Aggie Trends October-November 2009

Vol. XXIV No. XI A Monthly Publication of the Department of Agriculture October-November 2009

US trade mission eyes initial $351-M agri investments

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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack (middle) is flanked by USAmbassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, and Ag-riculture Secretary Arthur Yap during a ceremonialrice harvest at the International Rice Research Insti-tute (IRRI), in Los Banos, Laguna. With them is IRRIDirector-General Robert Zeigler.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (left, background) andAgriculture Secretary Arthur Yap look on as UN WorldFood Program (WFP) Director Josette Sheeran (center)and movie star and WFP ‘ambassador against hunger’KC Concepcion hand over relief goods to an elderly woman,who were among the affected families of typhoons ‘Ondoy’and ‘Pepeng’ in Pampanga. Also shown are Health Sec-retary Francisco Duque III and WFP Philippines Dir.Stephen Anderson.

Typhoon damage tops P29.6B

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Losses to the agriculture andfisheries sector due to tropicalcycones “Ondoy,” “Pepeng” and“Santi” have reached P29.6 bil-l ion, as ofNovember 6,2009.

Field re-ports con-solidated bythe Depart-ment of Agri-culture Man-agement In-formation Di-v i s i o nshowed thatt y p h o o nPepeng haswrought theb i g g e s tdamage atP22.4 B; fol-lowed byO n d o y ,

P7B; and

Santi, at P225 million.Tropical storm Ondoy caused

unprecedented floods in Metro

Marking the successful visitof United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) SecretaryTom Vilsack to the Philippines,members of a US agribusinesstrade and investment missionhave expressed interest in in-vesting an initial $351 million invarious agriculture projects inthe country.

In a report to Agriculture Sec-retary Arthur Yap,Undersecretary Berna Romulo

Puyat and Marriz Agbon, presi-dent of the DA-Philippine Agri-cultural Development and Com-mercial Corp. (DA-PADCC), saidthe amount represents the com-mitments made by 24 Americancompanies that took part in theUS agribusiness mission, Oc-tober 26 to 29, 2009, featuringtwo business matching fora inManila and Davao City.

Secretary Yap said the

The Department of Agriculture

assures consumers, particularly

in Luzon, that there will be

enough chicken and pork this

Christmas season.

To augment the supply of

chicken, the Bureau of Customs

has recently approved the im-

port of eight million kilos of poul-

Enough chicken,pork this X’mas

The Philippines is seeking thesupport of the United Nations’Food and AgricultureOrganization (UN-FAO) toestablish an ‘East Asia RiceReserve’ to ensure food securityin the region that produces 80%of the grain amid the worseningimpact of climate change onglobal farm production.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap said during the recent WorldSummit on Food Security inRome that the establishment ofa rice reserve has now becomean imperative in the face ofclimate change that has alteredcrop planting patterns andimperiled food productionworldwide.

RP seeks global support

for ASEAN rice reserve He said FAO could send

experts to help East Asia in itseffort to set up the proposedemergency rice reserve, which

2

Editorial

Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Arlhene S. Carro,

Mc. Bien Saint Garcia

Contributors: Info Officers of DA-RFUs, Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corps., 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 nowavailable in PDF file. For copies, please send requests. via email [email protected].

Photograhers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Alarico Nuestro

Lay-out Artists: Almie Erlano, Alan Jay Jacalan

& Bethzaida Bustamante

Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Printing: Oscar Barlaan & Romulo Joseco

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Joan Grace Pera,

Cheryl C. Suarez

The Department of Agriculturethrough the Philippine Crop In-surance Corp. (DA-PCIC) has todate paid an initial P41.3 mil-lion in crop insurance claims tothousands of farmers affectedby typhoons Ondoy andPepeng.

The amount benefited 3,602farmers in Luzon, said PCICpresident Jovy Bernabe in hisreport to Agriculture SecretaryArthur Yap and President GloriaMacapagal Arroyo.

Bernabe said the crop insur-ance claims covered the produc-tion loans that the beneficiary-farmers borrowed from rural andcommercial banks.

Under the PCIC insurancescheme, farmers who borrowcrop production loans from ac-credited rural and commercialbanks are automatically insured.

DA-PCIC pays P41.3Mcrop insurance claims

Still six months away fromthe May 2010 national polls,the ‘election fever’ is alreadygathering steam, while thoseadversely affected bytyphoons ‘Ondoy’ and‘Pepeng’ are struggling to‘pick up the pieces.’

Rising to the challenge,the Department of Agricul-ture family led by SecretaryArthur Yap conducted itsown relief operations inselected areas in MetroManila.

The past few weeks hadkept the DA family busyattending to importantevents, starting with the2009 National Gawad SakaAwards, the World FoodDay celebrations, and visit ofUSDA Secretary TomVilsack, who led a USagribusiness trade andinvestment mission.

President Arroyo andSecretary Yap thanked USPresident Barack Obamaand Secretary Vilsack fordonating $8.5-million worthof rice and dried milk totyphoon victims.

During the October 16World Food Day celebration,with the theme, ‘Achievingfood security in times ofcrisis,’ the DA’s and UN-FAO’s continuing hungermitigation efforts werebrought to the fore.

It was a fitting occasion tosustain the call for a con-certed multi-sectoral actionto effectively addressinghunger and dire lack of foodparticularly for the world’s

Rising to the challenge The insurance premium repre-sents 5.9 percent of the totalloan, abnd the PCIC pays a sub-sidy equivalent to 7 percent ofthe loan.

For her part, Butil party-listRepresentative Leonila Chavezwho requested President Arroyoto help typhoon affected farm-ers said “the farmer-payees cannow prepare for the planting sea-son anew without worrying aboutan outstanding loan. This is thegood thing about the crop insur-ance system.”

She said hundreds of Butil-af-filiated farmers were amongthose who benefited, as they in-sured their palay and corn cropswith the DA-PCIC.

Chavez has been batting forthe increased capitalization ofthe PCIC so it could also in-sure poultry and livestock rais-ers with bank loans.

1.02 billion poor and hungrypeople.

The celebration took adeeper meaning, as ourcountrymen, particularly inMetro Manila and NorthernLuzon were still groping torebuilding their homes andlivelihood, and grieving forthe unfortunate loss of theirloved ones.

Against the damage andgloom wrought by thetyphoons, the positive sideof the Filipino and thehuman race in general has

again surfaced and shone.

Many volunteered to help

their stricken fellowmen,

others shared food and

belongings, and still others

donated relief goods and

money.

On the brighter side,

through the Gawad Saka

Awards we continue to

recognize the triumphs and

successes of our outstand-

ing farmers and fisherfolk,

entrepreneurs, and farmers’

and fishers’ groups and

organizations.

We are thus reminded by

Sir Walter Scott, who said:

‘Adversity is like the

period of the rain ... cold,

comfortless, unfriendly to

people and to animals; yet

from that season have their

birth the flower, the fruit, the

date, the rose and the

promegranate.’

Hence, let’s rise up, pick

up the pieces, and move on.

Typhoon damage... (from p1)

Manila and most parts of Luzon,from September 25 to 27, ty-phoon Pepeng battered mostlyNorthern Luzon on October 1,while tropical storm Santi hasaffected Southern Luzon andBicol regions October 28.

Production losses from dam-aged crops, fisheries, livestockand poultry have amounted toP25.9B, while destroyed agri-cultural and fishery infrastruc-ture, facilities and equipment to-taled P3.7B. This includes irri-gation facilities, equipment foranimal production and fish cap-ture, and postharvest facilities.

On a regional basis, the threecyclones have battered CentralLuzon (Region 3) most, withdamages amounting to P10.3B,followed closely by Ilocos (Reg.1), P9.9B; Cagayan Valley (Reg.

2), P4B; and Southern Luzon(Reg. 4-A), P1.6B.

On a sectoral basis. palay(unmilled rice) suffered the big-gest loss, at 1.25 million tonsworth P21.4B. This is equivalentto 19% of the 6.48 million tonsthat the DA’s Bureau of Agricul-tural Statistics (BAS) has pro-jected to be harvested in thefourth quarter.

Central Luzon lost the biggest

palay volume at 480,424 tons,

corresponding to 30% of the

region’s projected harvest, while

Ilocos lost 432,236 tons (34%

of the 4th quarter regional pro-

jected production).

For corn, total loss amounted

to 73,000 tons, worth P1 billion.

This is equivalent to 5% of the

1.4-million ton projected harvest

in the 4th quarter. The Cordillera

region lost the biggest, at37,376 tons, followed byCagayan Valley (31,405 tons).

For commercial crops, totalloss has amounted to more than160,000 tons worth P2.23B.

On fisheries, production losshas totaled to P1.17B, while onlivestock and poultry, P79.6 mil-lion.

October-November 2009 3

The shortfall in the Philippines’paddy rice (palay) production isforcing government to buy aminimum of 1.45 million metrictons (MT) in the internationalmarket to beef up governmentstocks in 2010.

The National Food Authority(NFA) said it plans to hold a thirdtender for 600,000 MT on De-cember 8, 2009.

It first held a tender for 250,000MT on November 4. The secondtender is set on December 1 for600,000 MT.

Possible sources of rice im-ports are Thailand, Vietnam,China, Pakistan, Australia, theUnited States and India.

NFA officials said the total vol-ume does not yet take into ac-count the palay lost or damageddue to typhoons Ondoy andPepeng, amounting to 1.25 mil-lion MT, equivalent to 812,500MT of milled rice.

NFA eyes initial 1.45-M tonrice imports in 2010

The 1.45-million ton importvolume was recommended bythe DA Inter-agency Committeeon Rice and Corn.

NFA Deputy AdministratorLudovico Jarina said “it is thecritical volume we need. It’s avery comfortable level to startwith in 2010.”

Earlier, the Department of Ag-riculture (DA) has downgradedits paddy rice production fore-cast to 17 million MT from 17.48million MT due to the damagescaused by typhoons.

NFA officials said the importsfor the first half of 2010 do notyet take into account the bufferstocks required by the agency.

The NFA is mandated to main-tain a buffer stock equivalent to15 days at any given time and30 days during the lean monthsof July, August and September.

Rice stocks of the country asof October 30 stood at 2.383million MT, which is sufficient for67 days of national consump-tion, data from the NFA show.

For his part, NFA AssistantAdministrator Jose Cordero saidthe DA will once again under-take a quick-turn-around (QTA)program to recover some of thepalay losses.

