aggie trends december 2012 issue

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Vol. XXVII No. 12 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture December 2012

TF Alayon aidsPablo victims

The Department of Agricultureis given P74.9 billion as budgetfor 2013, which is part of theP2.006-trillion 2013 General

Appropriations Act (Republic Act10352), signed by PresidentBenigno S. Aquino III onDecember 19, 2012.

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala said the amount is 21percent more than the P64.1-Bbudget in 2012.

He said agri-fisheryinfrastructure projects will bebidded and started early to beatthe election ban that takeseffect on March 29, 2013.

We will frontload investmentsin irrigation, postharvestfacilities, farm-to-market roads(FMRs), and other agri-fisheryinfrastructure, the DA chief said.

The DA has alloted P27.3 Bfor the National Irrigation

Administration to jump-start themodernization, rehabilitation and

DA gets P74.9-B budget for 2013restoration of irrigation systemsacross the country, Secretary

Alcala said.The DA will also spend part of

its budget for production andextension support, regulatoryservices, credit facilitation,research and development, andmarket development, amongother major initiatives.

It will also finance the Aquinoadministrations Food Staples

Sufficiency Program (FSSP) toassure ample and stable foodsupply, by producing 20 millionmetric tons (MMT) of palay andat least 8 MMT of corn in 2013.

Secretary Alcala is optimisticthe FSSP targets could beattained with the cooperation of

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The Department of Agriculturehas formed Task Force Alayon(TF Alayon) to assist farmers,fisherfolk and their respectivecommunities adversely affectedby typhoon Pablo, thatdamaged P29-billion worth ofcrops and infrastructure, as ofDecember 20, 2012, in Davaoregion, particularly CompostelaValley and Davao Oriental.

Secretary Proceso J. Alcalacreated TF Alayon (whichmeans bayanihan), headed by

Assistant Se cr et ary DanteDelima, during a meeting withMindanao regional directors andother DA family officials,December 19, 2012, in Davao.

Typhoon Pablo badly hitbanana and coconut farms.

As for rice, A/Sec Delima saidit was fortunate that it wasalready post-harvest seasonwhen the typhoon struck.

Compostela Valley was badlyhit, with damages pegged at

P13 B; followed by DavaoOriental (P10B); and Davao delNorte (P6B). Davao del Sur andDavao

all farmers, fisherfolk, localgovernment units, the privatesector, and other agri-fisheryindustry stakeholders.

On per banner program, ricewill get P7.45 B, fisheries(P3.65B), corn (P1.52B), highvalue crops (P1.35B), andlivestock (P1.02B).

Other major undertaking willreceive the following respectivebudget: organic agriculture

(P927M), trading centers(P884.9M), FMRs (P7B), creditto ARBs (P1B), R&D (P455M),and quick response fund(P500M).

He said 40 percent of thetotal budget is alloted forMindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2ndfrom right) hands overfarm inputs and tools that form part of an initial P35-million worthof assistance to farm families affected by typhoon Pablo throughCompostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy (2nd from left) and Davaodel Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario (right), in Nabunturan,Compostela Valley, December 19, 2012. The package of assistanceconsisted of 15,900 bags of certified palay seeds (worth P19M),5,350 bags of OPV corn seeds (P5.4M), thousands of packets of

vegetable seeds, and dozens of farm equipment and tools (P10.45M).Also shown are assistant secretaries Edilberto de Luna and DanteDelima, and Davao regional technical director Norlito Agduyeng.(Photo by DA Davao Region Info Div.)

PNoy okays P1.3Bfor farm registryPresident Benigno S.

Aquino III has approved therelease of P1.28 billion for anational farm survey, formallycalled Registry System forBasic Sectors in Agriculture(RSBSA).

It is an inter-agency effortamong the departments ofbudget and management

(DBM), agriculture (DA),agrarian reform (DAR), andinterior and local government(DILG), National StatisticsOffice (NSO), and National

Anti -P over ty Com mission(NAPC).

The RSBSA aims to comeup with a national informationdatabase on farmers, farmlaborers and fisherfolk fromidentified provinces, andtheir respective locations orgeographical coordinates.

The data will be used as

basis for developing programsand policies for the agricultureand fishery sectors.

Budget and ManagementSecretary Florencio B. Abadsaid the project will addressthe urgent need for acomprehensive and

Two foreign-assisted projects(FAPs) of the Department of

Agriculture were recently citedby the National Economic andDevelopment Authority (NEDA),and received their respectiveGood Practice Award or GPA.

Its a wonderful feat for theDepartment. This is a validationof our efforts in deliveringreliable, transparent and efficientservice to our clienteles,particularly farmers, fisherfolkand local government units, saidDA undersecretary for

operations Joel S. Rudinas, whoreceived the GPA on behalf ofSecretary Proceso J. Alcala.

DA projectsreceive good

practice award

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Editorial

Tulong para sa pagbangonBago nagtapos ang2012, hinagupit na namanng isang malakas nabagyo ang bansa.

Si Pablo ay nagdulot ngperwisyo sa buhay atkabuhayan ng maraminating mga kababayan sa

Mindanao, partikular naang mga sagingan atniyugan sa Davao.

Tinatayang aabot sahumigit-kumulang P29bilyon ang pinsalangidinulot nito sa Mindanao,at nagsilbing malakingdagok sa buong bananaindustry.

Dahil dito apektado hindilamang ang domesticsupply kundi maging ang

pagkakalakal ng saging sapandaigdigang merkado.

