Monday, July 11, 2016

Urban Agriculture: P75 Million allocated by Department of Agriculture



Urban Migration is a reality here in this country. Although according to NSO Statistics, 60% of the 100 million Philippine population still resides in classified “rural” areas, this does not mean that they are not subject to urbanization.

In a span of 20 years, seemingly rural areas have become “urbanized”. Also, known lands once classified as agricultural has been converted into residential and even commercial use.

The effect of the success experienced by rural citizens in education their children who in turn never returned to do agricultural work but instead went into other urban based livelihoods and jobs is adding population pressure in urban centers in the country.

The effects are the following:

1.    Increase of urban population and migration
2.    Shift in livelihood from rural (agriculture) based to urban based (Services and Manufacturing)
3.    Migration abroad (OFW)
4.    Decrease in available land for agriculture  and thereby decrease in agricultural and food production.

Noting the increase of urban population and the decreasing food production, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has embarked on a program to augment food production using the urban areas.

Using Israeli Agritech methods and demonstrated in areas in Davao, the DA has allocated Php75 million this year in  starting urban gardening programs.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol calls the project Vegetable Gardens in the City. This will be done in partnerships with the local government units (LGUs) and urban poor families will be the participants.

The project will be initially implemented in Taguig, Manila and Quezon City. The DA will provide technical, financial and marketing support. The Israely mode of Greenhouse farming will be utilized. Such greenhouse technology has been a mainstay in Israel and has been successful in boosting the yield of crops and is even based in the Negev Desert.






Monday, July 11, 2016 , , , , ,

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Local sugar traders allowed to import 100,000 MT sugar to stabilize prices

MANILA, Philippines - Local traders were given the green light to import 100,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to help stabilize the price, which fluctuated ever since El Niño hit the country and resulted to a tightness in supply.

Very recently, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued an order allowing traders and producers to start importing sugar.

According to SRA, it came up with such decision after some industrial consumers of sugar said that unless competitive priced sugar are made readily available to them, it will start shifting to alternative sweeteners or just bring in sugar containing finished products.

The agency said that this is because even if importation is already part of the government’s replacement program and that the supply in the domestic market was technically sufficient, the domestic sugar prices have remained high for the most part of the current cropping season.

A sugar crop year in the Philippines starts September and ends August.

A total of 96,000 MT of replacement imported sugar have already been issued release clearances. The balance of the replacement sugar were expected to arrive in April and May.

“It is emphasized that the sugar order shall cover only the increase of 0.738 in replacement ration, which shall be no more than 100,000 MT of sugar,” the SRA further specified in the new memorandum, adding that the imported sugar shall be in raw form or raw basis.

The government earlier allowed the importation of sugar as part of its replacement program in order to ease price fluctuations caused by drought.

As of last week, sugar output has already reached 2.21 million MT, exceeding the 2.134 million MT production estimate for crop year 2015 to 2016.

Source :  http://www.mb.com.ph/local-traders-allowed-to-import-100000-mt-sugar-to-stabilize-prices/#IXLcodqP6oCm3KYK.99







Related Post:

By 2022 There will be 89% Less Arable Land But 11% More Filipinos To Feed

We have just finished our elections and I am looking not just at the next six years but the milestone and challenge after six years in the year 2022.  I was scrounging around for a number, a percentage by which I can be comfortable with in terms of estimating the amount of arable land which will be lost to real estate development, conversion into other use, or affected by armed conflict.  The safest number I can pull out 11%.  Yes, whatever land we have allocated at this time to farming, will shrink to 89%... Read More




Wednesday, June 29, 2016 ,

Friday, June 17, 2016

Farm Tourism: A New Boon for Phil. Agriculture




Farm tourism in the Philippines is being developed as a relatively new tourism product with the aim of not only attracting travellers but also helping local farmers diversify and supplement their agricultural income.

Although it  is still far from being a major contributor to overall tourism receipts, farm tourism aims to supplement the business model of farmers and explore new ways of generating income through tour packages that include planting, harvesting and creating value added products.

According to the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST),  the distance between the production and consumption of farm products gets closer to the market, consumers’ interest on how crops are produced are also being heightened.

Similar to ecotourism, farm tourism focuses on travel that is low-impact and empowers local communities socially and economically.

ISST president Mina Gabor said “ farm tourism attracts visitors and travellers to farm areas, generally for educational and recreational purposes that encourage economic activity and provide income to the community.

“It is one of the country’s sunshine industries which can be developed because of the agricultural nature of the economy,…It augments the farmers’ income when an activity in an area is used or visited by foreign or local tourists, “Gabor said.

She added that farm tourism encourages the younger generation to eventually venture into farming, which has been stereotyped as a low-level kind of job.

Farm tourism mainstreamed in 2012 starting with a single Department of Tourism accredited vegetable farm, Costales Nature Farm in Laguna and now has more than 100 accredited establishments nationwide, majority of which are located in Luzon.

Farm tourism is under the umbrella of nature tourism that holds around 20 to 30 percent of the overall tourism market in the country. On an average, a day tour covering three farms costs approximately P3,500.

Gabor, a former Tourism secretary,  is urging the incoming Tourism secretary to accredit more farms and include farm tours in travel packages  they promote.

