Vol. XXVI No.

A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture

June 2011

P-Noy allots P52.9-B DA budget for 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Cabinet approved on June 30, the proposed P1.816trillion national budget for 2012, which is 10.4 percent more than the current years budget of P1.645 trillion. The Department of Agriculture is alloted a budget of P52.9 billion (B), 50.4% more than this years P35.2B. The bulk of the budget will be spent primarily to construct new irrigation systems and repair old systems to support governments rice self-sufficiency goal by 2013. Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the proposed 2012 budget reflects President Aquinos commitment to fulfill his social contract with the Filipino people. This is a budget that is focused on achieving results: that the dividends of good governance reach the poor in a direct, immediate and substantial way, Secretary Abad said. The proposed budget is focused on the five key result areas of the social contract: anticorruption and good governance; poverty reduction and the empowerment of the poor; inclusive economic growth; just and lasting peace and the rule of law; and integrity of the environment. Nasimulan na nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa paggugol na matuwid. Ngayon naman, pinagiibayo natin ang reporma sa pamamagitan ng pagsiguro na ang benepisyo ng paggastos ng Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (3rd from left) witnesses as gobyerno ay diretso sa tao (We NIA administrator Antonio Nangel (2nd from left) hands over to have started the journey towards Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza a certificate of turnover of prudent and effective public exfour irrigation projects, including the completion of irrigation capenditure management. We are nals of Catubig Dam (above), in Las Navas, Northern Samar. Looknow escalating reform by ensuring on is DA Region 8 Director Antonio Gerundio. ing that the benefits of public spending go directly to the people), he said. The respective proposed budgets of other major departments are: education, P237B; public works and highways, P125.9B; The Department of Agriculture fisheries sector, as part of the defense, P106.9B; interior and local government, P99.3B; social is investing an initial P415 mil- recently launched Northern welfare and development, lion in Samar to jumpstart the Samar convergence agro-enterP53.6B; health, P44.4B; transpor- development of its agriculture and prise cluster. Agriculture Secretary Proceso (Pls turn to p2) J. Alcala who led the launch in Catarman, June 25 said the bulk of the investments will go into the completion and reThe Department of Agriculture pair of four irrigation systems, through the National Irrigation Ad- amounting to P380-M, while the ministration (NIA) will build a P71- balance of P35-M is earmarked million (M) reservoir and irrigation for various agri-fishery projects. dam in Itbayat, Batanes, aimed Samar should not remain at making it self-sufficient in rice poor as it is endowed with rich by 2014 and onwards. agriculture and marine reAgriculture Secretary Proceso sources, Sec. Alcala said. J. Alcala assured Batanes farmIt needs a concerted effort ers and local officials that their among local officials, its people, decades-long dream of attaining farmers and fisherfolk, conrice sufficiency will be realized cerned government agencies upon completion in 2013 of the and the private sector to work Itbayat Integrated Agriculture De- together, he added. He said this is being done Secretary Alcala (2nd from left) assures Mayor Romeo Gonzales (left) velopment Project (IIADP), spearunder the national convergence of Itbayat, Batanes that their dream of producing enough rice for the headed by the DA-NIA. The project will increase ten- initiative of the DA with the deentire province will be finally realized with the construction of a P71fold the present rainfed area from partments of agrarian reform million rainfed reservoir and irrigation dam in Itbayat, Batanes (background). Shown with them (from right) are NIA administrator Anto- the current 33 hectares to over (DAR) and environment and nio Nangel, NIA Region 2 Director Vicente Galvez, DA national rice 300 hectares, and enable Itbayat natural resources (DENR). He said in the medium term, program coordinator Dante Delima, DA Region 2 director Lucrecio farmers to plant two crops of Alviar, Jr., and DA-National Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR) execu- palay every year, added NIA Ad- with sustained investments, poministrator Antonio Nangel. litical will and strong cooperative vice president Honesto Baniqued.

P415-M agri projects kick-off convergence initiatives in Samar

DA-NIA to build P71-M irrigation project in Batanes

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Editorial

P-Noy allots ...

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Pagsabay sa agos
Simula nang itinatag ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka, na unang tinawag na Ministerio de Agricola y Fabricacion (Ministry of Agriculture and Manufacturing), noong Hunyo 23, 1898, mahigit sa isang siglo na itong tapat na naglilingkod sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda at iba pang tagapagtaguyod ng sektor ng kanayunan. Sa loob ng mahabang panahon, di na halos matanto ang laki, lawak at bigat ng mga tungkulin iniatang sa kagawaran. Naging pangunahing misyon ng DA ang makapagdulot ng sapat at abot-kayang pagkain para sa lahat ng Pilipino. At sa kabila ng ilang ulit na pagpapalit ng pangalan nito, hindi kailanman nagbago ang prinsipyo ng kagawaran ukol sa paglilingkod. Bagkus, nanatili itong tapat sa kanyang alituntunin tungo sa mas maunlad na pagsasaka at pangingisda. Sa pagbabago ng panahon, pagbabago sa kalakaran ng mundo at pagbabago ng mga henerasyon ng mga Filipino, makikita ang mga repormang kinailangang ipatupad upang makasabay sa agos ng pagbabago ang mga kapartner natin sa pagpapa-unlad ng sektor na pinagkukunan ng pagkain ng buong bansa. Sa ngayon, lahat ng mga programang ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan ay patuloy na kumikilala sa mga pangangailangan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Patunay dito ang pagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga producers na kumita ng mas malaki upang makamit ang inaasam na pag-unlad ng buhay at kabuhayan. Kaakibat ng lahat ng mga polisiya na isinasakatuparan, binibigyang-diin ang pangangalaga sa kapaligiran at kalusugan ng mga consumers kung kayat nakatuon ang DA, sa pangunguna ni Kalihim Proceso J. Alcala, na pag-ibayuhin ang organic agriculture. Naglalayon itong bawasan kung di man tuluyan na iwasan ang paggamit ng mga nakalalasong abono at pestisidyo sa mga sakahan upang mapanumbalik ang likas na taba ng lupa. Sa gitna ng mga pagbabago sa nagdaang 113 taon, nananatiling tapat na naglilingkod ang DA para sa interes ng lahat ng nakikinabang sa agrikultura dahil higit sa anumang makabagong programa, ang tanging kagustuhan ng pamahalaan ay matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda at maitaguyod ang pangkalahatang interes ng bayan.

