Vol. XXV No. 9 A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture September 2010

DDDDDA cA cA cA cA chiefhiefhiefhiefhief def def def def defendsendsendsendsends

proposed 2011 budgetproposed 2011 budgetproposed 2011 budgetproposed 2011 budgetproposed 2011 budget

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (3rd from right) shows toAkio Isomata (middle), economic affairs minister of the JapaneseEmbassy in the Philippines, the initial batch of canned bangus pro-duced by a mini fish processing plant at the DA-Bureau of Fisheriesand Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) regional center, in Bula,Camarines Sur. With them are DA and BFAR Bicol regional direc-tors Jose Dayao (right) and Dennis del Socorro (left), and Bulatown Mayor Benjamin Decena (2nd from left).

Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala led the inau-guration of a P60-million worthof fishery facilities and launchedP16-million worth of various ag-ricultural, infrastructure and live-lihood projects in Bicol.

He also consulted with some1,000 farmers, fishers, local of-ficials, provincial and municipalagriculturists and extensionworkers, DA officials and staff,and 2,500 students of the Cen-tral Bicol State University of Ag-riculture (CBSUA).

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Mindanao agri projects reach P4.5B Seed subsidy shiftedto other interventions

In lieu of rice seed subsidy,the DA will shift its support toeight other interventions withmore long-term and impact onfarmers’ productivity and in-comes.

DA Secretary Proceso J.Alcala said the shift is in sup-port to the DA’s Agri Pinoyprogram geared at attainingrice self-sufficiency by 2013.

To start with, the remainingseed subsidy for 2010 worthP1.3 billion will be spent oneight other interventions.

The bulk will be spent on ir-rigation, particularly in the re-pair and rehabilitation of com-munal irrigation systems (CIS)through the DA’s National Irri-gation Administration (NIA) inpartnership with local govern-ment units (LGUs) throughcounterparting scheme or pub-lic-private partnership.

The DA’s Bureau of Soils(Pls turn to p9)

P76-M fishery, farm projects launched in Bicol

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Investments in various agricul-tural infrastructure in Mindanaohave more than doubled toP4.48 billion, against a P2.08-billion target set early this year.

In a report to Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso J. Alcala, Direc-tor Lealyn Ramos of the Depart-ment of Agriculture-Mindanao

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala has defended the pro-posed 2011 budget of the Depart-ment of Agriculture of P38.5 bil-lion, both at the House of Repre-sentatives on September 21, andat the Senate of the Philippines,on September 29, 2010.

Backed up by top DA officials,Secretary Alcala appeared be-fore members of the House Com-mittee on Appropriations, pre-sided by vice chair Rep. NurJaafar of Tawi-Tawi, and at theSenate committee on Financechaired by Senator FranklinDrilon.

The legislators were one inendorsing and approving the DA’sproposed 2011 budget, despitelower than the current 2010 bud-get of P50.85 billion, including

the budget of attached corpora-tions and automatic appropria-tions.

Further, most Senators andCongressmen batted to retainthe subsidy of the National FoodAuthority (NFA) so it could con-tinue buying palay and cornfrom farmers, and thus stabilizeprices and supply.

The NFA’s proposed 2011budget was moved to the De-partment of Budget and Man-agement for the government’sConditional Cash Transfer (CCT)program. (Pls read related storyon page 4.)

Sec. Alcala said in lieu of theNFA subsidy, the DA will useP2.5 billion for NFA’s grains pro-curement. The amount will betaken from the proposed P5-bil-lion budget for public and privatepartnership (PPP) projects al-lotted for the agriculture andfishery sector.

In addition, he said the DBMwill release the balance of P6billion allotted this year for theNFA grains procurement outlay,in time for the current season.

In his budget presentation,Sec. Alcala said “on top of theDA’s agenda is food security.We will strive to eliminate

Rural Development Program(DA-MRDP) said such favorabledevelopment reflects the confi-dence of local governments onthe Aquino administration tocounterpart with the nationalgovernment in implementing ag-ricultural development and pov-erty alleviationprojects.

In a recent visit of PresidentBenigno S Aquino III in DavaoCity, he said his administrationwill combat poverty by channel-ling and encouraging more in-vestments in the agriculture andfishery sector to directly benefitmillions of poor Filipinos.

Of the P4.48-billion worth ofprojects, P189-million worth hasbeen completed, P632.2 M isongoing, P3.7-billion worth ofprojects are still in the prepara-tory stage, said Ramos, whoconcurrently serves as DA-Re-gion 10 director.

DA-MRDP is a long-term pov-erty alleviation program that cov-

Upon arrival in Pili,Camarines, he dialogued with DAregional officials and staff, andthen inaugurated and toured thefour facilities at the DA-Bureauof Fisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (BFAR) regional center,in Barangay Fabrica, Bula,Camarines Sur.

The facilities were funded un-der the RP-Japan Increase FoodProduction program, imple-mented by the DA’s National Ag-riculture and Fishery Council

2

Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro,

Bethzaida Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan, Catherine Nanta

Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and Staff of DA

Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted Projects

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture InformationService, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288741 loc 2148,2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is availablein PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis@yahoo.com.

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes

Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar & Cheryl C. Suarez

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

Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante

Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

Editorial

Gastos at BudgetSimula na naman ng

pinakamahabangselebrasyon ng Pasko samundo, dito sa Pilipinas--namahigit apat na buwan,simula sa Setyembrehanggang Enero.

Simula na rin ng malamigna hangin sa umaga’t gabi,‘Christmas countdown’ ngmga radyo at TV station, atang pagtugtog ng mgaawiting pamasko sa radyo attelebisyon.

Maririnig ang mga itosimula sa pagsakay mo ngFX sa umaga hanggang bagoka matulog, mapa-AM o FM.

Para naman sa atin, siguromay target na kayong bilhinna appliance o cellphone saDecember.

Labas na rin ang ads sadyaryo ng mga huluganggamit. Basta may creditcard, pwede nang maiuwiang gamit at deferred pa angbayad.

Ingat lang at baka mag-overspend at sa halip namapadali ang pagbilimahirapan sa pagbabayad.

Pero kung kailangannaman at talagangmagagamit, kahit pa ngamanghiram muna sakaibigan pwede rin (bastabayaran din agad at ‘wagkalimutan).

Ito na rin ang nakikitanating prinsipyo ng gobyernosa budget para sa 2011 napinag-uusapan ngayon saKongreso.

Itinaas lang ng 6.8porsiyento (%) ang datingbudget na 1.54 trillion pesosngayong 2010, o sa kabuuan1.65 trillion pesos para sa2011.

