Aggie Trends August 2010

Vol. XXV No. 8 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture August 2010

AgAgAgAgAggie cgie cgie cgie cgie chiefhiefhiefhiefhief also aims self-suf also aims self-suf also aims self-suf also aims self-suf also aims self-sufffffficiencicienciciencicienciciency in cory in cory in cory in cory in cornnnnn“Let ’s forge stronger

partnerships to make CentralVisayas self-sufficient in food,particularly in white corn.” 

Australia okays import of Davao mangoesDavao del Sur farmers can now

export fresh mangoes toAustralia.  

In a report to AgricultureSecretary Proceso J.  Alcala,Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)Director Clarito M. Barron saidBiosecurity Australia hasapproved on August 13, 2010the request of the Philippines toextend the export of freshmangoes to said country, fromthe previously approved source,Guimaras Island in CentralVisayas, and this time with theinclusion of Davao del Sur inMindanao.

Biosecurity Australia saidDavao del Sur successfully

DA, Cagayan forge counterparting

The Department of Agricul-ture through the AgriculturalCredit Policy Council (ACPC)is alloting an additional P100million for lending exclusivelyto small farmers and fisherfolkaffected by drought, floodingand other natural and man-made calamities.

The ‘climate change-re-sponsive’ credit program willbe implemented through thePeople’s Credit and FinanceCorporation (PCFC).

Meanwhile, the DA-ACPCwill engage an independentgroup to review the effective-ness and viability of its pro-

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The Department of Agricultureand the Province of Cagayanhave agreed to forge acounterparting arrangementbefore 1,000 farmers, localofficials and other agri-fisherystakeholders, who attended aFarmers’ Congress inTuguegarao City, August 30,2010.

Heeding the challenge ofAgriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala, Cagayan GovernorAlvaro Antonio said the provincialgovernment will match the DAfunds peso for peso or one-to-one ratio, for any agri-fisheryproject.

In his speech, Sec. Alcalasaid “let’s start by pursuingvigorously the counterpartingscheme with local governmentunits so we can implement moreagricultural and fisheryprojects.”

He also requested Gov.Antonio and more than a dozenmunicipal mayors present tolend to the DA their respectiveagriculture officers andextension workers so “we couldeffectively and efficientlyimplement more nationalagricultural and fisheryprojects.”

To which, Gov. Antonio andthe municipal mayors respondedpositively.

Sec. Alcala said the DA will

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from right) inspects awhite corn open pollinated variety (OPV) from a 12-hectare founda-tion and registered seed production field at the DA-Cagayan ValleyIntegrated Agricultural Research Center (CVIARC), in Ilagan,Isabela, where an initial 20 tons will be harvested in September.These will be distributed to seed growers and DA regional researchstations nationwide for reproduction into certified seeds, which inturn given to corn farmers for commercial production. Under theAquino administration, the DA aims to achieve self-sufficiency bothin rice and white corn. Sec. Alcala said increasing production andconsumption of white corn will ease the pressure on rice supply.Some 14 million Filipinos mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao eatwhite corn as main staple. Shown with Sec. Alcala are (from left) DA-Region 2 dir. Andrew Villacorta, CVIARC chief Orlando Lorenzana(partly hidden) and CVIARC corn breeder Severino Tumamang. DA-ACPC allots

add’l P100-M loans

re-train them, including smallfarmers and fishermen, tofurther upgrade their skills andknowledge.

During the dialogue, Sec.Alcala, who authored theOrganic Agriculture Act of 2010(Republic Act 10068), said thethe DA under his watch willpromote both conventional aswell as organic system offarming.

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passed the stringentrequirements with regard toquality mango production incommercial scale,management and control ofpests and diseases, andimplementation ofrecommended quarantinemeasures.

Barron said the favorabledevelopment is due to the long-term cleanliness policy, strictquarantine practices and cropmanagement measures the DA-BPI has been implementing foryears in Davao del Sur.

Australia also imports freshmangoes from India, Haiti,Mexico and Taiwan.

This was the chal lengetossed by Agricul tureSecretary Proceso J. Alcalato about 650 participants at a

forum organized by the CebuCoalit ion for Food Security(CCFS), held August 20, at theCol lege of TechnologicalSciences, in Cebu City.

“If we could increase theharvest of white corn, theregion’s major staple, to anaverage of three tons perhectare, then you would be morethan sufficient,” Alcala said.

 “When achieved, we couldease the pressure on ricesupply, and lessen our imports,”he added. 

The current average yield of

corn in Central Visayas is lessthan one ton per hectare,according to the DA Region 7corn program group.

 Some 164,770 hectares areplanted to corn in CentralVisayas, composed of the fourprovinces of Bohol, Cebu,Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

 Ninety five percent (%) or157,110 hectares are devotedto white corn for food, and therest (5% or 7,660 hectares) isplanted to yellow corn for feed.

 Some of the corn areas are

2

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

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information

Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288741 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: [email protected].

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar & Cheryl C. Suarez

Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan, & Kathrino Resurreccion

Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante

Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editorial

BerdeOrganic farming.Ito’y matagal nang

konsepto sa larangan ngsakahan, na ibig dingsabihin ay ‘back to basics.’

Ito’y pumasok muli sakamalayan ng mga pinunoat kawani ng Department ofAgriculture kasabay ng pag-upo ni Secretary ProcesoAlcala.

Siya ang pangunahingnag-akda ng OrganicAgriculture Act of 2010(Republic Act 10068), noongsiya’y Congressman saikalawang Distrito ngQuezon.

Masasabing lumang ideyana, kaso wari ay nakaligtaanng mga datingadministrasyon sa kanilanglayunin na mapataas ngmalaki at mabilis ang ani ngpalay, mais, gulay, prutas atiba pang mga pananim.

Nakagawian na natin angpaggamit ng teknolohiyapara mapataas angproduksyon.

Ano nga ba magagawanatin kung ang mgasakahan ay unti-unti nangnauubos ng mga golfcourse, subdivision atcondominium units?

Walang tayong ‘choice,’ika nga, kun’di humanap ngparaan upang mapataas angani, sa kakarampot nalupang sakahan.

At ‘di pa ‘yun. Sa sobrangsipag sa pag-aanak, hindina makaabot angproduksyon sa bilang ngkailangang pakainin saaraw-araw, at taun-taon.

Kaya masasabingmalaking tulong ang high-yielding varieties, isa na ritoang hybrid rice.

Karaniwang nakakaabotng 7 tonelada bawat ektaryaang inaani, ‘di hamak namataas sa karaniwang 5tonelada ng certified seeds.

Kaso ang nakaligtaannatin, sa hybrid masmaraming kailangangfertilizer para maabot angninanais na produksyon.

At sa sobra o taun-taongpaggamit ng kemikal naabono, umaasim ang lupa,ayon sa mga eksperto.

Kaya bakit ‘di subukan

ang organic agriculture?Sabi ng mga dalubhasa

malaki ang benepisyo, o sawika ni Ms. Universe runner-up Venus Raj: ‘major, major’benefits.

Kabilang na ang maiibsanang pagkasira ngkapaligiran at kalikasan.

Ayon sa report na ‘CoolFarming’ ng grupongGreenPeace, ang paggamitng chemical fertilizers aynakakadagdag sa pagtaasng greenhouse gasemissions.

Ito raw ay resulta ngsobrang paggamit ngfertilizer, land clearance,soil degradation, atintensive animal farming.

Sinabi rin nila na mula 8.5hanggang 16.5 billiontonelada ng carbon dioxideang nagmumula saagricultural activities sabuong mundo.

Suma-total, masmakakatipid kung gagamitng organic fertilizer, dahilkaramihan sa chemicalfertilizer sa bansa ay atinginaangkat.

Ngayon, mas ‘in’ kungtayo’y kumakain ng organicproducts, at ang mga ito’ymas mahal, kagaya ng‘organic rice.’.

Kaya naman, mas malakiang kikitain ng mgamagsasaka at nag-aalagang organic pigs o chicken.

