MAFRA’s first Official Development Assistance (ODA) program on smart agriculture—a testament to the enduring friendship between the two countries. We hope that our collaboration in agri-technology will help to modernize and develop the agro-industry sector through knowledge exchange, as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, as well as the nationwide dissemination of smart farming in the Philippines,” Jung said.

Korea’s Smart Greenhouses at NMACLRC in Dalwangan, Malaybalay, was launched on April 1, 2022, with 11 state-of-the-art greenhouses across 4,250 square meter fields. Inside, rows of fruit-bearing strawberries and cherry tomatoes, including vibrant leafy greens and potatoes, flourish in precision-designed gardens.

With the ability to produce off-season crops year-round, the DA considers the project a step towards achieving self-sufficiency for the country. (JSA/RLRB/PIA 10/Bukidnon)