“They need to give guests some farm experience. This is a new product for tourism and it facilitates more job generation,” she added.

The ISST contributes to the industry through training small and medium farms on how to create value added in their produce, improve the standards of farming, as well as marketing and promoting their products to a larger market.

It is hosting the 4th Farm Tourism Conference and Farm Tourism Market Festival on July 14-16 in Tagaytay City.

The conference aims to support and raise awareness on sustainable farm tourism activities, assist in marketing farm tourist destinations, highlight sustainable crops, and promote farm stays.

Source: http://beta.philstar.com/business/2016/06/12/1592306/farm-tourism-new-bright-spot-philippine-economy






Friday, June 17, 2016 ,

Monday, June 13, 2016

Wanted: Filipino Farmers




Despite being an agricultural country, the number of people entering the industry in the Philippines is decreasing, mainly due to various stereotypes about farming.

In an interview on dzMM, Dean Domingo Angeles of the UP Los Baños College of Agriculture said the country has more than enough graduates of agricultural courses.

The College of Agriculture in UPLB accepts 330 students annually.

There are also around 46,000 agriculture students from 112 state universities and colleges that offer agriculture courses.

However, most of the graduates do not actually end up as farmers.

"Most graduates go to the service sector. 'Pag sinabing service sector, nandun 'yung industry sa business, tapos 'yung government," Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Fred Serrano said.
He added that the average educational attainment of farmers is fifth grade. Seldom do they reach high school level.

For Nonong Velasco, a consultant for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, having farmers with low educational attainment can be a problem since they also have to understand the business aspects.

Unfortunately, people do not think of agriculture or farming as a profession, which makes it less attractive for younger people, Velasco said.

"Bakit wala nang magsasaka? Kasi hindi ino-honor ang farmers. Hindi [sila] binibigyan ng halaga...there's something wrong in our society. We do not honor hardwork. We do not honor labor...parang palagi na lang sila ang na-aabuso, 'ika nga," Velasco added.

Domingo also explained that most Filipinos do not like to go into agriculture because of the level of difficulty and the supposedly low income being associated with it.

"Ang gobyerno, nagtatalaga ng wage policies. Kapag ikaw ay nasa agricultural sector, ang sweldo mo, ganito lamang. Kapag ikaw ay nasa industry, ang sweldo mo, ganito. So kung ikaw eh isang kabataan, saan ka pupunta? Siyempre doon sa trabaho na mataas ang sweldo. Hindi pa nadudumihan ang kamay, hindi ka pa nakabilad sa araw," he added.

This shows the government is not keen on giving incentives for farmers, unlike in other countries.

"Sa ibang bansa, meron silang tinatawag na, tulad sa Japan, income parity policy. Ang gobyerno, ina-assure, na kung ikaw ay mananatili sa farm mo, at magtatrabaho sa farm, the government assures you of an income that is at par, if not better, than what you will earn kapag ikaw ay magtatrabaho sa factory," Domingo said.

ENCOURAGING THE YOUTH

For Domingo and Serrano, understanding that agriculture industry is more than just farming can help people give more importance to this profession.

This can be done by re-orienting the educational system and including agriculture in lessons in elementary and high school.

"Ang pagtuturo ng agrikultura, mula elementary at high school, ay baguhin na natin. Ire-orient natin ang pagtuturo, bigyan natin ng parang science-based and technology-based education program ang high school. Hindi ho 'yung nagtatanim, kasi isang aspect lang ho 'yan ng agriculture eh. Pero 'yung entrepreneurship, or technopreneurship na sinasabi, we can introduce as early as high school. Baka 'yun ho ang maganda," Domingo said.

"Nagkaroon ng misinterpretation sa word na vocational. Ang meaning kasi ng vocational dito ay itinuturo mo siya hindi lang bilang trabaho, hindi lang bilang employment, kundi it’s a vocation, it’s a way of life. You teach a comprehensive view of life, meron kang leadership skills, cultural skills, scientific agricultural skills, pero noong nagkaroon ng science high school, kinonvert yan lahat, karamihan, naging science high school nitong mga schools na ill-equipped to teach science. Na ang naging orientation ngayon ay yung mga kukuha ng engineering, kukuha ng ganito, ganyan. 'Yun ang nawala na sa palagay ko, dapat irestore," Serrano added.

 Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/25/15/why-filipinos-should-consider-becoming-farmers





Monday, June 13, 2016 ,

Government to Allot 18M For The Regulation And Control On The Operations Of All Soil Labs In Philippines

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management (DA-BSWM) proposed at least 18 Million Pesos to strengthen the framework for the regulation and control of all soil laboratory establishments and operation in the Philippines under Presidential Decree 1435 (“AUTHORIZING THE BUREAU OF SOILS TO SUPERVISE, REGULATE AND CONTROL THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATIONS OF ALL SOIL LABORATORIES IN THE PHILIPPINES”), authorizing the BSWM as the lead agency.

BSWM Director Silvino Q. Tejada said that the BSWM has initiated Tier II funding meant to subsidize short and medium-term activities for the implementation of PD 1435.

"The BSWM as the leading mandated agency to implement PD 1435 is committed to capacitate all the Regional Soils Laboratories (RSL) to ready ourselves for this important undertaking which will be a close coordination between BSWM and RSLs," Tejada said.