tation and communications, P38.6-B; agrarian reform, P16.3B; judiciary, P15.6-B. The 2012 budget is the first budget that will be fully-prepared, legislated and executed under the Aquino administration so we want to really ensure that the Aquino brand of governance is fully reflected in the National Budget, Abad said. It will be submitted to Congress on July 26, a day after the Presidents State of the Nation Address. On a sectoral basis, social services mainly basic education, public health and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will get P573.5-B, or 31.6% of the total proposed budget. It is 10% more than this years allocation of P521.4-B. The respective proposed budgets of other sectors are: eco-

nomic services, P442.1-B; general public services, P322.3-B; defense - P111.4-B; and debt servicing - P367.2-B. Sec. Abad said government targets a fiscal deficit of P286-B in 2012, P14-B less than this years projected deficit of P300B. More importantly, we ensured that every peso counts. First, we sustained zero-based budgeting to promote efficiency and effectiveness in spending. With this, we were able to scale-up spending on programs and projects that are aligned with the Social Contract he said. We escalated transparency and accountability in the budget, beyond requiring the disclosure of budget information. W e fleshed-out lump-sum funds in the budget, tightened the use of savings and ensured direct budgetary release to the smallest implementing units, he said. (DBM) meters high, irrigated area will cover more than 300 hectares, which could be planted twice a year. The reservoir could hold about 230,000 cubic meters of water, enough to irrigate two palay crops a year, said NIA administrator Nangel. Further, the DA will provide Itbayat farmers technical assistance and quality rice seeds to enable them to at least double their average palay harvest to three to four tons per hectare. Hence, at two croppings a year, the 300-hectare area could produce a minimum of 1,800 metric tons annually, said Nangel. Secretary Alcala said with the strong support of local officials led by Batanes Governor Vicente Gato, Rep. Henedina Abad, and Itbayat Mayor Romeo Gonzales the project could be finished ahead of time, and make Batanes
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NIA to ...

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Originally, the project has an allocation of only P11-M, but Sec. Alcala increased it to P71-M when he saw during recent threeday visit (June 4 to 6) that the project could be expanded to serve more than 300 hectares. A civil engineer by profession, Sec. Alcala instructed NIA administrator Nangel to revise the project plan and budget. Through the years, Itbayat with relatively more flatlands has been Batanes main rice producer, with some 33 hectares planted to palay, producing a measly 20 to 40 cavans (1 to 2 tons) per hectare. W ith a population of 16,000 people, such harvest is obviously not enough for the entire province, said Sec. Alcala. So, with the construction and completion of a bigger reservoir, with a dam measuring 18 to 20

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762 loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is available in PDF file and may be downloaded from DA website: www.da.gov.ph. Interested readers may also request e-copies via email: da_afis @yahoo.com.

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Cheryl C. Suarez & Adam Borja Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan, Catherine Nanta Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and Staff of DA Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted Projects Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan, & Kathrino Resurreccion Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

MRDP earmarks P495M for agri -livelihood projects

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P495-M for various projects in Mindanao, under the World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) has already disbursed a total of P234.96-M for its livelihood arm. While, another P260.56-M was issued with Certificates of Availability of Funds (CAF) and is ready for download to beneficiaries making the overall portfolio of CFAD. Program director Lealyn A. Ramos, in her report to DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, said the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component spent the amount mostly in food security interventions, community managed livelihoods and small support infrastructure. The various livelihoods have benefitted 49,537 individuals. With the aim to increase agricultural production and increase incomes of small farmers, CFAD component is a municipal-based funding facility through which MRDP provides financing for the diverse needs and priorities expressed by poor communities. The bottom-up approach under the Program where the peoples organization themselves identify and manage the project has promoted participation and transparency in governance and prompted for the empowerment of many rural folks, Ramos said. To date, there are already 1,988 agri-based livelihoods funded. 671 were completed, 365 on-going and the rest are ready for implementation. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) leads Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan cuts slices a tuna at the opening in the implementation with P118- of the 1st International Agriculture and Tourism Expo (IATE) on M under its portfolio. It has com- June 30, 2011 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The three-day pleted 89 sub-projects, 66 on-go- event, attended by 400 exhibitors, aims to promote the Agri-Tourism Program of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Touring and 146 for implementation. ism to local and international markets. Joining Sen. Pangilinan are Caraga region follows closely, having accessed P113.33-M for its (L-R): Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Gencovered towns. The region has a eral Director Joel Villanueva, IATE Chairman Kenneth Dong, and Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas. total of 471 sub-projects where 108 are completed, 79 are on-going and the rest are ready for i m p l e m e nt a t i o n. Region 12 has a portfolio of The National Tobacco Admin- planted to tobacco. P81.325-M with a total of 405 istration (NTA), an attached He said that under the prosub-projects; Region 11 has P75.5 agency of the Department of Ag- gram, a farmer tilling one hect-M for its 287 projects; Region 10 riculture (DA), has started distrib- are of land will receive P18,000 has accessed P63.10 for its 311 uting over P20 million in produc- in assistance from the NTA, subproj ects, and Region 9 tion assistance to tobacco farm- which the agency will increase P44.25-M for 213 projects. ers to help them plant rice this to P30,000 to P40,000 per hectAmong the successful liveli- wet season and contribute to the are during the tobacco season. hood projects implemented is the governments rice self-sufficiency He announced during a series rice production in Zamboanga del program. of consultations with farmer-benSur where farmers have liberated NTA Administrator Edgardo D. eficiaries and farm technicians themselves from huge debts of Zaragoza kicked-off the distribu- that the agency is prepared to middlemen and informal lenders tion of checks to over 1,484 give out some P200-M more in and financiers. farmer co-operators in La Union, loans, with minimal interest Farmers in North Cotabato has Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos rates, so that farmers can start The Department of Agriculture enjoyed the utility of the carabao Norte, Abra and Mindoro who are planting rice immediately. will not impose a suggested re- in the farm as well as the income scheduled to plant rice in over In the past, the amount of tail price (SRP) for chicken and (Pls turn to p9) 1,242 hectares of land previously loans extended by NTA to farmother poultry products, but iners in the eight tobacco-producstead allow market forces to deing provinces was only P3.5-M. termine a reasonable price for This was increased to P34-M at the mutual benefit of producers the start of this year, but the budand consumers. get was scarcely enough to fiAgriculture Secretary Proceso nance farmers needs. J. Alcala made the announceWe understand that in order ment after chairing a dialogue to be more productive, viable, with more than 50 chicken indusand relevant, tobacco farmers try stakeholders, June 28, 2011, have to participate in all facets at the DA central office in of production, training, and marQuezon City. keting. Di bale nang malugi ang He initiated the dialogue to arNTA sa pagtulong sa rest the reported isolated price magsasaka, bastat magsasaka increases of chicken, at P140 to pa rin ang makikinabang (It P150 per kilo, sold at some wet doesnt matter if NTA incurs markets in Metro Manila. losses in the process of helping Other wet market retailers, parthe farmers, for as long as the ticularly in Marikina, sell chicken farmers themselves are benSec. Alcala and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo (2nd and 3rd at P110 to P11 per kilo. efited), Zaragoza said. He from left) officially open the Agribusiness Center at the Department At a press briefing right after hopes that the complementary of Agriculture (DA) compound in Quezon City highlighting the 113th the dialogue, Sec. Alcala assured planting of tobacco in summer, founding anniversary of DA on June 23, 2011. The center will showthe public that there is sufficient and rice during the wet season, case regional products as well as organic produce, and will serve as supply of chicken, the poultry inwill contribute to the efforts of information center for agribusiness matters. Also in photo are dustry is stable, and there is no Agriculture Secretary Proceso Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Director Leandro need for additional imports. J. Alcala for the country to at-

