Agri grows by 3.3% in 1st Qtr 2013

Vol. XXVIII No. 5
A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture
May 2013
Agri grows by 3.3% in 1st Qtr 2013
The country’s agriculture industry grew by 3.3 percent (%)
in the first three months of 2013,
as all four subsectors — crops,
fishery, poultry and livestock —
posted respective increases,
grossing a total of P352.5 billion
(B) at current prices.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala said the crops
subsector increased by 3.6%,
bannered by palay and corn,
which grew by 4.45% and
11.43%, respectively.
The crops subsector accounted for more than one-half
(54.1%) of total agricultural production in the 1st quarter of
2013, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
Palay production reached 4.17
million metric tons (MMT), while
corn harvest totaled 2.25 MMT
of corn, valued at P66 B and
P27.8 B, respectively.
The DA chief said the increased harvests of palay and
corn were mainly due to early
plantings, adequate supply of irrigation water, higher average
yields as a result of increased
usage of hybrid and certified rice
seeds, hybrid and OPV corn
seeds, and additional areas
planted to both rice and corn.
“Our efforts are paying off, and
we hope to attain our sufficiency
targets by year-end,” said Secretary Alcala.
“For these achievements, we
thank our country’s farmers and
fishers for their continuous hard
work and perseverance, and
strong cooperation of local gov-
ernment units and the private
sector,” he added.
The DA targets to produce 20
MMT of palay and 8.4 MMT of
(Pls turn to p2)
Phl exports fancy,
black rice to Dubai
With rice sufficiency in sight,
the Philippines after 40 years has
once again exported rice, initially
to Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
comprising of 35 metric tons
(MT) of aromatic, long-grain and
organic black rice.
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala,
who led the ceremonial send-off
at the Manila Harbor Center,
May 6, 2013, said the event is
historic as it ushers in a new era
in the country’s rice industry and
the agriculture sector, in general.
“Ang okasyong ito ay
makasaysayan at patunay
lamang na kayang-kaya ng ating
mga magsasaka na maka-ani at
maka-export ng kalidad na bigas
patungong ibang bansa,” Secretary Alcala said. (Pls turn to p11)
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (6th from left) leads a ceremonial sendoff of rice export to Dubai, comprising of 15 MT of organic black
rice (above) and 20 MT of Jasponica aromatic, long-grain white
rice, at the Manila Harbor Center, May 6, 2013. Also shown (from
left) are: Leah Cruz, president of vegetable importers, exporters
and vendors’ association; DA assistant secretary and national rice
program coordinator Dante Delima; DBMPC director Maria
Helenita Gamela; DBMPC general manager Romano Laurelia;
DA Region 12 director Amalia Datukan; Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry president Miguel Varela; and Bureau of
Plant Industry director Clarito Barron.
DA pays tribute to farmers, fishers
conquering world market
DA, DOLE offer P2-B agri loans for returning OFWs.
The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor and
Employment recently launched a P2-billion financing program to
attract returning overseas Filipino workers and their families engage in agribusiness enterprises. Secretary Alcala and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Demapilis-Baldoz proudly show their agreement
during simple ceremonies, May 7, 2013, at the DOLE office, in
Intramuros, Manila. Also shown (from left) are: DA Undersecretary
Antonio Fleta, and DOLE Undersecretary Danilo Cruz.
The country pays tribute to the
hardworking labor force and
stakeholders of Philippine agriculture and fishery sector as the
Department of Agriculture leads
the nationwide celebration of
Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s
Month, with the theme:
“Magsasaka’t Mangingisdang
Pilipino,
Kaya
nang
Makipagsabayan sa Mundo.”
“We recognize and commend
the contribution of small farmers,
fishers, ruralfolk, and other
stakeholders of the country’s agriculture and fishery industry
who continue to heed the Aquino
government’s call to attain food
sufficiency and sustainability,’’
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J.
Alcala said.
As part of the opening program
(Pls turn to p5)
DA allots P28.8M
for agri-tourism
The Department of Agriculture is allotting an initial P28.8
million (M) to help develop and
promote agri-tourism sites under a multi-sectoral collaboration, aptly called “Green Initiative,” involving other concerned government agencies,
academe and private institutions.
(Pls turn to p12)
Editorial
Magsasaka at mangingisdang Pilipino, kaya nang makipagsabayan sa mundo!
Makalipas ang ilang
dekada, nagsimula nang magexport muli ng mga
produktong agrikultura ang
ating mga maliliit na
magsasaka.
Bagamat mayroon nang
nailuluwas noong nakaraang
mga taon ng produktong
kagaya ng niyog, pinya,
saging, asukal, abaka, at iba
pa -- ngayon lamang tayo
magluluwas ng bigas at mais,
na ani mismo ng mga maliliit
na magsasaka.
Ito’y bunga ng patuloy na
pagsisikap ng Department of
Agriculture na suportahan at
hikayatin ang mga
magsasaka na magtanim at iugnay sila sa pamilihan sa
ibang bansa.
Halimbawa, noon Marso,
nagkaroon ng trial shipment
ng “yellow granex” na sibuyas
sa Japan ang mga
magsasaka ng Bongabon,
Nueva Ecija. Bagamat 20
metrikong tonelada lamang
ang sibuyas na nailuwas, ito’y
Agri grows by ...
walang naniniwala sa kanyang
adhikain at pangarap.
Ngunit, ngayon nakikita na
ang bunga ng FSSP ay hindi
lamang sapat na pagkain para
sa bansa, kundi ang
pagkakataon ng mga
magsasaka na kumita ng mas
malaki sa pamamagitan ng
pag-eexport ng kanilang mga
produkto.
Inaabangan din natin ang
pag-export ng iba’t-ibang
produktong karneng baboy at
manok, dahil ang bansa ay
nanatiling ligtas sa FMD o footand-mouth disease at bird flu.
Dagdag pa rito ang mga
organikong gulay at prutas.
Paalam ‘Ka Pecs’
Sa kabila ng kasayahang
dala ng ating lumalakas na
potensiyal sa pandaigdigang
pamilihan, nagdadalamhati ang
Kagawaran ng Agrikultura, sa
pangunguna ni Sec Procy, sa
pagpanaw ng isang
mahalagang haligi ng bansa sa
larangan ng agrikultura,
partikular sa organikong
pagasasaka.
Nakikiramay ang buong
Kagawaran sa mga naulila ng
ating minamahal na kaibigan,
Perfecto Ruiz Vicente, o mas
kilalang ‘Ka Pecs’.
Siya ang isa sa mga
nagsilbing inspirasyon ni Sec.
sa pagbabalangkas ng
Republic Act 10068 o mas
kilalang Organic Agriculture
Act of 2010.
Dahil sa paggamit ng mga
nalinang na katutubong binhi
ng palay ni Ka Pecs, ang
ating ang mga magsasaka ay
matagumpay na
nakakapagparami ng
organikong bigas na iniluwas
at iluluwas pa sa iba’t-ibang
bansa.
Ang mga ‘bagong bayani’
kagaya ni Ka Pecs ang
mahalaga at matibay na
katuwang ng Kagawaran
upang mabilis na mapaunlad
ang industriya ng sakahan at
pangisdaan sa bansa.
Saludo kami sa inyo!
(from p 1)
corn by end of 2013, making the
Philippines sufficient in both
staples. Last year’s output totaled 18 MMT of palay and 7.4
MMT of corn.
Just recently, the country
started exporting 35 MT of aromatic and organic black rice to
Dubai. Another batch of 80 MT
of premium and organic, colored
rice varieties is being readied for
shipment to other countries.
The DA in partnership with the
private sector also exported 24
metric tons (MT) of corn feed silage for cattle to South Korea. It
is part of a total 15,000 MT of
corn silage to be shipped to that
country this year.
Several crops also posted
gains, which included pineapple
(5.8%), mango (4.5%), tobacco
(4%), sugarcane (2.5%), and
onions (8.5%), among others.