Ang dagdag na halagangito ay halos kainin na nginflation rate, na pumalo sa4% nitong August 2010.Maliit lang daw ang hiningingdagdag ni Pangulong Aquinodahil natukoy na nila angpriority projects.

Magtatanggal na lang ngmga programang ‘dinakaabot sa target at maspagtutuunan na lang angmga programang kailanganng mas nakakarami— ang

mahihirap, ang naghihikahosat kapus-palad.

Kaya tinawag ng Pangulona “reform budget” ito.

Pero ang kakaiba sabudget na ito, may safe-guards tulad na lang sapagpapagawa ng farm-to-market roads (FMR).

Ngayon, kailangangnakasunod sa road networkplan na bubuuin ng DA anghinihinging FMR, bago paman ito gawin ng DPWH.

Dagdag pa dito ay angmas maliit na budget parasa DA, na P38.85 bilyonlamang.

Nakakapagtaka dahil samalalaking hangarin niPangulong Aquino at Sec.Alcala sa sektor--tulad nalang ng pag-angat ngproduksyon ng palay,pagpapalawak ng irrigationat paglalagay ng post-harvest facilities at equip-ment--paano kayamatutupad ang mga ito?

Sa mga unang pagdinig,mukhang nagtaka rin angmga Senador at mga datingkasamahan ni Sec. Alcalasa Kongreso?

Kaya naman, nagingbukas ang mgamambabatas sa pagdagdagsa budget ng DA, nanagpapakita ng kanilangsuporta sa hangad natingmakamit ang rice selfsufficiency sa 2013.

At kahit pa umani ngbatikos dahil sa sinabingover-importation ng bigas,suportado din ngmambabatas ang pagbibigayng P2.5 billion sa NFA, nagagamitin sa pagbili ngbigas at mais.

Ang tiwala kay Sec.Alcala ang isa sapinakamahalagang armas ngDA sa ngayon.

Kung susumahin kasi,talagang kulang ang pondong national government.

Nariyan ang pagbibigaypondo sa edukasyon,health, social welfare, atingkapulisan at militar, bukodpa sa agrikultura.

Dito pumapasok ang

Sec. Alcala (right, top photo) defends the proposed DA 2011 budgetof P38.58-billion before the appropriations committee at the Houseof Representatives, Sept. 21, 2010. With him are undersecretarySegfredo Serrano and other top DA officials. The budgetdeliberation was presided by appropriations committee vice-chairRep. Nur. G. Jaafar of Tawi-tawi (left, bottom photo), on behalf ofcommittee chair Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya (Cavite). With him are(from left) House of Representatives minority leader Rep. Edcel C.Lagman of Albay) and Rep. Maria Milagros Magsaysay.

DA chief ... (from p1)

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overdependence on rice importsin three years.”

He said “many critics say thisshould not and cannot be done.We say it should be done!”

Among the key interventionsthe DA will undertake to achieverice self-sufficiency by 2013 are:

•Expand areas planted tohigh-yielding varieties, coupledwith the use of location specifictechnologies and seeds. Farm-ers will be encouraged to shiftfrom using ordinary home-savedpalay seeds to quality certifiedseeds;

•Explore niche market for up-land rice varieties;

•Implement ‘Quick-Turn-Around’ or QTA and rationingprograms;

•Generate new irrigation ar-eas, and rehabilitate and restoreexisting, old irrigation systems;

•Provide more postharvest fa

cilities; and•Construct and rehabilitate

more farm-to-market roads(FMRs).

The DA chief said “throughgood governance and politicalwill, we will rationalize govern-ment support and investmentson major priorities.”

These include irrigation,FMRs, fish ports, postharvest fa-cilities, trading centers, researchand development,extension ser-vices, regulatory and quarantineservices, and high-quality ge-netic materials.

He stressed that said invest-ments “will be delivered throughtransparent and improvedgovernnance that will harnessactive participation of all stake-holders--farmers, fishers, localexecutives and legislators, andnon-governmental, people’s andcivil society organizations.

In his concluding statement,

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September 2010 3

Aggie chief favors proposals to getextension workers back to DA

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala supports moves to ‘re-nationalize’ or move devolvedagricultural officers andextension workers back to theDepartment of Agriculture.

“Without the corps ofagricultural extension workersand technicians, the Departmentof Agriculture is like a generalwithout soldiers in the field,” saidSec. Alcala.

Such was his reply to queriesduring his recent three-day visitto Cagayan Valley as to why theservices of the DA are not felt bysmall farmers, fishermen andother target clienteles.

“We need to have them backso we could effectivelyimplement the many agriculturaland fishery projects that we planto pursue under theadministration of PresidentBenigno S. Aquiino III,” saidAlcala before some 4,000farmers, fishers, local officialsand other agri-fisherystakeholders who attended therespective farmers’ congressesin Cagayan (Aug 30), Isabela(Aug 31) and Nueva Vizcaya(Sept 1).

As called for under RA 7160(Local Government Code of1991), agricultural officers andextension workers nationwidewere devolved and placed underthe direct administrative Sugar should be sold at P52/kg

The National Price Coordinat-ing Council (NPCC), chaired bythe Department of Trade and In-dustry, has decided the sug-gested reference price (SRP) ofrefined sugar should remain atP52 per kilo.

Prior to the decision of theNPCC, the DA’s Sugar Regula-tory Administration (SRA) rec-ommended that the SRP bepegged at P56 per kilo, as pub-lic market retailers and groceryowners have complained thatthey could no longer sell refinedsugar at the SRP of P52 per kilo,mainly because the wholesaleprice has gone up and it is nolonger profitable for them to sellsugar at the current SRP level.

The SRA-recommended SRPof P56 per kilo was based onthe latest bidded millsite priceand prevailing wholesale prices,from June to August.

SRA said the spike in sugarprices was influenced by the in-creasing prices in the globalmarket, coupled with tight do-

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (top photo, left) commitsto help about 400 vegetable farmers led by Teodoro Bumacas (bot-tom photo, right), from Bgy. Kinabuan, Dupax del Sur, NuevaVizcaya, who plant lettuce, baguio beans, bell pepper, and cauli-flower, among other semi-temperate crops, to some 1,000 hectares.He made the commitment during a farmers’ congress inBayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, initiated by Governor Luisa Cuaresma(top photo, right) in partnership with the Department of Agricul-ture Cagayan Valley Region, led by Dir. Andrew Villacorta (topphoto, 2nd from right).

supervision of their respectivelocal government units wherethey were assigned in 1991.