The BSWM’s Laboratory Services Division (LSD) led by Dr. Gina P. Nilo guaranteed that LSD has developed and documented its quality control procedures, test methods, and manuals and that they have been implementing ISO-17025 since April 13 last year. Furthermore, the BSWM laboratory has already acquired a new set of laboratory equipment and has committed itself to upgrading laboratory facilities in order to enable the BSWM to certify applicants' capability to operate and establish a laboratory.

Under PD 1435, BSWM has to set and formulate comprehensive guidelines for the establishment of soil laboratories in the country in addition to supervising and coordinating the technical operations of all private and government-operated soil laboratories. BSWM will also impose fees on private soil labs.

In a survey conducted during the first orientation and consultation meeting for PD 1435 implementation, attended by regional representatives at Apo View Hotel in Davao City, it was found that there are at least 19 laboratories owned and operated by private sectors and at least 29 government laboratories operating nationwide. 
 
The Bureau will also provide recommendations for the appropriate use of fertilizers and methods to increase food production and properly identify soil amendments, fertilizers and inputs. In addition, a data banking system will also be established and put into operation.


The working Technical Evaluation Team (TET) is also responsible in drafting the IRR to be approved by the BSWM Director.

A second consultation meeting for the formulation of IRR of the technical working group is set to run on the month of June 2016 tentatively to ensure smooth and efficient implementation of PD 1435.

"Measures and guidelines for the effective utilization of soil and water resources as vital agricultural means to attain food security is being formulated by the Bureau and this undertaking serves to provide policy development and perform regulatory functions to serve our farmers and all other stakeholders," Tejada added.
Monday, June 13, 2016

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

PCAARD Animal Epidemiology Training



PCAARRD conducted Training on Applied Veterinary Epidemiology and Animal Disease Diagnosis for Animal Health Research Personnel at the Guest House Conference Room, Munoz, Nueva Ecija, last 23 - 27 May 2016

RATIONALE 

The training workshop will be conducted to equip animal health researchers and concerned regulatory personnel and strengthen their working knowledge on appropriate epidemiological capacity concepts regarding animal disease diagnosis, monitoring and surveillance, outbreak investigation and disease control. 

This training will provide an in-depth review of how the different concepts on veterinary epidemiology, monitoring, surveillance, and disease control strategies are defined. As explained by Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia, monitoring and surveillance systems (MO&SS) involve measurements of disease occurrence. Meanwhile, the monitoring design will determine which types of disease occurrence measures can be applied appropriately in a given situation. Furthermore, the knowledge on the performance of diagnostic tests (sensitivity and specificity) is crucial in the estimation of the true occurrence of a certain disease. With these, participants will be reviewed on veterinary epidemiological parameters embedded in disease diagnosis, monitoring, and surveillance. 

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia further states that it is generally accepted that both disease monitoring and surveillance involve the continuous collection of data. Dr. David Sherman, ASAP/DCA, defined disease surveillance as an organized, systematic means of detecting, reporting, recording, and analyzing the occurrence of disease based on evidence from the field. 

Furthermore, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia explains that data collection is the core of disease monitoring and surveillance systems (MO&SS) and whenever data are used the data quality is of great concern. As with any other data collection, if the data on disease are collected accurately and representatively and the MO&SS is designed to monitor the disease the monitoring or surveillance may be referred to as active (primary data are collected). Passive monitoring or surveillance is then referred to when data collected for other purposes (existing or secondary data) are used.

OBJECTIVES 

The training course should be able to equip animal health researchers and regulatory personnel on:
1) Concepts on veterinary epidemiology;
2) Quantifying disease occurrence;
3) Designing epidemiological studies;
4) Demonstrating association and causation
5) Sampling animal populations;
6) Interpreting diagnostic tests;
7) Providing information on disease control and eradication;
8) Conducting disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, community preparedness and disaster management;
9) Understanding public health, and the identification and control of zoonotic pathogens.





Tuesday, June 07, 2016 , , , , , , , ,

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Regenerative Living: Thriving Amid Climate Change


Quezon City - The Commission on Audit (COA) celebrated its 117th founding anniversary last May 2016 with week-long activities which highlighted the commission’s role as a preeminent partner in nation-building.

 One of the activities that was highlighted during the anniversary week was the seminar on permaculture, a timely and relevant session because of the many concerns and problems the Philippines is currently experiencing due to the effects of climate change.
The seminar entitled “Regenerative Living: Thriving Amid Climate Change” is an introduction to the basics of permaculture also known as sustainable farming. Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered on simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems.

 The word permaculture originally referred to "permanent agriculture", but was later expanded to also mean "permanent culture" when people realized that to create truly sustainable development both technology and culture had to adjust.

 COA Commissioner Jose A. Fabia graced the event and gave an inspirational message to the more than 150 attendees composed of COA directors, officials from different regions, and staff from the COA main office.

 The Commissioner narrated how he was introduced to permaculture when he took a course in Australia, and that his interest grew when he saw the benefits of permaculture and made it his goal to try to apply what he learned.

According to Commissioner Fabia, we need to take control and responsibility of the food that we eat. Organic farming and designing systems are critical since these will ensure that we are eating natural food without any chemical or artificial contents.