Kaya naman kagyat nanag-abot ng ayuda angDepartment of Agriculturesa mga magsasaka atstakeholder, malaki man omaliit, na lubhangnaapektuhan ng nagdaangsama ng panahon.

Bagamat kampante siKalihim Proceso Alcala nahindi apektado ni Pabloang pambansang

produksyon ng pagkain,

agad na ikinasa ngpamahalaan ang sama-samang pagkilos paraagad na makabangon angagriculture sektor atkamtin ang target tungo sa

kasapatan sa pagkain.Sa katunayan, nagtabi

na ang Philippine CropInsurance Corporation ngP22 milyon para sainsurance claims ng mga

magsasaging,samantalang kaagadnamang sisimulan angreplanting and fertilization

program ng PhilippineCoconut Authority.

Gayundin, uumpisahanang pagsasaayos at

pagkukumpuni ng mganasirang patubig ng DA-

NIA sa Davao, at iba pangrehiyon sa Mindanao.Ang lahat ng pagsisikap

na ito ay patunay lamangna nananatiling naka-alalay

ang DA sa mgamagsasaka, mangingisdaat lahat ng umaasa saagrikultura.

Tumutulong. Umaagapay.Samantala, nitong

Disyembre 2012, ilang liboang nakibahagi sa NationalConvention of Food StapleProducers na naglalayong

palakasin at pag-ibayuhinang samahan ng

pamahalaan sa mga

organisasyongpansakahan.

Dagdag pa rito, tuloy parin ang pakikipagtulunganng DA sa malalakingahensya at institusyontulad ng International RiceResearch Institute upangmagkasamangmakapagpatupad ng mga

programa tungo sasustenableng pagkain

parasa lahat. Sa katunayan,isang kasunduan na ang

pinirmahan sa pagitan niSec. Alcala at IRRI Dir.General Robert Zeigler

para dito.Sa kabila ng pabagu-

bagong panahon, mgapananalanta ng mgakalamidad at iba pangmga di-inaasahang

pangyayari, nananatilingmatatag ang sektor ng

pagsasaka at pangingisdadahil nananatiling matatagang mga programangipanatutupad ng

pamahalaang Aquino.Sa pagsisimula ng isang

bagong taon, naway bitbitpa rin natin ang ningas ngating mga pagsusumikaptungo sa ikauunlad ng

pambansang agrikultura,para kahit ano mangbagyo ang dumating,makakabangon tayo at

patuloy na magtagumpay.

PNoy okays ... (from p 1)

systematic informationsystem to help government

identify and locate farmers, farmlaborers, and fishermen that aretarget beneficiaries of

agriculture-related programs andservices.

For the first time in ourhistory, the rural poorincludingsmall owner-cultivators, land

holders, tenants, and regularand seasonal farm workerswillhave their names and addresses

duly registered in acomprehensive database. Thiswill end years of anomalies,where farm subsidies and

agricultural programs like riceprocurement and the provisionof cheap rice only end up with

traders and affluent farmers,Abad said.

He said the RSBSA will

enable government to craftfocused programs and policies

relevant to agriculture and

fisheries development.This database will be a

valuable part of the Aquino

Adm inistrat ions planning andpolicy-making strategy for our

agri-fisheries sector, allowing us

to accurately determine the

number of farmers andfishermen who will benefit from

government subsidies and aid.The RSBSA also serves as

an excellent auditingmechanism by ensuring thatonly the poorest will benefit fromour agricultural programs, thusreinforcing President Aquinoscampaign for transparency andaccountability in the delivery ofcritical goods and services,

Abad said.The NSO has conducted the

surveys and began the firstphase of the project, initially in20 pilot provinces, namely: Abra,

Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt.Province, Romblon, CamarinesSur, Masbate, Siquijor, EasternSamar, Northern Samar,Western Samar, Zamboanga delNorte, Davao Oriental, North

Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan

Kudarat, Agusan del Sur,Surigao del Norte, and Surigao

del Sur.They were chosen based on

poverty incidence, engagement

in agricultural work, andvulnerability to calamities.

Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida N. Bustamante,

Catherine N. Nanta, Marshall Louie Asis

Contributors:DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers of DA Bureaus,

Attached Agencies & Corporations, MRDP & other Foreign-

Assisted Projects

Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan & Kathrino Resurreccion

Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida N. Bustamante

Printing &Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editor-In-Chief: Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Cheryl C. Suarez & Adora D. Rodriguez

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information

Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762 loc 2148,

2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is available

in PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis @yahoo.com.

Under the first phase of the

project, the NSO has registereda total of 2,116,313 farmers,farm laborers and fisherfolk in

said 20 pilot provinces.Meanwhile, the second phase

of the project will cover 55 more

provinces to complete the list ofhouseholds and the registrationof farmers, farm laborers, and

fisherfolk.Abad said there is urgent need

to complete the RSBSA,

especially in light of using theproceeds of coco levy funds.

The proceeds from the sale

of coco levy funds are supposedto uplift the lives of smallfarmers, most of whom have livedfor years in poverty. Prior to this,however, we had no real data toguide planners on who thefarmers are, where they live, andwhat their standard of living is.

With the RSBSA in place,however, the information we nowhave will facilitate the judicioususe of these funds, so that thecoconut farmers themselves will

benefit directly from theproceeds, Abad said.


3/103December 2012

Farmer-leaders gathered onDecember 12 take stock ofaccomplishments and forgestronger partnerships to furthersustain and enhance theircontribution to attaining thecountrys goal of food

sufficiency and security.The two-day event, dubbed asNational Convention of FoodStaple Producers, highlightedthe important role of thecountrys food soldiers toachieve sufficiency in rice andmajor staples, as part of the

Aquino administration medium-term Food Staples SufficiencyProgram (FSSP).