Sa mga puntong ito,malakas nga ang appeal ngorganic farming.

Ayon kay Kalihim Alcala,hahayaan ng DA na mamiliang mga magsasaka kunganong sistema ang naisnila.

Ang importante, aniyaniya, ay maisulong angkonseptong ‘sustainableagriculture’ sa kaisipan atgawain ng lahat na maykinalaman at taya sapambansang sektor ngsakahan at pangisdaan.

Ang malinaw sa ngayonay kung saanmakikinabang ng pang-matagalan ang bansa atmga magsasaka atmangingisda, doon tayo!

Isang kulay at isanglayon: berde!

Sec. Alcala (2nd from left) hands over vegetable seeds, among otherfarm and fishery inputs and equipment, to Quezon Gov. David Suarez,during an agri-aqua fair, August 19, in Lucena City. The DA’spackage of assistance also included 3 hand tractors, 10 sets each ofengine pumps and drum seeders, 300 bags certified rice seeds, 100bags corn seeds, 100 kilos of assorted vegetable seeds, 60 piglets,500 chicks, 100 bottom fish gill nets, 20 squid jiggers, and twomillion bangus fry. Also in photo (from left) are Quezon provincialagriculturist Roberto Gajo, Rep. Danilo Suarez and DA ass’t. sec.Dennis Araullo.

Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala wants to forgestronger partnerships betweenthe Department of Agriculture and local government units tobankroll and implement moreagri-fishery projects throughcounterparting.

In a speech during the Agri-Aqua Trade Fair, in Lucena City,August 19, 2010--as part of the132 birth anniversary ofPresident Manuel L. Quezon--he said he will personally convinceProvincial Governors, City andMunicipal Mayors, including

DA wants stronger ties with LGUsCongressmen, to share theirrespective counterparts with the DAso together they could constructmore infrastructure projects suchas farm-to-market roads, multi-purpose drying pavements or ‘solardryers,’ irrigation systems,postharvest facilities, andimplement more agri-fisherylivelihood projects, among other jointinitiatives.

For its part, the DA will provideappropriate farm and fisheryequipment and inputs tolegitimate and accredited

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August 2010 3

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) explains to UnitedStates Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. themajor initiatives the  Aquino Administration will undertake to attainrice self-sufficiency by 2013, during the latter’s courtesy call August12, at the DA, Quezon City. Alcala took the opportunity to thankAmbassador Thomas for the sustained mutual cooperation andtrade between the two countries, particularly in the area ofagriculture, fisheries, and agribusiness. The country’smajor agricultural export products to the US are coconut, sugarand seaweeds, while our leading US agricultural importsare wheat, soybean meal and dairy products. They both expressedconfidence that the centuries-old RP-US partnership will be furtherenhanced during the respective terms of Philippine PresidentBenigno Aquino III and US President Barack Obama.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoAlcala urges rice millers forsustained cooperation, particularlyin sharing credible data, to ensurestable supply of rice in the country. 

In a meeting with rice millers atthe DA’s Bureau of Soils and WaterManagement auditorium in QuezonCity, he said: “Let’s help each otherto address the problems of the riceindustry. We enjoin you tostreamline your data, as it will helpto efficiently manage the riceindustry. 

He called on the rice millers toassist the DA particularly in arrivingat a more credible estimate of thecountry’s total rice inventory, andthus come up with a better pictureof the national rice supply situation,and thus avoid over-importation andhoarding. 

“Bear in mind that if you would

Filipino children to benefit fromDSWD-NFA rice feeding program

RP must prepare for climate change

The Philippines must brace upfor climate change, as naturalcalamities would adversely af-fect a total of 22 million hect-ares of the country’s farmlandsand fishing grounds, and exacta heavy toll on food production.

This was the grim scenariopainted by a technical expertfrom the Department of Agricul-ture (DA) who presented a tech-nical paper during a recent fo-rum--‘Are we prepared for La

Niña?’--at the DA-BSWM.Dr. Esteban C. Godilano, a DA

adviser on remote sensing andGIS technology, said of the 22

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Sec. Alcala (inset, top left) enjoins provincial governors tocounterpart with the DA so they could implement more agri-fisheryinfrastructure and livelihood projects, during the 2nd generalassembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP),August 27, in Manila. Shown at the head table are LPP chairmanand Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, LPP Presidentand Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali, OccidentalMindoro Gov. Josephine Sato, and DA undersecretaries JoelRudinas and  Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

Tens of thousands of Filipinopre-schoolers from about 48,000day-care centers will benefit froma rice feeding programnationwide to be implementedby the Department of SocialWelfare and Development(DSWD) and the National FoodAuthority (NFA).

The feeding program will entail50,000 tons of rice which wouldbe made into porridge.

“We will be using overstockedrice for the program. All ourwarehouses are full and wecannot sell rice to the market.This is one strategy to declogthe 480 governmentwarehouses,” said NFAspokesman Rex Estoperez.

About one million sacks (50kilograms each) of rice will beused in the feeding program.

NFA Administrator Angelito T.Banayo said some of theoverstocked rice were rotting, asimport orders by the Arroyoadministration had beenextremely excessive. He hintedthat corrupt officials may havebeen responsible.

“I don’t want to judge mypredecessors. Whetherculpability lies in incompetenceor something worse, which iscorruption, the figures speak forthemselves,” he said.

He said part of the 2.4 milliontons of the grain bought by Mrs.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’sgovernment last year were duefor delivery in September, butthere was no more space tostore them. (Business World)

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DA chief urgesrice millers to sharereliable inventory

report less, we would be forced toimport, and such would adverselyaffect you. Hence, we have to getaccurate figures on the current riceinventory,” he noted. 

The rice millers, for their part,commended Alcala’s initiative toconsult with them.

They also raised concerns on theavailability of credit for farmers. Theysaid government should providefarmers accessible and affordableloans, in a more sustainable basis,to enable them to buy quality seedsand fertilizers, among otherproduction and postharvest inputs,and thus increase their yields and

income. With more palay harvests,rice milling and trading activitiespick up, they reasoned. 

During the dialogue, he reiteratedthe DA’s major thrust to attain riceself-sufficiency by 2013 byexpanding areas planted to high-yielding varieties. 

“We have already crafted a planto achieve rice self-sufficiency by2013. Part of it involves graduallyexpanding rice farms planted tocertified seeds.

From the current 20 percent oftotal rice areas, we aim to push itto 45% by 2011, and further to 65%by 2012,” Alcala said. 

million hectares, about 13 mil-lion hectares of farmland couldbe hit by a prolonged dry spell,5.53 million hectares run therisk of being inundated by heavyrains brought by La Niña, andlandslides may affect as muchas 3.4 million hectares of farm-ing areas.

For his part, DAUndersecretary Joel Rudinassaid that is why “we have al-ready set in motion the estab-lishment of water impoundingfacilities, and Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso J. Alcala has

4

Mechanization and ethanolproduction are the key to a moresustainable and globally-competitive sugarcane industry.

This was the generalsentiment put forward by dozensof sugarcane farmers, millersand industry stakeholdersduring an August 5 forum, at theDA-Sugar RegulatoryAdministration in Quezon City.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoAlcala initiated the dialogue—afollow-up to an earlier meetingheld in July at the DA—toaddress the major concerns ofthe stakeholders and map outindustry directions.

He said under his watch, theDA-SRA aims to attain threemajor goals, namely: increaseproduction of sugarcane andethanol; achieve stabledomestic supply of sugar andstabilize prices; and raisefarmers’ incomes.

These goals, he said, are allgeared toward making thecountry’s sugar industry globallycompetitive in the light of theenforcement of the ASEAN FreeTrade Agreement (AFTA).

As per the AFTA, tariff rateson imported sugar fromcompeting ASEAN countries willbe gradually reduced from thecurrent 38% to only 5% by2015.

By 2012, the tariff rate will godown to 28%, 18% by 2013, and10% by 2014.