Tobacco farmers get P20M for rice

No SRP on chicken

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Gazmin (left) and Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez, SVD (right).

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June 2011

DA allots P15-M agri, community projects in Caraga

The Department of Agriculture recently provided Caraga region P15-million worth of community and agricultural projects, as the DAs counterpart under the World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP). Caraga is composed of the four provinces of Agusan del Sur and del Norte, and Surigao del Sur and del Norte. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said half of the amount (P7.52-M) is earmarked for the construction of a potable water supply system in Tago, Surigao del Sur, called the GamutCamagong Level 2 Water System project. The local government of Tago will also share its counterpart, plus a soft loan from the MRDP. When completed in December 2011, the project will provide potable water to 645 households or more than 3,500 residents in Tago. Sec. Alcala handed over a symbolic certificate of turnover to Tago municipal mayor Henrich Pimentel during the DA chiefs three-day (June 10-12) visit to Surigao del Sur and Caraga region. He also handed over a certificate of turnover to local officials of Tandag City for the rehabilitation of the San Jose-Dayo-an j unction farm-to-market road (FMR), worth P3.3-M. When completed, the 3.6-kilometer FMR will benefit more than 700 farm households or 3,830 residents in barangays San Jose and Dayo-an, where there are more than 415 hectares (ha) planted to coconut (230 ha), rice (180 ha), and fruit trees (5 ha). The DA chief also handed over P1-M worth of agricultural and fishery projects in Marihatag under the MRDPs Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD). The projects consist of organic rice production in barangay Poblacion, carabao production in barangay San Antonio, bangus cage culture in barangay Antipolo, and bottom drift gill nets for barangay Arorogan. In Barobo town, he turned over a P1-million MRDP-CFAD fund for five projects, consisting of rice production and duck raising in barangay Javier, bangus fishpen culture in barangays Gamut and Talisay, and bangus cage culture in barangay San Roque. In Tandag City, he awarded P690,000 for the construction of a food terminal at barangay

Rice harvest to reach 7.6 M tons in 1st sem

The DAs Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said the countrys first semester palay production is forecast to reach 7.6 million metric tons (MMT), 14.9 percent more than last year for the same six-month period. Further, Director Dante Delima, national rice program coordinator, said he is optimistic that the country can achieve a production of 9.86 million metric tons for the ongoing wet season. Together, the forecasted volumes will add up to at least 17.46 MMT, as targetted by the DA, said Dir. Delima in his recent report to Secretary Proceso J. Alcala. We expect peak of planting in June and July, which is almost 63 percent of the total 2011 wet season target planting, Delima said. He said the BAS will complete the national rice production survey for the first semester on the first week of July, and estimates or actual production figures for the January to June 2011 period will be available on or before August 15. Meanwhile, as of June 10, 2011, he said for seed production, a total of 14,538 hectares (ha) have been planted. Of these, 13,390 ha were planted to registered seeds, 1,135 ha to foundation seeds, and 13.30 ha to breeder seeds. Region III has registered the highest number of seeds produced, at 3,963 ha; followed by Region II with 2,393 ha. Meanwhile, the implementation of the DAs upland rice development program is also gaining momentum in Regions 11 and 13, where 1,247 farmers beenefited, as they received more than 72,250 kilograms (kg) of rice seeds for planting this wet season. Delima also said to ensure that rice program interventions reach the intended beneficiaries, a strong partnership among farmer-beneficiaries through strengthened Irrigators Associations (IAs) is being forged in all of the countrys 16 regions. Said initiative will instill on proj ect ownership and accountability on farmer-benefi(Pls turn to p9)

Sec. Alcala (right) gladly hands over a certificate to Tago, Surigao del Sur Mayor Henrich Pimentel for the construction of a P7.5million potable water system in Gamut-Camagong that will benefit more than 3,500 residents. The project is among the various agriculture, fishery, community and infrastructure projects jointly funded by the DA, World Bank and LGUs under the DA-WB Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP). Also shown are Surigao del Sur governor Johnny Pimentel (middle), Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Philip Pichay (2nd from right) and DA-Caraga regional director Edna Mabeza.
Bongtod, to be operated by the Tandag Boholano Fisherman Association. The group was chosen in 2009 as a Gawad Saka national awardee for Barangay Bagsakan. He also awarded an initial P485,000 for the construction of a diversion dam in Awasian, in Tandag City which is part of the Caraga Integrated Development Program (CIDP). He also distributed 2,000 liters of foliar liquid fertilizer to three federations of irrigators associations, 1,300 bags of zinc sulfate and assorted vegetable seeds to the provincial government under Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel. Sec. Alcala will also give one sheep module (1 buck and 9 ewes) each for Tandag and Surigao cities, and two carabaos each for the 17 municipalities and two cities in Surigao del Sur. At a forum in Tandag City, Secretary Alcala enjoined Surigao del Sur provincial and municipal officials, agriculturists and planning officers to convene and craft a provincial agriculture and fishery roadmap, DA will provide counterpart funds to implement said agri-fishery master development plan. Surigao del Surs main agricultural products of are rice, corn, banana, coconut and abaca. In 2010, it produced only 91,888 metric tons of palay from 28,061 hectares, an 87 percent sufficiency level.