The fisheries subsector, which
shared 16.3% to total agricultural
production, rebounded with a
5.6% growth, as production of
2
makabuluhan dahil hudyat ito
na handa na ang bansa na
makipagsabayan sa mundo.
Wala pang dalawang buwan
ang nakalipas, nag-export muli
ang bansa ng 166 metrikong
toneladang “sibuyas tagalog”
na kilala ring shallot o lasona.
Kasabay nito ang pag-export
din ng 35 metrikong
toneladang premium white at
organic black rice na siya
namang ipinadala sa Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.
Ang naturang mga produkto
ay inaasahang madaragdagan
pa sa mga susunod na buwan
at taon.
Sa mga sunod-sunod na
pag-eexport ng mga
magsasaka at kooperatiba,
unti-unti na nating nasisilip ang
maaari pang mangyari sa
patuloy na pagtatagumpay ng
Food Staples Sufficiency
Program (FSSP) ng
Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka.
Sa kanyang mga talumpati,
parating sinasabi ni Kalihim
Proceso J. Alcala na dati’y
aquaculture species like milkfish
(bangus) and tilapia has increased.
Larger catch of marine species
like roundscad (galunggong) and
tuna were also recorded, as a
result of the conservation measures imposed in Zamboanga
and Visayan Seas, and lifting of
the tuna ban in the Pacific
Ocean.
Total value of fishery production amounted to P59.5 B.
The poultry subsector, accounting for 14.4% to total agricultural production, posted a
2.8% growth, with total value of
production at P45.8B at current
prices. The subsector was led by
chicken, whose output grew by
3.3%, worth P34.6B.
The livestock subsector, which
contributed 15.3% barely grew,
at 0.3%, with total production
value of P54.3B at current prices.
The hog industry grew by 0.36%,
valued at P44.87B at current
prices.
DA chief honors farmer-scientist. Secretary Alcala is shown
with 80-year old Perfecto ‘Ka Pecs’ Ruiz Vicente, one of the
country’s leading farmer-scientists, who passed away May 27, 2013,
at Sto. Niño, South Cotabato. An agriculture graduate from UP
Los Baños who later joined MASIPAG (Magsasaka at Siyentipiko
Para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura), Ka Pecs pioneered in collecting, breeding and propagating hundreds of traditional rice varieties from all over the country. He transformed his farm in South
Cotabato into a techno-demo site and a community rice seed bank,
where throughout his life has trained thousands of farmers on
organic farming, and propagating traditional rice varieties. The
mother seeds of organic black rice exported recently to Dubai by
Don Bosco farmers’ cooperative came from his seed bank. Secretary Alcala considers Ka Pecs not only as a father and an inspiration, but also as a national treasure.
To establish a baseline data
and further improve its services
to fisherfolk, the DA through the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) launched a
National Program for Municipal
Fisherfolk Registration or
‘FishR,’ May 22, 2013, in Manila.
It aims to register all fishers
and their families, using a
simple and standard registration system, as required by the
The Philippines is bent on developing Benham Rise’ as its
newest fishing hub, after the
United Nations recently ruled
that the 13-million-hectare shallow expanse of sea off the provinces of Aurora and Isabela is
Fishers need to register
Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act).
Through FishR, BFAR would
be able to provide better, efficient
and effective services to fishers
and their communities.
It is undertaken as part of the
DA-BFAR’s Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries
(ECOFISH) Project, and will initially cover eight areas.
DA-BFAR eyes ‘Benham Rise’ as fishing hub
part of the country’s territory.
“It is an area where fish species such as bluefin tuna, black
or white marlin and galunggong
Achuete production is profitable! Secretary ‘Procy’ Alcala
(left) samples achuete seeds exhibited by the Vegetable Importers,
Exporters and Vendors Association (VIEVA), at the International
Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines 2013, at SMX Convention
Center, in Pasay City. The DA is encouraging more farmers to plant
and produce achuete, which is mainly used as a food colorant and
additive by food processors, restaurants and the general public.
Domestic production of less than 1,000 metric tons (MT), mostly
in Davao region, is barely enough to supply the rising demand
prompting yearly imports of up to 10,000 MT of achuete seeds and
powder, according to VIEVA president Leah Cruz (right). Also
shown is Director Leandro Gazmin, of the DA Agribusiness and
Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), which co-organized IFEX,
along with the DTI-CITEM.
May 2013
These include Lingayen Gulf,
Verde
Island
Passage,
Calamianes Group of Islands,
Ticao-Lagonoy-San Bernardino
Strait, Danajon Bank, South
Negros, Surigao del Norte and
Sulu Archipelago.
Photo shows BFAR Director
Asis G. Perez (3rd from left) during the FishR launch, along with
DA undersecretary Emerson
Palad (2nd from right), and other
officials (from left): Budget and
Management Undersecretary
Richard E. Moya, USAID Office
of Energy and Environment
Chief Rolf Anderson, USAID
Mission Director Ms. Gloria
Steele, National Anti-Poverty
Commission Secretary Joel
Rocamora, and national
fisherfolk Director Servando P.
Toledo.
(round scad) abound,” said Director Asis Perez of the DA’s
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR).
He said at least seven commercial vessels are keen to operate in Benham Rise, since
studies show that they could
catch 70 metric tons (MT) of fish
per operation.
“At the
least,
Benham Rise
e a c h
is shown at right
r i n g
of Luzon.
netter
could
conduct
at least
two fishing operations
p e r
month.
Moreo v e r ,
each ring
netter
could provide employment to at
least 30 fishermen,” the BFAR
chief added.
To encourage fishing expeditions in Benham Rise, Perez said
the DA-BFAR would put up
postharvest facilities and equipment like blast freezers and
reefer vans in Quezon and Aurora. Carrier vessels will also be
deployed to transport the catch
to the mainland to enable fishing vessels to stay longer in the
area.
The DA-BFAR will also install
66 payaos in the area, in addition to the 49 already in Quezon.
“The deployment of payaos will
provide fishermen with marked
spots where prime-class fish
species congregate. This will
help them avoid wasting fuel
while waiting for a good catch,”
Perez said.
A payao is a layered device
that can grow mussels and lure
squids and other fish species,
since algae grows in the woven
buri tied to the ropes that hold
the device, which are put in place
by sinkers at the sea bottom.
(Pls turn to p5)
3
DA, DND partner to transform camps into farms
The Department of Agriculture
and the Department of National
Defense (DND) have launched
a joint-project to transform idle
or reserved areas in military
camps into farms, and enable
military personnel to produce
their own rice, corn, rootcrops,
vegetables, fruits, fish and other
food requirements.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso
J. Alcala and National Defense
Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin
launched the project — dubbed
as “DA-DND agricultural livelihood development program in
selected military reservation areas” — on May 2, 2013, at Fort
Magsaysay, in Nueva Ecija.
For the joint initiative, the DA
has allotted an initial P5.78 million in the form of farm machinery, irrigation system, inputs, and
technical assistance. The DND,
on the other hand, will provide
personnel to develop appropriate
idle military areas into farmlands,
and oversee the food production
ventures.
Initially, the DA Region 3 (Central Luzon) office, led by Dir. Andrew Villacorta, has identified 25
hectares of land in Fort
Magsaysay, of which 10 hectares will be planted to cassava,
five hectares each to rice and
Secretary Alcala (3rd from right) and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (4th from left) are flanked by
DA and DND officials at the project launch, in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, May 2, 2013. Also shown
(from left) are Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Alan
Luga, DA-Region 3 Director Andrew Villacorta, Major Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr., and DA Assistant
Secretary and national rice program coordinator Dante Delima.
corn, and the remaining five
hectares for future expansion.
The DA through the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will provide tilapia fingerlings and other freshwater species to be stocked in
Pahingahan Dam, within Fort
Magsaysay, as source of fresh
fish. The DA through its livestock
agencies will also provide mili-
tary personnel with AngloNubian and Boer bucks for goat
production, and 50 head of
chicken for broiler and layer production.