Foreseeing the impact of thetariff reductions on the localsugar industry, Alcala said: “Wehave to prepare the country,sugarcane farmers, andeveryone.”

“We, therefore have toincrease the production ofsugarcane for both sugar andethanol.”

For their part, sugarcanefarmers, particularly themembers of the Mill DistrictDevelopment Committees(MDDCs), said governmentshould extend help by providingnecessary equipment such astractors, irrigation system andtrucks to be able to catch up.

Other farmers also clamoredfor more farm-to-market roads inmajor sugar producing provincesfor faster and more efficienttransport of canes to the mills.

To fast track such imperatives,the MDCCs proposed that theperformance bond and servicefees from sugar imports be

Sugar stakeholders air concernson mechanization, ethanol prod’n

Sec. Alcala (middle) meets with the Board of Directors (inset) of thePhil. Sugar Technologists Ass’n. prior to the 57th PhilsutechConvention, August 18, at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu, wherehe outlined joint initiatives to strengthen the industry and makeit globally competitive. With him are Cebu Governor GwendolynGarcia (right) and Philsutech president Democrito Oppus.

turned over to the SRA and usedas fund to bankroll theequipment needed.

Currently, sugar imports arecoursed through the NFA,which collects andsubsequently benefits from thecollected fees.

Meanwhile, the MDDCs areoptimistic that the country’sproduction of ethanol could beincreased.

Under the Biofuels Act of2006, fuel companies arerequired to blend ethanol withgasoline at 5% this year and10% next year.

Current ethanol demand isestimated at about 219 millionliters (ML) versus domesticproduction of a mere 80 ML,derived from sugarcane andmolasses.

Ethanol demand next year isestimated to more than double,at 460 ML.

During the dialogue,members of the EthanolProducers Association of thePhilippines complained that thecurrent tariff on importedethanol is too low, at only 1%,hence pricing out locally-

DA-BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento (2nd from left) answers aquery from a seaweed stakeholder during a dialogue with the offic-ers and members of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philip-pines (SIAP), Aug. 18 in Cebu, which was also attended by Sec.Proceso J. Alcala. In photo with Dir. Sarmiento are SIAP vice presi-dent Andy Wee (left), and SIAP president Benson Dakay.

produced ethanol.They proposed an increase of

up to 20% to protect the localethanol industry, and attractmore investors into the country.

Likewise, ethanol producersasked for the immediateissuance by the DOE of aDepartment Circular for a newset of guidelines to importethanol.

Seaweed industry to get R&D, technical supportThe seaweed industry will re-

ceive research and development(R&D) and technology supportfrom the DA-Bureau of Fisher-ies and Aquatic Resources(BFAR), following a dialoguebetween industry stakeholdersand Agriculture SecretaryProceso Alcala in Cebu City,Auguest 18.

“We will provide the seaweedindustry with research and de-velopment support, as well as

technology support to help real-ize the potential of the industry,”said Secretary Alcala.

Industry stakeholders led bythe Seaweed Industry Associa-tion of the Philippines (SIAP)relayed industry problems thathinder growth such as lack offinancial aid and high tariffs onseaweed exports.

SIAP president BensonDakay seaweed farmers needaccessible and affordable loans.

They said the DOE has

conducted several consultations

on the matter, but has not yet

issued the much-needed

circular.

Importers are thus enjoying

the 1% tariff, based on the old

DOE guidelines prior to the

enactment of the Biofuels Act

of 2006.

Although the Land Bank of thePhilippines and other ruralbanks have specialized loan fa-cilities for the fisheries industry,financing has always been aproblem of most farmers, Dakaysaid.

Dakay also urged the DA toinitiate talks and convince Chinato lower its tariffs on Philippinecarrageenan.

He said China is a big marketfor seaweeds, but it imposes ahigh 35% tariff on carrageenanfrom the Philippines and othercountries.

At present, China importsabout 50,000 metric tons (MT)of raw seaweed from Indonesiaand 10,000 MT of cottonii sea-weed from the Philippines. Bothcommodities are tariff-free.

Dakay said they are optimis-tic the Philippines can export35,000 MT of carrageenan toChina in a year, if the tariffs werelowered.

Alcala vowed to help the sea-weed industry, as he acknowl-edged its potential in providingruralfolk more jobs and farmerswith higher income. (PhilippineStar)

5August 2010

‘Agri-Pinoy’ trading centers soon to riseTo provide farmers and

fisherfolk direct market for theirproducts, and enable them toearn more profit, the Depart-ment Agriculture will set up ‘AgriPinoy’ trading centers in strate-gic areas nationwide.

Agricultuire SecretaryProceso J. Alcala said this ini-tiative will in part realize Presi-dent Aquino’s commitment toestablish more trading centers,grains terminals, and post har-vest facilities to directly benefitfarmers, fishers, ruralfolk andconsumers in general.

With the establishment of AgriPinoy trading centers, Sec.Alcala said farmers and fisherswill be able to sell their productsdirectly and regularly to con-sumers and institutional buyers,and hence earn more money.

In this regard, he recently cre-ated an Agri-Pinoy Trading Cen-ter Program Management Com-mittee (ATC-PMC), with DAhead executive assistant ArnulfoMañalac as director of the pro

DA Chief swears in, designates new officialsAgriculture Secretary Proceso

J. Alcala swore in three new DAofficials, who were recently ap-pointed by President Benigno S.Aquino III. They are:

• Dr. Davinio Catbagan as as-sistant secretary for livestock,and designated as the Philip-pines’ Chief Veterinary Officerand official delegate to the WorldOrganization for Animal Healthor Office International desEpizooties (OIE). He previouslyserved as officer-in-charge of theDA-Bureau of Animal Industry(BAI), from August 2005 to June2010;

• Edilberto M. De Luna as as-sistant secretary for field opera-tions. Prior to his appointment,he served as regional managerof the DA’s Philippine CoconutAuthority (PCA) in Region 4-A,from September 2005 to August2010; and

• Engr. Antonio S. Nangel asadministrator of the DA’s Na-tional Irrigation Administration(NIA). Prior to his new post, heserved as project manager of theNIA’s Upper Pampanga River In-tegrated Irrigation Systems(UPRIIS), the country’s largestnational irrigation system, whichoperates Pantabangan Dam,serving over 100,000 hectares offarmlands in Central Luzon.

Sec. Alcala has also desig-nated several DA officials to per-form other tasks in addition totheir current assignments and re-sponsibilities, namely:

• Ass’t. Sec. Dennis Araulloas national program coordina-tor for rice and corn;

• Ass’t. Sec. SalvadorSalacup as Ass’t. Sec. for fish-eries, in addition to his currentdesignation as A/Sec foragribusiness and marketing,and DA spokesperson;

• Dir. Romeo Recide of theDA-Bureau of Agricultural Sta-tistics as Officer-in-Charge ofthe Office of the Ass’t. Sec. forpolicy and planning;

• DA-OSEC Head ExecutiveAss’t. Arnulfo Mañalac as pro-gram director of Agri Pinoy Trad-ing Center project managementoffice; and

• Dr. Henry T. Carpiso as OICAss.t Director of the DA-Bureauof Plant Industry.

Sec. Alcala (left) swears in Dr. Davinio Catbagan and Edilberto de Luna as Assistant Secretary forLivestock, and Field Operations, respectively; and Engr. Antonio Nangel as Administrator of theNational Irrigation Administration.

gram management office(PMO).

The ATC-PMC is tasked todevise specific production, mar-keting and post harvest infra-structure projects, which thePMO will undertake in coordi-nation with concerned DA com-modity program directoratesand agencies.

Dir. Mañalac said one sitebeing considering is La Trinidad,Benguet, particularly at theBenguet State University (BSU)compound near the ‘strawberryfield.’

To immediately pursue theplan, Sec. Alcala has instructedDir. Mañalac and Dir. LeandroGazmin of the DA-AgribusinessMarketing and Assistance Ser-vice to coordinate with BSUPresident Rogelio Colting,Benguet Governor NestorFongwan, La Trinidad MayorArtemio Galwan, vegetablefarmers’ groups and DA-Cordil-lera Dir. Pedro Jerry Baliang.

