aggie trends december 2009
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Vol. XXIV No. XIIA Monthly Publication of the Department of AgricultureTRANSCRIPT
Vol. XXIV No. XII A Monthly Publication of the Department of Agriculture December 2009
(Pls turn to p11)
Agri projects attract
P400-M investments
Christmas 2009 MessageChristmas 2009 Message
More than a dozen
agribusiness projects worth
P400 million have caught the in-
terest of prospective investors,
during the first-ever ‘National
Convergence Agri-Investment
Forum,’ held November 25, 2009,
at the Asian Institute of Man-
agement, in Makati.
The one-day event -- orga-
nized jointly by departments of
agriculture (DA), agrarian reform
(DAR), and environment and
natural resources (DENR) -- has
attracted prospective investors
in such ventures as coconut oil
Rice processingcenter to risein Pangasinan
Corn prod’nto grow 1.6%
As we join family and
friends in celebrating the
birth of Christ, we are
reminded of the season’s
universal message of hope,
peace and goodwill.
This makes Christmas an
opportune time to look
back at the past year and
to strengthen our resolve to
overcome our weaknesses,
push ourselves to do more
and surpass previous
achievements.
Ushering a new year
means meeting new chal-
lenges, and a chance to
intensify our pursuit of our
objectives of food security
and higher incomes for
farmers, fishers and other
agricultural industry players.
The Year 2009 has had
its share of trials and
triumphs for us at the
Department of Agriculture,
and to the millions of Filipino
farmers and fishers.
Weather disturbances such
as Ondoy and Pepeng
damaged billions worth of
pesos on crops and other
farm commodities, proper-
ties and infrastructure.
Crude prices also remain
high, which in turn prop up
prices of farm inputs,
notably fertilizers.
All these, plus the global
economic meltdown that
dampens investments and
reduces purchasing power,
have slowed down the
agriculture industry to a
virtual standstill.
The challenges may be
enormous, but I see that the
DA family is ready to meet
them head-on. DA officials
Masaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang Pasko at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon!
Masaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang Pasko at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon!
Masaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang PaskoMasaganang Pasko at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon! at Mapayapang Bagong Taon!
(Pls turn to p2)
Another modern rice process-
ing complex (RPC) worth P162
million, funded by the govern-
ment of South Korea through the
Korea International Cooperation
Agency (KOICA), will rise in Bgy.
Tebag, Sta. Barbara,
Pangasinan.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur
Yap,along with Pangasinan lo-
cal officials led by Governor
Amado T. Espino and Congress-
woman Rachel “Baby” Arenas,
and DA and KOICA officials led
the RPC’s document-signing
and groundbreaking ceremonies,
November 26, 2009.
Other officials
present were DA
The country’s total 2009 corn
harvest is projected to grow by
1.6% to a little over 7 million
metric tons , despite losses due
to several typhoons.
In a report to Agriculture Sec-
retary Arthur Yap, Director
Romeo Recide of the DA’s Bu-
reau of Agricultural Statistics
(BAS) said the total projected
volume is composed of the first
semester output of 3.22 million
MT, 3.82 miilion tons for the sec-
ond semester.
The second semester harvest
is projected to be 5% more than
last year, partly due to the DA’s
interventions such as expansion
of planting areas and the provi-
sion of high-quality seeds to
(Pls turn to p2)
production, organic garlic pro-
duction and processing, mush-
room production and expansion,
and establishment of corn post-
harvest facilities, among others.
Keynoted by Agriculture Sec-
retary Arthur C. Yap, the agri-
investment forum was coordi-
nated by the National Conver-
gence Initiative Secretariat
chaired by Marriz B. Agbon,
president of the DA’s Philippine
Agricultural Development and
Commercial Corporation
(PADCC).
Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (2nd from left) andABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI) President Regina Lopez(2nd from right) hand over vegetable seedlings to PriscillaNavarro (left) and her children, who are among the 1,000new settlers in Bgy. Dayap, Calauan, Laguna, one of theresettlement sites of AFI’s ‘Bayan ni Juan’ and ‘Kapit BisigPara sa Ilog Pasig’ projects. With them are DA Ass’t. Sec.Dennis Araullo (right) and Calauan Mayor BuenafridoBerris (3rd from right). Please see story on page 3.(Photo by Joe Lucas, DA Info Service)
(Pls turn to p2)
2
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 now
available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests. via email [email protected].
Photograhers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Alarico Nuestro
Lay-out Artists: Bethzaida Bustamante, Almie Erlano,
Alan Jay Jacalan
Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff
Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes
Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Cheryl C. Suarez
Agribiz projects ... (from p1)
and employees have always
shown competence, resolve
and willingness to serve our
clienteles through the
centerpiece program,
dubbed as FIELDS, and
other key initiatives such as
the Ginintuang Masaganang
Ani (GMA) programs on rice,
corn, livestock, fisheries,
and high-value commercial
crops.
For 2010, we see the
continuation of increased
investments in infrastructure
and technology, provision of
interventions and promotion
of agri-business among
farmers and fishers for them
to a stable, more profitable
livelihood.
We will also greet new
leaders, following the na-
tional elections in May 2010.
Thus, I count on our
greater effort, cooperation
and determination in our
respective tasks.
These, together with the
strong partnerships and
active participation of LGUs,
farmers’ and fishers’ groups,
NGOs, and other stakehold-
ers give a positive outlook
for the industry.
Kaya naman dalangin ko
na bigyan tayo ng
panibagong lakas at higit na
determinasyon sa pagharap
natin sa mga darating na
pagsubok, tungo sa
pagtupad ng ating mga
hangarin.
Maligayang Pasko at
Masaganang Bagong Taon
sa inyong lahat!
Christmas 2009 message... (from p1)
farmers.
During the third quarter (July-
September), corn production
surpassed last year’s output by
5%, from 2.26 million MT to 2.37
million MT, largely due to the ex-
pansion of harvest areas and the
improvement in per-hectare
yields.
For his part, DA Ass’t. Sec.
Dennis Araullo--who also serves
as national GMA corn program
coordinator--said another ma-
jor factor that encouraged farm-
ers to plant more corn was Presi-
dent Arroyo’s directive increas-
ing the buying support price for
corn, from P 11 to P 13 per kilo,
by the National Food Authortity.
During the third quarter,
Recide said harvest area grew
by 3.1%, from 921,000 hectares
Corn prod’n ... (from p1)
to 949,000 hectares, and aver-
age yield increased by 2%, from
2.45 MT to 2.5 MT per hectare.
Moreover, “inspite of the dam-
ages caused by tropical storm
Ondoy and typhoons Pepeng,
Ramil and Santi, the standing
crop for the October-December
2009 period points to a produc-
tion gain of 5.2%, from last
year’s level of 1.38 million MT
to 1.45 million MT,” Recide said.
He added expected harvest
area may expand by 0.5%, from
604,000 hectares to 607,000
hectares, while average yield
may improve by 4.6%, from 2.3
tons to 2.4 tons per hectare.
Recide said there were signifi-
cant corn production increases.
Thirteen out of 17 proposed
projects met the requirements
of investors present during the
event.
Follow-up meetings and
more detailed discussions of
the proposals are set between
the investors and proponents.
“They want to see and visit
personally the farm sites of
palm oil plantation,” said Ms.
Loreta Garcia of Alicia Commu-
nity Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(ACMPC), which proposes to
provide market support services
to palm oil production in Alicia,
Bohol.
