Sunday, December 22, 2024

Tag: The Department of Agriculture

DA-PRDP, World Bank, EU visit IREAP enterprise in Damulog for 16th ISM

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DAMULOG, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, together with the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) visited the Crumb Rubber Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject of the Migcawayan Tribal Agricultural Cooperative (MTAC) on November 16, 2023, as part of the 16th Implementation Support Mission (ISM)

Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque welcomed the WB and the EU team to the province of Bukidnon and thanked them for their assistance to MTAC and to the province.

Mio Takada, WB Task Team Leader to PRDP said that the main objective of the mission is to hear from the proponent group on their preparation for the implementation of the given subproject, which includes addressing their apprehensions and constraints and providing direction to the group.

Further, the apprehensive about constraints that they are facing so they can address and provide direction for them.

Meanwhile, Mojca Krisper-Figueroa, EU Programme Manager, is glad that the EU was able to join the ISM for the first time and visit the subproject site.

“It’s great that the existing facilities are running, and there is enhanced workforce labor and enhanced price increase in the production, which is actually good. We are happy to be here, learn from you and exchange ideas with you, and of course, if there is something that we can do for the cooperative, we are happy to assist,” Figueroa added.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director (DPD) Carlota S. Madriaga affirmed the department’s commitment after noticing the perseverance, dedication, and drive of MTAC towards the success of the subproject.

Funded under DA-PRDP’s second additional financing (AF2) and European Union Co-Financing Grant, the medium enterprise proposed by MTAC has a subproject cost of Php 80,971,551.00 and will benefit greatly from the cooperative members, including a huge number of women, indigenous people, and rubber farmers in the barangay and nearby areas as it provides livelihood for them once the operation starts.

Gracing the activity are the WB team composed of Ning Bondoc, Shubham Singh, Mario Orilla, Cora Dankers, Tomas Sta. Maria, Gomer Tumbali, and Maya Villaluz, with representatives from the PRDP National Project Coordinating Office.

Also present in the activity are the Project Support Office Mindanao team led by DPD Noel Provido, the LGU of Damulog headed by Mayor Melino Buro, the Regional Project Coordinating Office 10 team, Migcawayan barangay officials, and MTAC members. (pr)

DA-10 pours P533-M agri interventions, services to Bukidnon in Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair

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MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — In consonance with the national government’s efforts to ensure ease of access to government assistance and services in the countryside, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) participated in the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) on November 11 to 12, 2023 at the Bukidnon State University, in this city

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez led the turnover of agricultural interventions and financial support, worth more than P533 million to Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil P. Roque and to the farmers and farmers’ cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) in the province during the opening program of the BPSF.
According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the agency’s participation in the BPSF manifests its commitment to empowering farmers in Northern Mindanao by providing support through its programs and services.

Furthermore, he said that the interventions and financial assistance turned over during the BPSF form part of DA’s thrust towards a ‘Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya, Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas’.

Said agri-interventions include funding support for the establishment of an INSPIRE swine production facility and a postharvest facility for corn in San Fernando and Dangcagan towns.

The Department also distributed hybrid rice seeds and fertilizers benefitting a total of 14,198 rice farmers, as well as Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) white corn seeds to 200 corn farmers in the province.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers’ Financial Assistance program of the Department, a cash assistance of P5K each was also granted to 18,831 rice farmers in the province, tilling land of less than two hectares.

DA also turned over tractors, harvesters, hauling trucks, plastic crates, and other farming equipment and supplies to select FCAs in the province.

Regional winners of the Young Farmers Challenge 2023 were also awarded financial grants of P150K for the Start-Up category and P300K for the Upscale category.

Moreover, services such as the distribution of vegetable seeds through the agency’s High-Value Crops Development Program, as well as the Kadiwa ng Pangulo spearheaded by the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, were also offered to walk-in consumers during the two-day fair.

Also present in support of the event were DA-10 Executive Assistant III Joel S. Rudinas and Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM. (DA RFO – 10)

DA 10 turns over P1.5-M Enhanced Kadiwa Grant to Manolo Fortich

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The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA 10), through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (Amad) program of Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, turned over P1.5 million financial grant to the local government unit of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

According to DA-Northern Mindanao Executive Director Carlene Collado, the Enhanced Kadiwa program allows farmers’ cooperatives and associations to participate in the accessible food supply distribution system to ensure price stability for food and essential goods in areas with high consumer demand.