Students pledge to save riceClose to a thousand college

and high school students in Cen-tral Luzon recently pledged tostart conserving rice, in supportto the ‘Save Rice, Save Lives’movement of the DA-PhilippineRice Research Institute(PhilRice).

They recited their mass pledgeduring the ‘weRice’ forum, August19, at the Central Luzon Univer-sity (CLSU), Science City ofMunoz, Nueva Ecija.

The affair is one of the activi-ties leading to the 25th anniver-sary celebration of PhilRice inNovember, which also coincideswith the National Rice Aware-ness Month.

With the celebration, the DA-PhilRice aims to massively pro-mote rice conservation tips andincreased consumption of brownrice, as well as inform farmersthat they can continuously ben-

efit from DA-PhilRice, as it con-tinues to develop modern, cost-effective, high-yielding, income-boosting, and sustainable ricefarming technologies and sys-tems.

Said initiatives are congruentwith President Aquino goal toattaining and sustaining riceself-sufficiency, and at the sametime reducing incidence of pov-erty and malnutrition.

The ‘weRice’ forum was orga-nized in collaboration withCLSU’s Communicators for De-velopment, focusing on stu-dents’ role in helping the coun-try become rice self-sufficient,and encouraging them to avoidrice wastage, which averagesthree tablespoons of cookedrice everyday.

In his report to AgricultureSecretary Proceso Alcala,PhilRice executive director

Ronilo A. Beronio said if ricewastage could be totallyavoided, the country could saveabout P10 billion in rice imports.Such an amount could feed 3.8million hungry Filipinos in a day.

“I’m surprised that wastagecan have these disturbing con-sequences.

“I don’t waste cooked rice, butbecause of what I’ve learnedfrom the forum, I’m more com-mitted now to finish the rice Iput on my plate,” said CLSU ag-riculture student Lyra MarieMeneses.

Another agriculture student,Mc Neil Mendoza, supportsMeneses, adding that he will bemore cautious in eating rice soas “not to waste even a singlecrumb.”

Meanwhile, 18-year-old RyanTolentino has an entrepreneur-ial way of saving rice, saying leftover rice could be dried and thenused as main ingredient in mak-ing burong isda, one of NuevaEcija’s famous products of fer-mented fish and rice.

Simultaneously on August 19,

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Rice farmers in Sulop,Davao del Sur will soon enjoybetter and bigger harvests, astheir communal irrigationsystem (CIS) is nearingcompletion.

The Sulop CIS is among theseveral irrigation systems thatthe Department of Agriculture,through the Mindanao RuralDevelopment Program (DA-MRDP), will rehabilitate thisyear.

In her report to AgricultureSecretary Proceso J. Alcala,MRDP director Lealyn Ramossaid they target to repair andrehabilitate several CIS andcommunity-owned andirrigation systems, with acombined service area of8,300 hectares of rice lands.

The MRDP is also support-ing the construction of acouple of communal irrigationprojects (CIPs), with a totalservice area of 800 hectares,added Ramos, who is concur-rently DA-Region 10 (NorthernMindanao) director.

For his part, OscarMandalope, president of SulopIrrigators’ Association Inc.,said they badly need anirrigation system, as theirfarms are mostly rainfed.

To sustain their rice farmingactivities, Mandalope saidsome farmers have thereforeresorted to constructingshallow tube wells (STWs),which are dug in 120 to 150feet, to pump out groundwaterto irrigate their fields.

The STW system, however,makes rice farming moreexpensive and laborious,added Mandalope.

“With STW, we spend moreon fuel. It also demands extratime, as we have to irrigateour fields not only during theday but also at night,” he said.

“The high input and laborcosts have prompted us andother farmers to shift to othercrops, such as banana,sugarcane and kangkong,which give them better yieldand more income.”

Such is the current majorproblem in Davao region,according to DA-Daveo regionDirector Carlos Mendoza.

In fact, he noted that cropshifting is one of the majorreasons why rice productionhas declined in Davao region.

“Although it would bedifficult to stop farmers fromshifting to other crops, we

Irrigation boosts rice production in Davao del Sur

need to address this growingconcern,” Mendoza said.

Farmers resort to cropshifting simply because it istheir farm and therefore theirpersonal choice and decision,and more imporantly theywant bigger income from theirland.

Mendoza added that one ofthe measures that should beundertaken to improve theproductivity of rice farmers isfor government to providesufficient investment inirrigation facilities.

“We are glad that our townofficials, as well as theprovincial government haveteamed up with the DA-MRDPto establish the communalirrigation project in ourcommunity,” said Mandalope.

The Sulop CIS, the firstirrigation project constructedby the DA-MRDP in saidtown, will serve at least 200hectares of farmland.

In all, MRDP Dir. Ramoslauded the initiatives of theDavao del Sur provincialgovernment led by Gov.Douglas Cagas, as well asthe muncipal officials ofSulop, for partnering with theDA-MRDP to help farmersimprove their crop production,and earn more income.

She also urged other localofficials in Mindanao to availthemselves of the DA-MRDPirrigation program, where atotal of P112 million is allotted

Oscar Mandalope, president of the Sulop Irrigators’ Ass’n. in Davao del Sur, inspects a section of theSulop communal irrigation system, which serves 200 hectares of riceland. (Sherwin Manual, DA-MRDP)

for CIPs and P747 million forCIS.

Unfortunately, Ramos said,said funds remain mostlyuntapped.

“MRDP is implementingirrigation and other ruralinfrastructure through a 50:50cost-sharing scheme, where50 percent of the total projectcost is shouldered by theprogram and the other half bythe local government unit,”Ramos said.

The MRDP is a long termpoverty reducing interventionprogram in Mindanao fundedby the World Bank withadditional financial assistancefrom the national government,and a counterpart fund fromthe local government unitwhere the project is beingdeveloped.

The program includesinfrastructure projects such asirrigation systems and farm-to-market roads that supportagricultural productivity,livelihood programs,governance reforms andenvironmental conservation.

FMR Project

Dir. Ramos also reportedthat a P3.5-million three-kilometer farm-to-market road(FMR) will be constructed inSitio Loay, Sta. Cruz, Davaodel Sur.

Once completed, the roadwill serve at least 428 farm

households, and help farmerssave at least P25 per sack ofany produce transported. It willalso increase their income byat least 20%.

Over the years, due to thepoor condition of the road,going to and from thepoblacion or town center takesa lot of effort, sacrifice andcostly transport fare.

Firstly, farmers and ruralfolkhave difficulty bringing theirvarious products to themarket.

Schoolchildren are alsobeen exposed to lot of danger,going to and from school.

Public service is also slow,as employees of the municipalgovernment have difficulty inbringing needed social andmedical services to theirconstituents.

Worse, during the rainyseason the road becomesmuddy and only horses couldtraverse it.

Thus, farmers had to shellout P60 per sack of rice orcorn just to transport productsto the market.

The FMR project is thereforea welcome development for allresidents in Sitio Loay.

“We have set this roadrehabilitation on top of ourpriorities for the barangaysince we have been isolatedfrom most areas in Sta. Cruzmainly due to our poor roadcondition,” said a barangayofficial. (DA-MRDP)

7August 2010

Dairy farming hassuccessfully transformed thelives of ruralfolk in Brgy.Tacunan, Tugbok District,Davao City.

Majority of the householdsare now earning more income,thanks to their dairy cows thatprovide them fresh milk forhome consumption and forsale.

To sustain their operation,the Department of Agriculturethrough the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR) ishelping them produce animalfeed for their dairy cows.

The initiative is funded underthe DA-BAR community-basedparticipatory action research(CPAR) project, entitled “DairyCow Feeds Processing.”

With the increasing cost ofcommercial feeds, many dairyfarmers have shied away fromengaging in said enterpise.

Feeds are crucial in dairyfarming. The kind and quality offeeds given to cows determinesthe amount and quality of milkthat they will produce.