Totaling about 1,300, theconvenors include officers andmembers of Irrigators

Associations (IAs) who manageand maintain national and

communal irrigation systemsand small water impoundingsystems (SWISAs), farmer-scientists, rural women andyouth, and indigenous peoples(IPs).

Secretary Proceso J. Alcalasaid the event served as a venueto sustain and strengthen itspartnerships with IAs, SWISAs,and farmers groups particularly members of thePambansang Mannalon, Mag-uuma, Magbabaul, Magsasakang Pilipinas (or P4MP), Rural

Improvement Clubs (RICs), 4-HClubs, Magsasaka Siyentista,and IPs to attain the goals ofFSSP, and make the countrysufficient in rice and majorstaples by end of 2013.

Under the FSSP, we alsowant to develop and strengthenfarmer-to-farmer extensionsystems, in addition to providingthem modern technologies,quality seeds and otherinterventions to further improvetheir productivity and incomes,and make them globallycompetitive, said the DA chief.

The DA will likewise teach andencourage farmers to adoptcost-efficient, sustainable yethigh-yielding productiontechnologies to lower their costof production. These in under theprogram. These includepromoting integrated pestmanagement techniques toreduce crop losses due to pestsand diseases, and providingfarmers modern and sustainabletechnologies, equipment andfacilities to reduce postharvestlosses.

Another goal of the FSSP isto encourage consumers to

Farmers convene to achieverice, food staple sufficiency

reduce rice wastage, and ensurethat there is abundant andaffordance supply of othertraditional staples for those whoprefer them.

The FSSP was launched inJuly 2012 by President Aquino

and Secretary Alcala during anagricultural machinery exhibit,called Makina-Saka. It is theDAs roadmap to realize andcomply with President Aquinosdirective during his 2011 Stateof the Nation Address, to wit:

Ang gusto nating mangyari:Una, hindi na tayo aangkat nghindi kailangan. Ikalawa, ayawna nating umasa sa pag-aangkat. Ang isasaing ni Juande la Cruz dito ipupunla, ditoaanihin, dito bibilhin.

During the convention withthe theme: Pagkaing Sapat,

Magsasakang Angat, TagumpayNating Lahat the participantsformed a national network of foodstaple producers, aptly callingthemselves as Bayanihan parasa Pambansang Kasapatan saPagkain.

Convenors included officersand members of the NationalConfederation of IAs (NCIA),which to date has 7,026 IAs(2,277 national irrigationsystems or NIS and 4,249communal irrigation systems orCIS), and 915,175 individual

members (554,653 from NIS,360,522 from CIS). The NCIA isunder the supervision andguidance of the DA-NIA.

Also present were officers ofSmall Water ImpoundingSystem Associations(SWISAs), who represent 642federated members, with a totalindividual members of 12, 713.

The SWISAs are guided by theDA through the Bureau of Soilsand Water Management(BSWM).

The DA through the Agricultu-ral Training Institute (ATI)oversee and assist rural-basedorganizations that include theP4MP, RICs, 4-H Clubs, andmore recently farmer-scientistsand IPs.

During the convention, theP4MP delegation represented573 farmers groups with 25,649individual members. The group

was organized in2004.

The ruralwomens group orRICs represented7,652 clubs

nationwide, which has a totalmembership of 334,564. TheRIC was organized in 1934.

The rural farm youth or 4-HClubs were represented by their

national officers. To date, thecountry has 2,644 4-H Clubs.

The DA-ATI said to date it hasenlisted 500 farmer-scientists,and 10 IP groups nationwide.

Secretary Alcala enjoins officers and members of various irrigatorsand farmers groups, including rural women and youth, to build anational network and help attain the goals of the Aquino

governments Food Staples Sufficiency Program during a 2-daynational convention, on December 12 13, 2012, at Manila Hotel.

DA Assistant Secretary and RiceProgram National CoordinatorDante Delima (right) awards acash prize and plaque ofappreciation to Hector Joseph

Sa ms on , fo r cra fti ng an ddesigning Pinoy Pride, bestingother entries of the DA Rice

Package Design Contest. Theawarding ceremony was part ofthe National Convention of

Food Staple Producers.


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DA projects ... (from p1)

The two FAPs are theMindanao Rural DevelopmentProgram Phase 2 (MRDP2) andInfrastructure for RuralProductivity EnhancementSector (INFRES).

Undersecretary Rudinasalong with MRDP2 and INFRESteams accepted their respectiveawards from NEDA deputydirector-general RolandoTungpalan, during the 44 th

Project Implementation Officers(PIO) meeting at the DA-NIAoffice, in Quezon City,December 18, 2012.

The MRDP2 was recognizedfor resolving recurrent issues inproject implementation with itsentry on Applied geotaggingtechnology: An efficienttransparency tool.

The INFRES was cited forachieving desired output throughgood governance with its Ligaoparticipatory governance forsocial economic enterprisedevelopment (LPG-SEED)program.

The MRDP2, implemented inall Mindanao provinces, is

funded by the World Bank, withcounterparts from the DA and

beneficiary communities. It

seeks to improve rural incomesand achieve food securitythrough the implementation ofagri-fishery infrastructure,livelihood enterprise, and naturalresources managementprojects.

Similarly, the INFRES aims toincrease rural incomes andimprove the living conditions ofsmall and poor ruralfolk inselected regions with highagricultural and fishery potentialby providing a package ofinfrastructure (farm-to-market

roads, communal irrigationsystems, and potable watersystems) and capacity-buildingsupport to targeted LGUs andfarm communities.