Alcala said that the DA willvigorously support moves bysome congressmen who filed aresolution to repeal RA 7160 andto re-assign the agriculturalworkers back to the DA and beplaced once again under itsdirect supervision.

In fact, he said that someprovincial governors fullysupport the proposal during therecent meeting of the League ofProvinces of the Philippines inManila. Among them were AlbayGovernor Joey Salceda andCagayan Governor AlvaroAntonio.

Meanwhile, he said the DAcould forge respectiveagreements with provincial andmunicipal governments willingto lend back their agriculturalofficers and extension workersto the DA, and thus speed upthe implementation of more agri-fishery projects in theirlocalities.

The DA will re-train them tofurther upgrade their skills andknowledge,¯including smallfarmers and fisherfolk,¯ throughthe DA’s Agricultural TrainingInstitute (ATI). He said the ATIwill be strengthened so it couldperform said enormous task.

No meat-price hikes this holiday seasonA bit of good news for con-

sumers this holiday season:prices of processed meat willremain for the rest of the year.

The main reason is that forthe past few months, the costsof pork, packaging materials,and distribution and marketingexpenses have remainedstable. Said situation is ex-pected to continue in the com-ing months, according to an of-ficial of the Philippine Associa-tion of Meat Processors Inc.(PAMPI).

What’s more, the officialsaid, hog raisers have not yetadvised the PAMPI if theywould increase their prices.

“Traditionally, by early Sep-tember, hog raisers would al-ready be advising us of the in-creases in the prices of pork,but they haven’t. And that’sgood news,” the official said.

Pork usually makes up 40to 70 percent (%) of pro-cessed-meat raw materials.For ham and bacon, it is 100%pork, the official said.

Earlier, hog raisers com-plained that pork imports havebeen increasing, which couldresult in a glut in the domesticmarket.

Zosimo de Leon, chairmanof the National Federation ofHog Farmer, Inc. (NFHFI), saidpork imports have increased tomore than 120 million kilo-grams from January to August24 this year, the highest since2005.

As a result, imported hogparts are now sold at P47 perkilo or less in the wet markets.

For 2010, NFHFI officialsestimated that hog productionmight grow by 5% to 1.97 mil-lion tons from 1.877 milliontons in 2009. (Business Mirror)

mestic supply due to lean har-vest as farms were adverselyaffected by El Niño.

The SRA, in coordination withthe National Food Authority, hasallowed imports of 250,000tons, of which 217,814 tons hasarrived as of Sept. 8. This vol-ume, SRA added, is enough forOctober as based on a five-yearaverage, local monthly con-sumption of raw sugar is onlyat 162,000 tons, and refinedsugar at 87,000 tons.

SRA Administrator Ma.Regina B. Martin said prior tothe NPCC decision, traders,wholesalers and retailers haveagreed that a P2 per kilo mar-gin is reasonable.

Hence, Martin said retailersselling beyond the SRP of P52per kilo should justify their sell-ing price by showing sufficientproof that they bought theirsugar stock at a higher price,so they will not be apprehendedfor violation of the Price Act.(DA-SRA)

4

Drastic rice subsidy cut nixedRemoving the procurement

subsidy of the National FoodAuthority (NFA) could under-mine government’s efforts toeliminating rice imports in threeyears.

This was according to NFAAdministrator Angelito Banayowho said scrapping the rice sub-sidy might force farmers to plantother cash crops.

“For as long as the Philip-pines is insufficient in rice, it isnot advisable to remove the sub-sidy,” said Banayo.

He said one the NFA’s man-dates is to stabilize the supplyand price of rice and corn.

For 2010, the NFA targets tobuy up to 612,000 metric tons(MT) of palay (unmilled rice) tohelp stabilize farm-gate pricesand allow farmers to get betterprices than those offerred bycommercial traders, Banayo ex-plained.

Besides discouraging farmersfrom planting palay, the NFA saidthe removal of its subsidy wouldalso be disadvantageous to low-income and minimum wageearners.

“If we don’t have the subsidy,we will be forced to stop sellingrice,” said Banayo.

“Wage earners will be forcedto ask for higher salaries asrice, which is the Filipinos’staple food, will become moreexpensive,” he added.

The NFA chief said he hasnothing against allowing the De-partment of Social Welfare andDevelopment to distribute riceto the “poorest of the poor,” but,he said, calls to remove thesubsidy of the NFA are “unwar-ranted.”

NFA’s corporate budget for2010 is pegged at P8 billion, ofwhich P6 billion is yet to be re-leased this year.

For 2011, the agency pro-posed a budget of P15 billion,but the DBM has alloted ‘zero’budget.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso Alcala said theDA will allot P2.5 billion for theNFA’s grains procurement pro-gram from its public-private part-nership budget for big ticketagri-fishery investment projects.(Business Mirror / DA)

The Departments of Agricul-ture (DA), Agrarian Reform(DAR), and Environment andNatural Resources (DENR), andthe Provincial Government ofAntique launched on Septem-ber 16, the “Central Antique Lo-cal Convergence Agro-enter-prise Cluster.”

It is the first convergence ini-tiative of the three agencies,with a committed funding ofP160 million for various agro-en-vironment-agrarian projects.

In addition, the GermanAgency for Technical Coopera-tion (GTZ) said it will support theDA-DENR-DAR convergencecluster through a P300-millionforest and climate protectionproject.

This was recently reported toAgriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala by Marriz B. Agbon,president of the DA’s Phil. Agri-cultural Development and Com-mercial Corp. (PADCC), andconcurrent head of DA-DAR-DENR national convergence ini-tiative secretariat.

The Antique agro-enterprisecluster covers five municipalities(Barbaza, Laua-an, Bugasong,

P460-M projects, grants released to support cluster

DA, DAR, DENR launch model convergence agro-enterprise in AntiqueValderrama and Patnongon),and will directly benefit 33,835farm families, tilling a total of32,288 hectares.

Agbon said the convergenceinitiative has identified a total ofP 1.1 billion in public and pri-vate sector investments over thenext three years in Antique todevelop the food supply chainon priority crops, namely: rice,abaca, banana, peanut andmuscovado.

Food and Agriculture Orga-nization (FAO) defines agro-based cluster as the “concen-tration of producers,agribusinesses and institutionsthat are engaged in the sameagricultural or agro-industrialsubsector, and interconnectand build value networks whenaddressing common chal-lenges and pursuing commonopportunities.”