Based on the previous tenderfor 250,000 MT, the weighted av-erage price was at $530 per MT.

“We hope that this price willhold until the end of the year,”he added.

Buying at this time could keepprices in check, since majorexporters like Thailand are hold-ing huge stocks of rice.

”We want to get low riceprices…It’s a good time to buywhile prices are still soft,” Jarinasaid, adding that the averageoffer at the Nov. 4 tender for250,000 MT of 25% brokenwhite rice was $530 per MT, costand freight.

”Prices will climb (later) be-cause India is entering the mar-ket,” Jarina explained.

Traders expect India, normallya major exporter, to buy asmuch as 3 million MT for its

Agri sector posts1.5% growth

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Philippine agricultureexpanded by 1.5 percent inthe first nine months of2009, grossing P849.3bill ion at current prices,despite the spate of strongtyphoons that crippled farmproduction primarily inLuzon.

Agriculture SecretaryArthur Yap, citing latestreport of the Bureau ofAgricultural Statistics(BAS), said the palay andcorn subsectors havemanaged to post positivegrowth rates, partlybecause of the stepped-upimplementation of thegovernment’s interventionmeasures to further boostyields.

The interventions,particularly under theFIELDS program, includethose that ensured adequatewater supply through the

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie G. Fondevilla (right)and Brunei Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excel-lency Malai Hajah Halimah binti Malai Haji Yussof(center) cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the ‘Experi-ence Rice @ the SM Mall of Asia’ exhibit, which formspart of the 2009 National Rice Awareness Month cel-ebration, spearheaded DA-Philippine Rice Research In-stitute (PhilRice). Also shown are former PhilippineAmbassador to Brunei Virginia H. Benavidez, PhilRiceDirector Ronilo Beronio (partly hidden), and Pasay Citymarket administrator Eduardo Mendoza.

The Department of Agriculture-

Philippine Rice Research Insti-tute (DA-PhilRice) successfully

marked its 24th anniversary onNovember 3-6, with the theme,

‘The Future is bright, the future

is rice,’ at the PhilRice head-

quarters in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.It kicked off the nationwide

celebration of November as the‘National Rice Awareness

Month,’ led by AgricultureUndersecretary Bernie G.

Fondevilla, in ceremonies at theSM Mall of Asia, in Pasay City.

PhilRice executive directorRonilo Beronio said the four-day

event is held in Metro Manila tointroduce rice farming, and di-

verse opportunities in the riceindustry, and other social and

agro-industrial ventures.to urbanpeople, especially children and

students.The affair features several at-

tractions and activities: a culturaltour and exhibits on rice and rice

science, games, stage plays,rice folklore- and legend-telling,

DA-PhilRice marks 24th year,leads ‘Rice Awareness Month’

short films on Tipid-Rice tips,

rice biotechnology, lectures onPhilRice’s Palayamanan and

Palay-Check systems, and up-dates on rice science and tech-

nology.Exhibits will also be set up by

rice industry stakeholders fromthe public and private sectors.

including DA regional officeswith their respective rice-prod-

ucts.A concert, ‘Sing-along and

Shout your love for rice,’ will alsobe held at the SM-MOA.

Investors will also have thechance to explore the many ar-

eas worth investing on in the riceindustry at the rice agribusiness

forum. Successful farmers willshare their testimonies.

A ceremonial rice harvest willbe held November 27 at the

Rice Garden, Rizal Park, Ma-nila.

Publications which include acoffee table book and children’s

story book on rice will also belaunched.

4

DonorDonorDonorDonorDonors pledgs pledgs pledgs pledgs pledge $3.9-M aide $3.9-M aide $3.9-M aide $3.9-M aide $3.9-M aid

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap assists a farmer fromSierra Bullones, Bohol, at the launch of a coffee andcacao development program in the province.

Some 4,000 farmers, tilling200 hectares, are expected tobenefit from a coffee and cacaodevelopment program launchedby the Department of Agricul-ture at Barangay Nueva Vida,Carmen, Bohol.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap led the launch with farmer-beneficiaries and municipalmayors of Carmen and othertowns (Jagna, Pilar, SierraBullones, Mabini, Bilar andBatuan)

Also present were officials ofthe Philippine Coffee Board, Co-coa Philippine Foundation Inc.,and Nestle Philippines.

The program entails theprovision of quality coffee andcacao planting materials tofarmers; establishment ofnurseries and bud woodgardens; technology transfer toimprove production andpostharvest practices; settingup of processing plants; andintercropping of vegetables andbananas in between coffee andcacao plants.

Coffee, cacao program to benefit

4,000 Boholano farmers For the first year, Yap said,

a total of 400,000 pieces ofcoffee and cacao (at 200,000each) good for 200 hectares willbe distributed to farmer-beneficiaries, at 100 seedlingseach.

A nursery facility and budwood garden will be establishedat the Carmen Research andDevelopment Center. It willproduce improved varieties ofcoffee and cacao for distributionto interested farmers. Also, apost harvest processing facilitywill be set up in Mabini.

Overall, Secretary Yap saidthe DA will allot a total of P350million over a three-year periodto modernize the national coffeeindustry towards self-sufficiency.

“Our goal is to increase localcoffee production by 40,000metric tons in seven to eightyears, to fill the shortage in thecountry’s supply of the popularbeverage,” he said.

The DA aims to achieve self-sufficiency in coffee, at earliestby 2016.

To help raise the incomes ofcoffee farmers, the DA is alsoencouraging them to practiceintermediate agriculture, which

involves planting coffee withcash crops such as vegetablesor fruit trees.

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Donor-countries and interna-tional organizations have com-mitted an initial $3.9-millionworth of assistance for farmersin the National Capital Regionand in Region 4A(CALABARZON) affected by ty-phoon “Ondoy.”

The pledges were made dur-ing the United Nations-spon-sored ‘Philippine Flash Appeal’held October, at the Sofitel Ho-tel in Pasay City .

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap, however, made an addi-tional appeal to include other ty-phoon-affected regions (Ilocos,Cagayan Valley and CentralLuzon), for the provision ofseeds, other farm inputs, andrepair of damaged farm infra-structure such as irrigation fa-cilities.

”We thank the donor-countriesand –organizations for expand-ing the aid program to includethe agriculture sector,” Yap saidafter the initial pledging session.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and PhilippineStock Exchange President and CEO Francisco T. Limshakes hand after forging an agreement creating anAgricultural Commodity Exchange (ACE) at the PSEfor major agricultural products such as rice, corn, sugarand coconut.

The repair of irrigation facili-ties, he added, has to be fast-tracked as the country is ex-pected to be hit by El Niño inearly 2010.

This was predicted by inter-national weather agencies andthe Philippine Atmospheric,Geophysical and AstronomicalServices Administration(PAGASA).

Hence, a dry spell will severelyhurt next year’s harvests, Yapsaid.

So, unless we repair damagedirrigation systems, reservoirsand other water-impounding fa-cilities, we will not be able toboost yields and compensatefor the crop losses spawned by‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng.’

”And we can only do this if wewill be able to get internationalsupport to augment the re-sources that the national gov-ernment could allocate for amassive irrigation repair and re-habilitation program,” the DAchief said.


The Department of Agricultureremains confident that the fish-eries sector will sustain its posi-tive growth this year and main-tain its status as the world’s 8thlargest fish-exporting countrydespite the spate of typhoonsthat recently battered Luzon.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap said government banks onthe fisheries sector as a majorcontributor to the economy, asit is expected to grow by at least7 per cent, according to forecastof the Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).

“Aside from significantly con-tributing to the nutritional needsof our people, the fisheries sec-tor has also earned muchneeded foreign exchangethrough exports and, in the pro-cess, help keep the economyafloat,” Secretary Yap noted.

Overall, the DA is bullish onthe rebound of Philippine agri-culture next year, Yap pointedout in a recent forum of the Ma-nila Overseas Press Club(MOPC).

He said the private sector willhelp realize this rosy forecast,as it remains a primary growthdriver of Philippine agriculture.

Recently, there were severalgroups of investors who considerthe Philippines as a preferredbiofuels production hub in Asiaand a haven for fisheries invest-ments. Among them are:

• Far East Agriculture Corp.,

which is a consortium of at least10 agribusiness companiesfrom the Kingdom of SaudiArabia;

• Brunei Investment Authority

led by the Minister of PrimaryIndustries of Brunei;

• CP Thailand, or Charoen

Phokphand, Thailand’s pre-emi-nent food conglomerate; and

• Beidahuang, China’s biggest

seeds manufacturer, whichfarms close to a million hectaresof wheat in Northern China.

Yap noted that “a recoveringglobal economy and a strong91-million population as a do-

The Department of Agriculturethrough the Mindanao Rural De-velopment Program (MRDP)launched on November 9 inPagadian City a US$6.3-million(over PhP300 million) conserva-tion project grant from the WorldBank’s Global Environment Fa-cility (GEF).

The grant specifically supportthe MRDP’s Natural ResourcesManagement component thatwill implement protection andconservation projects in 11 sitesacross Mindanao that are homeor refuge to significant speciessuch as dugong, manta ray, gi-ant clams, sea grasses andmangroves.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap said “environmental riskslike climate change are weigh-ing down heavily on natural eco-systems in Mindanao, on whichmany local communities dependfor their livelihood and food. This

DA bullish on fisheriesdespite typhoons

P300-M biodiversity conservationprogram launched in Mindanao

is a great tragedy because thePhilippines has been identifiedto have a biodiversity that isamong the world’s richest. Weneed all the help we can get forour people in the south to fullybenefit from and sustain suchrich biodiversity.”

For her part, MRDP directorand concurrent DA-Region 10chief Lealyn A. Ramos said thenational government and theGEF have recognized the ur-gency to conserve and protectremaining marine and forest re-sources of Mindanao.

“We are proud that ourbiodiversity here is among theworld’s richest, but we also knowthat it is highly threatened dueto human actions and climatechange,” Ramos said.

She added: “almost one-thirdof the Philippines’ poor is inMindanao, who mostly depend

After delivering his keynote address at the Manila Over-seas Press Club (MOPC) Farmers’ & Fishers’ Night,Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (2nd from left) isgiven a plaque of appreciation by MOPC President BabeRomualdez. Looking on MOPC board chair Tony Lopez(right) and MOPC treasurer Nelia Gonzales.

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mestic consumption base, arejust too compelling, as realities,to ignore” for investors.