The INFRES featuresmicrofinancing, alternativelivelihood promotion andtraining, and capacity-building,and enhanced participatorygovernance of hostcommunities. It is bankrolled bythe Japan Fund for PovertyReduction and InternationalLabor Organization, and

managed by Asian DevelopmentBank in partnership with the DA.

The MRDP2 has pioneered in

using the geo-taggingtechnology which solves aperennial problem on projectmonitoring, validation andevaluation, particularly inconflict-affected project areasand hard-to-reach sites, saidMRDP2 deputy program director

Arnel V. De Mesa.Geo-tagging is a process of

adding geographical data suchas latitude and longitudecoordinates, date, elevation,terrain, estimated land area, anddistance, among other

information, which are capturedand stored in electronic andprinted form such asphotographs and videos.

Each of our projects,especially infrastructure, has itsown unique ID (identification).Thus geo-tagging is an effectiveanti-corruption tool. It eliminatesduplication and overlapping ofinfra projects throughcollaboration of GPS datathereby eliminating fictitious andbogus projects, and the falsefabrication of reports, De Mesa

said. (By Sherwin Manual, DA-MRDP; and Marlo Asis, DA-AFIS)

DA, IRRI forge P903-M rice sufficiency, food security partnership. Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala (3rdfrom left) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Director General Dr.Robert Zeigler seal with a handshake a five-year agreement between the DA and IRRI on Sustaining

rice self-sufficiency and food security in the Philippines, in Quezon City, December 3, 2012. The DAand IRRI will initially pursue seven joint projects worth P903 million, in line with the Food StaplesSufficiency Program (FSSP) of the Aquino government, including strategic mapping of rice productionand expansion areas using GIS and remote sensing to provide a better estimate of the countrys total

production, area planted and harvested. The DA through the Philippine Rice Research Institute(PhilRice) and IRRI will also undertake a long-term breeding program to develop the next generationof high-yielding, pest and disease-resistant, and climate change-resilient rice inbred and hybrid varieties,including sustainable farming systems and technologies to further improve the productivity and incomesof Filipino farmers and their families. Also shown (from left) are: Bureau of Agricultural Research

Director Nicomedes Eleazar, IRRI Deputy Director General Bruce Tolentino, DA Assistant Secretaryand national rice program coordinator Dante De Lima, PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio Rasco,

Jr., and IRRI senior manager Julian Lapitan.

DA, IRRI partner to enhance Phl rice sectorThe Department of Agriculture

recently forged an agreementwith the International Rice Re-search Institute (IRRI), thatwould further boost efforts of the

Philippines to increase the pro-duction of rice and attain suffi-ciency.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso

J. Alcala and IRRI Director Gen-eral Dr. Robert S. Zeigler signedthe agreement on December 3,2012, at simple ceremonies at

the DA agribusiness develop-ment center, in Quezon City.

Secretary Alcala said gener-ally the joint project will also con-

tribute to reduce poverty andhunger, improve the health offarmers and consumers, and en-sure food and environmental

sustainability.The DA and IRRI will pursue

seven major areas of collabora-tion, in line with the Aquino

governments Food Staples Suf-ficiency Program, the DA chiefsaid.

Among them is the conductof strategic studies of productionin current and new-areas usingGeographic Information Sys-tems which will provide a betterestimate of the countrys produc-tion volume and area for rice.

Under the agreement, a long-term breeding program will beestablished with the cooperation

of DA-Philippine Rice ResearchInstitute to develop high-yielding,pest/disease-resistant, and cli-mate change-resilient varietiesfor both inbred and hybrid.

As such, research and devel-opment of new and modern farm-ing systems and technologieswill be given priority with specialconsideration to the ill-effects ofthe changing weather. In addi-tion, best agricultural practicesand other support tools will bedisseminated, including the con-duct of skills-training for exten-sion and field workers.

Under the agreement, both theDA and IRRI will strengthen alli-ance with public and private net-works to produce globally-com-petitive Philippine rice varieties.

For his part, Dr. Zeigler saidthe agreement renews its de-cades-old partnership with theDA, since IRRI established itsheadquarters in Los Banos, La-guna.

He said the DA-IRRI partner-ship is crucial, as rice remainsthe countrys most importantcrop, and a staple food for half

of humanity.(Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFIS)


5/105December 2012

Ag ricu lture Se cr et aryProceso J. Alcala said it isheartening to hear of the surgingsales of round fruits as the mostsought-after lucky food forushering in the coming newyear. He urges the consumingpublic, however, to givepreference to fruits produced bythe nations farmers and orchard

operators.Our country is blessed withmany fruits that comparefavorably in taste, nutritionaland health benefits with thosefrom other countries, said theDA chief.

Our mango, for example, isone of the most highly-valuedfruits abroad. We also havepineapple, guava, lanzones,caimito, chico, durian,rambutan, papaya, guyabano,and marang, among others.

We also have high-qualitycitrus fruits, like the seedless

sweet oranges produced inNueva Vizcaya and pomelos inDavao, he added. Also, we

Brilliantly-colored, ripe, newly-picked sapinit fruits are well-liked by consumers in Lagunaand Quezon provinces, both as

fresh fruit and processed intojuice or jam. (Photo by DA-BAR)

DA Chief: Lets eat, promote our own fruits!