The idea of agro-enterprisecluster features the complete-ness of ecosystem zones andlandscapes, combination ofhigh productivity zones in be-tween areas and ‘agropolitan’centers, combination of cropsacross major crops, and com-

DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (2nd from left) andDA-PADCC president Marriz Agbon (left) are shown with (fromleft) DAR Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, DAR Secretary Gil delosReyes, Antique Governor Exequiel Javier, DENR UndersecretaryDemetrio Ignacio, GTZ EnR Program Manager Dr.Walter Salzer,Antique Congressman Paolo Javier and Barbaza Mayor Faith Fran-cisco during the launch of the Central Antique Local ConvergenceAgro-enterprise Cluster.

bination of sites across povertygroups.

Also, clustering should in-clude potentials for high impactin increasing farm productivityand income of the rural poor. Thepresence of development-ori-ented local government leadersas well as the NGOs, POs, aca-deme and research communityshould likewise be considered.

With these as the consider-ation in this latest thrust of theDA-DAR-DENR National Con-vergence Initiative, the replica-tion of agro-enterprise clustersin all provinces, whenever appli-cable, is the latest effort that theConvergence is pursuing to pro-mote sustainable rural develop-ment.

The DENR is funding a num-ber of projects in Antiqueamounting to P 41.26 million.These consist of upland devel-opment and rehabilitationprojects, benefiting 220 resi-dents of Brgy. Bugasong.

In addition, DENR is alsosupporting the development ofa 70-hectare abaca and a 50-hectare rattan plantation in thetowns of Barbaza andPatnongon, respectively.

The DENR has also approveda forest land use plan for themunicipality of Laua-an.

Under its ‘Handog Titulo’ pro-gram, the DENR has issuedland titles to 27 individuals fromBarbaza, and another 51 fromPatnongon. It also distributed1,000 seedlings of fruit and for-

est trees to the municipality ofBarbaza.

For its part, the DAR launchedthe Agrarian Reform Infrastruc-ture Support Project (ARISP) IIIfor the municipalities of Laua-anand Valderrama. This involvesthe combination of infrastructure,institutional, agricultural and en-terprise development projects,amounting to P99.21 million.

Finally, the DA provided thefollowing projects and farmequipment:

•Tramline for the benefit of1,000 farmers in Brgy. Igburi,Patnongon town;

•Mechanical rice transplanterfor the province of Antique;

•Several farm equipment(drum seeder, power sprayerand shredder), and bags of up-land rice and vegetable seedsfor five municipalities;

•Abaca nursery, through theDA-Fiber Industry DevelopmentAuthority (FIDA) for Barbaza;

•Flatbed dryers and farm-to-market roads for the municipal-ity of Valderrama;

The launch of the Antique con-vergence cluster was attendedby DA undersecretaryBernadette Romulo-Puyat,DAR Usec. Jerry Pacturan,DENR Usec. Demetrio Ignacio,Mr. Agbon, and mayors of thefive municipalities of Barbaza,Bugasong, Laua-an, Patnongonand Valderrama, and respectiveregional directors of the DA, DARand DENR. (DA-PADCC)

5September 2010

AMAS, BAR join handsto market R&D technologies

Director Leandro Gazmin of theDepartment of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing As-sistance Service (DA-AMAS), to-gether with Chief Teresita Matiasof the AMAS’ Agribusiness Fea-sibility Studies Division, visitedthe Bureau of AgriculturalResearch’s (BAR) R&D Technol-ogy Commercialization(TechCom) Center to work onhow to enhance and strengthenmarket potentials of R&D-gener-ated technologies developed byBAR particularly, innovative prod-ucts that are not yet in the main-stream market but have the po-tential to grow as an industry.

“The TechCom Centercomplements the function of theDA Agribusiness Exports Show-room,” said Dir. Eleazar whiletouring inside the showroom.“Being the national coordinatingand funding agency for agricul-ture and fisheries research anddevelopment (R&D) with particu-lar emphasis on technology de-velopment, we, at BAR, thought

of establishing this facility toassist our partner-institutions incommercializing R&D-gener-ated technologies,” Dir. Eleazarexplained.

Launched in 2009, the R&DTechCom Center serves as avenue to showcase and dis-seminate R&D-generated tech-nologies and breakthroughssupported by DA through BAR’stwo flagship programs: theCommunity-based ParticipatoryAction Research (CPAR) andthe National Technology Com-mercialization Program (NTCP).

This facility also serves as aviable base for networking ofbusiness clients and interestedindividuals with the technologygenerators and product suppli-ers.

Dir. Eleazar presented BAR’sR&D Plans and Programs forthe medium-term.

In response, Dir. Gazminshowed interest and enthusi-asm in BAR’s endeavors ontechnology commercialization

and enjoined Dir. Eleazar to workclosely with AMAS particularlyon sharing information on exist-ing and new technologies aswell as databases of suppliersand producers.

He also advised BAR to ex-pand the linking of technologydevelopers with various market-ing arms and potentialinvestors.(Ma. Eloisa H. Aquino,DA-BAR)

Agriculture Secretary ProcesoJ. Alcala urged about three thou-sand farmers to use certifiedseeds during his recent field vis-its in three seaprate farmers’congresses in Cagayan Valley.

“About 70 percent of farmersin the country use ordinary orgood seeds. Let’s improve thispractice by using certif iedseeds,” Alcala told farmers inNueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Quirino,and Cagayan.

PhilRice studies show that theuse of certified seeds of a rec-ommended variety contributes to5-10 percent increase in yieldas this type of seeds produceshealthy seedlings that grow fastand uniformly.

Certif ied seeds are pure,clean, full and uniform in size,and have germination rate of 85percent.

Having passed quality stan-dards set by the National SeedQuality Control Services, certi-fied seeds have good marketdemand.

Alcala urged seed growers inthe region to form clusters to givethem a chance to receive avacuum packer, which will en-able them to preserve seeds,prolong seed storage capacity,and ensure good germination.

Meanwhile, to adjust withchanges in time, Alcalastressed the need for the

DA chief pushes for use of certified seeds,lines-up agri services

retraining or retooling agriculturalextension workers and trainingof farmers on the latest rice-farming technologies.

He said the trainings will moldfarmers into MagsasakangSiyentistas who make informeddecisions with less supervisionfrom agricultural experts.

Alcala, a principal author ofRepublic Act 10068 or the Or-ganic Agriculture Act of 2010,said farmers’ trainings will in-clude organic farming, whichyield high quality products forexport.

”Trainings on organic farmingwill teach farmers to producetheir own fertilizer, effectivelymanage rice pests and dis-eases with less application ofchemicals, and manage crop ina sustainable way,” he said.

The DA chief also lined-up thedepartment’s services to be ex-tended to the farmers, includingrehabilitation and repair of irri-gation facilities, access on ag-ricultural fund through Land Bankof the Philippines, and improvedmarket for agricultural products.