Yap said during the MOPC fo-rum that the Philippines is nowemerging as the preferred

biofuels production hub in Asiawhat with a mandated 600-mil-lion liter E10 requirement ofethanol by 2015, and a com-mensurate volume for bio-diesel.

Yap said another green pas-ture awaiting private sector capi-tal infusion is the maricultureparks industry because we havethe second longest coastline inthe world with hundreds of pro-

tected coves.

These mariculture parks, of

which 46 so far have been es-

tablished by the DA-BFAR, are

self-contained fishery production

zones with hatcheries, techni-

cal support, feeds production,

storage, refrigeration and ice-

making facilities, and marketing

assistance for locators.

RP lifts ban onimports of US,

Belgian beefThe Philippines through the

Department of Agriculture has

recently lifted the ban on imports

of beef and other meat products

from the United States and Bel-

gium, following official declara-

tion of the World Animal Health

Organization or the Office Inter-

national des Epizooties (OIE)

that both countries as having a

“controlled Bovine Spongiform

Encepalophaty (BSE) risk.”

Controlled risk means there

has been no case of BSE or, if

there has been a case, every

case of BSE has been demon-

strated to have been imported

and has been completely de-

stroyed.

The Philippines banned in

July 2001 the import of cattle

meat and meat products from

all countries to prevent the en-

try of the BSE, more commonly

known as the ‘mad cow dis-

ease.’

Agriculture Secretary Arthur

Yap said in a memorandum that

imports of beef and other meat

products, including meat and

bone meal, from the US and

Belgium are now allowed, after

passing the quality standards

imposed by the Philippines

through the DA concerned agen-

cies (Bureau of Animal Industry

and National Meat Inspection

Service) and the respective

agencies of both countries, par-

ticularly the US Food and Drug

Administration (USFDA) and

Belgium’s Federal Agecny for

Safety of Food Chain. (with re-

ports from BusinessWorld)

6

The Japanese governmentrecently turned over to thePhilippines 26,135 metric tons(MT) of ammonium sulphatefertilizer, as part of the Y480-million grant under the 31stJapanese Assistance for FoodSecurity Project forUnderprivileged Farmers or theJapan 2KR Program.

The turnover ceremonies heldNovember 4, 2009, at the Portof Iloilo, were graced by theJapanese Ambassador to thePhilippines, His ExcellencyMakoto Katsura, and DAassistant secretary SalvadorSalacup, who represented DASecretary Arthur Yap and DAundersecretary BernieFondevilla, who is therconcurrent executive director ofthe National Agricultural andFishery Council (NAFC).

The Philippines will monetizethe fertilizer grant, and theproceeds worth roughly P162million will be used by the DAand the National Economic andDevelopment Authority to fundsocial development andagricultural and fisheryprojects.

The fertilizers are intended tobenefit farmers planting certifiedseeds and good seeds in areascovered by the DA’s GinintuangMasaganang Ani (GMA) RiceProgram in Regions 2, 3, 6, 10and 11.

The fertilizers were suppliedby Mitsubishi Corporation,which won the tender in Japan,on July 10, 2009, conducted bythe Japan InternationalCooperation System, theprocurement managementagent for the program.

Also present during the affairwere: officials from the JapaneseEmbassy, led by First Secretaryof Agriculture Takehiko Sakataand Third Secretary ShigehiroMatsuda, and JapanInternational CooperationAgency (JICA) SeniorRepresentative Kenzo Iwakamiand Representative RyutaroKobayashi; DA-NAFC Deputy

JJJJJaaaaapan turpan turpan turpan turpan turns ons ons ons ons ovvvvverererererfffffererererertiliztiliztiliztiliztilizer ger ger ger ger grrrrrantantantantant

Executive Director Maria Luz A.

Enriquez; Iloilo Provincial

Governor Niel Tupas and Iloilo

City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas; and

DA-Region 6 officials headed by

Regional Exec. Dir. Larry P.

Nacionales and Ricardo P.

Provido, Jr., chairperson, of

Region 6 Agricultural & Fishery

Council.Other dignitaries present were

Mr. Nobuya Ichiki, general

manager of Mitsubishi Corp. in

the Philippines, and Manila

Department Manager-

Commodity Chemicals, Ms.

Kyoko Takagi.

The fertilizer shipment arrivedin Iloilo on October 2, 2009. It isthe second of four shipments tobe delivered by MitsubishiCorporation.

The Japanese governmentalso provided Iloilo farmers withP2.1 million-worth of postharvestto promote organic palay farm-ing in Western Visayas.

DA Undersecretary and Chiefof Staff Bernie Fondevilla saidthe facilit ies, located inBarangay Salngan, Passi City,Iloilo, is expected to benefit 108marginal farmers and their fami-lies.

“On behalf of the Philippinegovernment, we are expressingour sincerest thanks to the Japa-nese government for providingthese equipment and facilitiesthat will help farmers in sixPassi villages shift back to or-ganic agriculture, which, in thefuture, will lead to higher palayproduction in their respectivecommunities,” Fondevilla said.

Funded under Japan’s GrantAssistance for Grassroots Hu-man Security Projects, the fa-cilities were formally turned overby Japanese Ambassador to thePhilippines Makato Katsura inceremonies held in Iloilo.

Iloilo farmers also received6,000 metric tons of ammoniumsulfate fertilizers that form part

............... and posthar and posthar and posthar and posthar and postharvvvvvest fest fest fest fest facilitiesacilitiesacilitiesacilitiesacilities,,,,, too! too! too! too! too!of the 480-million yen 2KR fer-tilizer grant.

Farmers tilling two hectaresand below in 14 provinces in fiveregions are the target-beneficia-ries of the program.

They should be using certi-fied seeds and good seeds inareas covered by the GMA RiceProgram in Cagayan Valley,Central Luzon, WesternVisayas, Northern Mindanaoand the Davao Region.

For Western Visayas, the pro-gram covers Iloilo and NegrosOccidental.

Fondevilla said the third ship-ment is due to arrive this month.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (3rd from left) andUndersecretary Bernie G. Fondevilla (2nd from left) cutthe ceremonial ribbon to open Agrilink 2009, October 8,at the World Trade Center, in Manila. Assisting themare French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Borjade Mozota (right) and DA-Bureau of Animal IndustryDirector Davinio Catbagan (left).

the fertilizers will be given tofarmers in the typhoon-hit prov-inces of Northern Luzon,namely: Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte,Isabela, Cagayan and La Union.

A fourth shipment is expectedto arrive next month for distribu-tion among farmers in the ty-phoon-hit areas of Tarlac,Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

Fondevilla said a monitoringsystem will be established byboth the Philippine governmentand the Japanese Embassy inManila to check the distributionof the fertilizers and ensure thatthey reach target farmer-benefi-ciaries.

NFA eyes ... (from p3)

2010 rice stock, after droughtravaged its rice fields this year.

Bids for the next tender couldstart from $500 per ton, butprices are unlikely to breach$1,000 per ton as in 2008, be-cause of ample supplies, a Viet-namese trader at a foreign firmin Ho Chi Minh City said.

”Prices would not peak to$1,000 per ton because Thailandhas large stocks,” said a rice

trader in Manila. Despite the an-nouncement of bigger imports,NFA officials said prices have notshot up to record levels as trad-ers are aware that the Philip-pines will be importing a mini-mum of 1.45 million tons.

The NFA has approved a bud-get of P15.264 billion for theimport of 600,000 MT, which isexpected to arrive February toMay 2010. (with excerpts from

BusinessWorld, Business Mirror and

Reuters)

The first shipment wasdelivered in Davao on September9. The third and fourth

shipments will be delivered inSubic this month and December2009. (DA-NAFC)


Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (3rd from left) leadsSouth Korean and Filipino officials at thegroundbreaking ceremonies of an integrated riceprocessing complex in Pilar, Bohol, funded by theKorean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).Joining him (from left) are Pilar Mayor Wilson Pajo,Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado, senior economicadviser to the President of South Korea chairman Man-Soo Kang, South Korean Ambassador to the PhilippinesChoi Joong-Kyung, and KOICA Philippine deputyresident representative Bomin Kim.

Korea-funded rice processingcenter to rise up in Bohol

A modern integrated riceprocessing complex worth P197million will rise up in Bohol, oneof the four facilities funded bythe government of South Koreathrough the Korea InternationalCooperation Agency (KOICA).The three others are in Matanao,Davao del Sur, Pototan in Iloilo,and in Sta. Barbara,Pangasinan.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap and top Korean, KOICA andFilipino officials graced thegroundbreaking ceremonies onOctober 24, 2009, in Pilar,Bohol.

Secretary Yap said the ricecomplex is a symbol of thestrong bilateral relationsbetween the two countries as“brothers-in-arm” in thecontinuing fight against globalpoverty.

Among the Koreandignitaries present were:Chairman Man-Soo Kang, of theCouncil on NationalCompetitiveness and SeniorEconomic Adviser to thePresident of South Korea;Korean Ambassador to thePhilippines Choi Joong-Kyung;and KOICA Philippines deputyrepresentative Bomin Kim.

Members of the US Agribusiness Trade and InvestmentMission, led by USDA Deputy Administrator PatriciaSheikh (3rd from left), appreciate bangus (milkfish) har-vested from the Panabo City Mariculture Park, inDavao. Photo also shows (from left) DA-Region 11 Dir.Carlos Mendoza, DA-Philippine Agricultural Develop-ment and Commercial Corp. Pres. Marriz Agbon, DA-BFAR Region 11 Dir. George Campeon and USDA Ag-ricultural Counselor Emiko Purdy.

BFAR eyes mariculture park,aqua tourism in Panguil Bay

The Philippine contingent wasled by Bohol Governor EricoAumentado, Pilar Mayor WilsonPajo, DA-Region 7 directorRicardo Oblena, DA-Bureau ofPostharvest Research andExtension director RicardoCachuela, and DA-NationalAgribusiness Corporation vicepresident Jayda Mayoralgo.

The rice complex is expectedto enhance Bohol’s rice self-sufficiency production efforts,and improve its rice postharvest,distribution and marketingsystems.

Of the total project cost,KOICA has extended a grantworth P162 million, while the DAhas shared as counterpart P27million, while the host provinceand municipality put in P8million.

The KOICA grant will defraythe construction of buildings,provision of equipment andmachinery, dispatch of Koreantechnical experts to provideadvice on project construction,implementation andmanagement.