Agriculture Secre taryProceso J. Alcala is confidentthat the Philippines will sooncapitalize on the growing de-mand for rubber as thecountrys production is ex-pected to grow by 3.7% in thenext ten years. As such rub-

ber price will increase and rub-ber demand will surge with therise in the global motor vehicleproduction.

We need to take advantageof the present opportunity inrubber and note that the Asia-Pacific is expected to con-tinue to have the lions sharein the production, Alcala said.

The Agriculture chief addedthat the region is projected toaccount for 90% of the worldsrubber production in 2013 withThailand and Indonesia pro-

ducing almost 60% of naturalrubber. A report from the De-partment of Trade and Indus-try shows that 70% of all natu-ral rubber produced worldwideis used as raw materials inthe manufacture of rubbertires, 18% is used in shoesand non-tire industrial rubberproducts like hoses and belts,while 12% goes to the manu-facture of gloves.

The Philippines contributesa little over 1% of the entireworlds production of rubber

with yield coming from small-farm owners with only 3 to 10

Phl rubber industry will soon share in worldwide markethectares of farm land.

Although, we share very littlefor now, I am confident that wecan become a major player soonbecause of our vast areas for pro-duction and adequate technicalknowledge that our made avail-able to our rubber planters,

Alcala said.DA is set to improve the qual-ity of produce using new tech-nology and upgrade dilapidatedprocessing facilities and providecooperatives access to financ-ing, infrastructure, and other sup-port services.

At present, the governmentsnational program on rubber ca-ters to the needs of thesmallholders to enable them tomeet the challenges in produc-tion, post-production and mar-keting. Current interventions

have increased yield and inten-sified production of quality plant-ing materials as well as empowerproducers to supply quality rawprocessed products.

The DAs High Value Commer-cial Development Program,headed by its Program DirectorJenny Remoquillo, currentlyimplements the following initia-tives for the development of thePhilippine rubber industry:

Improvement of rubber prod-ucts to meet quality standardsthrough training and education;

Establishment, rehabilita-tion, and maintenance of produc-

tion facilities to produce goodquality planting materials, nurs-ery, and bud wood garden;

Accreditation of nursery op-

erators for plant material certifi-cation and regulatory support;

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from left) receives a

copy of Rubber Production and Management in the Philippines,from Dr. Emma K. Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao(USM), one of the authors of the book, published by the DABureauof Agricultural Research (BAR) and USM, during the first Interna-tional Conference on Smallholder Rubber-based Agroforestry, held

Dec. 5-7, 2012, in Manila. The event was sponsored jointly by theDABAR, UPLB Institute of Agroforestry, Philippine AgroforestryEducation and Research Network (PAFERN), and the InternationalRubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB). Also shown isDA-BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar (right).

have several varieties of melonsand watermelons that areavailable year-round.

He said most of our tropicalfruits are fresher and containphyto-chemicals and essentialnutrients beneficial to oneshealth.

Thus, buying Pinoy fruits givesconsumers more value for their

money, in addition to providingour farmers, orchard owners andtheir families more income.

Alcala urged the countryslegislators and policy-makers,health and nutritionpractitioners, educators andparents to promote theconsumption of our fruits,especially by the youth.

We should encourage andlead by example, and urge ouryoung people to love Pinoyfruits, said the DA chief. Weshould also teach them toappreciate indigenous fruits like

kalumpit, yaniko and sapinit, theso-called Pinoy wild raspberry.Because of their unique taste,

the countrys indigenous fruitshave great potential as exportproducts. Sapinit, for instance,is now being processed intoquality juice and jam to offset itsshort shelf life.

In all, he said consuming andpromoting more Philippine fruitswill not only promote good healthamong our people, but also helpthe farming sector, and further

strengthen our nationseconomy.

Patronizing our farmersproduce will spur them to higherproductivity and profitability, andboost our fruit exports as well forthe benefit of our people andcountry.

Establishment of science-based information on rubber;

Conduct of Investment Mis-sions to establish strong link-

ages with industry players andstakeholders.

The countrys sugar productionfor crop year 2012-13 remains at2.356 million metric tons (MMT),despite the effects of TyphoonsPablo and Quinta that hit

sugar-producing provinces inVisayas and Mindanao.As of December 16, 2012,

DA-SRA maintains Phl sugar outlooksugar production has alreadyreached 872,979 MT, or 37% ofthe forecast production, accord-ing to Administrator Ma. ReginaBautista-Martin of the Depart-

ment of Agricultures SugarRegulatory Administration (DA-(Pls turn to p11)


6/10

December 2012

2012 Paskong Pinoy sa DA

AFIS

Admin. Service

sec. Salacup with comedienne

Marissa Sanchez

AMAS


7/108

ATI

BAI

BFAR

BPI Seed Bank

CODA

NFA

NIA

PCA

PFDA

PhilMech

Reg IVB

BAFPS

Sec Procy visits DA family agencies, bureaus


8/109December 2012

As part of the effort to boostthe countrys farmmechanization program, theDepartment of Agriculture (DA)has partnered with JapansYazaki Group to conduct afeasibility study on possiblefarm mechanization programs inMindoro.

Ag ricu lture AssistantSecretary Dante Delima, who isalso the National Rice Programcoordinator, said that the farmmechanization program focuson the rehabilitation of existingrice granaries and preparation offarmers with the use of moderntechnology.

This will be a big project. Sofar, we have already identifiedrice granaries for rehabilitation,but it is still under feasibilitystudy, Delima said.