Commercial feeds are stillthe best choice, but they areexpensive.

Hence, the DA-BAR hasapproved and funded the

Dairy farming empowers households,transforms lives in Davao City

project to help dairy farmers inTacuanan.

It is implemented incoordination with the DA-Southern Mindanao IntegratedAgricultural Research Center(DA-SMIARC) and the localgovernment unit of Tugbok.

One of the beneficiaries ofthe CPAR project is theTacunan Dairy FarmersCooperative (TADAFCO),whose members previouslyreceived dairy cows through aloan granted by the DA’sNational Dairy Authority(NDA).

The TADAFCO started in2003 with 22 members. Fourof them took care of 11 dairycows, which served as theinitial investment of thecooperative.

Under the CPAR project,TADAFCO farmer-memberswill produce and formulatetheir own feeds, for their dairycows and sell the excess tonon-members, as additionalincome.

“As part of the projectintervention, TADAFCOfarmer-members underwent a40-hour training and seminaron feed mixing and formulationconducted by the Technical

Education and SkillsDevelopment Authority(TESDA),” said Myrna S.Cantilla, SMIARC senioragriculturist and CPAR projectleader.

Cantilla explained that infeed formulation, crude protein(CP) is an essentialconsideration.

Crude protein estimates thetotal protein content of feedsand usually, the higher the CPcontent in commercial feeds,the more expensive it is.

The lactating mash thatTADAFCO formulated isessential to produce largevolume of quality milk with 20percent CP.

Javier Oliveros, a TADAFCOmember, said that “in thefeeds that we produce, the CPis higher but still cheaper. Thisis indeed good news for smalldairy farmers like us.

“For members, we sell thefeeds at P13.20 per kilo, whilefor non-members we sell it forP16.50 per kilo.

So, for every kilo sold, ourCoop earns a net profit ofP3.30.”

TADAFCO ChairmanPatricio S. Ultiano said the

project is a big help for smalldairy farmers in Tacunan.

“There was a big increase inour milk production. And weearnestly hope that with thegood results of this project, wewill be able to encourage morefarmers to go into dairyfarming, and contribute moreto the national production ofmilk in the country,” he said.

“Prior to the CPAR project,our average daily milkproduction is 104 liters whichamounts to P14,560.

“After we started formulatingour own feeds, our averagedaily milk production hasincreased to 117 liters worthP16,380. On a dailyproduction basis, we get a netprofit of P1,820 or a total ofP7,280 monthly,” Ultianoadded.

Cantilla, said that althoughthe CPAR project is still in itsearly stage, they are gettinggood results and benefits.

“We hope more dairyfarmers will adopt thetechnology, so too they willbe benefit, not just theTacunan farmers,” Cantillaconcluded. (DA-BAR)

8

The Department of Agriculture(DA) and the AgriculturalTraining Institute(ATI) in RegionVIII have launched a greenhouseand techno-demo project,respectively, on high valuecommercial crops, benefitingfarmer-leaders and agriculturalextension workers.

The Department of Agriculture(DA) has completed repair of theP2-million  irrigation system inUpper Pangi, Ipil, ZamboangaSibugay.

Dr. Oscar O. Parawan, DARegional Executive Directorrecently turned-over   the projectto the  Municipality of Ipil, whichwas then handed to membersof the Ipil Irrigators MultiPurpose Cooperative (IIMPC). 

The project was funded under theDA’s Zamboanga PeninsulaIntegrated Agricultural DevelopmentProgram (ZIADP), which entailedthe concreting of the 450-meterirrigation canals of the Upper Pangiirrigation system.

The irrigation system,spanning 7.5 kilometers, was

DA repairs P2-M  irrig’n system in Ipilconstructed in 1979, and thenlater   rehabilitated under theDA’s Rural InfrastructureDevelopment Program (RIDP). 

“With the climatechange that we areexperiencing, I suggest that theLGU together with the farmersshould redesign their croppingschedule to make the most ofthe rains for rice farming,” hesaid.

Parawan said repair andconstruction of irrigationsystems should be prioritizedto increase rice production, andthus lessen and eventually stopimportation,

The irrigation canal isexpected to serve 180 hectaresof farmland. (DA9) 

DA, ATI launch greenhouse project

DA Region 9 Director Oscar O. Parawan (3rd from left) leads theinauguration of the P2-M canal concreting of the irrigation systemin Upper Pangi, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

 The greenhouse projectswere launched in two sites--inB o r o n g a n ,   E a s t e r nSamar; and Catarman, NorthernSamar--by DA Region 8.

The ATI, for its part, conducteda technology demonstrationprogram orientation at bothsites for beneficiaries.

Both programs aim to promoteimproved technologiesapplicable to certain crops thatwill result to increasedproductivity.   

 “The greenhouse technologymakes it possible for farmers toproduce high quality vegetableseven amidst adverseconditions,” said DA-Region 8Executive Director Leo P.Cañeda.

Complementing thegreenhouse project is the HVCCtechno-demo, which serves tos h o w c a s e   i n t e g r a t e dapproaches and maturedtechnologies not only forvegetables but also for othermarket-driven crops such asbanana and rootcrops.

“Those that cannot beaccommodated in thegreenhouse may as well growprolifically in the open field usingappropriate technologies. Thiswill enable farmers to compareproduction outputs under thenew technology and that of theconventional productionpractices,” said ATI region 8Director Paul T. Cabahit.

To date, there are already 18greenhouses established indifferent vegetable-producingareas in the region.

 Dr. Veronica J. Berenguer, DA8 HVCC program coordinator,said the projects are part of theiroverall effort to increase theregion’s vegetable production by4%, from last year’s 212,554metric tons.

FAO project to benefitconflict-affected ruralfolk

To effectively control croppests and diseases in Bicol,the Department of Agriculture,Region 5 Crop Protection Center(RCPC) will launch BantayPeste Brigade, a village-levelcrop protection strategy, .

It will be spearheaded byvolunteer farmer-graduates ofthe Integrated PestManagement-Farmers’ FieldSchools (IPM-FFS).

The Bantay Peste will employthe most appropriate pestmanagement strategy in theirfarms through theagroecosystem analysis(AESA), and will determine thepopulation of pests and naturalenemies on a weekly basis.

Twelve barangays in theprovince of Camarines Sur,Albay, Sorsogon and CamarinesNorte are initially involved in theproject.

The project is jointly sponsoredby the DA, concerned LGUs andthe Southeast Asia RegionalInitiative for CommunityEmpowerment.

After orienting the volunteers,they will undergo a refreshercourse on IPM and AESA, andwill be briefed on pestmanagement options.

A standard data interpretationshall be used and practical toolsand techniques will beintroduced in order to come upwith the desired result from thepilot municipalities.

In addition, an FFS will beconducted for participatory plantbreeding, seed varietal testing,

Bicol launches‘Bantay Peste’

seed rehabilitation/purification,segregating line selection, andbreeding resistant and highyielding rice varieties.

According to Dr. Evangelinede la Trinidad of RCPC,strengthening the linkages ofthe DA with the LGU and thefarmers through the BantayPeste brigade would meaneasy, fast pest monitoring.

She added that the volunteerfarmers are very effective in pestmonitoring because they are inthe field most of the time.(Mabelle Roa-iIan)

More than 7,000 farm familiesin Maguindanao, displaced dueto internal conflicts, will soonbenefit from a livelihood projectby the ARMM Department ofAgriculture and Fisheries andthe Food and Agriculture andOrganization (FAO) of theUnited Nations.

The project iscalled “Livelihood restorationand improved food security ofinternally displaced people(IDPs) in conflict-affected areasin Maguindanao.”

The project’s inception reportwas recently presented by FAOteam leader Suharto Abas,which was approved by themembers of the ProjectCoordinating Committee (PCC),August 17 at the DAF, inCotabato City.

Among those present wereFAO Representative KazuyukiTsurumi, Maguindanao Prov’l.agriculture officer Daud Lagasi,and DAF Director foradministration and financeBasher S. Noor.