“We are indeed pleased to accept this project, as it will enhance the marketing system of our farmers in Manolo Fortich, and we hope for more collaborations and partnerships with DA,” Manolo Fortich municipal agriculturist Gemma Cania said.

Amad Chief Larry Paraluman said the P1.5 million Kadiwa assistance fund was used to procure a hauling vehicle worth P1,693,500.

The additional P193,500 was provided by Manolo Fortich as its counterpart.

The local government unit also extended P106,500 as equipment equity for the town’s food terminal.

Collado also urged them to maintain the vehicle responsibly and to train the assigned driver, who should possess a National Certificate II. (DA RFO 10)

Region 10 inflation accelerates further to 6.7% in September

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Inflation accelerated for the second time this year, driven by faster increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and information and communication

Chief Statistical Specialist Sarah Balagbis of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 said the regional headline inflation or the rate of change of the average prices of goods and services in the region accelerated at 6.7 percent in September 2023, faster than the 5.0 percent in August 2023.

Balagbis cited food and non-alcoholic beverages as the main drivers of the uptrend in overall inflation, as the commodity group registered a higher inflation rate of 13.2 percent in September from 9.1 percent the previous month. The said commodity group contributed 83.5 percent share in the overall inflation.

“The main source of the 4.1 percentage points increase of inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages was cereals and cereal products with an inflation of 23.1 percent in September, from 9.5 percent in August, with rice as the primary source of acceleration.

The increase in food inflation was also attributed to vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses at 24.7 percent inflation, with onion as the major contributor, and fish and other seafood at 7.1 percent, with dried fish as the main contributor.

Transport also pushed the inflation rate up as the commodity group registered 0.0 percent in September from -1.5 percent in August.

Accordingly, the major sources of inflation of transport were gasoline, which posted a slower decrease of prices at -4.4 percent in September 2023 from -10.8 percent inflation in August, and diesel, which also posted a slower drop of prices at -14.6 percent in September from -16.9 percent in August.

Balagbis further said that all the provinces and highly urbanized cities in the region posted faster increases in prices in September, with Lanao del Norte registering the highest inflation rate at 9.1 percent, followed by Bukidnon at 8.7 percent and Misamis Oriental at 7.3 percent.

On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro City registered the lowest inflation at 4.7 percent.

Given the latest inflation result, the government vowed to continue implementing measures to respond to rising prices.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-10 Planning Officer Blessie Cimacio said they would continue their regular price monitoring for basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) throughout the region. We will ensure that the prices of our goods are within the suggested retail prices,” she said.

Patrick Ian Pedarse, chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA) -10’s Administrative and Finance Division, said that aside from the interventions to boost the production of corn and rice, DA-10 is also conducting an allium derby to cushion the effect of inflation on our onions. (APB/PIA-10)

DA to expand adlay seed production

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to expand its seed production of adlay – popularly known as Chinese barley – in Northern Mindanao amid increasing demand and growing potential in the region

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) said DA-Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) is working on expanding its adlay seed production due to increasing demand for adlay grits and adlay seeds.

In Dalwangan, Malaybay, Bukidnon, the NMACLRC reported to BAR that it currently maintains a two-hectare adlay seed production area aimed to further promote, distribute, and supply adlay grits and seeds to interested adlay farmers in the region this year.

Adlay varieties available in seed production include Ginampay, Gulian, Kiboa, Tapol (glutinous), and dwarf.

Planted in June this year, Gulian, Ginampay, and Tapol varieties will be harvested in November while Kiboa in October.

According to NMACLRC, farmers preferred the adlay dwarf variety due to its shorter months of maturity of four to five months versus the six to eight months’ maturity of other varieties.

The dwarf variety also has one to 1.5 meters’ height versus the other varieties with three- to four meters ‘ height which results in lodging problems. NMACLRC sells adlay seeds at P200 per kilo and milled adlay grits at P180 per kilo.

To improve the region’s adlay varieties, BAR director Junel Soriano suggested acquiring improved adlay lines from the Philippine Rice Research Institute for on-farm trials.

In 2010, BAR crafted and supported a research for-development program to explore the potential of adlay.

As of March this year, the bureau supported a total of 61 projects that covered adaptability yield trials across specific locations; varietal improvement; food product enhancement; seed production and expansion; development of processing and postharvest technologies; marketing study; and commercialization implemented by different research development institutes.