The cooperative met with Son
Bo Ram, of the Korean Cham-
ber of Commerce and Industry,
and representative of the
CCALS International, a Philip-
pine-based raw material trading
firm.
Said company also met with
the officers of the Tungawan
ARB Multi-purpose Cooperative
(TIMARBEMCO), which is pro-
posing a rubber production main-
tenance and marketing project.
Other prospective foreign and
Filipino investors and business-
men present during the forum
were: Agri Nurture Inc. (ANI), Phil-
ippine Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (PCCI), Develop-
ment Bank of the Philippines
(DBP), Landbank of the Philip-
pines (LBP) and Qatar Embassy.
DAR Undersecretary Rosalina
Bistoyong explained how agrar-
ian reform communities can be
a vehicle for rural investment; and
DENR Undersecretary Manuel D.
Gerochi discussed the invest-
ment opportunities in appropriate
upland areas in the country.
The conduct of the event was
supported by the DA-PADCC
and two foreign agencies: the
German Technical Cooperation
(GTZ), the Spanish Agency for
International Development Coop-
eration or AECID.(DA-PADCC)
Editorial
Established on December 9,
1959, with support from the
Ford and Rockefeller
Foundation and the government
of the Philippines, the
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) has become the
largest non-profit agricultural
research center in Asia.
Since it found its home in Los
Baños, Laguna, IRRI has
expanded and established
offices in 14 nations in Asia and
Africa, and expanded its reach
to Latin America.
From the initial support
extended by Ford and
IRRI helpsfeed the world
Rockefeller, IRRI now enjoys the
partnership and support of
agricultural research institutes in
other countries, international
development agencies, and new
philanthropic organizations. In the
last three years, IRRI, along with
other organizations working for
eliminating hunger around the
world, obtained support from the
Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (pls see related story
on page 10).
The institute has helped feed
much of the world’s population,
reduce poverty and hunger,
improve the health of rice farmers
and consumers, and ensure that
rice production is environmentally
sustainable.
Arthur C. YapSecretary
*Editor’s Note: In recognition ofthe continuing efforts and hugecontribution of IRRI -- astaunch partner of the Philip-pine Department of Agriculture-- to rice R&D, and in increas-ing rice production in Asia andthe rest of the world, we arereprinting excerpts of aneditorial published in a majornewspaper.
(Pls turn to p11)
December 2009 3
The Department of Agriculture
(DA) recently launched a
Farmers’ Contact Center (FCC)
to enable farmers, fisherfolk, and
the general public easily access
agriculture-related information
and extension services via the
telephone, internet or short
messaging service (SMS).
Agriculture Secretary Arthur
C. Yap said the FCC is part of
the extension component of
President Arroyo’s flagship
program on food security
dubbed as FIELDS.
The FCC is spearheaded by
the DA’s Agricultural Training
Institute (DA-ATI) in partnership
with Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company (PLDT).
Farmers, fishers, and the
general public may simply call
the FCC through telephone
numbers 982-2474 (AGRI) for
Metro Manila, 1-800-10-982-2474 (AGRI) for provincial tollfree calls, and 0928-4990-965 formobile users.
Inquiries can also be sentthrough text at 391-32 (DA) forSMART and TalkNTextsubscribers and 0928-4990-965for non-SMART subscribers.
The FCC can also beaccessed through e-mail [email protected].
“The FCC is the DA’s
alternative delivery channel in
providing timely information and
extension services to our
farmers and fisherfolk, including
the general public,” Yap said.
DA unveils info service center
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (5th from left) leads the launch of the Farmers’ Con-tact Center (FCC) in Tagbilaran City to provide timely technical, marketing and exten-sion services to farmers and fishers, as well as current food prices and other inquiries bythe general public, who should simply call or text designated telephone and mobile num-bers or inquire through email. The FCC is led by the DA’s Agriculture AgriculturalTraining Institute (DA-ATI) and Information Technology Center for Agricultureand Fisheries (DA-ITCAF) in partnership with the Philippine Long Distance Tele-phone company, Devolved Agriculturists of the Phils., Inc., Phil. Ass’n. of Provin-cial and City Agriculturists , and DOST-PCARRD. (Photo by Darwin Bibit, DA-ATI)
The DA-ATI has organized
three levels of support for the
FCC to quickly and adequately
respond to queries.
Level 1 involves the contact
center agents with agriculture
background who will first answer
the queries.
Should the callers or texters
need further information, they
will be referred to Level 2, or
experts from concerned DA
agencies and institutions.
If the query needs further
probing or requires field and farm
visits, they will be referred to
Level 3 experts, who include
agricultural extension workers
and members of the Devolved
Agriculturists of the Phils., Inc.
(DAPI), and Phil. Ass’n. of
Provincial and City Agriculturists
(PAPCA), and scientists and
researchers from agricultural
State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs).
FIELDS is the acronymn for
the six major interventions --
fertilizers, irrigation and otherrural infrastructure, extensionand training, loans, dryers andother postharvest facilities, andseeds and other geneticmaterials -- that governmentthrough the DA provides to theagriculture and fishery to attainfood self-sufficiency andsecurity, increase theproductivity and incomes offarmers and fishers, andgenerate livelihood andemployment in the countryside.(Benedict Natividad, DA-ATI)
Some 1,000 urban poor fami-
lies who have resettled in
Barangay Dayap, Calauan, La-
guna, will also have vegetable
gardens and fishponds in their
backyards.
Thanks to the joint efforts of
the Department of Agriculture
and the ABS-CBN Foundation
(AFI) under its Bayan ni Juan
and Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog
Pasig project.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur
Yap and AFI president Regina
Lopez recently forged an agree-
ment to implement the joint ini-
tiative right in Barangay Dayap
Veggie, fishpond projectto benefit urban poor families
with some of the family-benefi-
ciaries from Metro Manila, who
were previously informally
settled along the banks of Pasig
River.
The DA will help them set up
their respective vegetable gar-
dens, train them on how to
grow vegetables and fish prop-
erly and profitably--through the
DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and
Bureau of Soils Water Manage-
ment (BSWM)--teach them en-
vironment-friendly technologies,
and provide them assorted veg-
etable seeds, fish tank and fin-
gerlings, shredder and
vermicomposting units to pro-
duce organic fertilizers.
For its part, the AFI will iden
tify and provide areas for the veg-
etable gardens and fishponds,
and assign counterpart person-
nel to help speed up the project.
The National Food Authority
has given the notice of awards
to four winning bidders to sup-
ply a total of 509,950 metric tons
of imported well-milled, long-
grain white rice of 25 percent
broken to the Philippines .
In the bidding held December
1, the NFA has awarded the rice
imports to Vietnam Southern
Food Corp., Louis Dreyfus Com-
modities Asia Pte. Ltd.,
Chairyaporn Rice Co., Ltd and
Asia Golden Rice.
A total of 300,000 MT of rice
NFA awards 509,950 MT rice importswill be sourced from Vietnam.
The balance of 209,950 MT will
come from Thailand , the United
States, China and Pakistan.
The shipment is scheduled to
arrive next year, from January
until May.
Vietnam Southern Food Corp.
won the right to supply a total of
300,000 MT. The first 100,000
MT is priced at US$598 per ton,
the next 100,000 MT at US$630,
and the remaining 100,000 MT
at US$648 per ton. (NFA-Public
Affairs Dep’t.)