The project entails training onrice, corn and vegetableproduction; training on makingfish gears and implements;provision of rice, cornand vegetable seeds, gardentools, and materials for fishingimplements to 7,250 IDPs. (DA-ARMM & DA-Maguindanao)

All l ine agencies inthe Autonomous Region inMuslim Mindanao (ARMM),including the Department ofAgriculture and Fisheries(DAF), successfully launchedan agricultural trade fair, August18, at the ORG Compound,Cotabato City, in line with theHoly Month of Ramadhan.

DAF-ARMM Research &Development ExtensionDirector Jalika D. Mangacopsaid the fair featured variousagricultural and fishery productssuch as fruits, vegetables,planting materials and seedlingsthat were sold at reasonableprices.

Reading materials andhandouts on agri-fisherycommodities and terchnologieswere distributed free to visitors.

Mangcop said the fair hasopened doors for businessopportunities, as it attractedhundreds of ruralfolk andvisitors from nearbycommunities. (DA-ARMMRAFID)

ARMM holds agri-fair

9August 2010

A state-of-the-art but low costcomputer vision system (CVS)to analyze the quality of milledrice was successfully developedby an agriculture engineer

The inventor is Manolito C.Bulaong, Director for Researchand Development (R&D) of theDA’s Philippine Center forPostharvest Development andMechanization (PhilMech),based in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

Bulaong said the CVS usesan ordinary document scannerthat serves as the “eye” of thesystem. The scanner replacesthe expensive digital camerasbeing used in conventional CVS.

His novel equipment uses animage processing software thatextracts the shape and colorpatterns from each grain beinganalyzed.

He said the artificial neuralnetwork (ANN) acts as the “brain”of the system. Just like a humanbrain, the ANN is trained torecognize the shape and colorpatterns from each grain, anddetermines it quality.

The CVS can compute thepercentage by weight of goodquality grains and defectivegrains such as broken grains,brewer ’s grain, damaged,chalky, discolored, immature,and red kernels present in asample.

It can also count the numberof palay grains, measure thegrain length, and output of thegrade of milled rice according tothe specification of the NationalGrains Standard.

“As our country gears up forglobal competition, grainsstandardization is one of thestrategies for modernizing theagriculture sector,” Bulaong said.

The conventional milled ricequality analysis is a tedious andslow process, he added. It takesmore than an hour per sampleand costs P550 for a completeanalysis.

Aside from being slow andexpensive, the result issubjective, as it is affected bythe skill and physical conditionof the classifier, l ighting, andother working conditions.

In comparison, the CVS, asidefrom being more objective andaccurate, can do completeanalysis of a 100-gram samplein less than 30 minutescompared to more than one hourusing manual analysis.

“The development of the low-cost CVS for milled rice quality

The Department of Agriculturejoins hands with the NationalCommission on IndigenousPeople (NCIP) to attain foodsecurity and develop renewablesources of energy.

Such is the commitmentshared by Marriz B. Agbon,President of the DA-Philippine

DA-PADCC joins celebration

of ‘Int’l Day of Indigenous People’

DA-PADCC President Marriz Agbon (right) shares the DA’s pledge ofcommitment to the Nat’l. Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).

Ph

oto

: A

ng

elica B

arl

is (D

A-P

AD

CC

)

Agri engineer develops fasterway to analyze milled rice

Agricultural Development andCommercial Corporation (DA-PADCC), during theInternational Day of the World’sIndigenous People celebration,August 10, at Ateneo de ManilaUniversity.

Agbon, who also heads theD A - D A R - D E N R   N a t i o n a lC o n v e r g e n c eInitiative Secretariat, alsointroduced before theparticipants the “ridge to reef”approach--a system whichsynergizes the marine, lowland,upland and forest ecosystem--to achieve sustainable ruraldevelopment through thepromotion of convergence agro-enterprise clusters.

With the full participation ofthe NCIP to develop ancestrallands of indigenous people, hesaid the DA-PADCC would beable to identify, evaluate, andassess potential areas for foodproduction and developmentfeedstock for bio-fuels such asethanol and bio-diesel.

The ‘International Day of theWorld’s Indigenous People’celebration has for its theme:“Reaffirming the IP’s Self-determined Developmentthrough Collective Action.”

The affair was attended byrepresentatives from different IPgroups, officials from variousgovernment agencies, membersof the Senate and House ofRepresentatives, NGOs, andmediapersons.

Each of the agencies sharedtheir respective pledges thatwould contribute to the IPs goalin pursuing their social,economic, and culturaldevelopment. (DA-PADCC)

analysis will therefore ensureobjective, accurate, and fastresults and will modernize theexisting methods used by thegrains industry,” Bulaong said.

The PHilMech-implementedproject was funded by thePhilippine Council forAgriculture, Forestry andNatural Resources Researchand Development (PCARRD) incollaboration with the DA-National Food Authority.

For their accomplishment,Bulaong and fellow inventorswere given due recognition byseveral bodies like the CentralLuzon Agricultural ResourcesResearch and DevelopmentConsortium (CLARRDEC) andthe DA-Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR), to name a few.

Bulaong’s team of inventorsinclude Engr. Ruben E.Manalabe and Jayson T.Carbonel, both of PhilMechPostharvest EngineeringDepartment, and Dr. Oliver C.Agustin of Vera EquinoxTechnologies. (DA-PhilMech)

To promote proper foodnutrition and healthier lifestyleamong Filipinos, theDepartment of Agriculturethrough the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (DA-BAR) will revitalize organicvegetable production in thecountry.

The DA-BAR will start itunder a project called“Promotion of protectivecultivation technology for highvalue organic vegetableproduction,” in partnershipwith the Bataan PeninsulaState University (BPSU).

The project aims to produceoff-season nutritious highvalue organic vegetables,utilize animal waste and plantby-products as organicfertilizers, and determine theleast-cost combination of farminputs.

It will also serve as ashowcase to encouragefarmers in Bataan and nearbycommunities that high valueand nutrit ious vegetablescould be profitably grownusing the so-called ‘protectivecultivation technology.’

DA-BAR promotes organic veggies

BPSU president Dr. Delfin

Magpantay said protective

cultivation technology requires

lesser chemical inputs and

hence is environment-friendly.

BAR said the project is

implemetned under the

‘Technology management for

competitive agriculture and

fisheries sectors’ of the DA-

National Agricultural and

Fishery Council (DA-NAFC)

which is funded under the

Japan Official Development

Assistance - 2KR Program

grant assistance for

underprivileged farmers.

The project beneficiaries

include marginal vegetable

growers, smallholder farmers,

and consumers in Bataan.

Thereafter, the project will

be replicated in various

municipalities, benefiting 100

farmers per project site.

To ensure the project’s

success, Dr. Magpantay said

the BPSU will extend needed

technical knowledge and

training to beneficiaries. (DA-

BAR)

10

BangBangBangBangBangladesh kladesh kladesh kladesh kladesh keen oneen oneen oneen oneen onproducing ‘golden rice’producing ‘golden rice’producing ‘golden rice’producing ‘golden rice’producing ‘golden rice’

Bangladesh   is set tocomplete experiments on‘golden rice,’ a geneticallymodified variety, by 2012.

The Bangladesh RiceResearch Institute (BRRI) saidits government is yet to approvefield level experiments, as theinstitute is conductinglaboratory tests in multiplyingthe seeds of the new rice variety.

The golden rice variety is saidto contain 17 times the amountof Vitamin A present in otherhigh-yielding varieties.

It is called ‘golden rice’because of the inserted beta-carotene gene that gives thegrain a bright yellow color.  

It could supply enough beta-carotene to meet 10 per cent ofman’s daily requirement forVitamin A. 

Following a memorandum ofunderstanding betweenBangladesh and theInternational Rice ResearchInstitute in 2003, the BRRI hasdeveloped a variety of goldenrice through the transfer of agene into the BR-29, the highestyielding BRRI variety.  BRRIhopes that the yield of the newvariety would be much more.