Experts input Agri-Pinoy in rice programs

Scientists and researchers from IRRI and PhilRice are looking into the direction of the Philippines rice production under the Department of Agricultures Agrikulturang Pilipino or AgriPinoy Program, a framework under which local governments and agencies will develop and implement localized agricultural and fishery development program. Four principles guide AgriPinoy framework: food security and self-sufficiency, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, natural resource management, and local capacity development. This and other developments were discussed by a team of IRRI and PhilRice scientists and researchers, who agreed to continue with their major activities in the project, Accelerating Rice Self-Sufficiency through Integrated Research, Training and Extension, under the 2009-10 Rice Self-Sufficiency Program of the Philippine government. At a meeting held at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Nueva Ecija on 23 June 2011, Dir. Ruben Miranda, PhilRice officer-in-charge, noted some of the changing priorities of the Philippine rice program
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Abaca shipments reach $47M

Earnings from abaca fiber, pulp and other abaca products went up by 60.7 percent to $46.97 million (M) during the first four months of 2011, despite the decline in abaca-pulp shipments to Japan, according to figures from the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA). FIDA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the biggest earners were the exporters of abaca pulp, with receipts totaling $34.04-M, 83 percent higher than the $18.6-M registered in January to April last year. Revenues from abaca cordage also went up by 34.3 percent to $5.2-M, from $3.87-M. The third-biggest earners were exporters of abaca fibercraft as receipts went up by almost 31 percent to $3.25-M. The value of raw fiber also registered a 6-percent increase to $4.23-M, from $3.99-M. Export receipts from abaca fabrics, however, registered a decline of 12.6 percent to $240,999, from $275,663 registered in January to April 2010. In terms of volume, figures from Fida showed that abaca-pulp exports to Japan declined by 44.3 percent to 803.1 metric tons (MT). Despite this, FIDA figures indicated that abaca-pulp exports increased by 50.8 percent to 9,163.2 MT for the first four months of the year. China took up the slack in shipments of abaca pulp to Japan, as shipments shot up by 7,081 percent to 1,104 MT, from 15.4 MT registered in January to April 2010. Other big buyers of abaca pulp were the United States, where shipments rose by 226 percent to 1,046 MT, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany. Meanwhile, exports of abaca fiber declined by 4.1 percent to 3,238.5 MT or 25,908 bales of 125 kilograms, from 3,377.8 MT or 27,022 bales of 125 kilos. For January to April, shipments of abaca cordage posted an increase of almost 30 percent to 2,375.7 MT from 1,832.5 MT last year. The US is a major buyer of abaca cordage during the period, accounting for 66.5 percent of total shipments. Shipments to the US went up by 43 percent to 1,579 MT, from 1,104 MT last year. For January to May, FIDA figures showed that abaca production increased by 2.4 percent to 22,253.4 MT or 178,027 bales of

Sec. Alcala (2nd from left) and Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva shake hands after forging a Memorandum of Agreement on the DA-TESDA national convergence program on enhancing agricultural productivity through skills development. The joint venture between the DA through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and TESDA aims to standardize, coordinate and improve the system implementation of agricultural skills development programs geared towards achieving agricultural development in the country. Others in the photo are (L-R): DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, ATI Director Asterio Saliot, DA Asst. Secretary Allan Umali, and TESDA Executive Director Marta Hernandez.
125 kilos, from 21,724.65 MT or 173,797.2 bales of 125 kilos. The Bicol region, considered the top producer of abaca in the Philippines, produced 13.4 percent more abaca at 8,986.4 MT, or 71,891.2 bales of 125 kilos. The region accounted for 40.4 of total output for January to May. Other major producers of abaca which registered output increases during the period were Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Eastern Visayas, a major producer of abaca, posted a 21.1percent decline in production. Also, the Davao region registered a 3.8-percent decline in output for January to May. (Business Mirror)

Corn-enriched pandesal, anyone?

The first high-lysine corn flour mixed in pandesal is now in the market. Everyday, more than 1,200 pieces of high lysine Quality Protein Maize (QPM)-enriched pandesal and other assorted varieties of bread are being baked and marketed by BoscEnterprises of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The pandesal is sold at P1 or P2 per piece. Other assorted items like Spanish bread or pandecoco--called Boscbread-- are also available, at P3 to P5 per piece. Up to 1,200 pieces are sold within the Don Bosco Habitat Center (DBHC) at Southville 7, Calauan, Laguna, a relocation area for a conglomeration of Ondoy victims and former slum dwellers. The Salesians give out 400 pieces of QPM-enriched bread for free to indigent children in a daily feeding program. Another 800 pieces of BoscBread pandesal are peddled everyday by selected residents. When we first came in the relocation site, children here could not even smile. Now, just after one month of feeding, they have gained as much as two pounds, said Don Bosco Father Salvador Pablo. The nutrition program is held once daily except Mondays and Tuesdays. The development of QPM corn flour is a favorable development, as it is an important malnutrition fighter. The 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute indicated that underweight children aged 0-5 reached 3.35 million (M), an increase of 26.2 percent from the last NNS held every five years. For aged 6-10, underweight prevalence also rose from 22.8 percent to 25.6 percent, affecting 2.6 million kids. BoscBread uses the same low
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DA to put up more dairy farms

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) will establish additional dairy multiplier farms in the Visayas area. Just recently, three applicants passed the qualification under the Multiplier Farm Partnership (MFP), a loan program of the agency to increase milk output of the country. Among the three applicants that qualified for the NDA grant are Santiago Sierra in Pamplona, Negros Oriental-, Congressman Florencio Miraflores of Regador, Ibajay, Aklan and Buglas Corporation in Pontevedra Negros Occidental. Farina Dy, NDA-Visayas field office information officer said each multiplier farm partner will receive 50 dairy cows from the agency which will be used to improve the local milk industry in the country. NDA embarked on public-private partnership in dairy farm operation to augment the milk production of the country, she said. Dy added that the program also aims to help dairy farmers further improve their business while the agency continues to provide them with technical and marketing assistance. We are encouraging farmers having 16 to 20 hectares of contained agricultural land and with good water supply to apply for MFP because NDA will be providing them step-by-step strategies on how to make their farms productive, Dy said. The NDA-Visayas official disclosed that multiplier farm owners can either sell milk to existing federations in their area or establish their own processing facilities. Meanwhile, Dy explained that the mode of payment for the MFP loan offers three options with borrowers choosing the mode option that suits them best. (NDA)