4
Agribusiness ventures in thecountry have so far generatedP120-billion (roughly $2.5B)worth of committed investmentssince 2007, according to theDepartment of Agriculture’s Phil.Agricultural Development andCommercial Corp. (DA-PADCC).
Of the $2.5 bill ioninvestments, one-eight (12.5%)each went to food crops,banana exports, technologytransfer and informationexchange; and renewableenergy (6.25%).
The country’s 91-mill ionpopulation as a consumer baseis too compelling a reason (tostart agribusiness projects), saidAgriculture Secretary Arthur C.Yap.
And that traditional agricultureis giving way to modernagribusiness, added AgricultureAssistant Secretary Preceles H.Manzo said in a recent forum.“Progressive foreign businesspersons are always on thelookout for agribusinessprojects,” he added.
Since launching anagribusiness promotionprogram in 2007, the countryhas contracted to local andforeign companies 1.674 millionhectares of agribusiness lands.
Foreign companies fromBahrain, the US, and Kingdomof Saudi Arabia, among others,have committed to invest inlarge-scale agribusiness
Agri ventures attract
P120-B investments
Young Filipinos should
consider a career in agriculture
to reverse the country’s aging
farmer population and ensure
the sustained growth of this
critical sector.
This is the advice of
Agriculture Undersecretary
Bernie Fondevilla, who said that
just like other “white-collar”
career paths, agriculture can
become a profitable venture for
the country’s youth.
He lamented that many
Land Bank to lend P26.5Bto farmers in 2010
projects like jatropha andbanana plantations,aquaculture, corn productionand postharvest projects.
For instance, a USagribusiness and trade missionled by US Agriculture SecretaryThomas J. Vilsack in Octoberyielded potential investmentstotaling $351.3 million.
Far East Agriculture Co., anumbrella group of 10 SaudiArabian agribusinesscompanies, said it will invest
$300 mill ion in a banana
plantation in Mindanao.
In March, AMA Computer
University and Nader & Ebrahim
S/O Hassan Bahrain signed a
$300-M venture to develop
10,000 hectares of banana
plantation in Davao Region.(BusinessWorld)
lion, according to estimates
made by the World Bank.
The World Bank noted that
it will take about three years
for the Philippines to fully re-
cover from the series of ca-
lamities that hit the nation this
year.
LandBank releases loans to
farmers through relending to
rural banks and farmers’ co-
operatives.
Pico added that the bank is
accrediting more conduits to
reach more farmers.
As of end-September 2009,
Land Bank’s loans to priority
sectors have reached
P117.5B, up by 18 percent
from the P99.5B a year
ago.(Business Mirror)
The Land Bank of the Phil-
ippines is targeting to make
loan releases of P26.5 billion
to small farmers and fisherfolk
in 2010.
The amount is 15 percent
higher than the projected P23-
billion worth of loans this year.
“We want to give our priority
sectors the best exposure. In
this time of crisis, [our farm-
ers] need more support in
terms of financing to recover
what was lost to them in the
2009 series of tragedies,”
LandBank president and chief
executive officer Gilda Pico
said a recent briefing.
The farm sector was badly
hit by recent typhoons, with
damages reaching $849.3 mil-
Filipino youth should consider agristudents usually shy away from
agriculture-related courses,
preferring instead to pursue
careers in more prestigious
professions such as law and
engineering, despite the many
potentials offered by the
country’s farm and fisheries
sector for the country’s
enterprising young Filipinos.
This is why the priority thrust
of the DA on the watch of
Secretary Arthur Yap is not only
to further boost farm yields, but
Experts from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB) recently launched abook, entitled “Modern Biotechnology and Agriculture,”which chronicles the history ofthe commercialization of biotech maize in the Philippines. The authors are shown abovewith Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (3rd from left), namely (from left): Dr. RubenVillareal, National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) academician; Dr. EmilJavier, NAST president; Dr. Leonardo Gonzales, president of SIKAP/STRIVE Founda-tion; Dr. Flerida Cariño, UP Diliman biochemistry professor; Dr. Dolores Ramirez,UPLB professor emeritus; and Arthur Baria, assistant vice president of Nestle Phils.
to make agriculture and fisheries
a lot more profitable for farmers
and fisherfolk, and at the same
time encourage more investors.
Fondevilla expressed concern
over the country’s aging farmer
population where the average
age is above 60 years old.
“The problem of an aging
farmer sector population is not
just in the Philippines. This is
also a problem of countries like
Japan, the US, and many of our
neighboring countries.”
“Sa mga kabataan po natin,
gusto ninyong magkaroon ng
napakagandang posibilidad sa
kinabukasan ninyo? (To our
youth, you want to have bright
possibilities for your future?)
Consider agriculture,” Fondevilla
said during the recent National
Awareness Month Celebration.
“The future is bright, the future
is actually agriculture,” he said.
Despite the twin challenges
of a growing population and
climate change on agriculture,
the agriculture and fisheries
sector offers young Filipinos
various opportunities for career
growth because food will always
be in high demand, Fondevilla
noted.
December 2009 5
To sustain the growth of the
country’s coconut industry, the
Department of Agriculture
through the Philippine Coconut
Authority (PCA) will massively
promote and market coco-based
health and wellness products,
notably virgin coconut oil (VCO),
coco sugar, fresh coconut sap,
and galactomannan--all with
supporting clinical studies and
researches.
“These non-traditional and
newly emerging products
possess the huge promise of
boosting the country’s income
from coconuts,” PCA
Administrator Oscar G. Garin
said,
To further promote
agribusiness in the Philippines,
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap
has written a book, “The Art of
Agribusiness,” which compiles
the triumphs and successes of
124 model farmers, fishers and
entrepreneurs.
In her foreword, President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said
“the stories featured in this book
about successful farmers,
fisherfolk, and agribusiness en-
trepreneurs who have benefit
from the assistance of the DA
and other government agencies
will not only help promote
agribusiness in the country, butwill also inspire Filipinos to en-gage in agriculture and fisheriesas profitable ventures... and willcontribute, in no small way, insustaining growth of our econmyand helping our country achievefodd self-sufficiency.”
For his part, Secretary Yapsaid: “Real and sustainable eco-nomic growth would not happenif the agriculture sector would beleft behind.
“In this book, we feature someof the trailblazing experts in themany fields of agriculture andtheir life stories are as varied as
the industries, products, people
and organizations that they rep-
resent.
“All of them prove that there
truly is wealth in agriculture.”
‘The Art of Agribusiness’ now available
Originally, the book was in-
tended to feature success sto-
ries of 111 agri-entrepreneurs in
celebration of the 111th anniver-
sary of DA, but the abundance
of agri-entrepreneurs worthy of
getting featured in the book ex-
ceeded the targeted number of
success stories.
The book is the first of its kind
in the country and in the history
of DA.
Joey Concepcion of Go
Negosyo and the Philippine Cen-
ter for Entrepreneurship gives the
foreword, as Go Negosyo shares
in the DA’s vision to promote en-
trepreneurship in the Philip-
pines.
In partnership with National
Bookstore’s Bestsellers, Anvil
Publishing, and The Podium,
the book launch has gathered
dozens of agri-entrepreneurs fea-
tured in the book, as well as rep-
resentatives from the private
sector and government agen-
cies.