 Commissioner Fabia advocates permaculture or what he termed as ‘easy farming’ so that people can do their share in caring for the environment and help in mitigating the effect of climate change. He said that the Kidapawan incident would not have happened if the farmers practiced permaculture. He described permaculture as a "plant and forget" process which will give people varieties of vegetables they can eat for life.

 Meanwhile, Ms. Cyrene O. Reyes, co-founder of the Pitak Project, an organization that promotes sustainable and regenerative living through natural building and permaculture, was the seminar’s resource person.

 She defined regenerative living as becoming empowered and getting the most out of ourselves and life around us. Regenerative living describes the processes that restore, renew, revitalize your own source of energy and materials.

 Ms. Reyes proceeded with the seminar by lecturing on the 18 basic principles and four categories of permaculture. She talked about the three basic ethics of permaculture.

 These are:
1) care for the earth,
2) care for the people, and
3) fair share or return of surplus.

 She gave examples on how they are able to practice these basic ethics with their Pitak Project program.

 The four categories of permaculture are: energy, nature, component placement, and attitudinal. Ms. Reyes discussed every principle included in those four categories.

 The principles under the category of energy includes: energy inputs, energy cycling, and efficient energy planning.

 The principles under the category of nature includes: diversity, edge exploitation, small scale intensive systems, biological resource, and accelerating succession and evolution.

 For the principles under the category of components placement, she discussed the relationship of stability, multi-functionality, support, and relative location to permaculture.

 Ms. Reyes also gave examples of the attitudinal principles which include cooperation, positivity, yield, and proximity.

 After her lecture on the categories and principles of permaculture, Ms. Reyes shared their practices and experiences with the Pitak Project.

 The Pitak Project is actually a model farm in the village of Pideg in Tubao, La Union. The word “pitak” is an Ilocano word term for mud. Its Filipino translation is “putik.” They chose the word “pitak” to symbolize the bond of the rich soil and water that gives life. It also embodies their aspirations to build naturally and produce food the permaculture way.



Saturday, June 04, 2016 , , , , , ,

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Government Researchers Develop 3 Pure Lines of Mallard Ducks



Three pure lines derived from what is often called Pateros mallard (native itik) have been developed by researchers of the National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center headed by Dr. Rene C. Santiago in Lagalag, Tiaong, Quezon.

These are the black, brown and white lines which breed true to type, meaning that each line when multiplied come out uniform in the color of the feather, size and egg productivity. On the other hand, the native itik is variable in size and productivity.

The three new lines start laying at 18 weeks or when they are 4.5 months old. They have 55 to 72 percent egg production which means that in a particular day, out of 100 layers 55 to 72 ducks lay eggs. There are certain periods, however, when as many as 98 per cent of the ducks lay eggs. In one year, they can produce 255 eggs. On the other hand, the native itik only has a 50 percent egg production.

The new ducks weigh an average of 1.2 to 1.35 kilos each. This is an ideal weight for egg layers. They are not big which means they don’t also consume as much feed as the big fowls. The eggs of the new ducks are ideal for making balut and salted eggs, each weighing 68 to 70 grams.

The new lines could pave the way to eventually producing certified Philippine breeds of ducks and also other native animals, according to Dr. Santiago. The certification could be achieved after further research on the fowl’s performance under different situations in different localities.

By the way, the new duck lines were the result of a four-year-research study funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) which provided a R10-million grant. This was counterparted with Php5 million by  the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) of the Department of Agriculture. The research started in 2012 and will end in July this year.

As early as 2008, however, the NSPRDC started selection of native mallard from different provinces from which continuous selection was undertaken, resulting in the development of the three pure lines of black, brown and white itik.

Today, breeding stocks have been provided to five growers in Nueva Ecija, Batangas and Laguna who are multiplying the new duck lines for eventual commercial sale to the public.

The initiative, according to Dr. Santiago, was prompted by the fact that in the past several years duck egg production was getting lower and the duck farmers were losing money. Victoria, Laguna, used to be the center of duck production for many years. In all those years, the raisers fed their ducks with shells gathered from the Laguna Lake.

When Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) prohibited the gathering of shells for feeding ducks to prevent over-exploitation, the duck raisers shifted to commercial feeds which are much more expensive than shells. Because the native itik only had 50 percent egg production and the commercial feeds are expensive, many of the duck raisers lost money and had to give up their projects.

That started the search for better-performing ducks and less expensive feeds. While the current raisers under confinement use commercial feeds, they can reduce feed cost by giving azolla as supplementary feed. The NSPRDC has a showcase where they produce azolla as supplementary feed for ducks and other animals.

With efficient egg production, duck raising could be highly profitable. Ducks require less investment compared to commercial poultry. Duck eggs sell for R6.80 to R7 apiece today and balut is selling at R15 to R16 each while salted duck eggs sell for as much as R13 apiece.

Most of the ducks today are raised in Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga where the fowls are grazed in rice fields. There are, however two big raisers in Candelaria, Quezon and a few others in Victoria and  Pansol, Calamba City.