June 2011

Thanksgiving Mass

Launch of the DA Wellness Program Inauguration of the Agribusiness Center

Opening of the Agri-Tiangge

Loyalty Awardees Agri-Tiangge

Fellowship Night

10M coco seedlings eyed in Regn 10

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) aims to plant 10 million coconut seedlings in Northern Mindanao in the next five years. Luis G. Cruz, PCA regional manager, said 30% of the regions coconut trees are old aged 55 to 60 years and prime for replacement. The number of senile trees that need replacement totals to about 10,000 hectares (ha) of coconut farms, based on the average of 1,000 number of trees per hectare said. He said Northern Mindanao has about 300,000 ha of coconut farms as of 2008, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. The area comprises about 9% of the countrys total 3.3 million (M) ha planted to coconut. Cruz said to raise coconut production in the region, the PCA will set up two to five seed farms each at the regions 1,250 coconut-producing barangays. The quarterly economic situationer which the National Economic and Development Authority recently issued showed coconut production in Northern Mindanao dropped by 6.55% in the first quarter of 2011 compared with last year. Specifically, the region produced 390.3 million mature nuts from January to March 2011, compared with the 417.7 M nuts recorded a year ago. More than ever, the region needs to bear more nuts as the world market opens up more opportunities, he said. Northern Mindanao earned about $277M in the first quarter of the year, mostly from exports of coconut-based products, accounting for 78.6% of the regions total merchandise exports for that period. But declining production has started to show in export volumes. Specifically, volume of the regions coconut-based exports dropped by more than half to 90,556 metric tons (MT) in the first three months of the year, from 146,329 MT in the first quarter of 2010. With supply significantly reduced, copra now sells for P44 per kilogram at farmgate; and P49 at mill gate, from below P40 last year. All the regions five provinces slipped in coconut output, with Bukidnons output showing the biggest drop of 36.11%, followed by Misamis Oriental with -12%. Misamis Occidental, the regions top exporter of coconut shell granules, slipped by just 2.2%. (BusinessWorld)

Sec. Alcala (left) assures a lady famer, Rosemary Cuanca (standing, right photo), of the Negros Occidental Federation of Irrigators Associations (IAs), and other members of the Visayas cluster of IAs and small water impounding systems associations during a consultation and workshop seminar, May 28, in Cebu that DA and NIA will always be of assistance to small farmers to enable them to increase productivity and income, and protect their rights.

DA launches Pinakbet GAP in Bicol

With the increase in the demand for food, the increase in awareness for food and environment safety follows, especially in the face of many food-borne illnesses that occur nowadays. It is along this line that the DA Regional Office 5, in collaboration with DA RO 4-A launched the project Establishment of the Code of Practice for Pinakbet Vegetables in Support of the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Implementation in Luzon Cluster. Piloted in three sites in the Bicol region, namely Talisay in Camarines Norte, Tabaco City in Albay and the La Huerta Farm in Baao, Camarines Sur, it aims to help farmers adopt the GAP for fruits and vegetables. GAP is a set of consolidated safety and quality standards formulated by the Department of Agriculture for on-farm fruit and vegetable production based on concept of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) and quality management principles. It has emphasis in the following six key areas: Farm location; Farm structure; Farm environment (soil/nutrients); Farm maintenance (hygiene and cleanliness); Farming practices/methods/techniques (pesticide and fertilizer; application, pest and disease management, postharvest handling); Farm management (farm records, traceability, and staff training). Assistant BIARC Manager Corazon A. Orbon, who represented the Project Leader and Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Elena B. delos Santos , said that the basis of the GAP is to provide safe and nutritious food product for the consumers by reducing the risk of microbial and pesticide contamination. She also added that GAP also ensures the workers safety and environmental protection. Meanwhile, DA HVCDP Regional Coordinator Rosita Imperial discussed the DAs intervention for vegetable growers in the region which include: vegetable seeds (hybrid and open pollinated varieties); drip irrigation; shallow tube wells; green houses and rain shelters; training and extension support; info dissemination; and postharvest processing facilities. Meanwhile, a harvest festival was held at the La Huerta Farm in Sta. Teresita, Baao, attended by members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Baao, Bgy. Council of Sta. Teresita, Organized Vegetable Growers of Libmanan and vegetable farmers from Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. (DA Regn 5)

Sec. Alcala tries on an indigenous Batanes rainwear--consisting of a head gear called kalugong and a rain coat called kanayi-during his three-day (June 4-6) visit to the countrys northernmost province. Looking on are Batanes Governor Vicente D. Gato and Congresswoman Henedina R. Abad. Sec. Alcala committed to put up a P71-M irrigation project in Itbayat that would enable the province attain rice self-sufficiency.

Agri-fishery investment inventory takes off in Leyte

An inventory activity that involves a complete enumeration of all available investments in the countryside, whether funded by a private entity or by the government, took off in Leyte last June 15. Dubbed as the Inventory System of Agriculture and Fishery Investments (ISAFI), it is one of the components of the Unified Enterprise and Geospatial Information System (UEGIS), a special project spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the Local Government Units (LGUs). The ISAFI will enable us to determine the location and status of our investments using information technology, DA-8s Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio explained during the first day of the 4-day training on ISAFI (7-10 June 2011) held at the Ritz Tower de Leyte. He added that coming up with a comprehensive baseline data on agriculture and fishery investments is the crucial output of the ISAFI which will form the basis for improving the agencys delivery. of services. The communities stand to benefit from this project since this will serve as a reliable foundation or starting point for the planning and programming of interventions among government agencies and even the LGUs. Leyte, according to UEGIS Project Manager and DA 8s Regional Technical Director Wilson A. Cerbito, is one of the three pilot areas in the country for the implementation of the ISAFI. For Luzon, it is being piloted in Quezon Province, for Mindanao it is in Bukidnon and for the Visayas, its in Leyte, he disclosed. He further revealed that the ISAFI is the first comprehensive inventory of farm investments in the country. DA has been in existence for more than a century now and it has exhausted the bulk of its funds for various farm equipment, facilities and infrastructures but there has been no initiative to conduct a complete recording of all these investments until the conceptualization of the ISAFI, he said. As part of its thorough preparation for the actual inventory, DA-8 has conducted two separate trainings on ISAFI involving the enumerator-applicants, City/Municipal Agriculturists (C/MAs) and Agricultural Technologists from the 43 municipalities of Leyte Province.
(DA Regn 8)

Experts input ... (from p4)

that include sustainable and organic agriculture, and establishing a more progressive community seed banking system and warehouses to support farmers in lieu of the lifted rice seed subsidies under the DA rice program. Julian Lapitan, senior manager of IRRIs National Programs Relations, emphasized IRRIs commitment to provide assistance to the Philippine governments rice self-sufficiency initiatives.