Secretary Alcala said seedlings of fruit-bearing trees such
as mangoes, tamarind, and coffee will also be planted around
the camp as added sources of
income and serve as perimeter
barriers to prevent informal settlers to encroach into the camp’s
reserved area.
He said the DA will also help
Fort Magsaysay personnel sell
their excess farm produce during harvest season.
He and Secretary Gazmin
have also agreed to expand the
DA-DND program in other military camps where there are idle
areas that could be transformed
into productive farms as source
of food and additional income.
The DA chief even suggested
that retired military personnel
should be given priority to oversee and manage the food production ventures.
Secretary Gazmin expressed
his gratitude to Secretary Alcala
and the DA family for the joint
venture and strong support, and
said he looks forward to expanding the project in other military
camps and reservations in
Visayas and Mindanao. (Cath
Nanta, DA-AFIS)
DA-BPI issues import permits
to stabilize food supply, prices
DA cites top UPRIIS Irrigators’ Associations. The DA re-
cently cited outstanding irrigators’ associations (IAs) as ‘2012 AgriPinoy Rice Achievers’ for their contribution in attaining a national
record harvest of 18 million metric tons of palay last year. Among
them are the Gloria sa Bagong Milenyo (GBM) and Ubbog Ti Biag
IAs, being served by the DA-National Irrigation Administration
(NIA) Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System
(UPRIIS). Photo shows DA Undersecretary Antonio Fleta (3rd from
right) and NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel (2nd from left) handing over a P1-million check as prize to GBM IA chairman Arturo
Villa (3rd from left) and vice-chairman Felix Venancio Melegrito
(2ndfrom right), during an IA and farmers’ congress, at UPRIIS, in
Nueva Ecija, May 29, 2013, as part of the 50th NIA anniversary
celebration. Also shown are UPRIIS manager Josephine Salazar
(left) and Cabanatuan City Mayor Julius Caesar Vergara (right).
4
The Department of Agriculture
through the Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) issues appropriate import permits — technically
known as SPS or sanitary and
phyto-sanitary import clearance
— when warranted or needed
mainly to stabilize supply and
prices of particular agricultural
commodities.
BPI Director Clarito Barron said
his agency continues to issue
import permits, particularly for
onions and garlic, and it has been
and remains fair in the issuance
of import clearances.
He made the clarification to
disprove the claim of the Philippine Federation of Food Industry, Inc. (PFFII) that the DA-BPI
has not issued permits for onions
and garlic since 2010.
“The claim of PFFII is untrue
and baseless because the BPI
has issued several import clearances for garlic in 2010 and for
onions since 2011. And we remain fair in the issuance of import clearances,” Barron said.
He said the DA-BPI, upon consultation with farmers and industry leaders, issues appropriate
permits to import particular agricultural commodities when there
is inadequate supply and when
prices begin to surge.
“If the supply of a particular
commodity is inadequate and its
price surges upwards, government intervenes by issuing permits to import said particular commodity,” said Director Barron.
Barron said the claim of PFFII
that prices of onions and garlic
in 2010 have reached P210 and
(Pls turn to p11)
DA pays tribute ...
(from p 1)
on May 20, 2013, at the DA retary Alcala
central office in Quezon City, said.
Secretary Alcala — represented
The Farmby Undersecretaries Joel ers’
and
Rudinas and Antonio Fleta, who F i s h e r f o l k ’ s
co-chair this year’s farmers’ and month celebrafisherfolk’s month celebration — tion at the DA
conferred a plaque of recogni- central office in
tion to farmers’ groups and the Quezon City
private sector for being a part of also featured a
a milestone in Philippine agricul- w e e k - l o n g
ture as their respective products ‘tiangge’ or
were exported to other countries farm and food
from March to May, this year.
products for
Last March 16, 20 metric tons sale, and cookof yellow granex onions from ing demonstraNueva Ecija were shipped to tions of various
Osaka, Japan, as part of a part- menus using
nership of DA, farmers’ groups brown rice, DA Undersecretaries Antonio Fleta (left) and Joel Rudinas (3rd from right) co-chaired
and the National Onion Growers white
corn, this year’s celebration of Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, with the theme:
Cooperative Marketing Associa- c a s s a v a , ‘Magsasaka’t Mangingisdang Pilipino, Kaya nang Makipagsabayan sa Mundo.’
tion (NOGROCOMA).
tanglad, stevia, Joining them during the simple opening ceremonies at the DA lobby (from left) are:
Forty days later, a shipment of and asitava, DA high value crops development program national coordinator Dir. Jennifer
166 MT small red onions or among others Remoquillo; Susan Magallo of Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Ass’n.
‘lasona’ from Ilocos and farm and fish- (VIEVA); Jun Diazon, chairman of Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DBMPC)
Cagayan Valley regions was de- ery commodi- in Cotabato; Donnabel Lim of SL Agritech Corp.; DBMPC manager Romano Laurilla;
livered to Indonesia, courtesy of ties.
Tom Park, buyer of corn feed silage; and Butch Umengan, director of national corn
the Vegetables Importers, ExThe month of board and CEO of Ploughshares, Inc.
porters and Vendors Association May is cel(VIEVA).
ebrated every
On April 29, an initial 24 MT of year as “Farmers and DA-BFAR eyes Benham Rise ... (from p 3)
corn feed silage for cattle was Fisherfolk’s Month” under PresiFish hooks laden with baits catch fish in Panatag Shoal
shipped to Busan, South Korea dential Proclamation No. 33 to
through the initiative of give due recognition to the in- also attract a variety of fish, from (Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de
Ploughshares, Inc., National valuable contribution of farmers, tuna and black marlin to other Masinloc), which China claims to
be part of its territory.
Corn Board and the DA corn pro- fishers, and other agri-fishery in- pelagic fish.
Hundreds of payao have been
Payaos were also placed in
gram. The corn silage was dustry stakeholders to nation’s
sourced from farmers in sustained economic and inclu- placed in Zambales and Ilocos Davao Oriental and other areas
Pangasinan.
sive growth. (Adora D. Rodriguez, Region to augment the income in Mindanao.
of fishermen who could no longer
Perez said this year DA-BFAR
On May 6, the DA rice program DA-AFIS)
will install 600 payaos nationin collaboration
wide.
with farmermembers of
Linked to the Philippines
Don
Bosco
On April 12, 2012, the UN’s
Multi-P urpose
Commission on the Limits of the
Cooperative
Continental Shelf ruled that
(DBMPC)
in
Benham Rise is morphologically
Cotabato, SL
and geologically linked to the
Agritech Corp.,
Philippine continental shelf.
and VIEVA, has
It noted that the rocky and
exported an inicraggy plateau is not related at
tial 35 MT of orall to the ocean’s surface, with
ganic black rice
all the 226 points encompassing
(15MT) aromatic
Benham Rise showing characJasponica rice
teristics consistent with the
(20MT) to Dubai.
Luzon land mass.
Last May 15,
The lowest point of Benham
another batch of
Rise is only 35 meters, with
15MT of organic
much of the area only 150
black, brown and Phl eyes more veggie, fruit exports to Singapore. The Department of Agriculture in
meters deep. Pelagic fish spered rice from partnership with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore is eyeing
cies do not venture deeper than
DBMPC was de- to increase exports of Philippine vegetables and fruits to the island city-state. Agricul1,000 meters.
livered
to ture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (middle) discusses with the Singaporean trade delegaNo other country has laid claim
HongKong.
tion, led by managing director Tay Khiam Back (inset, left) of Hupco Pte Ltd, and
to Benham Rise, and UN experts
“These are chairman of the Singapore fruits and vegetables association, various Philippine farm
from Canada and Latin America
testaments to products that Singaporeans are interested to buy. These include durian, yellow dragon
agreed that the Philippines has
the Filipinos’ fruit, pineapple, pomelo, banana, papaya, mango, baguio beans, red pepper and sweet
the right to claim it.
competitiveness, potato, among others. Secretary Alcala met with the Singapore trade team at the sideGeologists from the Departshowing to the lines of the four-day International Food Exhibition (IFEX), May 16, 2013, at the SMX
ment of Environment and Natuworld that our convention center, in Pasay City. Also shown (from left) are: AVA technology senior
ral Resources, led by Rolando
small farmers are specialist Lam-Chan Lee Tiang, Philippine commercial counsellor in Singapore Glenn
Peña, and experts from the Nanow ready to Peñaranda, DA Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service director Leandro Gazmin,
tional Mapping and Resource
compete,’’ Sec- and AVA manager for overseas food supply Lim Xiu Qing Joyce.