The DA official said that theywould come up with the

capitalization for project oncethe feasibility study has been

The Department of Agriculture(DA) is carrying out a P6 millionupland rice organic farming inBicol which capitalizes on na-

tive varieties drought tolerance.It also aims to boost Bicols

contribution to national rice pro-

Fisheries Director Asis Perezremains confident of anothersuccessful sardine closed sea-son in Zamboanga beginning De-cember 1 this year as he joinedrepresentatives of fishing andcanning companies, local gov-ernments and fisherfolk associa-tions in sendingoff the first

batch of the Joint PCG-BFARSardine Seaborne Patrol teamson-board MCS vessels and pa-trol boats last November 30 inZamboanga City.

Perez said that he was over-whelmed by the outpour of sup-port from the commercial fish-ing sector in sharp contrast withthe rallies staged last year in thesame area. The Joint DA-DILG

Administrative Order No. 1 s.2011 indicated that the conser-vation area of about 4,078 sq.nautical miles includes the west-ern municipal and national wa-

ters of Zamboanga del Norte, thewaters bordering south and east-ern waters of Zamboanga Ctityand the southern portion ofZamboanga Sibugay.

I would like to assure you thatwith the same cooperation andcompliance of the sector, thereis no doubt that we will gain suc-cessful results by the time theban is lifted come February 28next year, he happily added.

Close to 150 stakeholdersgathered to extend support andwell wishes to the combined sea

patrol teams at the Naval head-quarters in Zamboanga City re-cently.

Double A slaughterhouse to rise in Batanes. Secretary Alcala (center) and Batanes GovernorWilliam Mamba (left) seal with a handshake a tripartite agreement between the Department of Agriculture(DA), the Batanes provincial government, and the municipality of Basco which signals the constructionof a double A abattoir in the province situated in the northernmost part of the Philippines. The P10-million allocation for Basco, Batanes is part of the P139-M fund of the department thru the National

Meat Inspection Service intended for construction, rehabilitation, and expansion of abattoirs in 18municipalities throughout the country. The MOA signing, held on December 5, 2012 in Quezon City wasalso attended by NMIS Director Minda Manantan (right).

DA allots P6 M upland rice organic farm project in Bicolduction as Bicol once accountedfor a hefty 20 percent of Philip-pine rice output.

Upland rice varieties produce

an average yield of only one totwo metric tons (MT) per hect-are, but selected Bicol varietiescan exceed such yield average.

The DA-Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) said Bicol hasmore than 60,000 hectares ofupland farms.

Our development of uplandrice is very timely as these vari-eties have the potential to with-stand higher temperature andless water supply which is whatwe really need amid the threat-ening climate change, saidBAR Director Nicomedes P.

Eleazar.The project will be imple-

mented in the towns of Baaoand Nabua in Camarines Sur.

Profitability target is 20 percentabove prevailing income in thecovered uplands.

Al located BAR funding isP4.998 million while a separatecounterpart funding of P1 millionwill be provided by partners. Theprogram covers 2.5 years.

Some upland rice cultivars inBicol such as Palawan, Gayang-gang white, Kinarabao, andMagdami were found to havehigher grain yield than PSB Rc9(check variety), according to the

Bicolandia Greenfields Devt Or-ganization Inc (Bigfis), projectpartner.

The tallest upland rice strain

evaluated was Sinalapi with 113centimeter (cm) height. The riceplant with the longest paniclewas recorded with Palawanwhite with 73.88 cm.

Other notable rice cultivars areBursege, Bolibod Red, and Gioswhich have the highest numberof productive tillers at 15.53,12.93, and 12.87 respectively.

The upland rice strain with theheaviest 100-seed weight was re-corded with Kabring with 3.8grams. This was followed byKinalansing with 3.6 grams.Palawan Red had the highest

number of grains per panicle fol-lowed by Gayang-gang, Palawanwhite, and Magdami with 226,221, and 188 grains per panicle,said Bigfis.

Also part of the project is in-tercropping of upland rice withvegetables or legumes like pea-nuts.

The intercrops will act asmulch in between the rows ofupland rice, which will also pre-vent weed infestation.

A study showed that the re-turn of investment (ROI) of a mix-ture of one row of upland rice plustwo rows of peanut was 34.6%,bet

Mindoro to get farm mechanization boostcompleted, noting thegovernment will provide biggerequity to further boost itsimplementation.

The capital expenditure forthe project would also includethe cost for the rehabilitation ofexisting rice granaries, as wellas land preparation activities forincreased farm mechanization,

Delima said.Initially, the Yazaki Group

provided some 10 new tractorsand 10 rice harvesters, eachworth P2 million, to kick startthe program.

The Philippines is currentlyaiming to level its mechanizedoutput with that of Thailand,Malaysia and Vietnam withinfive to 10 years.

For 2013, the DA has allottedP2.4 billion to boost programproductivity and incomes ofmarginalized farmersnationwide.

The budget, which will be(Pls turn to p11)

Sardines closed season in Zamboanga starts, govt happy of continued industry supportThe sardine industry fully sup-

ports this closed season, saysMr. Edgar Lim, plant manager ofPermex. He further stressed theneed to ensure the sustainabilityof the resource in order for thecanneries to maintain its opera-tions.

Meanwhile, the United Fisher-men Multi-Purpose Cooperative(UFMPC) of Samal Village,Maluso in Basilan was optimis-tic that their problem on fishingencroachment in the municipalwaters could also be addressedwith the implementation of the

Joint DA-DILG AdministrativeOrder No. 1 s. 2011.