The setting up of four KOICA-funded rice complexes is theresult of the successful bilateralcooperation forged between

President Gloria MacapagalArroyo and South KoreaMinister Yu Myung-hwan, duringPresident Arroyo’s State Visitto South Korea in May this year.

Bohol is considered as therice bowl of Central Visayas. Ithas attained a 113-per cent self-sufficiency in rice early thisyear. Last year, it produced218,701 tons, or 65 percent ofCentral Visayas’ total palayharvest.

The rice complex will be putup in a one-hectare lot ownedby the municipality of Pilar.

When completed, it will featurestate-of-the-art postharvestfacilities to produce high-qualitymilled rice.

The groundbreaking ceremonyon October 24 alsocommemorates the 60 th

anniversary of Korea-Philippinesdiplomatic relations.

The Department of Agriculturethrough the Bureau of Fisheriesand Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) plans to establish amariculture park with aqua tour-ism facilities in Panguil Bay.

The project is expected to aug-ment the income of fisherfolkfamilies along the bay, stretch-ing through several towns inthree provinces: Lanao delNorte, Zamboanga del Sur andMisamis Occidental.

The proposal calls for the divi-sion of the bay area into plotsfor fish cage operation.

Various types of grouper,seabass and sergeant fish areamong the high-value fishes pro-

posed for propagation in the

Panguil Bay mariculture park.

Aside from the local market,

the mariculture park also targets

the export market.

A demonstration of the project

was held recently at the Lanao

del Norte Provincial Capitol am-

phitheater, showing the audi-

ence the viability of such mari-culture and aqua tourism com-

plex. (Business World)

(Pls turn to p 17)

8

The Spanish governmentthrough the Agencia Española

de Cooperacion Internacional

para Desarollo (AECID) recentlygifted the Philippines with aP30-million grant, which the De-partment of Agriculture’s FiberDevelopment Authority (DA-FIDA) will use to acquire mecha-nized abaca stripping machines.

Part of the grant is earmarkedfor Catanduanes, considered asthe “abaca capital of the Philip-pines,” and Caraga, a abaca pro-ducing region in Mindanao.

Spain grants RPP30M for abaca eqpt

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (3rd from right) poseswith the models of the ‘Philippine Fashion Week’ heldOctober 21, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.The event, organized by the DA’s Fiber Industry Devel-opment Authority (FIDA), was part of the ‘InternationalYear of the Fiber’ celebration. Also shown is FIDA Ad-ministrator Cecilia Soriano (center).

The Department of Agriculturerecently approved the “Revised

Guidelines for the Issuance of

National Quality Seal (NQS) for

Agricultural and Fishery Prod-

ucts,” or DA Administrative Or-der No. 22, Series of 2009.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurC. Yap said the new policy like-wise institutionalizes the adop-tion of the official logo or seal ofquality, aptly termed ‘Philippine

Pride.’

The seal attests to the safetyand high quality of fresh, primaryor secondary processed Philip-pine food, including processedagricultural and fishery prod-ucts, that are regulated by the

DA okays quality seal for agri-fishery productsconcerned regulatory agenciesof the Department of Agriculture.

The seal will be attached orstuck on such farm and fisheryproducts as coconut, sugar,fruits, vegetables, cereals,grains, nuts, livestock, poultryand animal by-products,cutflowers, fish, and non-foodproducts such as organic fertil-izer and coco coir.

The seal means that suchproducts are pride of the Philip-pines.

It also ensures that ‘Pinoy’farm, fishery and processedfood products for both the localand international markets havemet and passed the standards

of product safety and quality setby the DA’s Bureau of Agricul-ture and Fisheries Product Stan-dards (DA-BAFPS), SecretaryYap said.

The stamp of quality seal waspioneered by the “Q” mark sys-tem of Thailand, “Malaysia’sBest” of Malaysia, and the IrishFood Board in Ireland.

It is envisioned to acknowl-edge quality excellence of pro-ducers, traders and entrepre-neurs in the country, foster mar-ket access of quality and safegoods produced in the Philip-pines, encourage the standard-ization of products and produc-tion systems, promote aware-ness of consumers on foodsafety & quality, and enable con-sumers exercise the option ofbuying quality agricultural andfisheries products from traceableand certified sources.

The NQS will be registeredwith the Philippine Patent Officeas a key indicator of quality.

From a consumer point ofview, the seal on any Philippineproduct indicates compliance tonational and global health and

safety standards.Simply, Philippine products

are world-class and are there-fore safe for human consump-tion.

Producers, manufacturers,industry associations and simi-lar groups can use the NQS ontheir products, provided thesepass through or comply withstandards set by the DA throughthe BAFPS and concenred DAregulatory agencies.

Thereafter, the seal may be at-tached on the commodity itself,or on its label or package, or dis-played at the premises of a com-mercial establishment. It canlikewise be used together withother certification schemes.(DA-BAFPS)

Catanduanes Gov. JosephCua said nine abaca-producingmunicipalities will initially re-ceive one abaca stripping ma-chine each.

The spindle-type equipmentcan produce 100 kilos to 200kilos of S2 fiber every day, whilemanual stripping yields onlyabout 10 kilos each day.

He said the AECID grantwould be coursed throughabaca farmers’ cooperativeswhich should provide a 150-square-meter lot and a building

to house the mobile machine.As part of its initiative to im-

prove the abaca industry, theprovincial government is imple-menting the Catanduanes UnladAbakaMasa (CUA) program.

It entails the production high-quality planting materials, lo-cally called as abuab, to replacelow-grade varieties, known asamokid.

The program also offers as-sistance to eradicate major dis-eases such as abaca bunchy-top, abaca mosaic and bract-mosaic, which have so far in-fected 15% of the province’s23,676 hectares cultivated by15,454 farmers.

Meanwhile, to maintain anadequate supply of abaca-plant-ing materials, the CatanduanesProvincial Board recently im-posed a five-year ban on theselling and transporting of suck-ers, corms and eyebuds outsidethe province.

The CUA program also targets

National Quality Seal

the rehabilitation of about 1,185hectares or 5 percent of the to-

tal abaca land area in the prov-

ince being tilled by 772 farmers.

Aside from abaca rehabilita-

tion and disease eradication, the

other components of the pro-

gram are the establishment of a

1-hectare abaca nursery, tech-nical training on spidle stripping,

hands-on training on abaca

decortication, and monitoring

and evaluation.

Government statistics show

that Catanduanes produced

15,160 metric tons of abaca fi-

ber in 2005, representing 20

percent of the country’s total

production and 76 percent of

Bicol’s harvest.

FIDA said the production, how-

ever, dwindled to only 8,646

metric tons in January to May

2009 because of the series oftyphoons that hit the provinceand the effects of plant dis-eases. (Business Mirror)


Six high school students fig-ured prominently in the ‘3rd O!

May Gulay Cooking Contest,’

held 11 October 2009, at theWorld Trade Center, Manila.

Receiving the grand prize wasthe pair of Adrian Caseñas andRommel Albano of theDalandanan National HighSchool, with their recipe “Veggie

Dynamite.”

The second prize went toAngelito Iroripa Jr. and RheaJane Alano, of Dr. Josefa JaraMartinez High School, for theirrecipe, ‘Eggplant Lasagna.’

The pair of Shiela Mae Palacioand Shiela Marie Cesario, fromthe same school, won the thirdprize for their ‘Pechay Relleno

in Coconut Sauce.’

The six winners received theirrespective prizes and trophiesfrom Agriculture Secretary ArthurC. Yap, the event’s guest ofhonor and speaker.

The cooking contest is aimedat encouraging urban house-

High schoolers Adrian Caseñas (right) and RommelAlbano of the Dalandanan National High Schoolproudly show their trophy for winning the 3rd O! MayGulay Cooking Contest, sponsored by the DA-Bureauof Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the Office ofthe Presidential Adviser for Job Creation. (Photo by Rita

dela Cruz, DA-BAR)

Six studes win veggie cooking contest

The National Food Authority(NFA) is currently operatingmechanical dryers usingbiomass furnace as part of itsprogram to help farmers cutpostharvest losses and trimdrying expenses.

In a report to AgricultureSecretary Arthur Yap, NFAAdministrator Jessup Navarrosaid his agency is currentlyoperating 21 units of ‘biomassdryers.’ They are part of the 90units of dryers complete withbiomass furnace that the NFAhas acquired this year as partof government’s FIELDSprogram.

Launched by PresidentArroyo in April 2008, FIELDSstands for Fertilizers, Irrigationand other rural infrastructure likefarm-to-market roads (FMRs),Extension and training, Loans,Dryers and other postharvestfacilities, and Seeds and othergenetic materials.

Navarro said the biomassdryers would generatesubstantial savings, as the useof mechanical dryers remainslow primarily due to the high costof fuel.

”Through the extensive use ofmechanical dryers among

NFA uses biomass dryersto cut palay-drying expenses

200 seaweed, tilapia growersavail of P3.5 M loans

farmers, we expect to reduce theestimated 14% postharvestlosses in palay,” he added.

Around 2.28 million metrictons of palay were wasted fromlast year’s total harvests of16.32 million MT, he said.

”At a 65% milling recovery,this volume is equivalent to 1.48million MT or close to 30 millionbags of rice. This couldcontribute a lot in attaining thecountry’s goal towards rice self-sufficiency and in reducing theincidence of hunger and poverty,”Navarro noted.

An NFA study conducted onthe performance of batch-recirculating mechanical dryerretrofitted to a prototypebiomass furnace proved to beadaptable and cost viable in theagency’s dryer installation.

The use of biomass-fedfurnace will significantly reducethe cost of drying by around 36%,he said.

“Lower cost could eventuallyattract more farmers to avail ofNFA’s grains’ drying servicesand give them the opportunityto produce quality grains thatcould demand a better price inthe market,” he added.

holds, especially the youth, tocook affordable and nutritiousfood using vegetables and otherlocal farm and fishery products.

The O! May Gulay cookingcontest is sponsored jointly bythe DA’s Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) and the Officeof the Presidential Adviser forJob Creation (OPAJC).

It is specifically designed todevelop vegetable recipes thatare easy to prepare, affordable,and delicious.

The contestants are studentsfrom public high schools in theNational Capital Region (NCR).

The finals featured sixschools. Aside from the top threewinners, the three others were:Bonifacio Javier National HighSchool, Muntinlupa BusinessHigh School, and Pitogo HighSchool.