(Pls turn to p6)
May 2013
5
Eat rice-corn grits for better health
Mixing white rice and corn
grits could be an option for the
health- and pocket-conscious.
According to a study conducted by the Institute of
Human Ecology in the University of the Philippines in Los
Baños (UPLB), the mixture of
white rice and corn, has
acceptable taste similar to
white rice alone.
If shifting to pure corn is
difficult, try rice composite or
rice blend, said Dr. Artemio M.
Salazar, of the UPLB Institute
of Plant Breeding, during a
recent seminar at the Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRIce) in Science City of
Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Salazar once served as DA
national corn program coordinator.
He said IPB had started
mixing rice with corn grits
about two years ago, experimenting on various ratios of
rice-to-corn in cooking.
The result was generally
good because they used
Quality Protein Maize (QPM),
an open-pollinated variety of
corn that is high in protein and
tastes like rice.
However, they had two
general issues about promoting
it: first, the Filipino culture is
‘rice-centric’; and second, there
is a debate on which is better:
white rice alone or white rice
with corn.
IPB research shows that
eating rice mixed with corn
grits has two major benefits: it
is more nutritional and filling;
and it is cheaper.
“We usually eat rice three
times a day. Each meal will
take two hours before we
digest and turn into glucose. If
the glucose did not burn into
adenosine triphosphate (ATP),
it can heighten one’s risk of
having diabetes.
Eating food items low in
glycemic index (GI) like corn,
brown rice, and other staples
can lessen the risk of diabetes.
Moreover, low GI foods help
delay hunger pangs
and promote
weight loss
in overweight
people,”
he
explained.
Mixing
rice with
corn is
also a more
affordable
choice.
In the Visayas, corn is
cheaper than rice by P2 a kilo.
If rice is mixed with corn using
a 50:50 or 70:30 ratio, it is still
cheaper than pure rice.
Salazar noted that some
Filipinos are hesitant to eating
white corn because it is
regarded as a poor man’s food
and animal feed.
In a cooking demo held
during the seminar, Salazar,
together with Felicito M.
Rodriguez, university researcher at UPLB, sampled
various rice-corn blends--such
as 50:50, 70:30, 100% corn
grits, and 100% rice.
Imelda Angat, a mother and
leader of the Pantawid Pamilya
Program in Brgy. Maligaya,
said “the taste (of the 70:30
DA-BFAR eyes Benham
Rise ... (from p 5)
ricecorn blend)
was good like
rice. I will surely try
this at home because I have
learned that it is more nutritious, more affordable, and is
good to serve to my family.”
At present, corn grits is not
yet available in public markets
but it can be purchased at IPB
in UPLB.
Salazar said IPB, in partnership with the DA national corn
program, will expand its area to
be able to supply the needs
and demands for corn grits.
Decreased consumption of
white rice, as a result, can also
contribute to the country’s
attainment of food security.
“If the corn-eating communities will increase, importation of
rice will be lessened,” he said.
(Coxiela L Cabrera, DA-PhilRice)
Bottled flying fish, anyone?
Womenfolk in Batanes are
now selling flying fish
(Exocoetidae) in bottles as
pasalubong.
Thanks to experts from the
Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR),
members of Ivatan Rural
Improvement Club (RIC) were
trained to process and bottle
flying fish, locally known as
“Libang.”
BFAR Cagayan regional
director Jovita Ayson said
flying fish is sold at only P35 a
kilo during peak season, from
6
March to April.
Fishers and their families
could earn more if they bottle
‘Libang,’ said Ayson.
An eight-ounce bottled flying
fish sells for P60.
The DA-BFAR provides the
bottles, while the Ivatan RIC
sells them through the ‘Island
Souvenir’ shops in all municipalities in Batanes.
The bottled flying fish comes
in various flavors: with tomato
sauce, paksiw and Spanish
style.
If bottled ‘Libang’ is saleable
and becomes a hit among
tourists, the Ivatan RIC will
sustain its production, with the
help of DA-BFAR and
Batanes Provincial Fishery
Office.
The sea between Batanes
and Taiwan teems with flying
fish year-round. (PNA)
Information Authority under Dr.
Peter Tiangco, worked on the
Philippine claim.
They revised the documents
and maps for the claim, which
was subjected to discussions
among other countries interested
in Benham Rise’s marine resources.
Perez said that, as a result of
the UN verdict, the Philippines is
authorized to delineate the outer
limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.
New fishing grounds
The BFAR has been hunting
for new fishing grounds, particularly after tuna catch has been
controlled in the Western Pacific,
and is looking for areas where
round scad, sardines and tuna
thrive.
Perez said these fish species
are present in Benham Rise,
adding that BFAR experts have
noted that most of the tuna
caught in the waters of Quezon
and near Aurora are bigger.
This is said to be attributed to
the presence of sardines, which
is consumed by tuna along with
phytoplanktons.
A problem confronting fisheries in Benham Rise is the rough
character of the Pacific Ocean,
which would require changes in
the construction of fishing vessels that would ply the area.
Experts stressed the materials
that will be used for fishing vessels in Benham Rise should be
sturdy and must be able to withstand 30-meter waves. (Business
Mirror)
To reach Barangay Dacudac,
one has to travel the rough and
rugged terrain of Mankayan in
Mountain Province.
Thus, going to and from the
quaint community had been a
burden to residents and visitors
alike. As such, life was hard, as
many were jobless.
One-hundred two hectares
(has) of the barangay’s total
1,010 has land area, is devoted
to farming, with vegetable
production and livestock raising
as the main sources of livelihood.
However, the distance of the
farms to the nearest trading
areas discouraged the farmers
to transport their goods as they
had to board an eight-seater
jeepney which plies the route
only once every day.
Travelling has always
been uncomfortable as the
drivers had to fill every
space availbale to maximize
the trip, oftentimes loading
20 passengers, with 15
more people atop the
vehicle.
This situation disheartened
the farmers to plant and
improve their production even
more.
May 2013
To top it all, this seemingly
dangerous trip costs P60 to
P120, depending on the bulk of
commodities being trasported.
“Mahirap ang buhay namin at
dahil malayo kami sa bayan,
kalimitan mas malaki pa ang
gastos namin sa pamasahe
kesa sa kita namin sa aming
paninda,” Mario Padon said.
Marlyn Ngan-oy added, “Pag
walang pera para sa transportation, sulong-sulong pa rin ang
aming pagtitinda kahit
maglakad kami ng tatlong oras
para makarating sa palengke
ng Mankayan kung saan namin
binebenta ang aming mga
ani.”
With the establishment of the
Barangay Food Terminal (BFT)
is Sitio Sayapot, food producers
now have a regular market for
their goods and need not go to
town’s business district anymore.
Residents are thankful that
the Department of Agriculture
favored them a trading center,
which is being managed by the
Sayapot Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC).
“Ngayong may BFT na, hindi
ko na kailangang mag-worry
kung saan dadalhin ang aming
mga ani, lalo na kung mababa
ang presyo ng
bilihan,”
Ngan-oy said.
“Nakakatipid
pa ako sa oras
na nagagamit
ko para sa
ibang mga
gawaing
pambahay at
maalagaan kong
mabuti ang aking
anak,” she added.
Overall, the BFT
made the lives of
Sayapot farmfamilies better,
encouraging to
work diligently on
their farms and
allowing them to
do other household chores.
More importantly, it has
given them
livelihood and
helped increase
their incomes.