The second year of the project should gear towards the new direction that the AgriPinoy Rice Program envisions so that the project would be cost-effective and more relevant to the governments rice program. We can move along in the field especially in the massive training of farmer-intermediaries and the two strengths of our partnershipvariety development and risk analyses on the potential activities of the different provinces, Lapitan said.

A farmer in Libungan, North Cotabato rides on his carabao, acquired from the livestock dispersal project under the DA-MRDP livelihood component. Despite the advancement of farming practices and mechanization, carabaos remain as reliable partners of farmers. (Photo by Sherwin Manual)

Rice harvest to top 7.6 M tons ...

ciaries. Farmers thorugh their IAs will be more involved in planning and decision-making. Thus, regular consultations, negotiations, and transparent communications at the different cluster levels are key to successful program implementation, Delima said. A series of consultations with different IAs were held in five different clusters in Nueva Ecija, Quezon City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Southern Mindanao. The consultation-workshops were attended by Federation and

(from p4) IA Presidents of the five clusters, and DA attached agencies such as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Soils and W ater Management (BSWM), Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC); and representatives from DA Regional Field Units (RFUs) and Provincial and Municipal Government Units.

MRDP earmarks ... (from p3)

from selling its offspring from their livestock dispersal project. Meanwhile, through some highvalue vegetable production, 30 families in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur acquired their own modest house and lot and additional two hectares of farm lot and vehicle for their marketing. While in Maguindanao, rice and corn farmers enjoy the benefits of their post harvest facilities. A rice mill in Mamasapano town has increased production and income of a number of farmers; while the solar drying pavement in North Upi has improved the quality of grains the farmers produced. The Ata-Bagobo tribe in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur are now enjoying the fruits of their labor in their lakatan banana production. W hile the Higa-onon tribe in Bukidnon has increased their incomes after they have expanded their sweet pea production through the program. Aside from the number of completed sub-projects, we are also glad that we are attaining our goal to benefit 30 percent of women and indigenous peoples, Ramos added. In its mid-term assessment, CFAD has benefited a total of 4,498 IPs or 28 percent of the total beneficiaries. While the number of women reached 7,474 or 47 percent of the total beneficiaries. (Sherwin
B. Manual/DA-MRDP).

Corn-enriched pandesal ... (from p5)

glycemic index (GI) white corn ideal for anti-diabetes developed by breeding experts at the Institute of Plant Breeding-University of the Philippines Los Banos (IPB-UPLB). As any food that needs some getting used to, such as the gourmet Japanese sashimi, corn floured Boscbread went through similar experience. When it was just starting, buyers said that our pandesal had some roughness in texture. But with more finely-milled flour now, the quality got better. The ordinary pandesal shrinks when you press it. But with our Boscbread, you can feel and taste the fullness. Now the DBHC residents are craving for it said Dodong Tayactac, the Boscbread master baker. It was only here in Calauan that I used for the first time corn flour for bread. Its really just like (wheat) flour now, said Tayactac, a baker for six years. Dr. Artemio M. Salazar, IPB deputy director and the high lysine white corn variety breeder said the Philippines can save P5 billion yearly if it can replace wheat flour by just 20 percent. IPB supplies DBHCs corn flour at around 20 kilos daily to test this product before commercial scale of operations by private sector could commence. The program created jobs for two bakery crew and around 10 peddlers, including three youths that need to generate money for education. (UP-IPB)

June 2011

FSSR: Lets diversify our staple diet

Diversifying our diet will not only improve our health, but more importantly contribute in achieving national food security and rice self-sufficiency by 2013.
Thus is the gist of the Aquino governments Food Staples Selfsufficiency Roadmap (FSSR) for 2011-2016. The FSSR--crafted through a series of workshops spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture national rice program directorate-also highlights the increased production and consumption of other staples. This will subsequently lower the Filipinos per capita rice consumption. White corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana can be used as

substitutes for rice to maintain our per capita consumption at 120 kg/ year. Other countries such as Japan and China are rice sufficient in spite of their small rice area harvested per capita because of citizens diversified diet, said Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, PhilRice economist and newly-designated official spokesperson for the Food Staple Plan. She said the DA rice, corn, and high value commercial crops programs will strive to augment the supply of alternative staples by 3.5 percent (%) a year, and increase their accessibility and

affordability. Bordey said that rice self-sufficiency is becoming an urgent task with the threat of climate change in the traditional riceexporting countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and the US, which control 84 percent of the world rice export. She added that the thin and heavily concentrated international rice trade also continues to be a major concern for food policymakers. In 2008, it can be recalled that the world price of rice increased dramatically owing to export bans issued by exporters and panic buying of importers. Recent news have been featuring non-rice staple food advocates, including actress Gretchen Barreto, whose best remembered health regimen include the sweet potato diet, which she ate boiled, coupled with fruits. "Gretchen swore to the effectiveness of her unique diet in interviews," an article on Health Today read. Also, eating sweet potato, which has more complex carbohydrates and high fiber content, is not only healthful, but will also help the country save millions of dollars from rice imports.

White corn, cassava, banana, and sweet potato can be used as substitutes for rice.

P415-M agri projects kick off ...

tion among all stakeholders. Samar should graduate from the top 10 poorest provinces in the country. A major initiative is enabling Samar to produce sufficient amount of food, particularly rice, by making more farmlands productive through the establishment of irrigation systems, and teaching farmers modern and sustainable rice production technologies, Alcala said. The P380-M fund from the DAs National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is allotted for the completion of two irrigation projects in Catarman-Bobon (P210-M) and Bugko, Mondragon (P150-M), restoration of the Macagtas irrigation system in Catarman (P15M) and construction of 120 kilometers of irrigation canals of Catubig Dam in Northern Samar (P5-M). NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel said when the four projects are completed, these will irrigate an additional 7,140 hectares that could be planted twice a year, and benefit 2,000 farmfamilies. At a conservative yield of four tons per hectare per season and two crops a year, the 7,140 hectares would produce an additional 57,120 metric tons (MT) of palay (unmilled rice) annually. This projected harvest represents roughly 23 percent of the total palay harvest of the three Samar provinces (northern, eastern and western) at 250,127 MT in 2010, Nangel said.