Southern Philippines Deep-Sea Fishing Association Vice-President Roberto Baylosis in-dicated the need for a long-termresearch on the said manage

(Pls turn to p11)

(Pls turn to p11)


9/10

11December 2012

downloaded to the National RiceProgram, will be used topurchase various production andpostharvest machinery andequipment, which the DAprovides to qualified farmersgroups and cooperatives,irrigators associations and localgovernments under acounterparting agreement.

By 2013, mid-way through theimplementation of the DA FarmMechanization Program (FMP),the total budget for the six-yearwill reach P6 billion. In 2011, theDA has allotted P1 billion, andanother P2.6 billion this year.

Under the FMP, thegovernment aims to enhance thepresent mechanization level ofthe Philippines, from 0.57horsepower per hectare to 0.80hp/ha, making the country a parwith Thailand and Vietnam.

The DAs farm mechanization

program is implementedthrough a counterpartingscheme, where the DAshoulders 85 percent of the costof the farm machine, while thequalified recipients pay theremaining 15 percent.

To date, the Philippinesmechanization level in the fieldcrops sector is still in thedeveloping stage, with anaverage capacity of only 0.57hp/ha.

Japan and South Korea,which have the highest farmmechanization levels in Asia,

averaged 7hp/ha and 4hp/ha,respectively. (The Manila Times)

Mindoro to ... (from p9)

Services; Jesse Fernandez,senior researcher at PhilriceBicol; former BAFPS DirectorGilberto Layese; Bula MayorBenjamin Decena; MillerBicaldo, PDCI general manager;and farmer-cooperator GenerBicaldo. (Lovella Guarin-DARAFID5)

Organic rice... (from p10)

The Department ofAGricultures Philippine CoconutAuthority (DA-PCA) has initiallyset aside P50 million torehabilitate coconut farms inSouthern Mindanao ravaged bytyphoon Pablo.

PCA Administrator EuclidesG. Forbes said we will begin

with the immediate payments toparticipant-beneficiaries ofPhase 2 of the ParticipatoryCoconut Planting Program.

Every farmer-participant willbe given 110 open-pollinatedseednuts per hectare, and willget a P20 incentive per seedlingtransplanted on the field, plusintercrop seeds, fertilizers andother forms of assistance.

Forbes said the initial P50Mwill benefit 2,352 farmer-participants (1,655 in DavaoOriental and 697 in CompostelaValley).

Our next priority is the properdisposal of felled or damagedcoconut trees, those suitable

DA-PCA allots P50M to rehab typhoon-ravaged coco areaswill be processed into timber foruse in the construction ofshelters for families madehomeless by the typhoon,Forbes said.

He said the felled coconuttrees should be properlydisposed of so they would notserve as breeding places of

destructive pests, particularlyrhinoceros beetle.He said they will distribute

chainsaws to farmers and localgovernment units in CompostelaValley and Davao Oriental.

Forbes cautioned, however,against the improvident cuttingof coconut trees.

He said surviving trees, eventhose without leaves may stillrecover when properlyrehabilitated, as demonstratedby experiences in previoustyphoons.

The PCA will provide free

fertilizers to farmers to rehabsurviving coconut trees.

The agency will also engagefarmers to plant short-gestationintercrops to enhance soilfertility, and to provide readyfood source to affected farmfamilies.

Forbes said he considers thesituation as a good opportunityto replant and repopulatetyphoon-ravaged areas withnew coconut varieties, notingthat most of the devastatedbanana plantations used to be

coconut areas which may hadbeen improvidently converted.

It is evident now that the beststrategy is the inter-planting ofbananas with tall coconutvarieties, he said.

ment measure for term develop-ment of the sardine industry.

At least 37 officers and mem-

bers of the PCG will join 18 mem-bers of the BFAR Quick Re-sponse Teams from regions 9and ARMM to ensure full com-pliance to the regulation by fish-ing boats using commercialpurse seines, ring nets, bagnetsand scoop nets.

In the Visayan Sea, a parallelclosed season is also being ob-served since November 15 untilMarch 15 next year. Both fish-ing closures are part of the con-servation measures that theBFAR is currently implementing

to address the continued declinein the population of sardines.

Sardines ... (from p 9)

ter than sole rice cropping.Other potential rice intercrops

are bush sitao, corn, mungbean,soybeans, tomato, eggplant,leafy vegetables, and okra.

The use of chicken manure asorganic fertilizer for upland rice

has been proven to have the high-est ROI with 53.38 percent es-pecially when compared to com-mercial organic fertilizer.

Bigfis indicated that a studyof upland rice chicken manurefertilization with peanut intercropgenerated a net income ofP29,589 per hectare. This ismuch higher than the P12,838per hectare net income from thesame crops with inorganic fertil-izer.

Biodegradable wastes like ricehusks are being turned into com-

post fertilizer through a produc-tion facility. (DA-BAR)

DA allots ... (from p 9)

Ifugao rice for export. Banaue Rice Terraces FarmersFederation president Jimmy Lingayo (center) shows off differentaromatic rice varieties grown at the world-famous Ifugao RiceTerraces. He is joined by Vicky Garcia (right), executive director of

Rice Inc., and Adam Borja, of the Department of AgriculturesNational Rice Program. Ifugao rice varieties like ominio, chong-ak and imbuucan, are now exported to the USA through the SlowFood Foundations Ark of Taste. The DA will tap the groups of

Lingayo and Garcia to further increase exports of upland, aromaticand colored rice to the rest of the world. (Photo by JJ Landingin)

SRA).She said the increase in pro-

duction is attributed to early mill-ing, higher rate of crushing, andfavorable weather condition inthe last quarter of the 2012.