Source:  http://www.mb.com.ph/govt-researchers-develop-3-pure-lines-of-mallard/#dU2CIAW46TsaLpDP.99






Thursday, June 02, 2016 , ,

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Boost in Rice Yields Through Use of Seaweed Extracts



Bulacan rice farmers have showed their intention of using carrageenan growth promoter (PGP) in boosting their rice yields. Scientists of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have developed PGP and conducted trials in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna and Iloilo and these resulted in an increase of 15 – 40% in their rice yields.

 Leonardo Ignacio, a 65-year-old farmer from Bulacan, said that technologies like carrageenan PGP could be very helpful to Filipino farmers like him. “I am interested in carrageenan fertilizer since it is a safer alternative, more usable in small-scale farms, and more affordable,” Ignacio said in Filipino.

Another Bulacan farmer has expressed interest in PGP since his farmlands were affected by Typhoon Nona. He intends to boost his crop yield from his two hectare rice farm that currently has a yield of 56 cavans per harvest season. According to experiments by DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and Philrice, PGP makes rice plants resistant to natural disasters, increases the size of panicles and promotes hgealthier rice plants as compared to those using commercial fertilizers only.

Currently, the developers of carrageenan PGP are open to expanding its use to other crops like corn, tomato, and other vegetables to the advantage of farmers like Ignacio and Valero, who also plant sitaw, string beans, tomatoes, and okra.

The field testing in Bulacan showed that the application of 9 li/ha of carrageenan PGP in addition to 3 and 6 bags of chemical fertilizer per hectare led to a 65.4% increase in grain weight, and increase in panicle length from 3.5% to 12.5%.

The development of carrageenan PGP is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the DOST. PGPs were distributed to 650 farmers for testing in Pulilan, Bulacan, and will be field tested in 2,000 hectares of rice in the province. In 2015, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and DOST Secretary Mario Montejo signed a memorandum of agreement to upscale verification testing in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 6, 9, and 11.

Source: Readings from http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/quick-information-dispatch/2715-carrageenan-plant-growth-promoter-to-help-small-scale-farms-in-the-country



Thursday, May 12, 2016 , , , ,

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Stanford University visits PCAARRD on Mangrove Crab Production

Students from Stanford University, members and beneficiaries of the Tuason Development Foundation, and PCAARRD Directorate and staff (Photo by Cyrill Estimado)

Graduate students from Stanford University visited the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) to learn about mangrove crab production, particularly on soft-shelled crabs, and vermicomposting use and application.

The visit was arranged by the Tuason Development Foundation Program Manager Dickie Soriano, the country partner of Stanford University in implementing the Design for Extreme Affordability Program. The Stanford University students were Jade Fernandez, James Winter, and Jaou Touré. They were joined by the beneficiaries of the Tuason Development Foundation: Cromwell Cuizon, Ian Joune Fernandez, Xarex Gameng, and Roger Jude Garcia.

The Design for Extreme Affordability Program is a multidisciplinary, project-based course which allows students to design a program, immerse in various social issues and challenges in partner countries, and propose a project which offers real solutions.

DOST-PCAARRD Acting Deputy Executive Director Edwin Villar and Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division (PCMD) Director Leah Buendia welcomed the visitors while Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) Director Rodolfo Ilao presented the Council’s Industry Strategic S&T program (ISP), its current programs and initiatives, and information on vermicomposting. On the other hand, DOST-PCAARRD Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) Director Dalisay Fernandez provided an orientation of the Council’s programs and initiatives on inland aquatic resources, narrowing down on mangrove crab. Lastly, Technology Transfer and Promotion Division (TTPD) Director Melvin Carlos discussed the Council’s various modalities for technology transfer.

Aside from the meeting, the students toured Arnold and Paz Organic Farm in Tranca, Bay, Laguna, to provide them a preview of vermicomposting production used in commercial-scale farming.

Source: http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/quick-information-dispatch/2708-stanford-university-students-visit-pcaarrd-to-learn-about-mangrove-crab-vermicomposting




Tuesday, May 03, 2016 , ,

Monday, April 18, 2016

Mar Roxas on Sugar Industry


“’Yung dating image ng Negros na pinagsasamantalahan ang mga manggagawa ay wala na ‘yun, burado na ‘yun. Dito sa planta na ito, they are at 90% positive!”

‘Yan ang naging pahayag ng Pambato ng Daang Matuwid na si Mar Roxas nang kanyang bisitahin ang First Farmers Holding Corporation (FFHC) Sugar Mill sa Talisay City, Negros Occidental nitong Martes (Peb. 16) bilang bahagi ng kanyang pag-uwi sa kanyang hometown sa Visayas.

Sinamahan siya ng dating Gobernador ng Negros Occidental na si Lito Coscolluela, na kaisa ni Roxas sa pagpapalakas ng industriya ng asukal sa lalawigan. Kasama nina FFHC President Nene Trebol at Vice President Junny Lizares, sinalubong ni Roxas ang mga manggagawang papasok na ng trabaho noong umagang iyon.

Dito ibinida ni Roxas ang mga naging magagandang pagbabago sa sektor ng paggawa, kung saan full-time ang trabaho, mataas pa sa minimum wage ang kinikita, at kumpleto sa benepisyo ang mga manggagawa ng planta.

“Bagong mukha ito ng pagtrabaho dito sa Negros, na ‘yung First Farmers ay pag-aari ng mga planters mismo, hindi ‘yung mga kapitalista. ‘Yung mga planters mismo, nagsama-sama sila at nagtayo ng sarili nilang mill,” ani Roxas.

