Friday, March 22, 2024

Bukidnon banana farmers trained on insect pests, disease management

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture RFO – 10 has trained Bukidnon farmers on Banana Insect Pests and Diseases Management on November 14-15 in this city

Eighteen Bukidnon banana farmers finished the two-day training at the Northern Mindanao Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City that immersed them in the field to properly identify friendly and non-friendly insect pests and diseases.

Further, they observed the various Biological Control Agents or Biocon in RCPC to demonstrate the management and production of the technology.

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca highlighted the need for banana farmers to be part of associations and cooperatives to access and benefit various DA programs and projects.

Importantly, she added that it will diversify and be certified through Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification, which will potentially be greenlit to market security.

Speakers from DA-RFO 10 focused the discussion on the banana industry roadmap; potential products and market trade and value chain; and, the importance of good agricultural practices, including farmer certification through PhilGap.

Center Chief, Lucille T. Minguez hopes to instill a resilient mindset and commitment among farmers, empowering them to seize every learning opportunity for prosperity and reach their full potential.

RCPC is the arm of DA dedicated to the production and promotion of Biological Control Agents (Biocon) in the region, which are friendly organisms that feed (Earwig, Lacewing, Eocanthecona furcellata) parasitizes (Trichogramma) and infect diseases (Metarhizium anisopliaea, Trichoderma harzianum, Beauvaria bassiana) to insect pest enemies.

The training was made possible through the effort of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado. (PR)

P3.9-M DA facility for plant health to rise in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – To offer better and more modern services to the farmers, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the Plant Health Hub (PHH) at the agency’s Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) on August 4, 2023, in barangay Bangcud here in this city

The hub, with a contract amount of P3,929,138.01, is funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), which aims to cater to farmers with plant health problems.

RCPC chief Lucille T. Minguez shared, “With the presence of the hub, we can have precise diagnosis, prescriptions, and management options in addressing plant health issues which is aligned to the government’s objective of pushing for growth in the agriculture sector through increased productivity while reducing pest losses.”

Minguez added that the facility will be utilized to improve the lives of the farmers, not just in Bukidnon but in the whole region and even from the neighboring regions.

Meanwhile, Director Collado encouraged RCPC and the other DA stations to request more facilities that are beneficial to the farmers.

“We need to upgrade our current facilities. Propose as many projects as you can, so we can develop our office and improve our services to the farmers, particularly in RCPC, which is the only office of its kind in the entire region,” the regional executive director remarked.

A pre-construction conference among the RCPC, DA-10 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, and the contractor for the construction of the PHH was also conducted immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony. (DA RFO–10)

DA NorMin mihatag og biological control agent sa LGU Kitaotao

Ang munisipyo sa Kitaotao, Bukidnon bag-o lang naka-avail sa nagkalain-laing biological control agents (BCAs) gikan sa Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 pinaagi sa Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) niini

Ang Department of Agriculture X nipahibalo nga ang mga BCA makatabang sa pagdumala sa pagpugong sa mga peste ug sakit nga dili makompromiso ang kahimsog sa kinaiyahan ug tawo.
Adunay 20 ka pakete sa Trichoderma harzianum, 800 pcs adult earwig, 1,900 ka itlog nga green lacewing, ug 400 ka baraha sa Trichogramma evanescens ang gitunol nga gamiton sa nagkalain-laing training ug field schools.
Ang maong mga biological control agents gamiton sa mga nagkalain-laing training ug field schools.
Pagagamiton kini sa Training of Trainers (TOT) sa produksyon sa kape; Season-long Farmers Field School (FFS) sa produksyon sa mais; Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP)- Phase III sa corn-based farming system, ug; Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP)- Phase III sa corn-based farming system. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

RCPC technical staff upskill for standardization, prod’n of biological control agents

MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – To ensure the production of quality fungus which will be distributed to the local farmers in Northern Mindanao, some technical staff of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the DA-RFO 10 underwent training in Central Mindanao University

Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado stressed that the production and distribution of the quality fungus could be the basis for the management protocol and its application in the field.

Lucille T. Minguez, RCPC Chief along with the seven technical staff under the Entomopathogen and Trichoderma laboratories conducted spores counting and dilution technique necessary for standardization in the production of Biological Control Agents (BCAs).

Dr. Carolina Amper of the Plant Pathology Department, College of Agriculture in CMU discussed and demonstrated the spores counting of Trichoderma harzianum using a heamacytometer.

The standardization of spore suspension is vital in conducting pathogenicity and inoculation of BCA by determining the population.

Dr. Amper demonstrated the proper dilution techniques to determine the counting of colonies on plates necessary for the isolation of inoculum for soil-borne pathogens. (DA RFO-10)

DA-10 regional crop protection center strengthens pest, diseases management

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – DA-10 OIC Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado visited the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) in Bangcud, Malaybalay City to intensify its operation and implementation in addressing the farmers’ needs on pest and diseases management of the region

In a meeting with the new RCPC Head, Lucille T. Minguez, and technical staff, concerns and issues on the production and distribution of Biological Control Agents (BCAs) in the region were considered, including the operation of the respective laboratories.

Aside from the technical assistance the center provides to the farmers and LGUs, it also conducts diagnosis and field validation, and pest surveillance across the regions. (DA RFO-10)