Velasco
Ablaya said:
“Kapag sa BFT
ko dinadala
AMAS Market Access Program
BFT transforms lives of
Sayapot farm-families
ang baboy na alaga, buo kong
nakukuha ang kita dahil wala
nang bawas na pamasahe at
katay.”
Aside from the financial
savings which they invest as
additional share in the cooperative, others boast that they
save a lot of time and energy
now that they need not to travel
far.
The BFT is open from
Monday to Saturday, 6 am to 7
pm. In addition to farm products, it sells basic items like
soap, toothpaste, canned
goods, noodles, etc.
Other lowland fruits, vegetables, fish (tilapia, bangus,
maya-maya, hito, etc.), ham,
sausages, ice cream, soft
drinks are also sold here.
Aside from Sayapot folks, the
food terminal caters to residents from nearby barangays
including Banao, Cadud-anan,
Cagubatan, Lunga, and Balili.
The BFT has also changed
the behavior of the people who
have become positive in their
outlook and motivated to work.
Residents started farming or
raising livestock.
Even the children were
encouraged to grow vegetables. They use their earnings as “baon” or buy school
supplies.
In addition, the BFT also
helped in easing up hunger
incidence as food and other
basic items were made available and affordable.
Farmers would also barter
their produce at BFT in exchange for other commodities
like fish, sugar, salt, soap, etc.
BFT manager Julie Agsawal
comments, “Masaya ako nang
nagkaroon ng BFT, at
nagkaroon ako ng trabaho.
Pati mga anak ko masaya rin
kasi meron na kaming pera
pambili ng tinapay.”
In times of emergency, the
Sayapot Food Terminal serves
as a lending institution.
For instance, it lent money
to a family when a member
fell ill and needed hospitalization.
Other loans are also
available. Cooperative
members can also avail of
loans for tuition fees or startup capital for a livelihood
enterprise like hog raising,
and handicraft making, etc.
Joan Balagtas said: “Mabilis
makakuha ng mga kailangan
sa BFT, may patronage refund
pa. Pag wala kang pera
puede kang mangutang at
bayaran mo sa harvest time.”
Thru the BFT, residents
have taken an interest in
social work and organized
tree planting activities and
road maintenance projects.
They also extended financial
assistance in times of bereavement, as well as in
various school activities like
sporting events and tokens for
deserving students.
All in all, Sayapot is a more
unified community, all thanks
to the BFT.
But that is not all, there are
other perks too.
Agsawal recalls that she
was able to go to Malacanang
because of a BFT event.
”Nakapasok ako sa Heroes
Hall at nakapag-shake hands
kay President Noynoy Aquino
dahil sa BFT,” she said
proudly.
With the increasing sales
and funds, cooperative
members plan to expand their
operation, put up a mini-mart,
construct a training hall, buy a
hauling vehicle, and engage
in meat processing. (Lea
Deriquito/Oda Rodriguez)
7
DA pilots PRDP projects
in Oriental Mindoro
In preparation for the implementation of the DA’s Philippine
Rural Development Program
(PRDP), several preliminary activities were undertaken in Oriental Mindoro.
The activities--site validation
and assessment workshop-were conducted by the PRDP
National Program Coordinating
Office (NPCO), Regional Program Coordinating Office-IV B
(RPCO), and Oriental Mindoro
Provincial Program Management
and Implementing Unit (PPMIU).
A proposed six-year P27.5-billion program, PRDP aims to
complement current DA initiatives
to put up needed infrastructure
and livelihood, market-oriented
projects, benefitting farmers’ and
fishers’ groups and local government units.
Oriental Mindoro was chosen
as a pilot for calamansi production, processing and marketing,
for which the DA has alloted an
initial P28 million, in addition to
the required equity of the province.
As an initial activitiy, several
NPCO officials and staff, led by
PRDP deputy director Arnel de
Mesa, and their regional and provincial counterparts met on May
20-24, in Calapan City, to prepare
a three-year Provincial Commod-
DAMULOG, Bukidnon—The
Mindanao Rural Development
Program (MRDP), through its
Regional Program Advisory
Board, has approved a project
for the construction of a P6.6million rubber-sheet processing plant here.
Of the amount, P5 million will
be provided by the MRDP and
the rest by the Poblacion-Old
ity Investment Plan (PCIP).
The PCIP outlines the needed
rural infrastructure and enterprise
projects that would be eligible for
funding under PRDP.
While the PRDP will give priority to provinces that can submit proposals early, PRDP Luzon
B Program Coordinator Shandy
M. Hubilla said that swiftness is
only half of the equation, since
proposals must be aligned to the
program development objectives
of increasing incomes and value
of marketed output of householdbeneficiaries and satisfy program
requirements.
He added that the activities
and outputs of the pilot project on
calamansi in Oriental Mindoro will
be observed closely by other
provinces in the process of preparing their own PCIP and subsequent subproject proposals.
DA-Region IV-B Director
Cipriano Santiago said Oriental
Mindoro should look into generating projects that are sustainable to ensure continuous support from stakeholders and other
agencies, well beyond the project
life.
Oriental Mindoro currently produces nearly 60% of the
country’s total production of
calamansi. While it dominates
the market, there is still a big
room for improvement to make
the industry more efficient and
profitable for farmers and other
industry players.
During the workshop, participants were able to identify other
critical constraints that impede
the industry’s inherent potentials.
Among them are: high cost of
inputs, poor road network, large
volume of unsold calamansi
come harvest time, and very low
farmgate price during peak season, plummeting to P5 per kilo.
Under the PCIP, the participants proposed for the construction of farm-to-market roads, and
establishment of a consolidation
and buying center, which will directly link clustered calamansi
farmers’ groups to buyers and
processors in Metro Manila.
A consultation was conducted
on May 23 at the provincial capitol, in Calapan City, where farmers and other stakeholders have
expressed strong interest and
support to the program.
The PRDP is set to be deliberated and approved by the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired
by President Benigno S. Aquino
III, in June or July. (Cath Nanta,
DA-AFIS)
P6.6-M facility to bolster rubber output in Bukidnon
Damulog Farmers Association
(PODFA), the project’s leading
proponent and beneficiary.
The MRDP is a special program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), jointly funded by the
World Bank and national and local government units. The program implements infrastructure
and livelihood
Rubber trees in Damulog, Bukidnon province.
proj ects
(Photo by Noel Provido)
in 225
m un i c i palit ie s
i
n
Mindanao.
A c c o rd i ng
to MRDP
Program
Director
Lealyn
R am os,
the rubb e r
8
Shandy Hubilla (right), PRDP Luzon B Program Director, welcomes the participants from the Philippine Rural Development Program-National Program Coordinating Office (PRDP)-NPCO) and
regional and provincial counterparts during the opening of a weeklong workshop and field validation for the Calamansi Value Chain
Analysis (VCA) and Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP)
from May 20-24, 2013 in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Inset shows
one of the RPCO staff geo-tags a road along Victoria as part of the
field validation for the proposed FMR under the PRDP. Oriental
Mindoro is the pilot project site of the PRDP, focusing on calamansi
industry, expected to kick-off this year.
postharvest facility will boost
production of the commodity in
Bukidnon, since the province—known for its corn and
livestock production—is slowly
becoming known for it.
“The processing facility is
one of the MRDP’s big-ticket
projects [that] aims to upgrade
the quality of rubber produced
in the province, and, at the
same time, provide value-adding activities to our farmers,”
said Ramos, also the DA executive director in Northern
Mindanao.
She also said the facility
would process rubber latex
into sheets, making it readily
available to buyers in need of
these for the production of rubber-based household and industrial products.
Ramos added that the facility will not only benefit farmers
in Damulog, but also those in
the towns of Kibawe,
Dancagan, Don Carlos,
Kitaotao,
Quezon
and
Kadingilan, as well as neighboring Carmen town in North
Cotabato province.
According to Anecito Tinaco
of PODRA, the facility would
initially serve 945.68 hectares
that are planted with rubber
trees.
“Of the said areas, 412.6
hectares [of these trees] are
now ready for tapping, while
the rest can be tapped two to
three years from now,” Tinaco
said.