BAR Director Nicomedes P.Eleazar and Asst. DirectorTeodoro S. Solsoloy were alsopresent during the finals. (Rita

T. dela Cruz, DA-BAR)

More than 220 fishers haveavailed of P3.5-million worth ofcredit to undertake theirrespective seaweed and tilapiaproduction projects.

The benefiaciaries include 162seaweed farmers in Sibunag,Giuimaras, who were granted aP2.5-million loan to expand theiroperations.

A 30-member seaweedfarmers’ group from Balatasan,Oriental Mindoro got aP500,000-loan for theirprocessing venture.

The third group, composed of30 tilapia growers from Laurel,Batangas, also avialed of aP500,000 loan.

All of them are beneficiariesof the Fisheries Financing

Program (FFP), a jointundertaking of the Departmentof Agriculture through theAgricultural Credit PolicyCouncil (DA-ACPC) and theBureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), and the Land Bank ofthe Philippines (LBP).

The FFP was created by theDA-ACPC in 2007 under theAgro Industry ModernizationCredit and Financing Program(AMCFP). The ACPC hasinitially placed P33 million withthe LBP as a deposit hold-outfund to cover the bank’sexposure to new, unaccreditedconduit organizations, whichextend loans to smallfisherfolk. and other small

Through the FFP, Land Bankoffers conduits three types offacilities: portfolio rediscounting,which provides organizations acredit line from which they canlend to individual borrowerswhose promissory notes (PNs)are endorsed to Land Bank for

100% rediscounting; a short-term working capital loan; anda term loan to enable fishers’groups to expand theiroperations.

Loanable amount ranges fromP50,000 to P100,000 perborrower. (DA-ACPC)

10

We are helping rebuild their livelihood...

The consequences of climate changeare upon us -- exemplified by the destruction

wrought by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”Farms and fishing grounds were flooded.

Farmers, fishers and ruralfolk were displaced,including our very own families,relatives, co-workers and friends

in Metro Manila, and nearby provincesin Southern and Central Luzon.

Some lost their loved ones.The DA family -- under the leadership of

Secretary Arthur C. Yap, along with the DAexecutives and management committee

members -- is one with the rest of the nation aswe commiserate with the affected families,

in Taytay, Cainta and Pasig City,in Metro Manila.

We are helping them rebuild their livelihoodand regain their dignity.

The Department of Agriculture cares.

12

Six teams of researchers wonthis year’s “AFMA Best R&D

Paper and Poster Awards,”

sponsored by Department ofAgriculture-Bureau of Agricul-tural Research (DA-BAR) as partof 21st National Research Sym-posium (NRS), held October 9,2009, at the DA-Bureau of Soilsand Water Management,Quezon City.

The winners were chosen fromdozens of entries competing insix categories. They receivedplaques and cash prizes, rang-ing from P5,000 to P50,000.They are:

• Basic research - MariaRovilla J. Luhan andHananiah Sollesta of theSoutheast Asian Fisheries De-velopment Center-AquacultureDepartment (SEAFDEC-AQD)for their study, “Growing the Re-productive Cells (carpospores)of the Seaweed, Kappaphycus

striatum, in the Laboratory Un-til Outplanting in the Field andMaturation to Tetrasporophyte”.

• Technology/information gen-eration - Manolito C. Bulaongand Ruben E. Manalabe, Bu-reau of Postharvest and Exten-sion (BPRE) and Oliver C.Agustin of Vera Equinox Tech-nologies for their study, “Devel-opment of a Computer VisionSystem for Milled Rice QualityAnalysis.”

• Technology adaptation/veri-fication - Norlyn B. Legaspi andBeatriz S. Malab, MarianoMarcos State University(MMSU), for their study, “In-

creasing Productivity of Yamthrough Improved Cultural Man-

agement Practices.”• Socio-economics - Yolanda

T. Garcia and Nerissa D.

Salayo, Univ. of the Phils. Los

Baños (UPLB), for their study,“The Role of Infrastructure De-

velopments on Market Price For-mation of Major AquacultureSpecies in the Philippines.”

• Development category - LizaG. Battad, Philippine CarabaoCenter (PCC), for her stury, “In-tensifying Village-Level Carabao-based Dairy Cooperative-Enter-prise Development in Non-Tra

This year’s best researchers pose with DA Ass’t. Sec Preceles H. Manzo (4th fromright) and BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar (4th from left) and IRRI deputy direc-tor-general Dr. William G. Padolina (center). They are (from left): Manolito Bulaongof BPRE, Ma. Rovilla Luhan of SEAFDEC-AQD, Yolanda Garcia of UPLB, LizaBattad of PCC, Noralyn Legaspi of MMSU, and Flora Jarilla of BPI-LBNCRDC

DA-BAR honors best agri researchers

SRA to infuse 500 tonsof sugar to maintain prices

ditional Dairy Communities.”• Best R&D Poster - Flora A.

Jarilla, Eugenia M.

Buctuanon and Ma. Ana M.

Alonzo of the Bureau of Plant

Industry-Los Baños National

Crops Research and Develop-

ment Center (BPI-LBNCRDC),

for their study, “Development of

Improved Varieties of Mungbean

(NSIC Mg14 and NSIC Mg15).”

They received their respective

plaques and cash prizes from

the affair’s guest of honor andspeaker Dr. Will iam G.

Padolina, deputy director gen-eral of the International Rice Re-

search Institute (IRRI).He was assisted by DA as-

sistant secretary for policy andplanning Preceles H. Manzo, on

behalf of Secretary Arthur C.Yap.

This year’s competitions fo-

cused on the theme, “Sakahan,

Kaalaman, Kaunlaran: Improv-

ing the Lives of our Farmers and

Fisherfolk through Research

and Development.”

BAR conducts the yearly

event to recognize the accom-

plishments of agriculture and

fisheries researchers for their

notable achievements. (Rita T.

dela Cruz, DA-BAR)

The Sugar Regulatory Admin-istration (SRA) will infuse atleast 500 metric tons (MT) or10,000 50-kilogram bags of re-fined sugar in the local marketto address the spike in retailprices.

Agriculture Secretary ArthurYap said the SRA will supply theNational Food Authority (NFA)around 1,000 50-kg bags daily,which will then repack and sellit at P41 per kilo at TindahanNatin outlets.

Price of sugar currently rangesfrom P42 to P45 per kilo in MetroManila wet markets, based onmonitoring report of the DA-Bu-reau of Agricultural Statistics.

The SRA estimated the short-fall in supply until 1st week ofDecember at 20,000 50-kgbags.

“Private industrial users havebeen buying [huge] amounts ofrefined sugar because they seethat sugar prices are going up[particularly] in the world mar-ket,” Secretary Yap said.

Sugar prices in the interna-tional market have alreadyreached $25.43 cents on Sept.30, the highest since January

1981.Yap said the government will

focus its intervention in the mostvulnerable communities all overthe country.

SRA Administrator RafaelCoscolluela said that heavy buy-ing on the part of industrial us-ers has pushed up mill-gateprices of sugar to P1,400 per 50-kilogram bag. Private industrialusers include food processors.

“Private users [bought heavily]in anticipation of increased con-sumer demand for their productsduring the holiday season,” saidCoscolluela in a telephone in-terview.

He said the government hasstarted its intervention thisweek, and that it will step up theinfusion of sugar in the localmarket next week.

Coscolluela said the shortagein refined sugar will be tempo-rary, and that the situation willease 1st week of December.

“Millers in Luzon andMindanao will start milling lastweek of November, so we ex-pect the supply situation to easein the coming days,” saidCoscolluela.(Business Mirror)

From the RegionsSelected news and developments on agriculture, fisheries, agribusiness andrelated sectors, as reported by the DA-Regional Field Units, and those publishedin national and provincial publications.

About 400 saplings of Hawai-ian macadamia trees found anew habitat on a sprawling idleland in sitio Paratong, Saud,Badoc, Ilocos Norte, site of thefirst macadamia demonstrationfarm in the country.

Attended by Filipino-Hawaiianinvestors, together with MayorMufi Hannemann of Honolulu,Hawaii, and party on November9, the first macadamia treeplantation in the country willserve as a demonstration farmfor the production of macadamianuts, a high-valued commercialcrop in the United States andsome parts of Europe.

Valued at P2,000 per seed-ling, the Filipino-Hawaiian inves-tors, led by Mito Ablan, broughtsome seeds three years agoand started propagating macad-amia in a nursery farm in Tarlac.About 200,000 macadamiaseedlings are ready for planting.

Study shows that macadamiacan be grown in the Ilocos re-gion, which has a tropical cli-mate like Hawaii.

Like mango trees that abun-

dantly thrive in the Ilocos region,

Ablan said macadamia could be

harvested from six to eight years

depending on the variety.

Ablan, who is also the presi-

dent of the Ilocos Norte Asso-

ciation of Hawaii, has encour-

aged fellow Filipinos in Hawaii

who have idle land in Ilocos to

develop their vacant lots and in-

vest in macadamia farming.

In Hawaii, he said about19,000 acres is planted to mac-adamia, and it is bringing al-most $700 million in income.

Macadamia nuts grown inBrazil, Australia and Hawaii con-sist of only 2 percent of theworld consumption, Ablanadded.

According to Badoc MayorThomas Torralba, they haveidentified more than 3 hectares

To promote the planting of

malunggay in the backyard and

to produce this commodity for

consumption and as business

enterprise, the Department of

Agriculture together with the

National Agribusiness Corpora-

tion recently launched the seed-

ling production component of the

novel, “Malunggay in the City

Project.”

Initially, the project covers the

cities of Naga and Iriga, where

interested families shall be pro-

vided with malunggay seedlings

to be planted in their backyard.

Later, the project will be ex-

panded to other barangays and

to public and private schools.

DA Region 5 Executive Direc-

tor Dr. Jose V. Dayao said the

project is part of the Accelerated

Hunger Mitigation program of the

DA.

He emphasized that planting

malunggay is one strategy to

address malnutrition in the re-

gion.

He also disclosed that DA

has ventured intro processing of

malunggay into tea, polvoron,

cookies, pastillas and powder.

He encouraged the partici-

pants to the launching to pro-

duce more malunggay not only

for their consumption but for sale

Five municipalities inMindanao (Datu Blah Sinsuat,Datu Saudi, and Datu Piang, inMagunidanao; and Poona-Bayabao and Kapatagan, inLanao del Sur) recently receiveda set each of information tech-

nology (IT) equipment, com-

posed of a computer, printer and

prepaid broadband, from DA-

Mindanao Rural Development

Program (MRDP).