Dr. M Abdul Mannan, directorgeneral (DG) of BRRI, said  ”wehave already produced thefoundation seeds, and are now

More and more Japanesepoultry raisers are feeding theirchicken with rice.

However, the yolk of an egglaid by a hen fed mainly with riceis paler than the yolk of an egglaid by one that ate mainly corn.

Eggs and meat from chickenfed with rice are drawing a greatdeal of attention in Japan, bothas delicious cuisine and a wayto help increase self-sufficiencyin food.

In general, the color of an eggyolk changes according to whatthe chicken ate.

Most chicken are fed withimported corn, hence their eggyolks are vivid yellow. If they eatfeed that consists mostly of rice,their yolks are paler in color.

As the daily minimumtemperature increases, or asnights get hotter, rice yieldsdrop.

This was the finding of aresearch team, noting that thenet impact of projectedtemperature increases will be toslow the growth of rice

working on how to go for a verylimited production of thevariety.  

“Everything is confined tolaboratory at the moment. Butwe hope that a new variety ofgolden rice is to be introducedfor production by2012,”  Mannan said.

Worldwide, 125 mill ionchildren--particularly indeveloping countries--sufferfrom vitamin A deficiency,causing blindness (up to500,000 per year) and death,according to the World HealthOrganization.

An additional one millionpeople die annually due tovitamin A deficiency andmalnutrition.

In many of these countries,rice is the staple food andprovides 80 per cent or more ofdaily calories.

Polished, white rice--themost popularly-consumed formof rice--contains no beta-carotene or other forms of pro-vitamin A, and is also a verypoor source of othermicronutrients (iron and zinc).

The latest varieties of goldenrice are expected to be a newtool - in addition to existing ones- in helping to overcome vitaminA deficiency among the poor.(SEARCA)

Japanese farmers use rice as feed

Hotter nights reduce rice yieldHotter nights reduce rice yieldHotter nights reduce rice yieldHotter nights reduce rice yieldHotter nights reduce rice yieldproduction in Asia.

Rising temperatures duringthe past 25 years have alreadycut the yield growth rate by 10-20% in several locations, theresearch team said. 

The team’s study waspublished in the Proceedings ofthe National Academy ofSciences (PNAS) — a peer-reviewed, scientific journal fromthe United States.  The studyanalyzed 6 years of data from227 irrigated rice farms in sixmajor rice-growing countries inAsia, which produces morethan 90% of the world’s rice. 

This is the first study toassess the impact of both dailymaximum and minimumtemperatures on irrigated riceproduction in farmer-managedrice fields in tropical andsubtropical regions of Asia. 

”Our study is unique becauseit uses data collected infarmers’ fields, under real-world

conditions,” said Mr. JarrodWelch, lead author of the reportand graduate student ofeconomics at the University ofCalifornia at San Diego (UCSD).“This is an important addition towhat we already knowfrom controlled experiments.”

”Farmers can be expected toadapt to changing conditions,so real-world circumstances,and therefore outcomes, mightdiffer from those in controlledexperimental settings,” headded. 

Around three billion people

Two years ago, when pricesof imported corn soared,Japanese farmers began usinglocal rice for feed.

The egg-laying rates on thefarm have not changed, andconsumers have praised theeggs as having a light, deliciousflavour.

Using rice in feed ration meetsthe needs of consumers, whoare highly conscious on foodsafety.  

It can also help revitalize localcommunities. 

Despite the high price of eggsfrom chicken fed with rice, therehave been successful attemptsto develop local brands--such asKometama eggs, produced bya chicken farmers’ cooperativein Aomori Prefecture; and Toyono Kometamago eggs fromSuzuki Poultry Farm Co. in OitaPrefecture.

Given their success, morechicken farms are likely to usefeed rice in the future.

Its increasing use is expectedto raise Japan’s self-sufficiencyin food.

Though 96 percent of chickeneggs are produced domestically,about 90 percent of the feed forchicken is imported. (worldpoultry.net)

eat rice every day, and more than60% of the world’s one billionpoorest and undernourishedpeople who live in Asia dependon rice as their staple food. Adecline in rice production willmean more people will slip intopoverty and hunger. 

”Higher daytime temperaturescan increase rice yield, butfuture yield losses caused byhigher nighttime temperatureswill likely outweigh any suchgains because temperatures arerising faster at night,” saidWelch. (FAO)

11

Students pledge ... (from p5)

RP must ... (from p3)

Sec. Alcala (2nd from right) join hands with provincial governors(from left) Douglas Cagas (Davao del Sur), Arturo Uy (CompostelaValley) and Rodolfo del Rosario (Davao del Norte)--as they renewpartnership to implement President Aquino’s food security andrice self-sufficiency program, during the special board meeting ofthe Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), in DavaoCity. Sec. Alcala sought their support to open up more rice areas,plant more upland organic and fancy rice, increase the productionand consumptin of white corn, and repair and rehabilitation ofcommunal irrigation systems.

Aggie chief aims ...(from p1) asked local government units

(LGUs) to pitch in on the cam-paign to mitigate the impact ofclimate change.”

Rudinas said climate changehas likewise affected neighbor-ing rice-producing countries suchas Vietnam’s Mekong Delta,where seawater has reportedlyseeped into thousands of hect-ares of rice farms.

In the Philippines, prolongeddry spells could hit a number ofcrops and lead to lower yields.

Godilano also warned that cli-mate change would also lead toa higher incidence of infectiousdiseases due to heat stress, alarge number of Filipinos in low-lying coastal areas becoming“climate refugees,” disappear-ance of small islands, and coralbleaching.

For his part, Environment Sec-retary Ramon J.P. Paje said “LaNiña phenomenon is a majorchallenge to both the urban andrural communities in the coun-try as it affects properties, hu-man lives and the economy.Super typhoons Ondoy andPepeng left massive damage ofaround 2.7 percent of thecountry’s Gross Domestic Prod-ucts (GDP) in 2009. As such,we need to put our acts togetheras the worst may yet to come.And certainly we don’t want tobe caught unprepared.” Pajeadded. (Manila Bulletin)

i r r igated, and thus plantedtwice a year.

In 2009 the region’s total cornarea harvested reached231,473 hectares, producing186,479 tons of both white andyellow corn, for an average of806 kilos per hectare. 

On the demand side, CentralVisayas has a total populationof 6.61 million as of 2009, witha per capita consumption of44.8 kilos of white corn, for atotal demand of 296,128 tons.

With a three-ton averageyield from 230,000 hectares,Central Visayas could produceat least 690,000 tons yearly,which is more than twice thecurrent corn consumption. Theregion could then ship theirsurplus to other regions in theVisayas and Mindanao .

 Secretary Alcala said thethree-ton average harvest couldbe achieved by providingfarmers the right farm inputssuch as high-yielding and pest-resistant white corn varieties,adopt ion of moderntechnologies, combined withorganic farming. 

 Among the top officials whoattended the forum were CebuVice-Governor VicenteSanchez, Jr., Msgr. RommelKintanar of the Archdiocese ofCebu, CCFS chair FranciscoFernandez,  Cebu CityCouncillor Hilario Davide III, DAReg. 7 Dir. Ricardo Oblena andDA-BFAR 7 Dir. Andres Bojos.

DA wants stronger ties

with ... (from p2)

farmers’ and fisherfolk’scooperatives and associations,through concerned LGU officialsor Congressmen.

During the affair in LucenaCity, Sec. Alcala took pride inciting successful operation ofSentrong Pamilihan ng mgaProduktong Agrikultura ngQuezon (SPPAQ), which hespearheaded while he was aRepresentative of the 2nddistrict of Quezon.

To date, SPPAQ has becomea major farm trading facility,where some 50 tons of variousvegetables are sold and tradeddaily, benefiting hundreds offarm families, as well asthousands of consumersfrom Metro Manila, Bicol andother areas in Southern Luzon

Under his watch, he said theDA will put up more agri-fisherytrading centers similar to theSPPAQ.