DA-Northern Mindanao, in particular, has established seed production areas in different municipalities in Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

Various adlay value-added products, such as wine, breakfast cereal, arrozcaldo, puto, cutchinta, espasol, adlay crunchy bar, and beauty soap were also developed.

The regional office also established partnership with the Hineleban Foundation based in Malaybalay, Bukidnon in marketing and distribution of adlay grains. (Philstar)

Mindanao cassava growers given direct market

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has provided cassava and corn growers in Mindanao with a direct market for their produce by linking them to the San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI)-Visayas

The DA-Northern Mindanao (DA-10) said on Monday, October 9, that the established connection will benefit cassava and corn-producing farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) from Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro.

The SMFI-Visayas team led by Eduardo Co said that their company is looking to tap FCAs in Region 10 “to augment the volume of their existing shipments and also maximize their operations from Cagayan de Oro City to Cebu City.”

Co added that they also plan to join in the agriculture department’s bid to help increase the farmers’ income, boost the quality of their lives, and, at the same time, learn about the challenges they have encountered on the ground.

The DA said that the endeavor between SMFI and Mindanao farmers will not just provide an additional market for their harvests but will also ensure that it will be bought at reasonable prices.

Carlene Collado, DA-10 regional executive director, said that the FCAs should consider tapping the said company to cut the trading layers when marketing their corn and cassava harvest.

He gave assurances that the agency will continue to provide the needed support for the FCAs, such as the provision of seeds, fertilizers, farm tractors, postharvest facilities, and capitalization, among others, to empower their groups and enable them to forge a long-term business partnership with SMFI-Visayas.

Northern Mindanao was the top producer of cassava in the second quarter of 2023, supplying 279.29 thousand metric tons (MT), or 39.3 percent, of the total production, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

From April to June 2023, cassava production was estimated at 709.91 thousand MT, which indicated a growth of 1.6 percent from the 698.63 thousand MT output in the same quarter of 2022.

Other regions that produced a higher volume of the said crop during the quarter were the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, with 218.99 thousand metric tons, or 30.8 percent, and Cagayan Valley with 47.50 thousand MT, or 6.7 percent of the total.

The area harvested for cassava from January to June 2023 reached 109.62 thousand hectares, an increase of 0.8 percent from 108.80 thousand hectares in the same period of 2022. (Janine Alexis Miguel/The Manila Times)

Agri-10 to explore buckwheat production in its research stations

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MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10), headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, is set to explore the conduct of on-site trials for buckwheat production in its research centers

After Carmen Sunrise Exporters, Inc. (CSEI), led by its company manager, Mr. Tetsuji Yukawa, sought help from the agency, they targeted to venture into buckwheat production somewhere in Bukidnon province successfully.

On October 3 at DA’s Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan here, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga cited that given that buckwheat is an exploratory crop in Region 10, she shared her insights on the adoption of growing buckwheat and the challenges that potentially come along with it.

“We are suggesting that we conduct trials here [NMACLRC] so that we will know the technology and establish our data that is suitable for buckwheat production before we commercialize or disseminate it to the farmers,” RTD Madriaga conveyed with the Research Division taking the lead under the wing of RTD for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca.

Besides the conduct of experimental trials at NMACLRC, which has an elevation of 800-1,000 meters (m) above sea level (asl), the agri official added that the same activity can also be done at DA’s Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD) in Barongcot, Bukidnon with 300-600m asl.

As agreed, Dir. Collado emphasized that the company must submit a Letter of Intent and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DA before the trial.

This includes the private company providing planting materials such as seeds and other necessary support for establishing on-site trials depending on its scope.

Furthermore, the assistant director urged CSEI to identify farmers’ cooperatives associations (FCAs) to source out buckwheat harvest from them easily and for said groups to also possibly gain access to some big-ticket interventions from DA-10, such as the provision of machinery and equipment needed in their production, postharvest, and other operations.

CSEI currently works under the umbrella of Japanese firms Starlanes, Corp. and Diamond Star, Corp. with affiliated companies in Hawaii, the USA, Australia, and Thailand.

It primarily processes and exports fresh Philippine agricultural products, specifically Mango, Papaya, Cardava/Saba-Banana, Balangon-Banana, Pineapple, and Durian.