(from p1)

Tobacco farmers get...

(from p3)
NTA to support tobacco farmers. Mayor Silverio D. Alarcio Jr., signed a memorandum of agreement where the fourth class municipality allocated a P240,000 fund to support 40 farmers planting rice this wet season. NTA will double the fund under the counterparting scheme. I feel that the NTA is sincere in addressing the plight of our tobacco farmers, and this is why I agreed to enter into this agreement with them. I want to increase our participation to P1M by next year, Mayor Alarcio said. Further, Zaragoza revealed that the countrys wholesale tobacco dealers (W TDs), composed of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Universal Leaf Philippines, Continental Leaf, Trans Manila Inc., and Associated Anglo-American Inc., have committed to support farmers by granting them loans to support their contract-growing services during the dry season.

tain rice self-sufficiency by 2013, and President Benigno S. Aquinos vision for food self-sufficiency by 2016. Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan, NTA deputy administrator for operations, revealed that this years production assistance to tobacco farmers is 177% higher than that of last year, which was pegged at P7.6-M. In terms of farmer-beneficiaries, this years figure is 79% higher than that of last years 828 farmers, and 80.73% higher in land area compared to last years 687 hectares, Bonoan said. He also added that the inbred rice component of the agencys Integrated Farming and Other Income-Generating Activities Project (IFOIGAP) produces an average yield of 5.2 metric tons (MT) of palay per hectare, with an expected volume of around 6,458 MT this year. As this developed, the municipality of Laoac in Pangasinan became the first local government unit to enter into a financial counterparting agreement with

DA bureaus and agencies will also undertake respective projects in Samar, which include: P5.7-M for aquaculture and mariculture projects from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); P5.5-M for small water impounding projects and other initiatives Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM); P2.8-M for coconut planting, replanting, and fertilization Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); P2.7-M for banana production and Gulayan sa Paaralan projects High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP); P2.2-M for establishment of abaca nurseries, stripping centers and solar dryers, and opening of 400 hectares of new abaca areas Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA); P1.76-M for research on integrated farming systems, and training of farmers Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI); P1.75-M for marketing assistance Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Service (AMAS); P1.37-M for postharvest equipment and facilities Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech); and P16-M for credit facilitation and crop insurance services Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), and the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP).

10

NIA to ...

(from p2)

rice self-sufficient by 2014 and onwards. He assured them that other DA family agencies like the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and National Food Authority including the Land Bank of the Philippines (of which he is a board member) will extend appropriate support and assistance to enable Batanes attain self-sufficiency in rice, and food security, in general. Sa kabila kasi ng laganap na pagsasaka at pangingisda dito, hindi pa ganap na naaabot ang potensyal ng lalawigan sa larangan ng food production at agribusiness dahil sa topograpiya, weather concerns, at mahirap na transportasyon (Despite the widespread practice of farming and fishing in Batanes, the province has not yet reached its potentials in food production and agribusiness because of topography, weather, transportation difficulties), Sec. Alcala said. Simple lang ang aming mga hangarin sa buong Batanes: Pakinabangan ng bawat mamamayan ang mga biyaya ng lupa at dagat na pinagkaloob ng Poong Maykapal. Ibig sabihin nito, mayroong sapat at abotkayang pagkain para sa lahat, at kumikita ng mainam mula sa produktong naaani mula sa inyong sakahan at karagatan, (Our vision for the province of Batanes is simple: every citizen should benefit from the God-given blessings of the land and sea. Hence, there should be enough and accessible food for all, and everyone should earn reasonable returns from the bounties of your land and seas,) he added. While in Batanes, he handed over P2-M worth of farm equipment, projects and inputs to the provincial and municipal governments, consisting of a 4-wheel tractor, small scale irrigation systems, sprayers, cultivators, PH meters, greenhouses, planting materials, and assorted vegetable seeds. (Pls see related story on page 12.) Finally, Sec. Alcala led the groundbreaking of a two-storey seed storage and integrated laboratory building worth P6 million, funded by the DA through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).

No SRP on Chicken. Sec. Alcala (2nd from left, top photo) stresses a point during a recent dialogue with chicken industry stakeholders (bottom photo) to arrest the reported isolated price increases of chicken in some Metro Manila wet markets. He said government will not impose a suggested retail price (SRP) for chicken and other poultry products, assuring the public that there is sufficient supply, the poultry industry is stable, and there is no need for additional imports. Flanking him (from left) are Dir. Manuel Jarmin of DA-Livestock Development Council, Assistant Secretary for agribusiness and DA spokesperson Salvador Salacup, and Dir. Efren Nuestro of the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry.

No SRP on ... (from p3)

He said aside from some isolated market imperfections and unscrupulous market retailers, dressed chicken should be sold between P110 to P135 per kilo. Supporting Sec. Alcalas decision, Elias Jose Inciong, president of the United Broilers and Raisers Association, said imposing an SRP at this time may only cause more harm to producers, dealers, retailers, and consumers. He said this is because prices of chicken are forecast to dip as a result of the expected sufficient supply that will last until December 2011. Big chicken industry players, like Universal Robina Corporation and San Miguel Foods Corporation, said the spike in chicken prices was triggered by the temporary shift of consumers preference from fish to chicken and other meat products, coupled by some unscrupulous retailers and businessmen taking advantage of the increased demand. Other poultry producers shared the same view, saying the isolated high prices are perpetrated by some unscrupulous market retailers who are taking advantage of the previous weeks situation, when consumers shifted towards chicken, pork and other meat products due to fishkill affecting bangus and tilapia, particularly those from Pangasinan and Batangas. Chicken retailers said when fishkill was reported, consumers

opted to buy chicken, pork and other meat products. Due to the increased demand, the price of chicken soared to a high of P150 per kilo. As the chicken industry is stable, Sec. Alcala said it is unlikely that the country will import more chicken this year. As of June 21 this year, the inventory of frozen chicken meat was at 7,642 metric tons (MT), of which over 4,000 MT was imported. During the same period last year, the inventory was at 7,916 MT, of which 7,151 MT were imported. During the three-month period,

from April to June, farmgate prices of live chicken increased from a low of P67 per kilo in April to a high of P84 per kilo this month. Wholesale prices of dressed chicken, on the other hand, ranged from a low of P100 per kilo in May to a high of P106 per kilo in June. Finally, wet market retail prices of chicken averaged at P125 per kilo from April to June, while prices in supermarkets and groceries ranged from a low of P110 to a high of P124 per kilo during the same threemonth period. Other projects include: 70 heads of draft carabaos with farm implements, and one sheep module (1 buck and 9 ewes) amounting to about P1-M; DA-BFAR will implement a Kabuhayan sa Karagatan program, worth P1M; Sabtang islanders received P750,000worth of farm and fishery implements, vegetable seeds, greenhouses, drip irrigation equipment, a liquid quick freezer, fish nets, vacuum packers, smokehouses, plastic sealers, and bottles for sardine-making; and P1-M for a livelihood project in Raele, Itbayat, to train women how to produce and process breadfruits, guavas, cashew nuts, onions, garlic, coffee, and other indigenous crops.