Department of Agriculture and

Fisheries in the Autonomous

Region of Muslim Mindanao

(DAF-ARMM) Regional Secre-

tary Keise Tan Usman handed

over the IT equipment to respec-

tive local officials on October 12

at the DAF-ARMM, Cotabato

City.

Before the turnover ceremony,

the DA-MRDP has conducted

among the recipient-LGUs train-

ing on the proper usage, main-

tenance, and generation of ac-

complishment report for each

DA-MRDP program.

A second batch of IT trainingand equipment distribution willbe held in the ARMM islandprovinces. (RAFID-ARMM)

to achieve the goal of making

Camarines Sur as the leading

producer of malunggay not only

in the region but in the country

as well.

According to DA region 5 OIC-

RTD for Research Dr. Edgar

Madrid, the project is being

funded by NABCOR and is tar-

geting to produce 30,000

malunggay seedlings. Some

1,500 seedlings are ready for

distribution for free.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ralph Camelo

Mariano the technical special-

ist and in-charge of malunggay

in the city project of NABCOR

said that their agency is active

in their advocacy to plant

malunggay in the backyards.

He said that malunggay

leaves are rich in vitamin A higher

than carrots; its vitamin C is

higher than calamansi, calcium

higher than milk and protein

higher than meat.

The malunggay seeds are also

a good source of high value oil.

Meanwhile, a ‘Malunggay

Congress’ was held November

24, 2009, at De La Salle Uni-

versity, where aspects of

malunggay business, produc-

tion and processing were dis-

cussed. (Mabelle R.Ilan - DA-

RAFID 5)

‘Malunggay in the city’ launched

in Naga, Iriga

Filipino-Hawaiians investin macadamia in Ilocos Norte

of private lots which they initiallydeveloped as a demonstrationfarm. Ablan said the first Philip-pine macadamia demo farm inhis town has been establishedin cooperation with Mac Nut(Phils.) Inc. and the governmentof Ilocos Norte under the admin-istration of Gov. Michael Keon.

To sustain the project,Torralba said the local govern-ment of Badoc would be coordi-nating with technical expertsfrom the Mariano Marcos StateUniversity and the Departmentof Agriculture for the proper careand maintenance of theproject.(Business Mirror)

LGUs get IT eqptfrom DA-MRDP

DA Region 5 Director Jose Dayao (left) shows visitorsat a malunggay nursery in Bicol.

13October-November 2009

14

International News Round-upA digest of selected news, developments and breakthrough agriculture, fisheries,agribusiness and related fields culled from websites and publications ofinternational institutions and organizations.

Food production will have to

increase by 70% over the next

40 years to feed the world’s

growing population, the United

Nations food agency predicts.

The Food and Agricultural

The Food and AgriculturalOrganization (FAO) of the UnitedNations declared that global foodinsecurity has worsened andcontinues to seriously threatenhumanity.

With food prices remainingstubbornly high in developingcountries, the number of peoplesuffering from hunger has grownrelentlessly in recent years.

In fact, FAO estimates thatthe number of hungry peoplecould increase by 100 million in2009, passing the one billionmark.

FAO Director-GeneralJacques Diouf, calling the atten-tion of the world towards the cri-sis at hand, said: “The silent hun-ger crisis—affecting one sixth ofall of humanity—poses a seri-ous risk for world peace andsecurity.”

The threat of hunger loomseven larger in the drylands of thedeveloping world, covering 750million hectares in 55 develop-ing countries.

This region is home to more

than two billion people where 1.5

billion depend on agriculture for

a living with 670 million compris-

ing the poorest of the poor.

The International Crops Re

FAO: 70% more foodneeded in the future

search Institute for the Semi-

Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) warns

that a plethora of crises threat-ens global agriculture and theirconfluence, if unabated, will leadto a ‘perfect storm.’

ICRISAT Director GeneralWilliam Dar says that “farmersin the dry tropics are most vul-nerable since they do not onlyproduce food under these veryharsh conditions but also make

a living out of farming.”

The project Harnessing Op-

portunities for Productivity En-

hancement (HOPE) of Sorghum

and Millets in Sub-Saharan Af-

rica and South Asia which was

recently launched aims to in-

crease food security for small-

holder farmers in dryland areas

of sub-Saharan Africa and South

Asia . (ICRISAT)

Climate change will worsen

plight of the poor , ...

... especially in Africa,3rd world countries

The poorest regions with the

highest levels of chronic hunger

are likely to be among the worst

affected by climate change, the

FAO added.

Many developing countries,

particularly in Africa, could

become increasingly dependent

on food imports.

While globally the impact of

climate change on food

production may be small, at

least until 2050, the distribution

of production will have severe

consequences on food security:

developing countries may

experience a decline of between

9 and 21 percent in overall

potential agricultural productivity

as a result of global warming,

the paper estimated.

Climate change is among

main challenges to agriculture

in feeding the world’s

population, projected to reach

9.1 billion people by 2050.

At the same time, several

agriculture-based mitigation

options for climate change could

generate significant benefits for

both food security and climate

change adaptation.

Increasing soil carbon

sequestration through forestry

and agro-forestry initiatives and

tillage practices, improving

efficiency of nutrient

management and restoring

degraded lands are examples of

actions that have large

mitigation potential and high co-

benefits. (FAO)

Organisation says if more land

is not used for food production

now, 370 million people could be

facing famine by 2050. The world

population is expected to

increase from the current 6.7

billion to 9.1 billion by mid-

century.

The FAO said net investments

of $83bn (£52.5bn) a year - an

increase of 50% - had to be

made in agriculture in

developing countries if there was

to be enough food by 2050.

Factors that are affecting food

production are climate change,

involving floods and droughts and

the biofuel market. The latter is

set to increase by nearly 90%

over the next 10 years to reach

192 bill ion litres by 2018.

(www.allaboutfeed.net)

15October-November 2009

Japan has committed US$20million toward international ricebreeding efforts and an additional$5 million for extension trainingof African rice specialists.

The funding will be provided toIRRI, the Africa Rice Center, andtheir national partners.

Japan’s decision tosubstantially increase supportfor international rice research iscoming at a crucial time forglobal food security, especiallyin the face of major threats suchas climate change.

The long-term partnershipbetween IRRI and Japan is

based on their common interest

Japan commits $25 millionto int’l rice research

of pursuing the potential of rice

to meet rising global food needs.

Low-input rice, direct-seeding

technology, rice tungro control,

and rice’s adaptability to water

stress are collaborative projects

IRRI and Japan have worked on

together. Japan has also funded

IRRI to research submergence-

tolerant rice and postharvest

technologies.

This latest Japanese

contribution of $20 million over

five years is aimed at thedevelopment of rice seedsresistant to heat and drought.(IRRI)

The National FisheriesDevelopment Board (NFDB) hasannounced that white prawncultivation is to begin in Februarynext year.

The Union government willallow cultivation of white prawn(Penaeus vannamei) in Indiafrom the ensuing stockingseason in February next year.

P. vannamei, widely cultivatedin the US, is seen as analternative to tiger prawn (P.monodon), which is oftenafflicted by the white spot (virus)attacks.

The demand for introductionof vannamei has been a long-

India to produce white prawnspending demand of shrimpgrowers and traders as they feelthere is a good export marketfor the species.

Shrimp culture in the country,predominantly black tiger prawnproject (P. monodon), hasdeclined from 106,165 tonnes in2007-08 to 75,996 tonnes in2008-09 – a fall of 28.4 per cent.

The total export of shrimpand scampi (lobsters) from Indiaduring 2007-08 was valued at28.36 billion rupees (INR),compared to INR 37.77 billionthe year before and INR 36.05bill ion in 2005-06.(www.thefishsite.com)

Six new inbred maize lines

with resistance to aflatoxin

contamination have now been

registered in the United States

by the Agricultural Research

Service (ARS).

The new lines are resistant to

aflatoxins, which are toxins

produced by the fungus

Aspergillus flavus after it infects

agricultural commodities such

as corn.

Contamination of corn with

aflatoxins causes financial

losses for growers and is a

potential health hazard to

animals and humans.

The collaborators first

screened and then combined

the top aflatoxin-resistant lines

US has 6 new hardy corn linesfound in the United States with

those found in Central and West

Africa.

The six lines have

demonstrated good resistance

against aflatoxin accumulation

in the researchers’ laboratory

and field tests.

Seeds of the lines are being

maintained at the ARS National

Center for Genetic Resources

Preservation in Fort Collins,

Colorado.

After being certified “disease-

free” for public release, the

germplasm can be used in

public or private breeding

programs to develop aflatoxin-

resistant corn lines.

(www.allaboutfeed.net)

16

Thus is the advise of Agricul-ture Undersecretary Bernie G.Fondevilla when shared histhoughts with the public informa-tion officers (PIOs) of the Depart-ment of Agriculture family dur-ing their 2nd consultative meet-ing and 2010 planning work-shop, held at the Regalia TowerSuites, in Cubao, Quezon Cirty,November 4-6, 2009.

He added that as long as thePIOs believe in the nobility oftheir work, they should remainas the ‘army of information’ forthe DA since communicationplays a vital role in agriculturalpolicy formulation, implementa-tion and advocacy.

“I hope that we will not be‘summer heroes’ and ‘sunshinesoldiers.’ We should not only

march when the sun is out, orsacrifice only in the summer-time. Rather, we should be likehailstones. We will go where thebattle is the thickest,” saidFondevilla.

Further, he assured the DAfamily PIOs that he would revisitthe entire budget of the depart-ment, as ‘information’ should beincluded as a singular compo-nent in the DA budget.

He added that the DA faces ahuge challenge as it has tospearhead rehabilitation of dam-aged farmlands and fishinggrounds, including rural infra-structure such as irrigation sys-tems, especially in the aftermathof the recent typhoons sincefood security is the major con-cern of the department.

“If we do not come out astronger nation out of these ca-lamities, there must be some-thing wrong with us,” he pointedout.

For his part, DA assistantsecretary Salvador Salacup saidthat despite negative publicity,the department remains stead-fast and continues to implementmajor initiatives, particularly

President Arroyo’s FIELDS pro-gram.

“The unfounded, negative re-ports against the DA are an in-sult to all of us. That’s why I askyou to help us in the proper dis-semination of information,” hesaid.

He challenged the PIOs tovigorously highlight the DA’s vari-ous projects, particularly the re-gional trade shows andbagsakan centers, and writemore success stories to spreadthe “good news” that the depart-ment is doing all it can to per-form its mandate of providingadequate and affordable food,and increasing the incomes offarmers and fisherfolk.