Also present during the meeting are DA-10 Research Division chief Lorena V. Duna, RCUD chief Catalino S. Soriano, Jr., NMACLRC chief Carmelito R. Lapoot; and CSEI Purchasing and Packing Supervisor Antoinette Quino Gallarde and Assistant Operations Manager Mark Angelo L. Catungal. (DA RFO-10)

Dalwangan-hosted corn derby eyed to augment farmers’ yield, income

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MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), helmed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado in partnership with private seed companies, staged a technology showcasing of promising hybrid corn cultivars in barangay Dalwangan on October 6, in a bid to provide farmers with opportunities to reap higher yield and income

With the apportioned 1.3 hectares at the DA-10’s Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), some 17 hybrid corn varieties from eight seed companies were exhibited, as their entries vie to prevail over the select cultivars in terms of yield, net return and adaptability during the second leg of corn derby field day for this year’s wet season.

Employing their respective planting protocols, Corteva AgriScience featured yellow corn varieties with P3660YHR, P3645YR and P4124YHR as their entries; Bayer Crop Science Philippines (DK8899S, DK8131S), Vigour Seeds Development, Inc. (MAIS SWERTE, MAIZE D30), and Syngenta Philippines, Inc. (NK6505BGT).

Added to the line-up of yellow corn cultivars are Maharlika 315 and Maharlika 44 of RJR Agro-Industrial Enterprises; AH SUPREME 5150 and J505 of Asian Hybrid Seed Technology, Inc.; EVO 9307 of Evo Gene Seeds, Corp.; and H101G and B9909G of BioSeed Research Philippines, Inc.

Two white corn varieties were also demonstrated, namely, Maharlika 8888 and MAISTISA of RJR and Vigour, respectively.

“Your participation [in the corn derby] will not be a futile effort, as this is one of our bases in the procurement of our seeds for next year,” DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga underscored before over a 200-membered mixed crowd of seed company representatives, farmers and agricultural extension workers of Bukidnon province.

For 2024, DA-10’s hybrid yellow corn seeds fund allocation is pegged at PhP144 million for the said province, which includes the areas of the attendees from the towns of Impasug-ong, Baungon, Manolo Fortich, Talakag, Cabanglasan, Lantapan, and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.

Based on the crop cut results generated by DA-NMACLRC of the Research Division, the top yielder harvested an average yield of 12.53 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha) with a production cost of PhP59,600.00 and a net return of PhP159,657.50, followed by 10.91 mt/ha amounting to PhP61,110.00 and a net return of PhP129,780.00, and coming in third, 10.62 mt/ha with a production cost of PhP59,635.00 and a net return of PhP126,232.50.

Wherein parameters that were factored in include plant harvested per hectare, number of corn ear rot, average ear and plant height, ear diameter, and length, average weight of seeds at 14% moisture content, shelling recovery, and yield per hectare to determine the performing yellow corn varieties.

Similar agronomic characteristics and yield components were also used for the white corn variety entries, ranking first with 9.01 mt/ha with a production cost of PhP57,435.00 and a net return of PhP100,310.00, and trailing behind is 7.04 mt/ha costing PhP41,790.00 with a net return of PhP81,410.00.

Recognizing that the conduct of corn derbies remains relevant to DA’s thrust of attaining food security and self-sufficiency, RTD Madriaga also urged the participants to serve as the agri department’s ambassadors and ambassadresses on the ground, as they have seen the actual performance of the latest available hybrid corn varieties of different seed companies.

“Share your learnings and experiences na nakuha ninyo diri karon aron daghan mabulahan sa maong impormasyon ug kini mapaambit sa uban,” the assistant director added.

Meanwhile, Justin R. Ferrer, Barangay Agricultural Technician Managing Agricultural Networks of the Municipal Agriculture’s Office of Manolo Fortich, pins his hopes that the learnings and exposure of the farmers he assisted were reinforced, especially so that almost 30 of them completed the Farmers’ Field School in Corn Production in barangay Minsuro just a few days ago.

“Nanghinaot ko nga kining pag anhi nila magamit gyud nila, ilabina sa pagpili sa unsay angay nilang paliton nga binhi ug ma-apply pod nila kung unsa ilang nakat-unan nga technology diri [sa corn derby] sa ilang pagpanguma,” Ferrer remarked.