Herbert Tan, agricultural officer in Damulog, said the expansion of rubber production in
the town is attributed to the
“plant now, pay later” program
of the DA-10 and local agricultural offices. (Noel Provido with
Rosie Paasa)
DA XI gives P41 M rehab assistance to ComVal farmers
The Department of Agriculture
(DA) is providing P41-million rehabilitation assistance to highvalue crops farmers in
Compostela Valley province.
DA-Davao regional director
Remelyn Recoter said the assistance is part of the commitment
of Secretary Proceso Alcala
through the agency’s Task Force
Alayon and High Value Crops
Development Program (HVCDP)
to immediately provide assistance to farmers and their families who were greatly affected by
last year’s Typhoon Pablo.
“Most of the affected farmers
in the province are those tending
high-value crops such as cacao,
banana, coffee, and rubber. We
have to immediately provide them
assistance so they can recover
from such huge losses,” Recoter
said.
“We also need to fast track our
rehabilitation efforts to ensure
that there will be no shortage in
production,” she added.
During last week’s Bulawan
Festival, the DA turned over the
funding support to the provincial
government. A tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DA, the provincial government and private sectors was
also forged to fast track various
agri-interventions.
DA-SELAP opens
P45-M road projects in
ZamPen and ARMM
Five municipalities in Region 9 and three in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) availed of
Farm- to Market- Road
(FMR) projects under the Department of Agriculture- Support to Emergency and Livelihood Assistance Project 2
(DA-SELAP 2) worth P45
million.
SELAP is a project of the
Government of the Philippines (GOP) executed by the
Department of Agriculture
funded by loan under the
United States Public Law (US
PL)-480 program. The
project aims to contribute to
the overall peace and development initiatives of the government in Mindanao.
It first started in the year
2006 and ended in the year
2010 covering 44 municipalities in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Demands received
(Pls turn to p11)
May 2013
Under the cacao rehabilitation
program, the DA turned over a
total of P13.125 million funds to
the provincial government for
both agencies including the
Kennemer Foods Incorporated, a
private company, to establish
1,500 hectare-plantation of cacao.
Farmers covered by the program can avail themselves of free
seedlings, fertilizers, and technical trainings. Another intervention is the cash-for-work scheme
of which farmers are now given
alternative income while the rehabilitation efforts are on going.
“We are also considering cacao to replace abandoned banana plantations infected by the
Fusarium wilt or Panama disease” Recoter said.
To ensure a ready market for
cacao farmers, DA also forged a
marketing agreement between
the farmers and Kennemer
Foods Inc., one of the major buyers of cacao beans in the region.
In addition, DA turned over
P3.2 million to the provincial government to cover the rehabilitation of 200 hectares coffee plantation.
The DA and provincial government in partnership with Nestle
Philippines will also provide
seedlings, fertilizer, training, and
cash for work incentives to farmers.
In February this year, DA has
initially released P10 million for
the rehabilitation of 4,373 hectares banana plantations. These
supported the immediate clear-
DA regional director Remelyn Recoter (2nd from left) turns over a
facsimile check amounting to P11.85 million to Compostela Valley
officials, led by Governor Arthur Uy (right), Cong. Rommel Amatong
of 2nd District and Cong. Maricar Zamora-Apsay of 1st District., .
Also shown are provincial agriculturist Rolando Simene (left), and
Simon Bakker of Kennemer Foods Inc. (Photo by DA-HVCDP XI)
ing operations for small growers.
The second tranche amounting
to P11.85 million was also released last week to continue the
rehabilitation efforts such as
cash-for-work scheme including
giving of fertilizer and farm tools.
“This makes our support to
banana rehabilitation in ComVal
reach almost P22 million, the biggest thus far considering that the
commodity is a maj or dollar
earner not only of the region but
of the country,” Recoter said.
The town of Laak, one of the
region’s largest areas planted to
rubber also received P3 million
funding support as rubber plantations in this area had been severely affected by Typhoon
DA Chief urges Phl, multinational firms to invest more in agri.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) enjoins the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), whose members include
top executives and managers of Filipino and multinational companies, to pour more investments in agriculture, fishery and
agribusiness ventures, including the aggressive promotion and
marketing of ‘Pinoy’ farm, fishery and food products to the rest of
the world. He made the pitch during a breakfast dialogue with MAP
governors, committee officers and members, May 16, 2013, at
Philamlife Tower, Makati City, where he also shared the initiatives
of the DA to attain sufficiency in rice and other major staples, and
exportation of non-traditional products like aromatic and organic
colored rice, corn silage, onions and shallots, among others. Also
shown are MAP President Melito Salazar, Jr. (middle) and MAP
Governor Peter Wallace.
Pablo.
Meanwhile, DA-HVCDP is providing the same interventions to
Davao Oriental and Davao del
Norte where production areas
were also damaged by last year’s
super typhoon. (Noel T. Provido)
DA looks for
investors in
jackfruit prod’n
The Department of Agriculture
in Eastern Visayas is inviting
businessmen to invest in jackfruit
production as it aims to make the
fruit the Philippine’s major export
commodity, it was learned on
Tuesday.
According Regional Executive
Director Antonio G. Gerundio, his
agency seeks to raise the number of hectares devoted to jackfruit production in the region from
400 to 1,000.
Jackfruit plantations have
sprung up in Ormoc City and
Mahaplag town in Leyte province, as well as in Samar
province’s Calbayog City, which
only has about 50 hectares.
“We want to go into largescale, commercial jackfruit production,” Gerundio said.
He added that the region has
established its own jackfruit-production protocol, and that the
Eviarcsweet variety of the fruit –
which is said to be sweeter than
others – has been registered.
This variety was named after
its developer, the DA’s Eastern
Visayas Integrated Agricultural
Research Center. (PNA, Business Mirror)
9
Bill Gates visits ICRISAT
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation,
recently visited India, including
the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid
Tropics (ICRISAT), which is currently headed by former DA Secretary William Dar on May 30,
2013.
He held discussions with the
ICRISAT management and several key scientists to gain a better appreciation of his
foundation’s $10-million research development investment
in ICRISAT.
Gates acknowledged the potential of ICRISAT’s works on
grain legumes and dryland cereals in helping millions of
smallholders farmers in the
drylands of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa lift themselves out
of hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
“ICRISAT crops are great – as
they target millions of smallholder farmers globally,” said
Gates.
His visit highlighted the
uniqueness and importance of
the initiatives of ICRISAT and its
partners, particularly in providing
modern technologies and best
management practices on ‘orphan’ or neglected crops like
grain legumes and dryland cereals.
“The drylands are home to 644
million poorest of the poor, and
highly nutritious, drought-tolerant
crops such as grain legumes and
dryland cereals which are the
best bets for small farmers in
marginal environments to survive
and improve their livelihoods,”
said Dr. William Dar, ICRISAT Director General.
“Chickpea, pigeonpea and
groundnut are the ‘poor people’s
meat’ – crucial for ending global
malnutrition, while sorghum and
millets provide food security to
the poorest people,” added Dr
David Hoisington, ICRISAT
deputy director general for research.
ICRISAT scientists demonstrated the different high-end
sciences that the institute uses
– genomics, bioinformatics,
phenotyping and genetic engineering – all integrated or
complementing each other as
part of its crop improvement program for smallholder farming.
Considered as international
public goods, scientists and national partners worldwide can
have free access to ICRISAT’s
genotyping and phenotyping
data, captured and analyzed
Bill Gates receiving the ICRISAT Ambassador of Goodwill plaque
from Dr William Dar, ICRISAT Director General. ( Photo by
Prashant Panjiar, ICRISAT)
through its work on bioinformatics, for their respective
molecular breeding processes.
”That was cool! ” was how
Gates reacted on ICRISAT’s
lysimeter facility for phenotyping,
a first of its kind in the world and
the largest within the CGIAR
system. The facility is now being successfully used for measuring plant responses to water
stress related to drought and climate change adaptation.