The three-day consultativemeeting also featured updateson the major DA programs, suchas FIELDS, and GinintuangMasagana Ani (GMA) bannerprograms on rice, corn, livestockand fisheries; North LuzonAgribusiness Quadrangle(NLAQ) and DA Events Manage-ment; foreign-assisted projectsnotably the Mindanao Rural De-velopment Program (MRDP) andInfrastructure for Rural Produc-tivity Enhancement Sector(INFRES) project; DA Informa-tion and Communication Tech-nology initiatives; and the DAbudget process.

Spearheaded by the DA Infor-mation Service, the meetingwas participated in by about 70PIOs of the DA bureaus, at-tached agencies and corpora-tions, foreign-assisted projects,and GMA programs, DA-OSECServices, and Regional FieldUnits.

‘Focus on the necessities,

and on what is needed’

DA Undersecretary

Bernie G. FondevillaDA Assistant Secretary

Salvador Salacup

Above, Undersecretary Fondevilla (7th from left) with the DA regional informationofficers and DA-OSEC Information Service OIC-Director Noel O. Reyes (5th fromright). Below, Ass’t. Sec. Salacup (7th from left) with some of the chief informationofficers of DA bureaus and attached agencies.


Korean-funded rice center ... (from p7)

The rice complex will directlybenefit thousands of farmersserved by the DA-NIA BoholIntegrated Irrigation System,covering the towns of Pilar,Dagohoy, San Miguel, Alicia,and Ubay.

The rice complex is expectedto reduce postharvest losses ofabout 2 million metric tons peryear of milled rice, worth P22million per year; reduce labor

Five grade six pupils bestedmore than 1,000 pupils nation-wide, as they interpreted on aposter the 2009 World Food Day(WFD) theme, ‘Achieving foodsecurity in times of crisis.’

For their feat, they were de-clared national winners of the on-the-spot poster making contestheld October 13, at the Depart-ment of Agriculture’s Bureaus ofSoils and Water Managementconvention hall.

They are Jolibie Pil ofMarabulig I Elementary School,Cauayan City, Isabela; DavidCres Monsalud of West VisayasState University, Iloilo City;Reymond Berame, CanjulaoElem. School. Lapulapu City;Jasper Kent Villarias, Sto.Tomas Central Elem. School,Davao del Norte; and Roselle

Five pupils win World Food Day poster making contestFactor, Norala Central Elem.School, Norala, SouthCotabato.

They received P12,000 in cashprize and a trophy from Agricul-ture Secretary Arthur Yap andMr. Kazuyuki Tsurumi, represen-tative of the United Nations’ Foodand Agriculture Organization(FAO) in the Philippines, in fit-ting ceremonies on October 16,at the DA-BSWM conventionhall.

During the program, SecretaryYap and Mr. Tsurumi also led asymbolic handover of relief andrehabilitation assistance to farm-ers, fishers, livestock raisers andDA family employees adverselyaffected by typhoons ‘Ondoy’and ‘Pepeng.’

The program also featuredmessages from Secretary Yap,

Mr. Tsurumi, Secretary DomingoPanganiban of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, and DAOIC-Undersecretary SalvadorSalacup, as chairman of the2009 WFD national steeringcommittee.

The afternoon program wascapped by a candle light cer-emony at the BSWM groundsand reading of the WFD pledgeled by Secretary Yap, and Mr.Tsurumi.

About 200 participated in theceremony, composed of DA fam-ily officials and employees, FAOofficials and staff, invitedguests, farmers and fishers.

The 2009 WFD poster mak-ing contest was conducted inpartnership with the Departmentof Education and DA-RegionalField Units. It commenced inSeptember 2009, attractingmore than 1,000 grade 6 pupilsnationwide, starting from theschool up to the district,division and regional levels.

The regional winners, totaling17, received a cash prize ofP3,000 from the FAO, whichalso shouldered the cash prizesfor the five national winners. The

cost and generate savings of

about P9 million per year;

provide additional income of

P16,200 per year per farmer as

patronage incentives; increase

the market value of milled rice

as a result of improved rice

milling quality; and, create

unskilled and skilled jobs for

more than 300 individuals.(Grace Dagala, DA-RFU7)

As part of World Food Day program, Secretary Yaphanded out relief assistance to farmers and fishers, in-cluding DA employees, who were adversely affected bytyphoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng.’ Above, he hands over afacsimile check worth P6 M to the officers of the Sta. MariaDairy Farmers’ Cooperative for the renovation of theirmilk processing plant in Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan. Flanking the recipients are FAO Representa-tive to the Philippines Kazuyuki Tsurumi (left) and formerDA Secretary and currently National Anti-Poverty Com-mission Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban (right).

12 non-winners were givenP1,000 each.

The 17 regional winners cameover to DA to compete for theon-the-spot national contest.

The five winners with their re-spective parents or mentorswere treated to an all-expenseeducational tour of Metro Ma-nila, courtesy of the DA’s Na-tional Agricultural and FisheryCouncil (NAFC).

The five-man board of judgesof the 2009 WFD poster mak-ing contest was chaired by DeanCelino Santiago, of the Collegeof Fine Arts, Architecture andDesign, University of the East.

The other judges were:Christiana “CJ” de Silva, whowas once the WFD poster mak-ing grand champion in 1996, andcurrently an art director of a com-mercial media communicationsfirm; Dr. Cynthia Loza, dean ofthe College of Fine Arts andDesigen, University of Sto.Tomas; Dean Lorelei de Viana,dean of the Institute of Architec-ture and fine Arts, Far EasternUniversity; and Mr. OrvilleTiamson, a painter, musicianand transmedia artist.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (3rd from left) andFood and Agriculture Organization Representative to thePhilippines Kazuyuki Tsurumi pose with the five nationalwinners of the 2009 World Food Day ‘On-the-Spot Poster-Making Contest.’ They interpreted the theme: ‘AchievingFood Security in Times of Crisis.’ They are (from left)Raymond Berame of Cebu, Jolibie Pil (Isabela), RoselleFactor (South Cotabato), Jasper Kent Villarias (Davao

Enough pork ...(from p1) RP seeks... (from p1)

18

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (left) is now anhonorary member of the University of the PhilippinesLos Banos College of Agriculture (UPLB-CA). Therecognition was bestowed on him by the UPLB-CAalumni association, during UPLB’s centennial celebra-tion and 2009 Loyalty Day of the College of Agricul-ture. Secretary Yap was recognized for his unwaveringsupport in strengthening the R&D and extension ca-pabilities of the UPLB-CA. With him is alumni presi-dent Simeon Cuyson (right) and Dr. Patricio Faylon ofthe DOST-PCARRD.

will serve as a mechanism tohelp ensure rice supply and

stabilize prices in the region

during crisis situations.

Despite early successes in

galvanizing the global

community to issue

declarations on global food

security with commitments of

financial support,

Yap lamented that funds have

not only been insufficient, but the

mechanism for the access of

such funds is non-existent.

“Funds and projects are

merely re-packaged,” he added,

“and actual new money for

agriculture infrastructure,

extension, seeds, and financing

are insignificant.”

He said the Japan-funded

‘East Asia Emergency Rice

Reserve’ is a much-needed

vehicle to stabilize food supply

and prices in the region.

Yap called on his

counterparts at the recent

ASEAN ministerial meeting to

convene a Senior Officials

Meeting to handle the technical

details of establishing the

‘emergency rice reserve.’

try and poultry products, as re-

quested by the DA . Importsshould arrive in the country be-tween November 30, 2009 andJanuary 31, 2010.

BOC Commissioner NapoleonMorales said they acted favor-ably on the request of SecretaryYap to address the tightness ofsupply of poultry meat in thedomestic market in the comingholiday season.

For pork, the DA has askedthe private sector to bring in fromMindanao and import a total15,000 to 20,000 metric tons tofill in a supply gap in Luzon.

For local pork, DAundersecretary SalvadorSalacup said it will be sourcedfrom General Santos, Davao,Cagayan de Oro andZamboanga. This would be inthe form of ‘pork-in-a-box’ or pre-cut, frozen and packed in boxesto cut transport cost. Initially,some ‘pork-in-a-box’ equivalentto 3,000 head will come fromCagayan de Oro andZamboanga.

To augment this, since Sep-

tember the DA has encouraged

the private sector to import up

to 15,000 MT of pork from the

United States, Canada, Korea,

and other FMD-free countries.“We also expect the arrival of

9,500 MT of pork from Canada ,USA and South Korea,” Salacup

said.

Even before typhoons ‘Ondoy’

and ‘Pepeng,’ industry leaders

and government have projected

a shortage of 30,000 to 40,000

metric tons of pork.As for poultry, industry lead-

ers said production could growby only 5 percent for the entire2009, lower than the 15-per-cent growth projected at the startof the year.

United Broiler Raisers Ass’n.president Gregorio San Diego Jr.attributes the slow growth to thechalenges faced by commercialand small poultry raisers, includ-ing the tight supply of day-old

chicks.

Meanwhile, Salacup said theDA is also mulling a price bandfor pork and chicken to prevent

a spike in retail prices during the

holidays.

He said the scheme wassuccessfully implemented lastyear, when retail prices shot upto as high as P180 to P190 perkilo of choice cuts, andeventually stabilized at P145 toP170 per kilo.

Meanwhile, Salacup said, “weare continuously monitoringsupply and prices in themarket.”

The latest monitoring reportby DA field teams show that theprice of pork kasim is betweenP150 to P180 a kilo, and liempo

at P160 to P190 a kilo, Salacupsaid.

As for chicken, poultryproducers said they will bring in5,000 metric tons from the USand Canada to augmentdomestic supply.

In October last year,Secretary Arthur Yap and otheragriculture officials along withover 30 livestock stakeholdersagreed on a reference priceband for pork after reachingconsensus on the reasonableprofit margins for growers,wholesalers and retailers.

The reference price wasagreed upon after determiningthat it was beneficial forproducers, traders, andconsumers.

Salacup said Yap had

instructed agriculture officials towork first on sourcing pork from

Mindanao and the Visayas, toensure that the commodity will

arrive in time for the Christmas

season, and offset possible

delays in imports from foreign

markets.

He said then that the

deadline for traders and

importers to bring in as much

as 2.5 million kilos of the

commodity by December 15

takes into account possible red

tape. The deadline was also set

so as not to dampen farmgate

prices, he added.