The book is being distributed
in partnership with Anvil Publish-
ing and will be available in the
top 50 National Bookstore out-
lets in the National Capital Re-
gion. (DA-BAR)
PCA to promote VCO, coco sugar, etc.
The Department of Agricul-
ture through the Agricultural
Credit Policy Council (DA-
ACPC) has to date lent P64
million, benefiting 3,438 farm-
ers and fisherfolk nationwide,
under its Agri-Microfinance
Program for Small Farmers
and Fisherfolk and their
Households (AMP).
The loans were coursed
through the People’s Credit
and Finance Corporation
(PCFC).
Thus far, PCFC has relent
P64 mill ion out of the
program’s P100-million fund
through its network of
microfinance institutions
(MFIs) as conduits.
Borrower organizations
and eligible sub-borrowers
may avail of either:
Agri-Fishery Microfinance
Loan Facility or credit funds
to finance farm, off-farm/non-
farm income generating
projects.
Eligible sub-borrowers in-
clude heads of the family,
spouses or adult working
members of small farming/
fishing households. Only one
member per household is
qualified to borrow up to
P50,000;
Value Chain Financing Fa-
cility or credit funds to finance
value chain activities and ac-
quisition of assets for post
production, agri-enterprise or
agribusiness project.
Eligible groups can bor-
row up to P1 million but not
to exceed P150,000 per
member, whichever is higher.
The AFMP is one of the pro-
grams under the Agro-Indus-
try Modernization Credit and
Financing Program (AFMP),
the government’s umbrella fi-
nancing program for agricul-
ture and fisheries. (DA-ACPC)
DA-ACPClends P64Mto farmers
“The key is to conduct the
studies and researches needed,
and in this effort we need the
support of all stakeholders,” he
added.
For instance, coco sugar is
good for diabetics, with its low
glycemic index of 35, as
confirmed by studies done by
the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute.
In defense of VCO, he said not
all oils increase cholesterol level,
and of all oils touted as heart-
friendly, VCO is the most
cholesterol-neutral.
“In this light, we are
challenging all stakeholders and
institutions to support a clinical
study on the neutral effect of
VCO on cholesterol level, on the
cardio-vascular system, and on
the body’s general health, which
the PCA will be initiating.
Finally, fresh coco sap has
inositol that inhibits cancer cell
growth, and that galactomannan
can be used for food, cosmetics
and pharmaceuticals.
Galactomannan is a gum
product, similar to carageenan,
and used in food as extender,
thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer
and edible wrapping/packaging
material. (DA-PCA Coconut
Media Service)
Secretary Arthur Yap (left) and Roberto Amores ofPhilFoodEx unveil the book, ‘The Art of Agribusiness,’while Joey Concepcion of Go Negosyo look on.
The yellow group has beta
carotene and flavonoids
which reduce the risk of heart
diseases, some cancers and
slows down ageing.
Squash, mango, oranges,
cantaloupes and carrots are
the popular sources.
December 20096 7
For its successful and profitable operation, serving about 5,000households and providing employment to dozens of residents, theBalligi Barangay Bagsakan (BB), in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, was ad-judged as the national 2009 Gawad Saka winner under the non-LGU operated BB category.
The rustic town of Sta. Ana
which lies at the northernmost
part of Cagayan is not only
known as a tourists’ paradise
and a haven for adventurers.
Situated 632 kilometers north
of Manila , this simple town is
also home to the Cagayan
Economic Zone Authority
which continues to draw fresh
investments and international
tourists.
And through the years, it is
considered as one of the major
crop and fishery producing
towns of Cagayan as it is
blessed with fertile soils, vast
marine resources and
hardworking farmers and
fishers.
Thus, with an abundant
supply of crops such as corn,
vegetables and fruits, le-
gumes, rootcrops, and other
high value commodities, Sta.
Ana Mayor Norberto Victor
Rodriguez was compelled to
look for a central drop-off point
where producers and consum-
ers can meet and trade.
“We needed a place where
we can showcase and sell our
products,” he said.
Barangay Bagsakan
As luck would have it, the
Department of Agriculture (DA)
through its Agribusiness and
Marketing Assistance Service
(AMAS) has been implement-
ing a market linkage program
popularly known as Barangay
Bagsakan (BB) to link the
farmers and fishers to the
consumers.
Cagayan town benefitsfrom model food depot
By Adora D. Rodriguez
Now on its two-year running,
the barangay-based food depot
which sells basic food prod-
ucts at low costs continues to
ensure that every family can
afford to buy and eat quality
and nutritious food.
Having signified his intention
with the support of the munici-
pal council, Rodriguez applied
for a BB unit in their town.
Under the implementing
guidelines for the establish-
ment of a BB, the local
executives select a recipient
association and a strategic
site for the BB to be validated.
Balligi rural women
In Sta. Ana’s case, the Rural
Improvement Club of Balligi
was chosen to manage the
center to be established in
Barangay Centro, in an area
approximate to the municipal
hall.
“We believe that the
location is strategic for any
business operation,”
Rodriguez explained.
According to Leni Pecson of
AMAS, “the validation part of
the process is crucial in the
establishment of the food
depot to make sure that the
community passes the criteria
set.
It also ascertains that the
area is suitable for a retail food
distribution system.”
From there on, a series of
training was undertaken by the
management team with the
assistance of the national and
regional BB team until the
bagsakan commenced its
operation in September of
2008.
P240K start-up capital
Starting with a P100,000
grant from DA and P140,000
fund from the LGU, the Balligi
BB was launched.
“When we started, many
came to see our low-priced
commodities and I believe that
we have created a pool of
satisfied consumers,”
Rodriguez said.
True enough, many buyers
were encouraged to visit the
Balligi BB as it remained true
to its vision of providing quality
and affordable foodstuff to local
residents.
Almost all commodities
traded at the BB are P5-P10
cheaper compared to those
being sold in regular markets,
Do you know that the color of
a certain fruit or vegetable
determines the essential
phytochemical it contains?
Here’s a simple guide--
prepared by Dr. Evelyn B.
Rodriguez, an associate
professor at the Institute of
Chemistry at UP Los Baños--
that will benefit those who
regularly eat vegetables and
fruits.
She said phytochemicals are
compounds in fruits, veg-
etables, grains and other plant
foods that reduce or retard the
risk of major chronic diseases.
The red color group includes
lycopene, which reduces the
risk of cancer, and anthocya-
nin, which delays several
diseases associated with
Eat a rrrrraaaaaiiiiinnnnnbbbbbooooowwwww of colorsThe blue and purple group
includes anthocyanin and
phenolics which also prevents
cancer, heart disease and
ageing.
Eggplant, grapes, plums,
duhat and blueberries are rich
in these two phytochemicals.
Lastly, the white, tan and
brown group contains allyl
sulfides and polyphenols
which reduce the risk of heart
disease. Banana, garlic, ginger
onions, mushrooms, potatoes
and white corn are just some
rich sources of allyl sulfides
and polyphenols.
Dr. Rodriguez said one does
not have to eat raw food always
to receive the health benefits of
foods rich in phytochemicals.
She noted that many
phytochemicals are reasonably
heat-stable, and most of them
are not water-soluble--hence,
they are not appreciably lost
during conventional cooking
methods.
However, on top of eating
vegetables and fruits regualrly,
Dr. Rodriguez added that
exercising regularly, avoiding
smoking, reducing stress and
maintaining a healthy body
weight are also essential to
sustaining one’s health.