Mr. Gates also engaged in a
roundtable discussion with
Gates grant benefitting RP’s tropical legumes
The grant of Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation (BMGF) to
the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi
Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for
breeding of sorghum and tropical legumes will eventually benefit the Philippines in the critical production “climate smart”
crops.
BMGF
has
adopted
ICRISAT’s HOPE (Harnessing
Opportunities for Productivity
Enhancement of Sorghum and
Millets), extending to it a grant
of $10 million.
“The new varieties that are
being developed under HOPE
and Tropical Legumes can find
application in the Philippines,”
said ICRISAT Director General
William D. Dar.
“We get about $10 million
from Gates Foundation for
three projects namely: HOPEsorghum and millets; Tropical
Legumes; and Village Dynamics.”
BMGF’s aim is to help reduce
10
global malnutrition and poverty
which is achievable by helping
small holder farmers produce a
higher yield.
For sorghum, the goal of
HOPE is to raise productivity by
30 percent. As of 2009, its global yield was at 1.4 metric tons
(MT) per hectare.
A 1,000-hectare area for sweet
sorghum, whose seeds were developed by ICRISAT, is currently
eyed in Negros Occidental, according to National Sweet Sorghum Program Chief Rex B.
Demafelis. It will be a complementary crop to sugarcane as
feedstock in ethanol production.
Sweet sorghum is multipurpose
crop that also gives food, feed,
and fodder.
Sweet sorghum is also now
used by private firm Bapamin Enterprise as raw material for a
hand sanitizer (alcogel).
Bapamin has a 25-hectare area
planted to ICRISAT’s sweet sorghum SPV 422 variety in Batac,
Ilocos Norte.
The project, co-funded by
the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), aims to raise
sweet sorghum area 50 percent per annum in light of the
production of another sweet
sorghum product — an antidiabetic sweetener.
Other tropical legume crops
that Philippines is obtaining
from ICRISAT through high
yielding
varieties
are
pigeonpea (kadyos which is
planted in Ilocos Region) and
chickpea (garbanzos) which is
currently under study for food
processing in a BAR project at
Benguet State University.
“The drylands are home to
644 million poorest of the poor,
and highly-nutritious, droughttolerant crops such as grain
legumes and dryland cereals.
These are the best bets for
smallholder farmers in these
marginal environments to survive and improve their livelihoods,” said Dar.
ICRISAT scientists on the impacts and challenges of applying
the science on the ground. Two
projects funded by the foundation
were highlighted: the HOPE
project (Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement of Sorghum and Millets) in
sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asia which seeks to increase by
30% the productivity of sorghum
and millets in 200,000 farmers’
fields; and the Tropical Legumes I & II project which aims
to enhance productivity of six legume crops (groundnut, cowpea,
common bean, chickpea,
pigeonpea and soybean) by at
least 20% through improved cultivars and management practices
and the development of markets
and value chains.
The poor in the target areas of
these two projects are the most
malnourished, food-insecure in
the world, unable to earn adequate incomes from agriculture
which is their only source of food,
nutrition and livelihoods. The impacts and achievements of these
foundation-funded projects are
now changing the lives of the
poor, providing millions of smallholder farmers with tools and opportunities to boost their yields,
increase their incomes, and build
better lives for themselves and
their families.
Recognizing the consistent
and generous support of the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation to
the institute, ICRISAT honored
Mr Bill Gates as their first Ambassador of Goodwill.
ICRISAT is a member of the
CGIAR Consortium, a global agriculture research partnership for
a food secure future. (ICRISAT)
Phl exports rice to Dubai ...
As the country is set to achieve
rice sufficiency by end of this
year, he said it is prudent to start
eyeing the export market, particularly for fancy or aromatic,
long-grain white varieties and
organic colored and heirloom
rice varieties, where Filipino
farmers are competitive.
“Ang pagluluwas natin ng
bigas ngayon ay bunga ng
maigting na pagtutulungan ng
mga samahan ng mga
magsasaka, pribadong sektor at
mga pinuno at kawani ng
Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka sa
buong bansa,” Secretary Alcala
said.
He said the initial 35-MT shipment is comprised of 15 MT of
organic black rice and 20 MT of
‘Jasponica’ or long-grain, aromatic white rice variety.
The black rice was produced
by farmer-members of the Don
Bosco Farmers’ Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (DBFMPC), in
Mlang, North Cotabato, in partnership with the Don Bosco
Foundation for Sustainable
Dev’t., Inc. (DBFSDI).
It was milled and packed at a
DA-KOICA rice processing center in Matanao, Davao del Sur.
The Jasponica aromatic white
rice was produced by farmers in
Talavera, Nueva Ecija.
The DA through its national
rice program directorate coordinated the initial rice export with
the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Ass’n. (VIEVA).
Together with other DA family
officials, regional directors, the
private sector and farmers’
groups, Secretary Alcala also led
the ceremonial send-off of 166
MT of shallots (or small red onions locally known as ‘lasona’)
bound for Indonesia.
DA-BPI ...
(from p 4)
P120 per kilo, respectively, are
also untrue and bloated.
Based on BPI market monitoring in 2010, retail prices of onion
ranged from P90 to P120 per kilo,
while garlic was sold at P40 to
P60 per kilo.
Barron said harvesting of garlic and onions is ongoing in many
parts of the country. Initial field
reports indicate that this year’s
production would be better.
Last year, total production of
garlic amounted to 8,490 metric
tons (MT) worth P774.37 million
at current prices, while onion harvest totaled 124,830 MT worth
P3.89 billion at current prices,
according to estimates of the
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.
(DA-BPI & AFIS)
May 2013
(from p 1)
Another batch of 80 MT aromatic and heirloom rice varieties
are set for export in succeeding
months, said DA assistant secretary and national rice program
coordinator Dante S. Delima.
“It is composed of 40 MT of
long-grain, aromatic white rice
bound for Hong Kong, and 40 MT
of Cordillera heirloom rice to the
United States,” he added.
Delima said the DA is also
sending a trial shipment of 800
kilograms of black rice to the
Netherlands.
The DA — in partnership with
farmers’ groups and the private
sector — is finalizing negotiations with other prospective buyers in Singapore, the Middle East
and Africa.
“At the rate we are going, we
are confident we could meet our
self-imposed target of 100 metric tons of rice exports by the first
half of the year,” Delima said.
Among those present during
the send-off ceremonies were:
Atty. Miguel Varela, president of
the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; SL Agritech
president and CEO Henry Lim
Bon Liong; VIEVA president Lea
Cruz; Romano Laurilla, general
manager of DBFMPC; and Maria
Helenita Gamela, executive director of DBFSDI.
Dozens of DA officials also
graced the event, led by assistant secretaries Dante Delima
and Salvador Salacup, National
Food Authority Administrator
Orlan Calayag, Director Eufemio
Rasco of the DA-Philippine Rice
Research Institute, Bureau of
Plant Industry (BPI) Dir.Clarito
Barron, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Dir.
Jennifer
Remoquillo,
Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) Dir.
Leandro Gazmin, National
Agribusiness
Corporation
(NABCOR) President Honesto
Baniqued, and all 16 DA regional
executive directors.
Phl eyes livestock, poultry exports to UAE. Secretary ‘Procy’
Alcala (left) and Assistant Undersecretary Abdelrahim Mohamed
Al Hammadi of the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Environment
and Water discuss possible trade and investment opportunities, during the latter’s courtesy call, May 28, 2013, at the DA central office
in Quezon City. Secretary Alcala particularly pitched for more exports of livestock and poultry products to Dubai and other parts of
UAE, as the Philippines remains free from avian flu virus and foot
and mouth disease (FMD). He said the DA is bent on improving and
enhancing the capability of small Filipino farmers, livestock raisers, fishers and food processors to promote and export their respective products to the rest of the world. Early this month, the Philippines exported to Dubai an initial 35 metric tons (MT) of aromatic,
long-grain and organic black rice.
DA-SELAP ...