”We are improving these ser-vices for your benefit becauseyou are our partners in attain-ing the country’s goal of foodsecurity and rice self-sufficiencyin 2013,” Alcala said.

BAR Dir. Nicomedes Eleazar (left) shows to AMAS Dir. LeandroGazmin a bottle of sweet sorghum syrup which is now being commer-cialized by the BAPAMIN Farmers Cooperative in Batac, IlocosNorte through a BAR-funded project.(DA-BAR)

PCA wants solid medical evidenceon VCO’s beneficial effects

Philippine Coconut AuthorityAdministrator Oscar G. Garindeclared that it is now high timefor the Virgin Coconut Oil(VCO) producers and CoconutOil (CNO) manufactures toback up with solid medical evi-dence the touted beneficial ef-fects of CNO or VCO to the hu-man health and cholesterollevel.

“Nine years after the marketlaunch of the VCO, what wehave secured so far is a rap-idly growing market whichgives credence to the healthenhancing capabilities of theproduct as spread by personaltestimonies and anecdotal sto-ries of people from around theworld” Administrator Garinnoted expressing his concernhowever that such successmust not afford complacency.

“Without a solid clinical andmedical study on our hand, wemay not hold a secure andsustainable future for the VCOand other coconut-based foodproducts” Garin categoricallystated recalling how the coco-nut industry were once ma-

ligned by its adversarieswhich fraudulently and sys-tematically misinformed theconsuming public, particu-larly in the United States, thatcoconut oil is bad for the hu-man health.

“We went down, the indus-try suffered badly such that itwas once considered a sun-set industry” the administra-tor continued. “And it is by theresearches done by peoplearound the world who kepttheir faith on coconut thatenabled the industry to riseup again” he stressed declar-ing that the coconut industryowed a lot from researchers,Dr. Mary Enig, Dr. ConradoDayrit, Dr. Bruce Fife andmany others.

“Their researches are in-dicative of the beneficial ef-fects of coconut oil as neu-tral to heart and vascular dis-eases, curative of HIV/AIDS,antimicrobial, similar tomother’s milk, and as thehealthiest oil on earth help,among others, turn the tide for

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6 7August 2010

BAR, BAI look into commercialprofit of raising native pigs

Characteristically small,usually black in color, spotted,and are resistant to parasitesand diseases, native pigs canadapt to local conditions andcan tolerate heat and coldenvironments better than theimported breeds. They canthrive well on locally-availablefeeds, including kitchen andfarm refuse, and can cope withlow quality feeds and mainte-nance. The usual farm prac-tice, especially in the far flungvillages, is the “bahala na”system—allowing pigs toscavenge for their own survival.

Philippine native pigs aretraditionally known as best for“lechon” or roasted pig. ThisPinoy delicacy, prepared theroasted way, commands goodprice and is highly preferred byfood connoisseurs duringspecial occasions. Our lechonis tastier, with crispier skin andleaner meat, compared to theimported ones.

To conserve and maximizethe potential of expanding thelechon market, the Bureau ofAnimal Industry-National Swineand Poultry Research andDevelopment Center (BAI-NSPRDC) based in Tiaong,Quezon conducted a study onthe “Conservation, Evaluationand Commercialization of thePhilippine Native Pigs”. Thiswas funded and supported bythe Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) under itsbanner program, the NationalTechnology CommercializationProgram (NTCP). The two-yearproject is led by Dr. Rene C.Santiago, DVM, also theagricultural center chief of BAI-NSPRDC. Project implementa-tion called for collaborationswith the local government units(LGUs) of Quezon and selectedfarmer-cooperators in Lagunaand Quezon.

The objective of the projectis to establish a productionsystem involving raising nativepigs under farmers’ manage-ment and propagate such on acommercial scale and improvethe antiquated system of swineraising resulting in betterproduction. The socio-eco-nomic importance of productionand commercialization is acrucial aspect of the project.

Various government agenciesare set to initiate action to saveLudong (Cestreus plicatilis), arapidly dwindling species of mullet,following orders issued by Agricul-ture Secretary Proceso Alcaladuring his recent visit here.

In a report to Sec.Alcala, Dr.Jovita Ayson, regional director ofthe DA's Bureau of Fisheries andAquatic Resources (BFAR) saidthe DA-BFAR will implement“Oplan Sagip Ludong,” a three-pronged approach anchored onresearch, conservation andprotection, and intensified informa-tion and education campaign, asmeasures to stem the disappear-ance of the rare fish species.

“We shall conduct research onbreeding in captivity and popula-tion genetics, as soon as we canhave live samples of ludong in timewith its spawning run this Octo-ber,” Dir. Ayason said.

The agency has also submittedproposal for the amendment ofFisheries Administrative Order 31,a 1952 law banning the catchingand selling of ludong.

“We have stipulated a penalty ofP80,000 compared to 200 pesosin the old FAO,” Ayson said.

Drive to save Philippine’s most expensive fish pushed Ayson said that they will also

make representation with theprovincial governments to supportOSL, mainly through the enact-ment of ordinance calling for theirrespective municipalities to supportand enforce a closed seasonbanning the catching of ludong intheir areas.

Ludong is a rare and indigenousfish that thrives in the headwatersof the Cagayan river, and Bantay –Santa of the Abra river system inthe provinces of Ilocos Sur andAbra.

It is catadromous, which meansit thrives in freshwater but migratesto marine or seawater to spawn.

Its suspected habitats inCagayan Valley are in the UpperPinakaanan River in the towns ofJones, San Agustin and SanMariano in the province of Isabela,Addalem River in Aglipay, Quirinoand Dasimpit rapids also in Jones.The fish migrates yearly towardsthe mouth of the Cagayan River inAparri town to spawn.

Known as the Philippines’ mostexpensive food fish, its price isincreasing annually and hasreached P4,000.00 to P5,000.00per kilo last year.

Production of native pigscan be a viable alternative forswine producers who cannotcope with the high price ofcommercial swine feeds andfor those who do not haveenough capital for housingand feeding. This animal canbe raised without the use ofchemical inputs and, as abreed, has high economicpotential for those engaged inorganic swine production. Inaddition, native pigs are veryrich sources of geneticmaterials for local breeddevelopment and improvementprograms, hence it is anecessity to conserve andpreserve this breed.

BAI-NSPRDC started theproject where production ofbreeder native pigs wascarried out which weresubsequently distributed toselected farmer-cooperators insome municipalities in thesecond and fourth districts ofQuezon province and in thefourth district of Laguna.