On the other hand, based onSRA records, sugar withdrawalsfor domestic demand has beenhigher compared to last year's

DA-SRA ... (from p 5)

Forbes said the initial P50million will still be increased asthe PCA will embark on massivereplanting in all coconut areasin Southern Mindanao. (PCAMedia Service)

level, at 28.6% for raw sugar and22.8% for refined sugar.

The DA-SRA is expecting astrong sugar demand for 2013due to stable sugar prices andthe mid-term elections in May2013.

Administrator Mart in is alsoconfident that Philippine sugarwill continue to be a major dollarearner for the country, as it con-tinues to export to the US andother markets.

Sugar export under the USQuota program will start in Janu-ary 2013, while exports to othercountries have already reachedmore than 20,000 MT.

Martin said world sugar sup-ply is expected to have a sur-plus due to favorable crushingand weather conditions in major

sugar producing countries likeBrazil, India and Thailand.

This will situation will dampensugar prices, but the DA-SRA ishopeful that domestic prices willcontinue to be stable, as shownin the price movements over thepast months.

"The need to increase produc-tivity and reduce cost of produc-tion is even more imperativenow," said Martin.

"With import tariffs at 18%starting January 1, 2013, weneed to be vigilant in assessingthe impact of world market situ-

ation on local prices," she added.(DA-SRA)


10/10

City suffered minimal losses.A/Sec Delima said as of end

of December 2012, the DA hasinitially alloted more thanP100M for farm inputs and otherassistance like fuel for tractorsand farm equipment (deployedfrom other DA regions inMindanao and Visayas) used forclearing typhoon debris anddamaged banana and coconuttrees, and for land preparation.

Initially, the DA has provided9,800 bags of palay seeds forCompostela Valley, 3,200 bagsfor Davao Oriental, and 5,000bags for Davao del Norte.

The DA has also provided farmmachineries and equipment,and implemented a Food forWork program.

The DA through the PhilippineCoconut Authority has initiallyalloted P50M for the provisionof thousands of coconut

seedlings for replanting. Theagency also provided an initial80 units of power saw for DavaoOriental to make coco lumberout of felled trees.

Delima said in Cateel, DavaoOriental, about 1.2 millioncoconut trees were totallydamaged, and 8 million treespartially damaged.

Meanwhile, affected coconutfarmers are encouraged to plantcacao in between partially-damaged trees so they wouldhave immediate source of food

and income.For affected banana farmersin Compostela and Davao delNorte, the DA will provideP5,750 per hectare for clearingoperations, farm tools, andfertilizers, said HVCDP Dir.Jennifer Remoquillo.

The DA-HVCDP has allotedan initial P33.35M for saidassistance to banana farmers.

The damage wrought by ty-phoon Pablo on agriculture andfisheries has reached P29.1 bil-

lion (B), as of Dec. 20, 2012.In a memorandum to President

Benigno S. Aquino III, SecretaryAlcala said the total damagecomprised mainly of crops,worth P27.4B; irrigation sys-tems, infrastructure facilities andequipment, P1.2B; livestock andpoultry, P361 million (M); andfisheries, P124M.

The banana sector in DavaoRegion was badly affected ascombined losses amounted toP21.25B, where more than41,400 hectares were totally

damaged, broken down as:Compostela Valley (P9.9B),Davao del Norte (P7.1B), andDavao Oriental (P4.1B),

Pablo damage reaches P29B

Secretary Alcala (right) looks on while Compostela Valley Gov.Arturo Uy test-drives one of the eight farm tractors lent to theprovince for use in the rehabili tation of rice and corn farmsdamaged typhoon Pablo. The tractors, along with other farminputs and assistance like laminated truckloads of sacks (below)came from other DA regions in Mindanao and Visayas. (Photos by

DA-RFU XI and XII)

TF Alayon ... (from p 1) It will also provide P5M forabaca replanting andrehabilitation, and P3.375M forcacao replanting andintercropping in Davao Oriental.

The DA through thePhilippine Crop InsuranceCorporation (PCIC) has initiallyset aside P22M for theinsurance claims of bananafarmers.

For its part, the National

Irrigation Administration (NIA)will repair and restore damagedirrigation systems in fourregions, led by Davao (P812M),CARAGA (P302M), Region 12(P49M), and ARMM (P4.5M).

Immediately after thecalamity, the DA-Bureau ofFisheries and AquaticResources (BFAR) deployedtwo of its MCS patrol vesselsmanned by Philippine CoastGuard personnel for rescue andretrieval operations.

The agency also distributed toaffected fish farmers millions of

bangus fingerlings and, bamboopoles to reconstruct damagedfish pens, and 1,250 packs ofrelief goods (rice, water,sardines), totaling P9.3M.

Finally, the DAs NationalFood Authority (NFA) providedrice to affected localgovernment units. (DA 11 InfoDiv. & DA-AFIS)

,

Typhoon Pablo also causedrespective damage on: high

value crops - P1.92B; corn -P1.63B; coconut - P1.1B; andrice - P476M.

Secretary Alcala assured thegeneral public that there isenough food supply despite the

damage caused by typhoonPablo.

He said the recent calamitywill not adversely affect the totalnational rice and food supply.

For instance, the volume ofrice damaged by typhoon Pabloamounted to 19,658 metric tons

(MT), which is less than one-halfpercent (0.47%) of the forecastnational palay production of 4.2million MT for the first quarter of

2013.On the other hand, total corn

damage of 112,859 MT is equiva-lent to 5.6% of the projected har-vest of 2 million MT for the firstquarter of 2013. (DA-AFIS)

aggie trends december 2012 issue

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