She presented these tips
during a seminar on indigenous
plants for health and wellness
sponsored by the Bureau of
Agricultural Research at the
recent Agrilink 2009. (Johanna
B. Benavente, DA-BAR)
the main reason why a number
of consumers have remained
loyal to the food depot.
“Mas mura kasi dito, kaya
dito kami,” exclaimed a
regular buyer. (We go here
because it’s cheaper.) “Malaki
ang natitipid namin,” he added.
(We save a lot.)
Goods: P5 to P10 cheaper!
The bagsakan’s regular
patrons locally known as suki
enjoy P5-P10 savings on meat
products and an average of P6
from a kilo of lowland veggies
such as ampalaya, squash,
eggplant and okra, among
others.
Cabbage, habitchuelas, and
other highland vegetables can
be bought at P12 less than the
ones being sold in regular
markets.
The Balligi BB takes pride
on their fresh produce since
delivery from farming commu-
nities within the town arrive on
a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
“This is to assure consum-
ers that they can always buy
high grade produce here,” said
Rodriguez.
For its rice supply, the BB
acquires at least 30 cavans of
rice per week from the
Gonzaga warehouse of the
National Food Authority.
Another 20-30 cavans of
commercial rice come from
rice-producing communities.
RIC members from different
barangays supply the pork and
chicken products in monthly
and weekly basis respectively,
while lowland veggies such as
squash, ampalaya, tomato,
eggplant, okra, daludal,
alugbati, upo and green
pepper are delivered weekly.
Fish and its by-products
provided by local fisherfolk are
delivered twice a week and
twice a month respectively.
Carrots, onion, ginger, garlic
and legumes from Tuguegarao
City arrive twice a month,
while cabbage, habitchuelas,
and chayote arrive weekly.
Native mangoes, bananas,
apples, ponkans and other
fruits from Sta. Ana, Gonzaga,
Tuguegarao and Ilocos farms
are delivered weekly.
As the bagsakan continues
to cater to a variety of con-
sumers, it has prompted the
management team to increase
the assortment of goods being
offered.
From staple farm products,
Cebuana couturieris dairy farmer, too!
As of December 2009, the BarangayBagsakan program of the Department of
Agriculture has served more than 110,000families through 113 operational retail
food markets nationwide
Minerva Sotto Yuvienco used
to be a revered name in the high
world of fashion.
Her Best of New York bou-
tiques in Cebu, whose products
she designed, were much pa-
tronized.
Her influence reached other
Visayan cities and up to Davao
City, where she had held fash-
ion shows regularly in the nine-
ties.
Now, this glamour woman,
schooled at the Traphagen
Fashion School in New York
City, is now into dairy farming.
Her success in the milk pro-
duction business was docu-
mented by the Department of
Agriculture’s National Dairy Au-
thority (NDA), chaired by Agri-
culture Secretary Arthur Yap,
with Orkhan Usman as NDA
administrator.
The NDA has been assisting
Yuvienco in raising her dairy
herd, now consists of 54 dairy
cows.
“Thanks to NDA, we have the
services of their veterinarians
who are knowledgeable in dairy
cow management,” she said.
She believes that the dairy
industry has a bright future in
the country because Filipinos
have begun appreciating the
benefits of drinking fresh milk.
She sells a big bulk of her pro-
duce to the Cebu Federation of
Dairy Cooperatives, but keeps
some at her Cebu City home
where ordinary folks go to buy
their milk supply.
Before venturing into dairy
farming, which she set up on a
six-hectare land inherited from
her physician parents — Dr.
Merito Yuvienco and Dr. Suga
Sotto Yuvienco — this
grandaughter of Cebu’s great
statesman, the late Sen.
Vicente Sotto, had to close her
boutiques due to the economic
downturn.
Finding no choice and buoyed
by her sense of resiliency and
never-say-die character, the
fashion guru plunged into dairy
animal raising.
She has no regrets and is
enjoying her success in the in-
dustry.
She looks forward to bringing
the business to a higher notch,
and that is to be able to produce
cheese and trade her cheese
products abroad.(Teddy Molina -
The Philippine Star)
ageing.
Tomatoes, watermelon and
strawberries are rich in lyco-
pene and anthocyanin.
The yellow group has beta
carotene and flavonoids
which reduce the risk of heart
diseases, some cancers and
slows down ageing.
Squash, mango, oranges,
cantaloupes and carrots are
the popular sources.
The green color group
contians lutein which helps
maintain good vision. Plants
rich in lutein are pechay,
kangkong, gabi leaves, mus-
tard, spinach, alugbati, saluyot
and malunggay.
the Balligi BB now has frozen
products available for the
consumers.
Diversified into trading
As a blooming enterprise,
the Sta. Ana BB has ventured
into projects not confined with
the trading of agri-produce
alone. From time to time, it
has embarked on other
business opportunities to
augment its income.
And so, with barely a year of
operation, the bagsakan
maintains a regular monthly
income close to P19,000 even
as it faces inevitable adversi-
ties such as the varying
capability of consumers to buy
from time to time.
Serving 4,783 households
and generating employment for
local residents, the bagsakan
is committed to its vision of
providing quality and safe
agricultural products at lower
prices. Accordingly, it as-
sumes capability of being both
a destination and source of
superior agri and fishery
commodities.
It’s no wonder why it was
recently awarded first prize at
the regional search for out-
standing BB’s.
Now, more than ever, distant
Sta. Ana has a bigger reason
to be discovered.
8
More than 150 farmers in
Aklan have completed their
season-long training on ‘Palay-
check,’ conducted by the
Department of Agriculture in
Western Visayas (DA-RFU 6)
via a radio program or School-
On-the-Air (SOA) aired over the
Community Broadcasting
Information System (CBIS) in the
province.
“The SOA has helped me fully
understand the palay-check
technology,” said Ariel Igong-
Igong of Barangay Liloan,
Malinao, Aklan, who is among
the 157 farmer-graduates.
The SOA was initiated by the
DA-RFU 6 in collaboration with
the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist and the Municipal
Government of Kalibo.
Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter,
Regional Technical Director for
Operations of DA 6 said through
the SOA farmer-graduates
share what they have learned to
other farmers in their respective
communities.
Meanwhile, Kalibo Mayor
Raymar Rebaldo has affirmed
his strong support and
partnership with the DA in the
implementation of the SOA
The Department of Agriculture
RFU 9, in coordination with the
International Training Center on
Pig Husbandry (ITCPH)
conducted recently a biogas
technology seminar in
Zamboanga.
Raul Ramon Bucoy,
agricultural program coordinator,
said the three-day seminar
taught participants on how to
produce biogas and use for
cooking and fuel to run engines.
Biogas is a flammable gas
(methane) produced by bacteria
when organic materials such as
animal manure, human excreta
and some agricultural and
industrial wastes.
There are contained and
fermented in a certain range of
temperature, moisture content,
and acidities, under air-tight
conditions.
Biogas has a high heating
temperature, clean, bluish and
produces a soothless flame.
Experts from the ITCPH
lectured and demonstrated how
to install an engine carburetor
to generate electricity using
biogas as fuel.
The other topics discussed
during the seminar were: the
biogas situation in the region,
the latest technology on animal
From the RegionsSelected news and developments on agriculture, fisheries, agribusiness and
related sectors, as reported by the DA-Regional Field Units, and those published
in national and provincial publications.
Aklan farmers trainon palay-check via SOA
program and other agriculture
related projects in the
municipality.