The BAI-NSPRDC selected20 heads of breeder sows withtwo boars from their stockfarm in Tiaong, Quezon foruse in the production ofbreeders to be distributed tothe cooperators of the project.The breeders produced pigletsthat were raised, selected anddistributed.

Nine beneficiaries wereidentified based on theircapability, willingness andcooperation.

The farmer-cooperators andtechnicians attended trainingand seminars on the produc-tion and management ofnative pigs. After the training,each farmer-cooperator wasprovided with a set of 5 femaleand 1 male native pigs asbreeder stocks.

Each farmer was alsoprovided with a one-timesubsidy for housing in theamount of PhP10,000 andfeeds worth one thousandpesos PhP1,000.

A prototype pig pen wasalso constructed inside thecompound of BAI-NSPRDC fordemonstration purposes tofarmers. This type of pig penused locally-available materi-als such as bamboo, nipa,

coco-lumber and coconut huskand coir dust as bedding. Onemodule of pig pen requires afloor area of roughly 4 x 4square meters.

To validate and ascertainthe progress and developmentof the project, a BAR- Technol-ogy Commercialization Unit(BAR-TCU) Evaluation andMonitoring Team composed ofEllen Garces, Eve Juanillo,and Patrick Lesaca conductedproject reconnaissance in May2010. The project visit in-cluded interviews with Dr. ReneSantiago, team leader, and MsFe Bien, agriculturist of theproject. The team also visitedthe farmer-cooperators in theirrespective areas and saw theprogress of the project.

Dr. Santiago narrated to themonitoring team that theidentification of collaboratingmunicipalities is dependent onthe need of the locality for theproject, environmental consid-erations and willingness of thelocal government units. Thesecriteria are of paramountimportance to the success ofthe project. The farmer coop-erators, on the other hand,were chosen based on theircapability and knowledge inswine raising in general.

The monitoring team notedthe good relationship betweenthe project proponents andfarmer-cooperators. Nativeswine cages were well main-tained. Feeds and alternatesources of livestock wereavailable. More importantly, theconservation of native pigs canbe said to already be achieved.It is expected that the projectwill boost the needed stocks ofnative pigs which would bemade available for multiplica-tion and livelihood production.(DA-BAR)

PACDI photo

DA firms up ... (from p8)

Instead of paying Php1,200 fora 40-kg rice certified seeds,farmers will only shoulder halfthe price as their equity.

Originally implemented duringthe Dry Cropping Season 2010(September 16, 2009 – March15, 2010), the project distributeda total of 221,999 bags of ricecertified seeds to the farmers.To comply with the project’scommitment, the remaining581,751 bags are targeted to bedistributed in the ExtensionPhase.

To do this, the DA will becoordinating closely to the keypartner-implementers ofRaSSFiP – the National FoodAuthority (NFA), the DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs),Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI),and the local government units(LGUs).

In preparation for theRaSSFiP Extension Phase, aseries of cluster-wide technicalbriefings were conducted onAugust 13-18, 2010 to orient thestakeholders of the RevisedImplementing Guidelines,monthly planting targets,monitoring and evaluation, andreporting system that will beundertaken. Participants in thesaid briefing were the RegionalExecutive Directors (REDs),Regional Rice ProgramCoordinators (RRPCs), NFARegional Directors, NFAProvincial Managers, RegionalSeed Coordinators with the DA-

Field Operations Service (FOS),RaFPEP Project CoordinatingOffice (PCO), and DAUndersecretary for OperationsJoel Rudinas.

Similarly, briefings for theLGUs are currently conductedby the DA-RFUs while thebriefing for the Commission onAudit (COA) has been carriedout on September 7, 2010.

With all the preparation andeffort that have been exerting forthe RaSSFiP Extension Phase,Undersecretary Rudinasreminds the stakeholders thatthe project requires participationand close coordination amongeveryone. As one of the majorinterventions of the DA RiceProgram, he reiterated that theproject might be one of the waysto achieve the country’s goal ofrice self-sufficiency. “We haveto put our best talents andexpertise to ensure that thisproject will reach the ones whoneed it most – our farmers,” headded.

Good news to our corneaters!

Have you ever heard of thenewly introduced Open-Pollinated corn variety (OPV)that is high in protein, lysineand tryptophan? Now, it isone of the most popular cornvarieties in the production ofgrits for human food

The IBP Variety 6 wasdeveloped by the Institute ofPlant Breeding (IBP) Univer-sity of the Philippines, LosBaños, Laguna (UPLB).

It has a national yieldpotential of 5.4t/ha and caneven yield higher whenemployed with recommendedcultural management prac-tices due to its tested localadaptability and agronomicperformance.

This was proven by Mr.Artemio D. Esolana, a cornseed grower of Ilihan, JoseDalman, Zamboanga delNorte who harvested big cornears which are comparable tothe ears of a hybrid.

Active and accredited cornseed growers in the prov-inces were provided withregistered seeds of the saidvariety for the production ofcertified seeds that thefarmers can use in the nextcropping season.

According to Mr. FelizardoM. Salomes, Regional CornCoordinator of the Depart-ment of Agriculture-RegionalField Unit 9 (DA-RFU9) “thevariety needs to be multipliedand distributed extensivelydue to its good eating qualityand nutritional values whichis very ideal for diabetic dueto its lower glycemic index.”

Anyone who needs a corn

DA, Camarines Sur to Con-serve ‘Sinarapan,’ the world’ssmallest commercially har-vested fish. Agriculture Sec.Proceso J. Alcala (insert,middle) assures Mayor ReyLacoste of Buhi, CamarinesSur (right) that the DAthrough its Bureau of Fisher-ies and Aquatic Resourceswill pursue joint efforts withthe Province of CamarinesSur led by Governor LuisRaymond Villafuerte (inset,left) and Municipality of Buhito conserve and ensure the sus-tainable propagation ofsinarapan (Mistichthysluzonensis), found mostly inLakes Buhi and Bato, inCamarines Sur. The DA chiefmade the commitment duringa consultation with about 100provincial board members,municipal mayors, provincialand municipal agriculture of-ficers, and heads of DA familyagencies in Bicol, September23, at Camarines Sur provin-cial capitol, Naga City, hostedby Gov. Villafuerte. Alsoshown is Catanduanes Gov.Joseph Pua (inset, right). Todate, Sec. Alcala has visitedseven regions to consult andshare with LGU executivesPresident Aquino’s food secu-rity thrusts and programs,gathering their support andcommitment viacounterparting agreement toimplement more agriculturaland fishery infrastructure andlivelihood projects.