DA commits ... (from p12)

crop and livestock production. The facility, funded under the DAs High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), will feature a frezzer and cold storage facility, and a warehouse. The DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will also put up a P5-M agri-fisheries center and regional office in Basco. Sec. Alcala also committed an additional mechanical dryer at the NFA warehouse, and a rice mill for Itbayat, worth P2-M. During a farmers and fishers forum at the Itbayat Central School, Sec. Alcala distributed P2-M worth of farm and fishery projects and inputs to benefit farmers and fishers in five barangays.

June 2011

11

DA sets P16B for 5-year agri mechanization

The Department of Agriculture is setting aside P16 billion (B) to implement a postharvest and mechanization road map that mainly seeks to increase rice production by 5 to 10 percent annually. The DA is tasking one of its agencies, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), to implementing the road map from 2011 to 2016, which seeks to modernize the countrys postharvest and mechanization processes on a large-scale basis for rice production. PhilMech is supporting Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in increasing rice, particularly palay (paddy rice), production-especially now that climate change and rising world food prices are expected to impact the world supply, PhiMech director Ricardo Cachuela said. Under the rice self-sufficiency program of the government, mechanization and postharvest facilities will also be prioritized. Of the total budget for the ricemechanization road map, P9.5B will be spent for on-farm mechanization; P2.8-B for the drying program; and P3.2 billion for the rice-milling program that include provisions for soft loan. The rest will be set aside for project management. This year the DA will be releasing P1-B for the procurement of 4,000 units of various postharvest machineries. Until 2016, the target is to procure and distribute as much as 7,000 postharvest units and 90,000 units of on-farm machineries. PhilMech said the agency will make it easy for farmer associations, organizations and cooperatives to own farm machineries through a financing scheme wherein the government will shoulder 70 percent of the cost of machines. The Philippines has a lot of catching up to do in agricultural mechanization and postharvest. The program for rice mechanization will help boost the modernization of farms in the Philippines. Of course, PhilMech also has a postharvest-mechanization plan for other crops like corn and high-value commercial crops, but that is still being finalized,Cachuela said. Based on PhilMech research, the mechanization level of farms in the Philippines averaged 0.52 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha). The Philippines still ranks very low among Asian countries when it comes to overall agriculture mechanization. Japan still topped Asian countries in farm mechanization with 7hp/ha; South Korea 4.11 hp/ha; China 3.88 hp/ha; Pakistan 1.092 hp/ha; India 1 hp/ha; Thailand 0.79 hp/ha; and Iran 0.7 p/ha. PhilMech has already initiated the identification and validation of recipients for 2011. By August, the agency will have the list of qualified recipients of postharvest machineries. The DA aims to increase paddy rice production to 21.1 million tons by 2013, making the country 100% self-sufficient.

Sec. Alcala (2nd from left) hands over to a group of fishermen in Sabtang, Batanes various fishing gears, which form part of P20million worth of agri-fishery projects and initiatives that the Department of Agriculture will implement to transform the islandprovince into a food self-sufficient community. Assisting him (from left) are DA Region 2 Director Lucrecio Alviar, Jr., Alma Dickson of DA-BFAR, Batanes Rep. Henedina R. Abad, Batanes Governor Vicente S. Gato, and BFAR Region 2 Director Jovita Ayson.

DA commits P20-M agri-fishery projects in Batanes

The Department of Agriculture is investing an additional P20 million in Batanes to tap its rich agrifishery resources and hardworking farmers and fishers, and transform it into a food-sufficient island-province. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala who visited the countrys northernmost province for the first time, June 4 to 6 said the amount is on top of the P71-M the Department of Agriculture through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has earmarked to construct a rainfed reservoir and irrigation dam at Itbayat island, aimed at making Batanes rice self-sufficient by 2014. In a town hall meeting in Basco attended by about 300 farmers, fishers and local officialsled by Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato and Rep. Henedina AbadSec. Alcala said we need to find solutions to your problems. With the help of your leaders, I am sure we can maximize and preserve our production areas and make Batanes self-sufficient in food. Please give us reasons to come back. Of the P20-M worth of projects, P6-M is earmarked for the construction of a seed storage and integrated plant and animal laboratory service building in the capital town of Basco, in Vatan island. The facility will benefit 1,400 farmers engaged in high value
(Pls turn to p11)

Sec. Alcala (2nd from left) plants a seedling on a vegetable patch, which forms part of the 700-square meter demo farm planted to various organic vegetables, during the launch of the Joy of Urban Farming at the Quezon City Memorial Circle compound, on June 27, 2011. The project aims to convince QC and other urban dwellers to turn their idle plots into vegetable gardens and assist in the governments goals of achieving food security and self-sufficiency. Alcala promised to fully support the venture intended for Metro Manila residents and added that the DA will continue to encourage the consumption of cassava, sweet potato, white corn and banana to ease the pressure on rice and promote healthy-eating habits. Others in the photo are (L-R): Quezon City vice Mayor Josefina Belmonte, DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and QC Mayor Herbert Bautista.

Farmers Contact Center Ang Inyong Kaagapay sa Usaping Agrikultura

Call: 1800-10-982AGRI (or 1800-10-9822474)-for provincial toll-free calls 02-982-AGRI (or 982-2474)-for Metro Manila 0920-946AGRI (0920-9462474) for mobile calls Text: 391DA (or 391-32) for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers 0920-946AGRI (0920-9462474) for Globe, TM and Sun Cellular subscribers Email: info@e-extension.gov.ph For the Nutrient Manager for Rice (NMRiceMobile): Call 2378 for Globe Subscribers For Market Information: www.afmis.da.gov.ph Official Website: www.da.gov.ph, www.e-extension.gov.ph