(from p 9)
from partner local government;
supported by Resolutions from
the Regional Development
Council (RDC) SELAP 2 was
conceived in 2012 to continue
project implementation to assist
the farmers and the fisherfolk.
The f our components of
SELAP are Rural Infrastructure; Livelihood Assistance;
Capability Building and Program Management.
Included in the Rural Infrastructure are the construction
of FMRs that paves market accessibility to agricultural products such as rice, corn and
high value crops. Its project
implementation is by contract.
It applies the 90:10 cost sharing scheme wherein the 90% of
the total cost shall be shoul-
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. For copies, please send requests via email:
da_afis @yahoo.com.
Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes
Associate Editors: Cheryl C. Suarez & Adora D. Rodriguez
Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida N. Bustamante,
Catherine N. Nanta, Marshall Louie Asis, Danica Melegrito
Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers of DA Bureaus,
Attached Agencies & Corporations, MRDP & other ForeignAssisted Projects
Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Kathrino Resurreccion
Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante
Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff
dered by SELAP and the 10%
shall be borne from the proponents or the Local Government
Unit.
ZamPen availed of six road
projects worth 30 million; one
in Vicenzo Sagun, Zamboanga
del Sur ; one each in Sibutad
and in Baliguian Zamboanga
del Norte, and one each in the
municipalities of Payao,
Mabuhay and Naga in
Zamboanga Sibugay.
The ARMM has two FMRs
in Sulu and one in Tawitawi
worth 15 million pesos. (DA9)
DA allots ...
(from p 1)
Secretary Alcala said the DA
is privileged to be a part of
‘Green Initiative,’ which aims to
protect the country’s biodiversity,
create livelihood opportunities
and eradicate poverty in agritourism communities.
It is spearheaded by the ABSCBN Corporation and ABS-CBN
Foundation, in partnership with
the DA, department of tourism
(DOT), environment and natural
resources (DENR), and Ateneo
de Manila University School of
Science and Engineering
(ADMUSSE).
Secretary Alcala joined the re
spective head of the five agencies and institutions during a
memorandum of agreement
(Pls turn to p12)
11
President Benigno S. Aquino III
signed on May 29, 2013, Republic Act 10593 that amends certain
provisions of Republic Act 8048
(Coconut Preservation Act of
1995).
The new law — also called an
“Act Providing for the Regulation
of the Cutting of Coconut Trees,
Its Replenishment, and Providing
Penalties Therefore” states that
no coconut tree shall be cut except in the following cases and
only after a permit has been issued:
• When it is 60 years old in the
case of tall varieties, and at least
40 years old for dwarf varieties;
• When it is no longer economically productive, severely disease-infested and beyond rehabilitation, and severely damaged
by typhoon or lightning;
• When a farm devoted to coconut production is legally converted into residential, commercial, industrial, other agricultural
uses or agriculture-related activities, duly approved by proper
authorities.
• No conversion should be allowed by the PCA until after it has
verified and certified that for a
period of at least three years the
majority of the coconut trees
have become senescent and
economically unproductive or
where the coconut farm is not
adaptable to sound management
practices on account of geographical location, topography,
drainage and other conditions
rendering the farm unproductive;
and when the tree would cause
hazard to life and property.
• No coconut tree or trees shall
be cut unless the owner applies
and secures a permit from the
PCA, which has the power to
approve it. Applicants should pay
PCA a fee of P100 for every tree
to be cut.
The law also provides that the
collected fee be divided as: P40
each for the PCA and municipal
P-Noy signs law regulating cutting of coco trees
or city government concerned,
• Search and seize vehicles fective implementation of RA
and P20 for the barangay, where with illegally-cut, gathered, col- 10593.
the coconut tree to be is located. lected or removed coconut lumIn coordination with the local
RA 10593 states that the PCA ber;
government unit concerned, the
used the collected fees for its re• Stop the transport/shipment PCA will require the registration
planting program, while the town of coconut lumber without author- of all sawmills, lumberyards, coor city for the repair and rehabili- ity or legal documents;
conut wood dealers and other
tation of roads, particularly those
• Confiscate and forfeit in fa- persons or entities dealing in the
damaged by the continuous pas- vor of the government the ille- processing and sawing of cocosage of heavy vehicles used for gally-cut, gathered, collected, re- nut trees.
transporting coconut lumber.
moved, possessed or abanViolators will be penalized with
The new law also states that doned coconut lumber, as well as
imprisonment
of not less than two
no permit to cut shall be granted the machinery, equipment, impleyears
but
not
more
than six years,
unless the applicant has secured ments and tools illegally-used,
from the barangay captain a cer- and to dispose of the same in or a fine of not less than
tification that he/she has already accordance with pertinent laws, P100,000, but not more than
P500,000, or both, at the discreplanted the equivalent number of regulations or policies; and
trees to be cut. The PCA should
• Seek the assistance of the tion of the court. If the offender
verify if a replanting was done. PNP and other law enforcement is a government employee, he/
Such replanting, however, shall agencies for the efficient and ef- she will be dismissed from office.
not apply to areas
legally converted
into industrial,
commercial or
residential sites or
other agricultural
purposes.
The PCA is also
tasked to regulate
and oversee the
fertilization and
care of the newlyplanted coconut
trees, and conduct
regular on-thespot inspections of
the
replanted
sites.
The law also
Secretary Alcala joins hands with other ‘Green Initiative’ movers at a launch,
gives the PCA 'poMay 6, 2013, at ABS-CBN complex in Quezon City. Also shown are (from left):
lice powers' to efTourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio,
fectively perform
ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez, Environment Secretary
its functions and
Ramon Paje, and Ateneo de Manila Univ. Dean Evangeline Bautista.
duties, to wit::
• Inve st ig a t e
DA allots ... (from p 11)
suspected violators;
• Arrest and apprehend any signing, May 6, 2013, at the ABS- ‘pick-and-harvest’ fresh organic
vegetables.
person actually committing or at- CBN complex in Quezon City.
For its part, the DENR through
The DA’s P28.8-M counterpart
tempting to cut a tree without a
permit, and possessor of coco- will be used initially to develop its Protected Areas and Wildlife
nut lumber without the necessary agri-tourism sites in Regions IV- Bureau will provide needed infrastructure, inputs and personB (MiMaRoPa) and V (Bicol).
permit;
Of the total amount, P20 M is nel to preserve and protect the
allotted for the construction of forests and watersheds in sefarm-to-market roads, and the lected agri-tourism sites.
The DA through
The DOT will encourage the
rest for irrigation systems
PhilRice has also crafted
private sector to invest in putting
(P1.2M),
and
implementation
of
'Panatang Makapalay
agricultural production and live- up tourism infrastructure and
for farmers, as part of
lihood proj ects for livestock complementary facilities in agrithe National Year of Rice
(P3.9M), organic vegetables tourism sites. It will also take the
national advocacy cam(P1.15 M), fisheries and lead in promoting the agri-tourpaign. The DA regional
seaweeds (P740, 000), high ism sites to attract as many Filifield units are enjoined
value crops (P630, 000), rice pino and foreign visitors as posto translate it into respec(P610, 000), and coconut (P333, sible.
Both the ABS-CBN Corporative dialects, and trans000).
The DA chief is particularly tion and Foundation will manage
form the 'Panata' into
keen on putting up commercial- and facilitate media exposures of
appropriate advocacy
scale organic vegetable produc- the ‘Green Initiative’ projects to
and promotional paration gardens, and livestock pens create awareness among the
phernalia, and distribute
where native pigs and chicken general public and tourists.
these to farmers groups
Finally, the ADMUSSE is
are raised. These should be esand irrigators' associatasked to mainstream the agritablished
near
existing
or
tions through local govtourism projects as part of its
planned agri-tourism sites.
ernment agriculture ofHe said the vegetable gar- curriculum, as well as monitor
ficers, technicians and
dens, and native pig and chicken and evaluate the progress of the
extension workers.
farms would serve as additional ‘Green Initiative.’ (Cath Nanta.
attraction, where tourists could DA-AFIS)