IBP Var. 6:

Ideal corn variety for foodvariety of this type maycontact Mr. Salomes throughhis cellphone number09392925986 or at DA-RFU9’slandline number (062) 215-4068 or send your inquiries toda9pagadian@yahoo.com.(ytavellaneda/DA9)

8

“Imagine, travelling throughthese road segments used to beone hour and thirty minutes. Butnow it only takes 15 minutes.Rice production before was ex-pensive due to transportationcost. Thank you very much.This project gives tremendousimpact benefits in the lives of thepeople here especially the farm-ers.”

Diplahan Mayor, Atty. WilterY. Palma proudly said during therecent Farm-to-Market Road(FMR) ribbon cutting and turn-over ceremony held on-site.

The 6.64 kilometer DiplahanFMR is a counterpartingproject of the Department ofAgriculture (DA) thru its Infra-structure for Rural ProductivityEnhancement Sector (InfRES)project with the Municipality ofDiplahan. The three completedroad segments wereTinongtungan to Goling (2.60km), Sonkuya to Lobing (2.04km), and Sonkuya to Lindang(2km) amounting to11,576,993.74 pesos. The Mu-nicipality of Diplahancounterparted 20% of the totalbudget requirement or2,315,398.74 pesos, 7.70%from the barangay beneficiariesor 891,428.51 pesos, 22.30%from the DA or 2,581,669.60pesos and 50% loan proceedfrom the Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) or 5,788,496.87pesos.

DA Regional Executive Direc-tor Oscar O. Parawan said “weare as good as our partners. TheMunicipality of Diplahan showedaggressiveness in project imple-mentation. That is why the DA

P11.5-M FMRs benefit farmers,

ruralfolk in Zamboanga Sibugay

The United States recentlyapproved the funding of threeFood for Progress projects inMindanao.

The US Embassy officialsand the US Department of Ag-riculture (USDA) recently metwith its non-government part-ner organizations in DavaoCity to discuss the projects.

The projects, worth $15.8million or P700 million andspread throughout Mindanao,will help small farmers in-crease their yields of rice, co-conut, and cacao, expand in-ter-cropping to raise incomes,and reduce post-yield harvestlosses. It will also boost milkproduction and distribution.

“USDA is very proud to workwith our local Philippine part-ners to implement theseprojects that serve not only theneeds of farmers, but alsoschool children, other agricul-tural producers and the localagriculture market in general,”said Philip Shull, US EmbassyAgricultural Counselor.

The first project, the Coco

USDA provides $15M agri fundingfor Mindanao

nut-Cocoa-Palay, will help lo-cal farmers develop integralfarming models by combiningrice, corn, vegetables, coco-nut, cacao, other tree crops,and livestock to increase foodsecurity and income.

The second supports milkproduction and distributionand increases dairy-sectorcapacity. The USDA awardeda three-year $5.8 million grantto Land O’Lakes Inc. for theestablishment of a breedingcenter that will increase milkproduction by crossing im-ported dairy cattle with localanimals. This will support theestablishment of two newdairy processing plants.

While the program in-creases farmers’ productivityand co-op profitability, it willalso help 2, 000 dairy farmersand provide dairy milk to 20,500 school children inZamboanga del Norte,Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon,Davao del Sur, Lanao del Sur,and other areas.(People’s Jour-nal)

DA firms up RaSSFIP extension phase:

island-wide briefings conductedIn support to the Rice Self-

Sufficiency Plan (RSSP), agovernment initiative to regainself-sufficiency in riceproduction and to respond to thefood price crisis that emergedin 2008, the Department ofAgriculture (DA) is set toimplement the Extension Phaseof the Rapid Seed SupplyFinancing Project (RaSSFiP)for the Dry Cropping Season2011, commencing onSeptember 16, 2010 untiltermination on March 15, 2011.The said project targetsincreasing the paddy productionof marginalized farmers inrainfed and lowland irrigatedareas focusing on regions IV-A,IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XIIand XIII through the provision of803,750 bags of good qualityrice seeds.

RaSSFiP is one of the sub-projects under the Rapid FoodProduction EnhancementProgramme (RaFPEP)–aprogram jointly funded by theGovernment of the Philippines(GOP), the International Fund for

gave them due recognition bykeeping pace with their politicalwill to finish project such as theFMR.” Parawan added that theDiplahan Municipality is one ofthe rice granaries of ZamboangaSibugay Province thus FMR andother infrastructure to increaserice production are needed .“Our partnership with LGUs inproject implementation dependson their willingness to put uptheir counterpart not only inInfRES but the rest of ourprojects.”

Robert de Kruyft, team leaderand project management spe-cialist represented by Engr.Rizalino del Socorro saidDiplahan is one of the 94 LGUssupported by DA-InfRES.“Diplahan showed capability inthe preparation of documents andwillingness to counterpart andsupervise project implementa-tion. Even with DA’s support, it isyour responsibility to ensurethat this project will be fullyused by the beneficiaries,”Rizalino read Kruyft’s messagebefore farmers, agriculture exten-sion workers, and municipal andbarangay officials.

Barangay Chairman FernandoFuig for his part promised“ampingan ug mintinahon namokining maong proyekto” (we willtake care and maintain thisproject).

The three road segmentswhich started construction in2008 is serving 840 households.

DA-InfRES aims to augmentincome and alleviate poverty inthe countryside, develop infra-structure and capacitate LGUsin project implementation.(DA 9)

GOING THE EXTRA MILE. Undersecretary Rudinas encourages everyone to do better in the ExtensionPhase because he is convinced that RaSSFiP is one way to attain the country’s self-sufficiency in rice.Also in the photo are (seated, L-R): NFA-10 Regional Director Javier Lozada, Former National RiceProgram Coordinator Frisco Malabanan, DA-FOS OIC Director Rodolfo Guieb, BPI Asst. DirectorHenry Carpiso, and BPI Seed Production Division Chief Dante Fidel.

Agricultural Development(IFAD), and the European Union(EU). With the goal of securingthe supply of rice certified seeds– a breed of rice seeds that isproven to increase productionby at least 10 percent – tofarmer-beneficiaries with anaverage yield of less than 3.8metric tons per hectare (mt/ha).

(Pls turn to p6)

9September 2010

To ensure a safe, healthy,productive and profitable cornand livestock industry, the DArecently established an aflatoxinlaboratory in Tumaga,Zamboanga City.

Aflatoxin is a naturallyoccurring toxin produced by fungior molds. It is a toxic metaboliteproduced by the fungi,Aspergillus flavus andAspergillus parasiticus that ishazardous to human and animalhealth.

Edna T. Begino of the Bureauof Animal Industry said thecondition that results fromingestion of high levels ofaflatoxin contaminated foods iscalled Aflatoxicosis. And thereare two types: chronic andacute.