“We want our farmers to

profit at this time to sustain their

productivity momentum for the

first quarter of 2010,” he had

said. (with excerpted reports

from Business Mirror)

P300-M... (from p5)

on the bounty of the seas andforests for their food and liveli-hood.”

The program will be imple-mented by the respective localgovernment units. in following 11towns, namely: Olutanga,Mabuhay, and Talusan, inZamboanga Sibugay; Rizal andSibuitad (Zamboanga del Norte);Margosatubig and VencinzoSagun (Zamboanga del Sur);Marihatag and San Agustin(Surigao del Sur); Datu BlahSinsuat, Maguindanao; andLamitan, in Basilan.

“It will take five or more yearsbefore we can see the impact ofthis project because of the longgestation period of the projectslike fish sanctuary, mangroverehabilitation among others. Butat least we have made appropri-ate actions to arrest the chal-lenges of climate change beforeit could harshly hit us,” Ramossaid.

In all, the initiatives will con-tribute to the over-all goals ofMRDP to reduce poverty, in-crease incomes, promote socialgrowth, and strengthen LGUcapabilit ies, she added.(Sherwin B. Manual, DA-MRDP)

US trade mission eyes...(from p1)

Vilsack-led trade and invest-ment mission has underlinedthe enduring and dynamic part-nership between the US and thePhilippines and offers a splen-did opportunity for both countriesto further bolster such ties.

The trade mission to the Phil-ippines is the first for the USDAin Southeast Asia.

The Philippines is a key mar-ket for US agricultural and foodexports, with sales of over $1.77billion in 2008, while US agricul-tural and food imports from thePhilippines reached $1.24 billionduring the same period.

The visit of the USagribusiness executives, Yapadded, highlights the mountinginvestor confidence in Philippineagriculture and fisheries. It hasmade the DA all the more bull-ish on its forecast of a strongrebound for this sector in 2010,despite the onslaught of tropi-cal cyclones Ondoy and Pepeng

that caused over P29 billion indamage.

Among the US agribusinesscompanies that have forged ini-tial agreements with their Fili-pino counterparts are:

• Alan Group, a biofuel pro-

ducer, which discussed withFirst Pampanga Biofuels Corpo-ration, its intention to establisha 360-million liter-per-year crudejatropha oil processing facility,requiring an initial investment of$312.5 million.

• Novick Industries has ex-

pressed interest in food pro-cessing, grains trading and ship-ping. It plans to invest $15 mil-lion into a joint venture for afeedmill project.

• Verdant Ocean, an exporter

of aquaculture feed and equip-ment and importer of fresh andseafood, is considering invest-ing up to $3 million in aquacul-ture and seafood production.

The mission also generatedinitial trade possibilities of $20million, covering coffee, poultryand beef products, along withgeographic information system(GIS) technology.

About 210 Filipino business-men participated in the business

matching forum first held at theMakati Shangrila Hotel, Oct. 26-27, and at the Marco Polo Ho-tel, in Davao, Oct. 28.

In Davao, officials of localbiodiesel producer FreyvonneMilling Services discussed withAlan Group representatives thepotentials of investing in coco-nut methyl esther (CME) pro-cessing facility.

“The Alan Group showed greatinterest in investing in the CMEplant of Freyvonne in Davao City.Projected investment for the de-velopment of a 30-million liter peryear biodiesel refinery is at US$20 million,” Puyat and Agbonsaid.

Notre Data Cola Company, astart-up beverage company spe-cializing in producing soda fromdate syrup mixed with varioustropical fruit juices, also had ex-ploratory talks with the USFed Group, which expressedgreat interest in the former’sproject concept.

The US Fed Group develops,and supports U.S. private-pub-lic partnerships, economic de-velopment and provides financ-ing for the export of any type ofgoods and services, includingcommodities.

Puyat and Agbon said thatboth companies are studyingthe possibility of establishing an$878,000 beverage plant in Gen-eral Santos City to cover pro-cesses involving the concentra-

tion, pureeing and bottling of thebeverages.

Besides expressing interestin a feedmill plant project, NovickIndustries also agreed withAmarich Marketing Interna-tional, a local producer of cof-fee, for the supply of Monk’sBlend coffee to the US market.

Novick president Victor LuyiOgbebor disclosed to AmabelFrias, Amarich general manager,that he will return in December2009 to visit the latter’s coffeeplantation in Bukidnon. Novickis targeting to buy up to 400boxes of coffee from Amarich

worth about $31,600,” Puyat and

Agbon said.

Meanwhile, Intervision Foods,

an American exporter of frozen

poultry, pork, beef and fish prod-

ucts (animal proteins), dis-

cussed with RFM Corp., one of

the Philippines’ leading agri-food

companies, the delivery by the

latter of the first container ship-

ment of poultry and beef prod-

ucts to the US by early next

year, valued at $ 11,200.

At the Mindanao matching

session, remote-sensing tech-

nology provider Agri-Ima GIS

Technology discussed with

Unifruitti Group of Companies apossible $20-million project onthe use of the former’s technol-ogy to achieve precision farm-ing for the efficient managementof agricultural fertilization.

VIlsack and PGMA inMalacanang

Secretary Vilsack with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang. A lawyer by profession,Vilsack was the former governor of Iowa, consideredas the ‘food capital’ of the USA.

The United States Department

of Agriculture under its Food for

Progress Program is donating

$8.5-million worth of rice and

milk to typhoon victims in the

Philippines

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack

made the announcement during

a courtesy call on President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in

Malacanang, October 26, 2009.

”The United States under-

stands the importance of inter-

national assistance in the after-

math of disasters like the ty-

phoons that recently hit the Phil-

ippines,” he noted. “The food aid

will help the people in the most

need of assistance.”

He said the commodity dona-

tions -- roughly 7,000 metric

tons of US rice and 680 metric

tons of non-fat dry milk -- will

benefit an estimated 438,000

people for 60 days.

And as a long standing friend

and partner of the Philippines,

the United States stands ready

to continue our cooperation and

assistance in the future.”

Secretary Arthur Yap said

President Arroyo, on behalf of

the Filipino people, thanked the

United States for the donation.

”We would like to express our

sincerest thanks to the Obama

administration for donating rice

and milk to our typhoon victims,”

Yap said.

The Philippines is the largest

recipient of USDA food aid pro-

grams in Asia, with programs

dating back to 1995. Title I, Sec-

tion 416(b) and Food for

Progress assistance totaled

$217 million since fiscal year

2000. In FY 2009, USDA signed

three Food for Progress agree-

ments in the Philippines valued

at $25 million.

Food for Progress has consis-

tently helped developing coun-

tries advance economic reform

and expand private enterprise.

It has, in its 24 years of exist-

ence, played an important role

in helping developing countries

support their agricultural sec-

tors. (USDA)

US donates $8.5Mworth of rice, milk


The nation, led by HerExcellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and AgricultureSecretary Arthur C. Yap,honored the outstanding menand women in the fields ofagriculture, fishery, agri-processing and enterprise,research and development, andorganic initiatives -- via the 2009National Gawad Saka, October15, 2009, at the PhilippineInternational CopnventionCenter, in Pasay City.

Twenty outstanding individualsand groups in various sectors ofPhilippine agriculture wererecognized for their exceptionalfeats and achievements whohave been and continue to beinstrumental in the developmentof the countryside, as well asthe national economy.

Topping the roster of achieversfor the year is outstanding ricefarmer Bonifacio MadambaCorpuz, who moved from Northto South, and maintained hispassion for farming.

Born in Talavera, Nueva Ecija,Mang Pacio later moved toZamboanga del Sur, where helearned the complexities ofagricultural management at ayoung age.

Now at 58, Mang Pacio isconsidered as a model farmerfor hybrid and inbred ricevarieties. He is the epitome of a

PGMA, nation honor 2009outstanding farmers, fishers

hardworking, determined,resourceful, and dedicated farmlaborer, outstanding in his fieldlong before this year’srecognition.

In modesty, he has grossedP2M in 2008 from his five-hectarerice-based integrated farmingsystem.

Through the years, with hisincreasing income and savings,he was able to buy farmmachineries like hand tractors,power tillers and threshers. Hehas also acquired cargo trucksfor hauling, and a brand-newpick-up for family use.

Mang Pacio also producesvegetables and cutflowers andraises hogs, cattle, chicken andducks to augment his income.Of these projects, he was ableto employ and provide livelihoodto his neighbors, particularlythrough a livestock dispersalprogram, where he hasdistributed 27 gilts and 5 heifersunder a 50-50 scheme.

The other 2009 Gawad Sakanational awardees are:

Corn - Maximo R. Rabanal,Ilocos Sur;

Coconut - MarcosDumandan, Davao City;

Sugarcane - RosendoBancud, Cagayan;

High Value Commercial Crops- William D. Banay, Isabela;

Agri-Entrepreneur -Lito M.

Arenas, Pangasinan;

Fisherfolk (Fish Culture) -

Tomas J. Hautea, Iloilo;

Large Animal Raiser -

Alexander A. Calucag, Ilocos

Norte;

Small Animal Raiser -

Avelino F. Peralta, Cebu;

Young Farmer -Romeo H.

Yapit, Ilocos Sur;

Farm Family - Reynaldo P.

Montanez and Family,

Zamboanga del Sur;

Agricultural Scientist - Dr.

Marie Antoinette Juinio-

Menez, Marine Science

Institute, University of the

Philippines;

Young Farmers’ Organization

- Binahaan 4-H Club ,

Pagbilao, Quezon;

Rural Improvement Club (RIC)

-North Poblacion RIC ,

Mendoza Maramag, Bukidnon

Small Farmers’ Orgn. - Sto.

Domingo Multi Purpose

Coop., Baggao, Cagayan

Municipal Agricultural

and Fishery Council (MAFC) -

Pagbilao, Quezon

Provincial Agricultural

and Fishery Council (PAFC) -

Catanduanes

Barangay Bagsakan /

LGU-Operated - Barangay

Poblacion B, M’lang, North

Cotabato; Non-LGU Operated -

Balligi Rural Improvement

Club, Centro Sta. Ana,

Cagayan

Organic Farmers’ Group -

Tupi Bongulan Growers

Ass’n., South Cotabato.

The 2009 National Gawad Saka winners proudly display their trophies.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulatesoutstanding rice farmer Bonifacio Madamba Corpuz,as Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap looks on.

Aggie Trends October-November 2009

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