“Ito ‘yung ating isinusulong. Dati ang reputasyon ng Negros ay ‘yung pinagsasamantalahan ‘yung ating mga manggagawa dito sa First Farmers at sa iba pang mga pagawaan tulad nito,” dagdag pa ni Roxas, na lubos na ikinasaya ang tagumpay na nakamit ng planta at ng mga manggagawa nito.

Ipinaramdam naman ng mga kabilang sa industriya ng asukal ang kanilang pasasalamat kay Roxas matapos niyang asikasuhin ang tuluyang pagtapyas ng 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) sa ‘raw cane sugar’ alinsunod sa Sugar Industry Development Act.

Kung hindi umano kumilos si Roxas upang kumbinsihin si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III tungkol sa nasabing isyu, magiging mabigat sa produksyon ng asukal ang P200.00 na buwis para sa kada 50 kilo nito.

“Pinoproteksyonan natin dito ay ang mga trabaho ng ating mga manggagawa. ‘Yan ang isinusulong ng Daang Matuwid,” pahayag ni Roxas.

Kung papalarin maging pangulo, bahagi ng plataporma ni Roxas na palawakin ang industriya ng manufacturing at palakasin ang sektor ng agrikultura upang lumikha ng mas maraming trabaho para sa mga Pilipino.

“’Yan ang tutok ng Daang Matuwid, na lumikha ng mas marami pang trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpaparami ng mga planta, pagawaan at pabrika para magbibigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan,” ani Roxas.
“Trabaho para sa bawat pamilya para may pagkain sa mesa, may panggastos sa pang-araw araw na pangangailangan, may pambili ng gamot, at merong pagpundar sa kanilang magandang buhay,”

Source: http://blog.marroxas.com/2016/02/16/roxas-pauunlarin-pa-at-poprotektahan-ang-trabaho-ng-magsasaka/







Monday, April 18, 2016

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Agricultural Policies of 2016 Presidential Candidates



With the Philippine economy experiencing unprecedented growth in the past few years, there have been observations that the growth benefitted very few. There was no “inclusivity” cited. This goes par for the course since the current drivers of economic growth were the services and manufacturing sector followed by the real estate sector. What was left behind was the agricultural sector. This sector is found in the rural areas where 60% of the Philippine population resides.

It is important that aspirants for the highest position of the land have policies and programs that will address the economic needs of the rural population and propel the agricultural sector into growth such as the services and manufacturing sectors.

Hereunder are the policies of the 2016 presidential candidates:

Jojo Binay

1.    Transfer  some of the functions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to a new Department of  Natural Resources (DNR).
2.    Promotion of new high yielding crops and introduction of new seeds
3.    Abolition of Irrigation Fee
4.    Widen the coverage of crop insurance
5.    Subsidy for fertilizers, farm tools and pesticides
6.    Establish community seed banks
7.    Easier access to loans by farmers
8.    Continuation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

Rodrigo Duterte

1.    Priority of agriculture in the national budget
2.    Crop plan for every region
3.    Mindanao railway system
4.    Construction of more farm-to-market roads
5.    Abolition of irrigation fee
6.    Post harvest facilities and “Bagsakan” terminals
7.    Establishment of Credit Cooperatives for farmers
8.    Continuation of the 4Ps

Grace Poe

1.    Priority of agriculture in the national budget
2.    Establishment of agro-industrial zones
3.    Establishment of community seed banks
4.    Post-harvest facilities
5.    Abolition of irrigation fee
6.    Scholarships for children of farmers
7.    Continuation of 4Ps

Mar Roxas

1.    Continuation of policy in clustering of farmers
2.    Post-harvest facilities
3.    Construction of bridges and farm-to-market roads
4.    Easier access to loans for farmers
5.    Continuation of 4Ps

Miriam Santiago

1.    Invest in research and technology for agriculture
2.    Introduction of new seeds and new farming tools
3.    National Flood Insurance program for farmers
4.    Improve water impounding facilities
5.    Continue 4Ps









Thursday, April 07, 2016

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Demand for Sugarcane Farmers Up!



Ever since the 1970s, the Philippine sugar industry has been in the doldrums. And when one thinks about sugar workers, one imagines the 1980s image of emaciated, hungry and malnourished sacada. But this is no longer so. Stable prices of sugar in the world market has enabled the sugar industry to recover from its nadir during the past decades.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), sugar cane farming is the second most in demand job in the country. Demand for sugar farm workers is second only to demand for call center agents with 28,000 job openings. 

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said there were 12,400 job openings for sugarfarmers and 100 vacancies for sugarcane grinders as of the end of March.

“This is the first time that sugarcane farmers figured in the top 20 most in demand jobs. The development is a welcome surprise since agriworkers are not normally included in the list,” Baldoz  said.

“The industry has not been affected by any development so it is stable and that means good investment whether as planter or miller,” Secretary Baldoz said.

According to Sec. Baldoz, DOLE is giving focus to agricultural jobs since unemployment is highest in the rural areas. There are 19 sugar producing provinces in the country and an estimated 700,000 workers in the sugar industry sector.