“Through the SOA we can
provide vital information and
technologies to far-flung
barangays where our farmers
are in need of new technologies
to improve their farming
practices and increase their
production,” said Mayor
Rebaldo.
The SOA on palaycheck
system emphasizes on the
eight key checks farmers should
follow in order to increase yield,
harvest quality grains, minimize
production and postharvest
losses.
The eight imperatives are: use
of certified seeds of a
recommended variety, no high
and low soil spots after final
leveling, practice synchronous
planting after a fallow period,
sufficient number of healthy
seedlings, sufficient nutrients at
early panicle initiation to
flowering, avoid excessive water
or drought stress situation, no
significant yield loss due to
pests and cut and thresh the
crop at the right time. (JEEO/
DA-RFU 6)
DA-Region 5 (Bicol) Director Jose Dayao (3rd from left)and Camarines Sur Congressman Luis Villafuerte (3rdfrom right) unveil the marker of a farm-to-market road(FMR) at Paolbo-Binanuanan Grande, in Calabanga,Camarines Sur. It is one of the eight FMR sections total-ing 24.159 kilometers recently improved and constructedunder the DA’s Infrastructure for Rural Productivity En-hancement Sector (InfRES). Also shown are CalabangaMayor Evelyn S. Yu (2nd from left), Vice Mayor RaffyPalma (2nd from right), and members of the CalabangaMunicipal Council. (Photo by Jun Collantes-DA-RAFID5)
DA-RFU6 Technical Director Remelyn Recoter (left)discusses the importance of using new rice farmingtechnologies during the graduation ceremony of the firstSchool-on-the-Air on Palay-check in Kalibo, Aklan.
DA-Zamboanga, pig centerconduct biogas tech seminar
waste management and
utilization and its importance to
the environment, the economic
benefits/ value of Tubular Poly-
ethylene Digester (TPED),
conversion/computation of
animal manure to biogas, and
the hands-on tapping of
carburetor from biogas operated
generator.
The seminar also taught the
participants, mostly hog and
livestock raisers, how to
manage animal wastes using
environment friendly
technologies, and how to
efficiently produce biogas.
The participants also had a
chance to visit a hog farm with
installed biogas in Barangay
Talisayan, Zamboanga City,
where the hands-on tapping of
carburetor to the engine to
biogas was conducted.
Regional Biogas Coordinator
Julie Rubio said there are now
48 biogas units installed all over
the region.
The seminar was also
participated by livestock
technicians from the different
provincial, municipal, cities, and
some invited biogas operators
from the private sectors all over
Zamboanga Peninsula. (Willy
Penaflor, DA-RFU9)
December 2009 9
Two Department of Agriculture
officials and a training center on
pig husbandry figured
perominently at the 2009 Honor
Awards Program (HAP) of the
Civil Service Commission (CSC).
For his various contributions
in the field of agriculture,
Gumersindo Lasam received
the posthumous award in
Lingkod ng Bayan for his exem-
plary effort as the DA’s Regional
Executive Director in Cagayan
Valley.
During his term, he initiated
various programs that increased
agricultural productivity in
Cagayan Valley, exceeding
growth targets for rice and corn
sectors.
He also addressed the lack
of training of farmers in the re-
gion and formed a farmer-led ex-
tension where leaders train their
fellow farmers on new technolo-
gies.
He spent 37 years in public
service and received various
awards during his tenure.
The second awardee is like-
wise from Cagayan Valley, Dir.
Jovita Ayson of the DA’s Bu-
reau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR Region 2),
who received the Pagasa award
ASEAN Agri-Ministers Meeting. Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (5th from right)leads the Philippine delegation to the 31st ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and ForestryMeeting (AMAF) held recently in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Duringthe meeting, yap called for the urgent covening of a Senior Officials meeting to handlethe technical details of establishing the East Asia emergency Rice reserve (EAERR) as apermanent mechanism to ensure food security in East Asia.
Two DA officials, training centerare 2009 best civil servants
for protecting her region from
poachers and illegal fishers.
She investigated and closed
down dummy corporations by
poachers.
Aside from her continuous
effort in initiating measures in
preserving marine habitat in their
region, she also upheld gender
awareness, development and
empowerment of women through
different activities that uplift
women’s condition in Cagayan.
Another winner under the
Pagasa Award (group category)
is the Agricultural Training In-
stitute-International Training
Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-
ITCPH) in Lipa City, Batangas,
which is considered as the lead-
ing technology depot on swine
breeding and production in the
Asia-Pacific region.
It has emerged successful
despite limited budget by team-
ing up with various private com-
panies and generous groups and
individuals to fund training ma-
terials, office equipment and
swine feeds.
The honor awards program,
now on its 50th edition, is an
annual undertaking of the Civil
Service Commission to recog-
nize the exemplary performance
of government workers and
agencies.
The program is divided into
three categories: The Lingkod
ng Bayan (LB), Pagasa and
Dangal ng Bayan (DNB) Awards.
The LB award is bestowed on
an individual or group for excep-
tional contributions from an idea
or performance that created na-
tional impact on public interest;
the Pagasa award is granted to
an individual or group for out-
standing contributions that ben-
efited more than one government
department; and the Dangal ng
Bayan Award is conferred on an
individual for extraordinary per-
formance in dishcharging his/her
duties and tasks.
A total of 25 individuals and
five groups have emerged this
year’s outstanding public ser-
vants.
Implementing agencies of the
North Luzon Agribusiness Quad-
rangle (NLAQ) -- of which Agri-
culture Secretary Arthur Yap is
the designated ‘development
champion’ -- are fast-tracking
their respective infrastructure
and postharvest projects to
meet their target timelines.
To date, six projects have been
completed, while 19 projects are
ongoing,according to NLAQ
project manager Dir. Roy Impe-
rial.
The completed projects
amounting to more than P11 bil-lion are: Casecnan Multipurpose
Irrigation and Power project, San
Fernando Airport Development,
Dingalan Port Development,
33MW Bangui Bay Wind Power
Project (Phase II), La Trinidad
Six NLAQ infra projects doneMinimal Processing Plant, and
several tramlines.
“Despite the fact that most of
our projects were affected by a
series of typhoons, the perfor-
mance we’ve done in the field is
satisfactory,” Dir. Imperial said
during the recent annual evalu-
ation/inter-agency consultative
meeting in Quezon City.
The Poro Point project
amounting to P471.406 M was
completed last February. It in-
cluded the construction of a run-
way extension and several build-
ings in the site. A component
under this project is the upgrad-
ing of the San Fernando Airport,
a secondary airport serving as
alternate to Loakan Airport in
Baguio City.
The Dingalan Port project, on
the otherhand, completed Janu-
ary 2008, included the construc-
tion of a passenger terminal
building. The project, costing
P96.78M, is expected to in-
crease efficiency in the trans-
port and handling of goods,
people and services between
Aurora and the neighboring prov-
inces.
Among the projects expected
to be finished soon is the
Cagayan Economic Zone Au-
thority (CEZA) International Air-
port under a joint-venture with
Cagayan Land Property Devel-
opment Corporation (CLPDC).
The P1.6 B project is expected
to needed investments, tourists
and goods in the province and
will complement Port Irene,
which is also under construction
and expected to be operational
by May next year.
(Pls turn to p11)
10
A second Green Revolution
must be waged to end hunger
and poverty in the drylands.