In this regard, he hasinstructed Dir. Leandro Gazminof the DA Agribusiness andMarketing Service and DA HeadExec. Ass’t. Arnulfo Mañalac,who was designated asprogram director of the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center-ProgramManagement Committee (ATC-PMC) to coordinate with the DAregional offices in establishing‘Agri Pinoy’ trading centers instrategic areas in the country.

another group of 1,000 studentsin the Visayas also made asimilar pledge to save rice.

They are from the colleges ofagriculture, arts and sciences,and economics at the VisayasState University.

In September, a similar forumwill be conducted at theMariano Marcos State Univer-sity, in Batac, Ilocos Norte;Bicol University, in Legaspi City,Albay; and University of South-ern Mindanao, in Kabacan,Cotabato.

Other weRice activities, whichstarted in June, include treeplanting, forum for seed grow-ers and investors, concert, ex-hibits, book launch, andchildren’s and nutrition month.

For more information, pleasecontact DA-Philrice throughChona Suner-Narvadez, chair-person, National Rice Aware-ness Committee, tel. (044) 456-0285 local 706, or send inquir-ies via SMS, at 0920-911-1398.

(pls see related story on p5).During the agri-aqua fair, Sec.

Alcala also turned over severalfarm and fishery equipment andinputs to Governor DavidSuarez .

Other local officials presentwere Quezon RepresentativesDanilo Suarez (3rd District) andIrvin Alcala (2nd District), ViceGov. Vicente Alcala, membersof the Sangguniang Lalawigan,and municipal mayors.

DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (inset, top left) enjoins farmers andother participants at the Cebu Coalition for Food Security forum,August 20, Cebu City, to work together to attain self-sufficiency incorn in Central Visayas.

August 2010

Agri performance

dips by 2.6% in H1

DA Sec. Proceso J. Alcala (inset) answers a query of a farmer-leader (above) during a Farmers’ Congress in Tuguegarao City,attended by more than 1,000 farmers, local officials, and agri-fishery stakeholders. Shown with Sec. Alcala are Cagayan Gov.Alvaro Antonio (right) and DA-Region 2 Dir. Andrew Villacorta(left). Also present were Rep. Randolf Ting (3rd District, Cagayan)and municipal mayors of Cagayan. The affair was the first leg ofSec. Alcala’s three-day visit to Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.

The Department of Agriculturewill institutionalize efforts to pre-vent and control pest infesta-tions in coordination with localgovernment units (LGUs) tominimize crop damage and en-sure harvest.

In his report to AgricultureSecretary Prospero J. Alcala,assistant secretary DennisAraullo said partnerships be-tween the DA and the LGUsshould likewise consider croppest monitoring and preventiveand control measures.

Araullo, who is also the con-current DA-Region 4-A Director,said the DA should implementa year-long program to monitor,control and conduct regular sur-veillance of all kinds of croppests.

He said the DA should workclosely LGUs through the cre-ation of provincial task force oncrop pest and disease control

Creation of local task force vs. pests proposed

The prolonged dry spell dueto El Niño phenomenonexacted its toll on the Philippineagriculture sector as itcontracted by 2.6% during thefirst six months of 2010.

Of the four subsectors, cropssuffered most as it dipped by6.7%. It contributes roughly one-half (45%) to total agriculturalproduction.

Production of palay (unmilledrice), the country’s majorstaple, decreased by 10.2%  to6.62 million metric tons (MT)during the first six months of2010 versus 7.37 million MT forthe same six-month period in2009.

Likewise, corn harvest dippedby 24.95% to 2.42 million MT,from 3.22 mill ion MT in2009. Sugarcane yield was alsodown by 21.86%.

The fisheries subsector —comprising 28% of totalagricultural production — alsobarely grew, contracting by0.11%.

The livestock and poultrysubsectors served as theagriculture sector’s savinggrace, as they both postedpositive growth, at 2.11% and2.46%, respectively. Thelivestock and poultry industrycontributes 27% tototal agriculture production.

In all, the total value ofagricultural production atcurrent prices was P607.8billion (B), 1.75% higher thanlast year’s level. 

and monitoring. In fact, he has instructed the

DA-4A agricultural productioncoordinating officers (APCOs)to coordinate with concernedlocal officials to establishsaidprovincial task force. If saidinitiative works out well, he saidit is possible to bring it downfurther to creating crop pestcontrol task forces at thebarangay level.

Araullo said there is a needto conduct continuing informa-tion campaign through farmers’meetings and LGU consulta-tions

While armyworm infestationis diminishing, he said “weshould remain vigilant, as croppests may re-appear again.Hence, there is a need to insti-tute long-term measures suchas the creation of provincialtask forces on pest control,monitoring and surveillance.”

“We will give farmers thechoice on what system toadopt. Or he may combine bothto make his farm productive andsustainable,” the DA chief said.

During the open forum, Sec.Alcala made the followingpronouncements:

• Land Bank of the Phils. willincrease its loan portfolio toagriculture and fishery sector,through accredited CooperativeRural Banks and financialconduits;

• DA will promote massiveuse of good and certified riceseeds;

• DA in partnership withLGUs and organized farmers’groups will put up more majortrading centers and grainsterminals;

• DA-Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources will set upmore mariculture parks inappropriate coastal towns, andmake available more rent-to-ownfish cages for marginalfishermen. It will also implementa program to conserve “ludong,”a rare species of mullet, whichthrives only in Cagayan River. Itis also called the ‘President’sfish, and sells as much asP5,000 per kilo.

• DA will pursue renewedefforts to repair and rehabilitateirrigation systems, andconstruct more small waterimpounding projects.Unprecendented 3-day trip

The trip to Tuguegarao servedas the first leg of Sec. Alcala’s

DA, Cagayan forge ... (from p1)

three-day ‘immersion’ inCagayan Valley, touching basewith small farmers, fishers,Governors, Congressmen, Cityand Municipal Mayors,including DA regional officalsand staff, and provincial andmunicipal agriculture officersand extension workers.

DA-Region 2 Dir. AndrewVillacorta said Sec. Alcala’sthree-day visit wasunprecendented: “I cannotrecall any DA Secretary whohave made such an effort to visitus for three straight days. Andwe enjoyed every minute of it.”

Some 100 officials and staffof various DA agencies andbureaus in Region 2 welcomedSec.Alcala at the CagayanValley Integrated AgriculturalResearch Center in Ilagan,Isabela.

Region 2 Dir. Jovita Ayson ofthe DA-Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (BFAR)welcomed the DA chief with avideo presentation, completewith a gospel song (‘Welcometo the Family’) spiced withphotographs during his visit inTuguegarao and Isabela. It wasan emotional moment for all,including Sec.Alcala.

During the dialogue with DAfamily officials and staff, Sec.Alcala shared his marchingorders from President BenignoC. Aquino III to make thecountry attain self-sufficiency inrice, corn vegetables, fish andother basic food commodities.

DA-ACPC allots ...(from p1)

grams. It will focuson four ar-eas:

• Examine the design and op-

erating guidelines and proce-dures of each program;

• Identify enabling/deterrentfactors in the successful opera-tion of the programs;

• Determine the efficiency andeffectiveness of the programs interms of outreach, financial per-formance including default ra-tios, among others; and

• Recommend ways to im-prove operations and enhancethe viability of the programs.

The review will also includewith analyses and recommen-dations to make lending moreeffective and viable under theDA-ACPC’s Agro-Industry Mod-ernization Credit and FinancingProgram (AMCFP), where eightprograms are currently imple-mented, to wit:

• Agri-Fishery Microfinance;• Fisheries Financing;• Agricultural Microfinance for

Small Farmers, Fisherfolk andHouseholds;

• Cooperative Banks Agri-Lending;

• Direct Market Linkage De-velopment;

• AMCFP with Quedancor;• Tobacco-Rice Growing Sys-

tem with the DA-National Tobacco

Administration; and

• Tomato production and pasteprocessing with the NorthernFoods Corp. (DA-ACPC)