The sugar industry employs about 700,000 workers in 19 sugar-producing provinces in the country. Noting that there is a need for jobs for non-skilled and semi-skilled workers who comprise the bulk of the unemployed, agribusiness will be able to absorb such workers.







Wednesday, April 06, 2016 ,

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Whatever Happened to the Lease of 1/10 of Phil. Agricultural Land to China?



The Philippines has about 10 million hectares of arable land devoted to and classified as agricultural lands. Although geographically such agricultural lands are not used in cultivating a single crop due to geographical circumstances such as availability of irrigation all year round, these lands are the main capital in the Philippine agricultural system. Thus, the ownership and utilization of agricultural land remains a contentious social, political and economic issue in the Philippines.

Way back in 2007, the Department of Agriculture decided to lease 1 million hectares of Philippine agricultural land to the Chinese. Yes folks! No need for an invasion! The DA leased 1 million hectares to Jilin Fuhua Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Fuhua Co.). That is 1/10 of available Philippine agricultural land.

Fuhua Co. Planned to plant hybrid rice, corn and sorghum in these lands. This was to meet the Medium Term Development Plan which is to develop 2 million hectares of agricultural land. The contract is expected to bring in about US$3.87 billion in investments.

The MOU with Fuhua Co. was one of 18 agriculture- and fisheries-related contracts that was signed in the presence of then Chinese Premier Wen Jianbao when he visited Malacañang in January 2007.

The 18 contracts covered agriculture and fisheries research, the provision of facilities for fishery and agriculture, the investment of Chinese entities in local agribusiness, and other trade-related matters. This was signed during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Whatever happened to this MOU and is it operational until now?





Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Farm Mechanization: Boon or Bane?


Philippine economic activity still revolves around its agricultural sector. This is highlighted by the performance of the Philippine economy wherein it posted high gains as indicated by its GDP that has been unprecedented for decades. Only that it has failed to be “inclusive” enough with growth being posted in manufacturing, services and even in the real estate sectors. But the agricultural sector continues to wallow below expectations and is even blamed for dragging down Philippine economic growth indicators. The rural areas of the Philippines account for 60% of its population and that poverty incidence for is naturally 60% of the whole country. The agricultural sector has suffered from declining employment rates and has been the subject of past articles here in Agriculture Philippines.

There have been decades of proposed solutions to cure what ails the Philippine agricultural sector from Land Reform to mechanization and yet the agricultural sector continues to be the laggard among Philippine economic sectors. This is the reason why there has been no inclusivity in recorded Philippine economic growth.

The traditional and romantic metric of Philippine agriculture has long been rice production. It is the main contention in ideological, economic and social debates for decades. The Philippine rice farming sector is romantically idealized in Amorsolo paintings during the pre-WWII period and is the poster for Philippine rural culture.

Philippine rural economy and culture revolves around the planting and harvest season of rice. The fiestas in rural Philippines is mostly scheduled around May of each year with May 15 with the most fiestas for its San Isidro de Labrador, patron saint of farmers. Each harvest time is the time to celebrate since this is the period where everybody is replete with cash and thanksgiving is given for the harvest that will tide the rural community until the next harvest of around September to October of the same year.

It is not only the land owners and farmers who till the land who have the money and largesse at this time. Planting and harvesting season usually requires additional labor from those who do not actually work the farms in between planting and harvest. There is a whole downstream industry dependent on such periods, especially of harvest. The additional labor hired will also get paid so as there is a surge of sales even in the pondahans (sari-sari stores) in the community. Demand for sugar, coffee, canned goods and even gin is at its highest during this agricultural phase.

Like any economic activity, the drive for higher income and revenues is also applicable in farming. Thus new varieties of higher yielding rice variants are introduced, more extensive irrigation and farming practices are developed and implemented.  This includes mechanization.

Although having been available for decades, rice harvesting/reaper machines in the Philippines went into wide use after 2013 after Congress passed the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law. This law gives incentives to farm owners to minimize their reliance on manual labor and utilize “cost-effective” machinery. The law’s objective is to maximize output in order to achieve National Food Security.

An invasion of reaper machines that started in 2014 has quickly deprived farm laborers of work during the harvest season. These reaper machines cut the rice stalks, winnow the grain from the stalks, and then bag the grain in cavans, completely replacing manual labor during the harvest season. As a result, unemployment and hunger have worsened among farm workers.

By 2014 these harvesting/reaper combines did what manual labor used to do. Its functions ranging from cutting the rice stalks, sorting the palay all the way to bagging/packaging the palay. Naturally, these machines did away with labor and had the unintended consequence of contributing to unemployment among farm workers. This has increased poverty in the rural areas.

With the loss of income from manual labourers, the downstream industries such as the sari-sari stores, market vendors and even those who provided threshing and winnowing services. The only beneficiaries are the farm owners used to pay the manual labourers 15 cavans of palay and 8 cavans for the owner of the thresher machines. 15 cavans are saved by the farm owners wherein an additional income of Php11,000 is earned by the farm owner out of a gross output of 100 – 120 cavans per hectare. This brings a net income of Php30,000 – Php35,000 per hectare. Filipino farm owners have an average landholding of 1.29 hectares. Without mechanization, it is already subsistence farming for them. For the landless farm workers, mechanization does not give them subsistence but threatens to wipe out their very existence. Unemployment will bring poverty and poverty is the fertile ground for crime.