This is the call raised by the
International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics (ICRISAT) through its
Director general William Dar and
the International Fund for
Agricultural Development
(IFAD), through its President
Kanayo Nwanze.
The two leaders also called on
national governments to draft
polices that would transform
dryland agriculture into a
successful business.
To turn agriculture profitable
for farmers, governments need
to create local demand and
make local markets viable, they
said. This would be the only way
to attain food security in a world
afflicted by climate change.
Dr Dar and Dr Nwanze
stressed the urgent need for a
second Green Revolution
focused in the semi-arid tropics.
In the face of unrelenting pres-
sure on Asian rice production,
the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) to mark its 50th
anniversary in 2010 launched a
US$300-million fund-raising
campaign.
The five-year campaign has
already raised $59 million, with
over $50 million provided by the
Bill & Melinda Gates Founda-
tion.
“Although we obviously have
a long way to go, we are very
grateful to the Bill & Melinda
IRRI starts $300M fund-raising campaignGates Foundation for giving the
campaign such a strong philan-
thropic start,” said IRRI Director
General Dr. Robert Zeigler.
He noted that already the cam-
paign was developing a wide
range of support from personal
donations of $1,000 to larger
gifts from big companies. “Rice
is fundamental not just to Asian
economies but also to Asian
culture, so the people we are
meeting are very motivated to
provide support – I believe we
already have another $20 to $25
million in the pipeline,” Dr.
Zeigler said.
The campaign’s launch
comes at a key time for rice pro-
duction and food security in Asia
and around the world. Rice
prices are again approaching
last year’s historic highs that
caused social upheaval in some
nations.
A range of factors, including
extreme weather events such
as droughts and floods, put in-
creasing pressure on production
in countries such as India and
the Philippines.
”There is no doubt that rice re-
search can help,” Dr. Zeigler
said. “For more than four de-
cades, rice production has
steadily increased in Asia,
pushed ahead by new varieties
developed through research that
has helped ensure enough rice
for all Asians.
We have the knowledge.
What we need more than any-
thing is to make the necessary
investments, especially with the
looming threat of climate
change.”
Although the campaign has
received some government sup-
port, such as a seed grant from
Singapore’s Economic Develop-ment Board, its main focus ison philanthropy in Asia and sup-port from individuals, organiza-tions, and companies fromaround the region.
”IRRI was founded by the phi-lanthropy of the U.S.-basedRockefeller and Ford Founda-tions in 1960,” said Dr. Zeigler.“We would now like to urge thegreat philanthropists of Asia –of which there are many – to lookat these examples and realizethat rice is fundamental to thefuture of not only their familiesbut also their nations and theentire region.”
To support the campaign, IRRIhas established The IRRI Fundin Singapore as an internationalcharitable organization and will
also be active in Hong Kong.
“We want to reach out to all
Asians and ask for their support
as rice research touches the
lives of all rice consumers,” Dr.
Zeigler added. “After all, in Asia,
rice is life.” (IRRI)
Drylands need ‘2nd green revolution’“Nearly 80 million hectares of
India ’s net sown area is rainfed.
However, productivity levels of
crops like millets, pulses and
oilseeds continue to remain low.
Though potential yields of up
to 2 tonnes per hectare are
possible, the yield gaps are
exacerbated by vagaries of
climate,” Dr Dar added.
Dr Nwanze said that a key
strategy should involve small
farmers as they feed one-third
of the world population. He also
stressed the need to organize
them into groups and provide
them with access to inputs and
markets.
Emphasizing the need for
political will and the right policy
atmosphere he points out: “We
need a different landscape to
feed a population of 9.6 billion
by 2050.”
There is a need to develop
better seeds that can withstand
water shortage, new pests and
adverse weather conditions.”
In developing countries
Small fisheriessupply 95%fish harvestOver half of the catch in de-
veloping countries comes from
small-scale fisheries, from
which 90 to 95% is for human
consumption.
This is the preliminary finding
of a joint study conducted by the
Food and Agriculture Organiza-
tion of the United Nations (FAO)
and the WorldFish Center, fo-
cusing on the contribution of
small and inland fisheries in de-
veloping countries to national fish
harvest and supply.
The WorldFish Center said
small and inland fisheries are
often more informal and dis-
persed than their larger marine
counterparts, making them hard
to track.
Thus, the general public per-
ceive that they are less produc-
tive, which simply reflects lack
information about them.
This is the reason why the
FAO, many national agency
partners, and WorldFish have
conducted and recently com-
pleted a re-analysis of the con-
tribution of the small fisheries
sector in terms of catch and
participation to better guide
policy makers and attract invest-ments.
Preliminary findings are com-pelling, as over half of the catchin developing countries comesfrom small-scale fisheries, fromwhich 90-95% of landings aredestined for domestic humanconsumption.
Hence, this is how much smallfisheries contribute to local foodsecurity.
Further, they also provide over90% of all fishery jobs, withwomen accounting for aboutone-half of the total workforce indeveloping countries, both full-and part-time.
Small fisheries also provide
food and income to millions of
occasional fishers and fishery
workers, serving as a security
net for poorer populations, es-
pecially in coastal areas.(WorldFish Center)
December 2009 11
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (2nd from left) and Mr. Cho Sang-Woo, team leader of
the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Multi-Industry Clusters (MIC)
exchange the Record of Discussions (ROD) on the establishment of rice processing
centers in the Philippines. With them are DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
(left) and KOICA Philippine resident representative Kim In. (Photo from PHILKOFA website)
Rice processing ...(from p1)
Undersecretary Bernadette
Romulo Puyat, KOICA Philip-
pine resident representative Mr.
Kim In, and Mr. Cho Sang Woo,
KOICA-MIC team leader.
KOICA is funding three other
RPCs in the country: in Davao
del Sur, Iloilo, and Bohol. It has
previously funded a similar fa-
cility in Aurora province.
The Sta. Barbara RPC can
store up to 1,100 tons of palay,
and dry 5,600 metric tons per
year or 1,000 bags per day, and
mill 2.5 metric tons a day, or 50
cavans per hour.
“With the putting up of this
rice processing complex, we will
move the income of our farm-
ers here from P15 per kilo to
P40 per kilo,” Secretary Yap
said.
Yap cited the success of the
RPC in Aurora, where farmers
are now producing premium
quality rice, enabling them to
earn more incomes as they now
sell premium rice at P35 to P40
per kilo.
For his part, Gov. Espino
thanked the DA and the KOICA
for selecting Pangasinan as a
project beneficiary, and assured
them that the province will pro-
viding proper care and secure the
complex, which will benefit more
than 200,000 farmers in Sta.
Barbara and other adjoining
towns.
Six NLAQ ... (from p9)
The development of Bagabag,
Itbayat and Basco airports was
slightly delayed due to the con-
tinuous typhoons that struck the
region late this year. Construc-
tions are expected to be finished
early nest year.
The National Irrigation Author-
ity (NIA) is expediting the con-
struction of irrigation projects
such as in Agno, Banaoang, and
Addalam and rehabilitation of
Balog-Balog Irrigation Canal.
The irrigation systems, once fin-
IRRI’s high-yielding rice
varieties have helped
significantly increase world rice
production, especially in Asia,
saving millions from famine,
while protecting the environment
and training thousands of
researchers.
Further, its work on
sequencing of the rice genome
is providing researchers with
new knowledge that is allowing
them to attack many old
problems with new solutions.