PSA data for hybrid corn production in Bukidnon for the year 2022 stands at 842,207.04 metric tons from 174,326.62 hectares of area harvested.

Jointly implemented by the Operations and Research divisions, the corn derby field day was also supported by Research Division chief Lorena V. Duna, NMACLRC chief Carmelito R. Lapoot, Provincial Operations Chief for Bukidnon Janet D. Lopez, DVM, Research Center for Hillyland Development Berly F. Tatoy, PhD, Regional Corn Program focal person Richan D. Lacanaria and other DA-10 staff. (DA RFO-10)

DA revs up FMR project implementation in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To enhance dynamism and efficiency in implementing Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) projects, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through its Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED), spearheaded the FMR Network Planning on September 19-22, in this city

The activity was conducted in consonance with Joint Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2023, which mandated government agencies implementing FMR projects – DA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to work in convergence for the formulation, implementation, and updating of the National Network of FMRs.

In partnership with the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), DA-RFO 10 through Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado convened its partner agencies and stakeholders for a multilateral dialogue on the regional FMR road map.

Essentially, the planning workshop is an avenue to apprise the city and municipal agriculturists, agricultural biosystem engineers, and the DPWH district engineers on GEOAGRI.

The GEOAGRI is a web-based Management Information System portal jointly developed by BAFE and Caraga State University to consolidate, store/manage, process, and analyze data of FMR projects implemented by National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs).

As advanced by BAFE, the system is part of the government’s effort to promote transparency, maximize resource allocation, and minimize duplication and overlapping of FMR projects.

FMRs have been regarded as imperative interventions to address agricultural supply chain problems by connecting production areas to markets.

This enables farmers and fishers to broaden their reach and command better prices for their products.

In her message, DA- RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga DA, LGUs, and DPWH to come to a consensus in crafting remedial measures to address challenges encountered on the ground, for effective FMR implementation in the region.

Since 2015, DA-RFO 10 appropriated P4.56 billion in funds for the implementation of 452 FMR projects across the five provinces in Northern Mindanao, in partnership with DPWH and the LGUs.

Criteria such as estimated road influence area, number of farmers/fisherfolk beneficiaries, agricultural potential indicators, present road condition, climate change adaptation, and average daily traffic are determinants in prioritizing and funding FMR projects.

In support of the FMR implementation and monitoring activities in the region, BAFE turned over two laptop and mobile phone units to DA-RFO 10 RAED during the planning workshop.# (ATTalib)

DA invites firm to bid for coffee supply on expanded projects

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MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) on September 21, 2023, invited a multinational firm and other companies to bid for coffee supply as it gears toward the sustainability and expansion of the agency’s projects

In a press briefing, DA-10 Technical Director Carlota Madriaga said they are looking for suppliers of certified-grade Robusta coffee plantlets for distribution to farmer-beneficiaries in the region.

Madriaga said Nestle Philippines, which operates the Bukidnon Integrated Coffee Center (BICC), is one of the main growers of certified Robusta coffee plantlets.

“There were many coffee players who used to bid before including Nestle but in the recent call for bidding there were no parties showing interest, so there was a failure to bid,” she said.

For parties to become qualified bidders, they must undergo training and accreditation from the Bureau of Plant and Industry.

Art Baria, Nestle’s agri-services head, said they will look into bidding requirements, noting that “it takes time to grow these plantlets, and we will make sure we can provide the needed number.”

Other than a direct source for the processing of its coffee products, Nestle’s BICC is also a certified training school for Coffee Production Level 2 for farmers and students. It is accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and DA’s Agriculture Training Institute reviving the coffee industry.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Director Carlene Collado spoke of a “coffee industry renaissance,” pointing to the previous achievements of farmer groups who have gained a reputation for providing high-quality coffee.

“From 2017-2018, DA-10 was able to procure certified Robusta coffee from Nestle worth 1.65 million pieces,” he said.

Madriaga reiterated that DA-10 and its allied stakeholders are committed to the Philippine Coffee Industry Roadmap (PCIR).

The PCIR has a 2023 to 2027 timeframe with objectives and action plans related to enhancing the growth of the coffee industry.

A five-year data from DA-10 showed that from 2016 to 2020, Robusta coffee had the highest yield in Northern Mindanao with an average of 5,000 tons; Excelsa variety coffee had 266 tons, while Arabica coffee dwindled from 334 to 198 tons. (Nef Luczon/PNA)