The lack of foresight by Congress in formulating such a law, although with the intention of raising productivity only added to the poverty of the rural sector. What must be done for the 12 million that is affected by mechanization?

There must be a law that will provide a safety net for those directly affected by farm mechanization. Livelihood trainings, skills upgrading programs, access to capital for small enterprises or provide them land of their own to plant.

Otherwise, this is another step in the Invisible War on Philippine Agriculture.







Tuesday, April 05, 2016 , , ,

Friday, April 1, 2016

Raffy Alunan III bats for Philippine Agriculture


Rafael M. Alunan III is currently a candidate for the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines. Among the host of candidates, Mr. Alunan is one of the very few who have the vision needed for Philippine agriculture. The 60% of those who live below the poverty line in the country liove in the rural areas and having a comprehensive program for the agricultural sector will ensure that economic growth will be “inclusive”.

Raffy Alunan III intends to  file is a comprehensive agriculture development bill that:

1.)    Incentivizes farmers to shift to modern farming technologies with the goal of maximizing productivity and minimizing cost for profit optimization;

2.)    Provides capacity building, financial and technical assistance to land reform beneficiaries, with disincentives to public and private institutions that do not fulfill their expected responsibilities;

3.)    Provides incentives for agro-eco tourism area development inclusive of ecological protection, farm-to-market roads, storage and distribution centres, transport facilities and trouble-free environment in the highways;

4.)    Provides incentives for joint-venture marketing, from farm produce to finished products, for the local and global markets.

5.)    Provides incentives to learning institutions that will provide a comprehensive course dedicated to the revival of the agricultural sector as powerful engine of growth and sustainable development.

According to Raffy Alunan III “we need to expand our wealth creation capabilities and reduce our economic risks to reverse the diaspora and wrestle down the poverty problem. Only when our families are reunited and have enough in their pockets can we accelerate the task of nation-building for our children”.





Friday, April 01, 2016

Monday, March 28, 2016

SCOPSA, GAINING POPULARITY AMONG CORN FARMERS

(From Left to Right) Regional Technical Director Orlando Lorenzana (Region II), Ms. Nancy de Sagun (BSWM), Assistant Director Sonia Salguero (BSWM), Engr. Samuel Contreras (BSWM) and Mr. Dominciano Ramos (BSWM) joined by the participants and representatives from the DA's Regional Field Offices, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and Private Agricultural Sectors during the National Consultative Review and Planning Workshop for Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas (SCoPSA) held at the BSWM Convention Hall.

Based on the initial result of the project implementation of Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas (SCoPSA), farmers and Local Government Units (LGUs) are seen to be highly engaged in establishing more new sites and community based techno-demo farms that can benefit almost 600,000 families in the country relying to corn as their main source of livelihood.

Results are manifested by the numerous requests coming from the LGUs seeking assistance to conduct technical briefings and capacity trainings that is more than twice the target for 2015.

Based on reports of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) as the implementing agency of the program, 1,200 corn farmers have already given assistance and consultations that strengthened partnership among various stakeholders engaged in corn production and the government from April to December 2015 in the provinces of Quirino, Iloilo, Capiz, Nueva Vizcaya, Albay and Bukidnon.

In 2013, the Department of Agriculture instructed the BSWM in close coordination with DA-RFOs to provide Techno-Demo Farms to address the issues concerning improper soil and water conservation management and other human-induced crop production practices in sloping areas, particularly, upland fields that are not supposed to be planted with corn to protect landscapes.

Presently, SCoPSa is one of the Department of Agriculture's soil conservation and climate change adaptation measures through the coverage of corn areas vulnerable to soil erosion in different locations of the country.

The project is implemented by establishing a techno-demo farm showcasing easily adoptable and socially acceptable soil and water conservation technologies which are focused on soil erosion control and gully stabilization to improve soil fertility.

According to BSWM Director Silvino Tejada, corn is considered cash crop for the last five years through introduction of technologies for corn production.

"We are aiming for sustainable agricultural practices that can benefit not just the farmers but the whole agricultural sector in  the long run" Tejada added.

Furthermore, to enhance the productivity level of corn production and extend the promotion of sustainable land use management, a two-day Consultative Review and Planning Workshop for SCoPSA was carried out by the BSWM led by Assistant Director Sonia M. Salguero at the BSWM Convention Hall. The said workshop was attended by the DA's attached agencies, DA-Regional Field Offices and Crop Life Philippines representatives.

During the island-wide consultation, it was proposed that additional community-based sites shall be established for more opportunities that can be provided and extended to upland corn farmers to increase their income while promoting sustainable land use management and good agricultural practices.

"Doing this is not just promoting the corn but making sure that the production in these particular fields is sustainable," Salguero said.

Presently, SCoPSA has already established 15 techno-demo farms in Regions I, II, V and VI and aims to establish 12 more sites for 2016 in Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region and Northern Mindanao that will have a total of 76.8 hectares of techno-demo farms.

"As the Philippines remains self-sufficient in corn supply, to sustain its availability and production sufficiency is up to our supervision and continuous action," Salguero added. (Loraine D. Cerillo DA-BSWM)

Source: DA





Monday, March 28, 2016 , , , ,
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