In all, IRRI--which launched
the ‘Green Revolution’--has
remained a constant contributor
to the continuing quest for food
security around the world.
(Manila Bulletin)
IRRI helps ... (from p2)
The RPC will be initially oper-
ated by the DA’s Nat’l.
Agribusiness Corp. (NABCOR),
along with a prospective farmer’s
organization that would later
operate and manage the rice
complex. (DA-Region 1 Info Div.)
profit margin,” Navarro said.
The EETS also assures
accredited farmers that NFA will
procure deposited stocks at a
pre-determined price, while
buyers’ bids can be transmitted
electronically through the NFA’s
computer system for the sellers
to have the option to get the
highest price.
In addition, the electronic
system is more transparent and
a credible monitor of price and
market trends for decision
making by the private and
government sectors.
Eligible to participate are corn
buyers who are will ing to
withdraw their stocks from
designated withdrawal sites, and
corn sellers who are willing to
deposit their stocks at
designated depository sites.
Sellers include NFA
accredited individual farmers
and farmers’ organizations and
other suppliers, while buyers
include feed millers, registered
poultry and hog raisers, and
other corn buyers. (DA-NFA)
NFA launches ... (from p12)
ished, will benefit farming fami-
lies and provide potential jobs
in North Luzon.
To supplement the major in-
frastructure expansion in the
region, Department of Public
Works and Highway is also
speeding up the construction of
several roads in the region to
support faster delivery of farm
products. Halsema Highway,
Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao, and
Baler-Aurora-Casiguran Roads
are 63.01% completed and are
expected to be operational next
year.
Greenhouses are ideal for
tropical countries such as the
Philippines to prevent damage
to crops in times of storms and
also to boost production.But
because they are very expen-
sive, not all farmers or farmers
associations are able to have
greenhouses.
Realizing the importance of
greenhouses to boost produc-
tion, the Northern Mindanao of-
fice of the Department of Agri-
culture (DA) is building inexpen-
sive greenhouses using indig-
enous materials for a vegetable-
growers association in the
region.Using bamboo, lumber
and ultraviolet-treated plastic
roofing, the DA-RFU Regional
Local ‘greenhouses’ to boost veggie prod’nAgriculture Engineering Divisiondesigned the indigenous green-houses, which they are calling“rain shelters” and funded underthe Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-High Value Commercial CropsProgram. Each rain-sheltercosts P300,000.
The rain-shelter project, initi-ated by DA-RFU and NorthernMindanao Vegetable Producers’Association (NorminVeggies), isgeared toward the maximumproduction of vegetables inNorthern Mindanao.Recently,the DA-RFU turned over 14 rainshelters worth P4.2 million to
NorminVeggies. NorminVeggiesprovided a counterpart fund ofP1.2 million, while the DA pro-vided P3 million. (Business Mir-
ror)
Typhoon victims to benefit from Japan fertilizer grant
Corn farmers and end-users
will only have to press computer
keys to seal their respexctive
transactions with the formal
launch of the “Enhanced
Electronic Trading System”
(EETS) for corn by the
Department of Agriculture’s
National Food Authority (NFA).
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura(right) hands over bags of fertilizers to AgricultureUndersecretary Bernie Fondevilla, in simple ceremoniesin Subic, Zambales..
NFA launches corn e-trading
Farmers reeling from the af-
termath of typhoons Ondoy and
Pepeng are the primary benefi-
ciaries of the 13,500 metric tons
(MT) of ammonium sulphate fer-
tilizers from the Government of
Japan (GOJ) under the 31st
Japanese Grant Assistance for
Food Security Projects for Un-
derprivileged Farmers, formerly
known as the Japan 2KR grant.
Agriculture Undersecretary
and Chief of Staff Bernie G.
Fondevilla said the 13,500 MT
will be made available in the ar-
eas affected by the two ty-
phoons.
The grant agreement between
the two governments involves 2
phases of implementation: mon-
etization and utilization.
The monetization phase re-
quires the Government of the
Philippines (GOP) to sell the
fertilizers through public bidding
among local fertilizer companies
and farmer cooperatives, which
in turn, will sell to the farmers in
the distribution areas.
The utilization phase, on the
other hand, allows the DA and
the National Economic and De-
velopment Authority (NEDA), in
coordination with the GOJ, to
utilize the peso proceeds from
the sale to fund their respective
agriculture and fishery-based
and social development
projects.
The 13,500 MT is part of the
total 26,135 MT fertilizer grant
worth P253 million, previously
programmed for distribution in
15 provinces as agreed upon by
both governments.
However, the massive destruc-
tion caused by the two ty-
phoons, prompted the GOP to
request the GOJ to change the
distribution areas for the 13,500
MT from Regions 6, 7, 4B and 5
to Regions 1,2 and 3. This was
done in cooperation with
Agrotech Agricultural Products,
Inc., the winning bidder and con-
signee of the fertilizer.
Shipment of the total volume
of fertilizer was done in four
batches: the 1st ( 6,635 MT)
was shipped to Davao on Sep-
tember 9, 2009; the 2nd (6,000
MT) was delivered in Iloilo on
October 2, 2009; the 3rd ( 6,000
MT); and the 4th (7,500MT) ar-
rived in Subic, on November 12,
2009 and December 14, 2009,respectively.
As part of the continuing re-
habilitation efforts, the new plan,
according to Usec. Fondevilla,
is for the famers in the typhoonaffected areas to benefit from the
proceeds from the sale of fertil-
izers. Fondevilla added the GOJ
has expressed support to the
use of the peso proceeds for the
rehabilitation.
Fondevilla said that a moni-
toring system will be established
by both the GOP and GOJ
through the Japan Embassy in
Manila to check the distribution
of the fertilizers and ensure that
they reach the target beneficia-
ries.
Since the Philippines be-
came a recipient of the Japan
2KR program in 1977, a total of
155 agriculture and fishery-
based development projects
worth P7.15 billion have been
funded out of the grant proceeds.
The system answers the
stakeholders’ clamor for the
establishment of an agricultural
commodity exchange system
that will provide corn buyers and
sellers a wide choice of sources
and markets for the commodity,
said NFA administrator Jessup
P. Navarro.
He said the price of corn
fluctuates widely because of the
mismatch of supply with demand
due to seasonalities in
production.
The unstable pricing gets even
worse with the differences in
distance between production
and consumption areas, he
added.
The EETS for corn is a web-
based network of Designated
Depository and Withdrawal
Sites (DDWS) linked together
by the Central Corn Exchange
Center at the NFA Central Office.
The DDWS serves as trading
center that would provide
information exchange.
It also serves as clearing
house and functions as a
commodity trading venue for
buyers and sellers. It will initially
cater to four pilot areas: Isabela,
Pampanga, General Santos and
Cagayan de Oro City.
Through the electronic
exchange system, corn
producers, suppliers and sellers
can transact directly with the
end-users and buyers thus
cutting layers and costs in
marketing to improve their
income.
“Marketing is the crux of any
business endeavor and the more
choices given to producers to
sell their produce and the end-
users to avail of supply, the
better their opportunity to get
better prices and improve their
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap (middle) explains thefeatures and advantages of the corn e-trading systemduring its launch at the National Food Authority (NFA)in Quezon City. With him are NFA administrator JessupNavarro (left) and former Agriculture Secretary and nowParty-list representative Leonardo Montemayor. (Pls turn to p11)