Chronic aflatoxicosis meansingestion of low to moderatelevels of aflatoxin with symptomsof impaired food conversion andslower growth rate, while acuteaflatoxicosis has moderate tohigh levels of aflatoxincontamination.

DA Regional ExecutiveDirector, Dr. Oscar O. Parawansaid if we develop the cornindustry, it would entice thelivestock raisers to expandbecause feeds will be affordableand accessible.

Having enough corn wouldenhance the development ofpoultry and livestock industriesin the region.

Parawan said this is theputting up of the aflatoxinlaboratory forms part of the totalprogram to develop both the cornand livestock industries inZamboanga peninsula.

World Rabies Day (September 28) was celebrated in Bicol with thevaccination, deworming and castration of 80 dogs at the DA com-pound in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. The project was jointlyundertaken by the DA and Central Bicol State University of Agricul-ture (CBSUA) veterinary medicine students. (DA 5)

DA 9 opens aflatoxin lab

So, farmers and consumersalike should be aware ofaflatoxin, and should employways to dry farm productsproperly.

These include not only corn,but also peanut, cassava, andcopra, which are susceptible toaflatoxin contamination.

For his part, FelizardoSalomes, Regional CornBanner Coordinator said toprevent aflatoxin, farmersobserve the following culturalpractices:

•Harvest corn at full maturity;•Dry corn ears before shelling,

and attain a moisture content(MC) ranging from 18 to 21%before shelling to preventmechanical damage;

•Dry the shelled cornuniformly to 14% MC or belowwithin two days from shelling;

•Separate dried corn fromfresh corn grains;

•Prevent insect infestation instorage and prevent microbialgrowth during storage. (DA9)

and Water Management(BSWM) will also constructmore small-scale irrigationprojects, he added.

The other interventions are:•Postharvest. The DA

through the Phil. Center forPostharvest Dev’t. andMechanization and Phil. RiceResearch Institute willstrengthen efforts to helpmodernize the country’s ricemilling industry. Appropriatedrying facilities such as ‘so-lar dryers’ or multi-purposedrying pavements will be pro-vided to organized farmers’groups and LGUs to reducepostharvest losses.

•Seed production assis-tance. The DA’s Bureau ofPlant Industry will provideseed storage facilities to en-sure availability of qualityseeds in partnership with ac-credited seed growers.

The BPI will put up newseed laboratories to test andcertify rice, corn and veg-etable seeds, and plantingmaterials.

•Organic fertilizer assis-tance. The DA-BSWM andDA regional field units will es-tablish more composting fa-cilities.

•Research and develop-ment. PhilRice in partnershipwith the International RiceResearch Institute and otherinstitutions will continue todevelop new high-yield andsturdy varieties and improveexisting ones, which shouldwithstand drought and flood-ing, and resistant to emerg-ing pests and diseases.

•Extension, education andtraining support. The DA’sAgricultural Training Insti-tute, RFUs and other DAagencies will continue to pro-mote and disseminate exist-ing and new technologies tofarmers through the LGUs.

•Production loan. The DAthrough the AgriculturalCredit and Policy Council willcontinue to partner with theLand Bank of the Philippinesand other government finan-cial institutions to provide ac-cessible and affordable creditto more farmers

•Marketing assistance willbe expanded to benefit moresmall rice and corn farmers.

Seed subsidy ... (from p1)

Farmers in NorthernMindanao are happier thesedays as they recently received276 water pumps and enginesets through their respectivevarious LGUs.

The initiative was funded un-der the DA’s High Value Com-mercial Crops Program, accord-ing to DA-10 regional DirectorLealyn Ramos.

Each water pump and engineset costs P19,500.

The LGU beneficiaries includethe provinces of Bukidnon with70 units; Camiguin - 25 units;Lanao del Norte - 25 units; IliganCity - 5 units; Misamis Occiden-tal - 50 units; Misamis Oriental- 75 units; Cagayan de Oro City- 11 units; and DA research sta-tions - 15 units.

The water pumps and en-gines were distributed in coop-eration with the DA Region 10Agricultural Engineering Division(RAED).

The RAED serves as theimplementing body and inspec-tion team working in tandemwith the provincial and munici-pal LGUs that identifies eligiblefarmers’ group in each munici-pality.

The RAED also validates andmonitors assisted farmers’groups.

For their part, municipal LGUsare tasked to provide shelter forthe safekeeping of the pumpsand engines, and accessories.(DA-10)

DA 10 distributes276 water pumpsto prov’l LGUs

10

WorldFish is now into freshwater prawns

A team of Australian scien-tists has developed a geneti-cally modified rice with salt-tol-erant qualities, thus offeringhope of increased global pro-duction.

And work is already underwayto transfer the trait or technol-ogy to wheat, barley and otherstaple grains for the benefit ofbillions of people around theworld.

The new salt-tolerant GMOrice was developed by scientistsfrom the Australian Centre forPlant Functional Genomics(ACPFG) at the University ofAdelaide, who worked in col-laboration with colleaguesbased in Cairo, Copenhagen andMelbourne.

They used a new techniqueto trap salt in the root of the riceplant -- reducing the amountbuilding up in the shoots, andincreasing its tolerance to sa-linity.

Research associate DarrenPlett said the breakthrough of-fered the chance to increaseglobal rice production, espe-cially in areas where salinity isprevalent.

“Rice is often grown on landthat is prone to high levels ofsalinity,” Dr Plett said.

“Lands that accumulate salthave lower crop yields, whichcan threaten food supply.

“This has made salinity toler-ance an increasingly importantfactor in the efforts to secureglobal food production.”

Dr. Plett said the researchteam modified a gene to in-crease the number of salt-trans-porting proteins in specific cellsin the roots of the rice plant.

The modification resulted insalt being trapped in the root,where it is less harmful to theplant and prevented it travellingto the shoot where it does themost damage.

“Our results provide a newapproach for genetic modifica-tion to increase the tolerance ofcrops to the toxic sodium ion,which is a major environmentalstress,” Dr Plett said.

“Successful genetic engineer-ing efforts using this technologyshould assist in global food pro-duction.”

Australia developssalt-tolerant rice

The International CropsResearch Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) hasrecently unveiled a 10-year‘market-oriented’ researchstrategy to help more drylandfarmers worldwide.

The new strategy will helpdryland farmers through betteraccess to markets and othersupport services. Likewise, itenvisions more stability,security and productivity.

Dr. Nigel Poole, Chair of theICRISAT Governing Board said:“There are many examples ofhow ICRISAT with its partnersin the public and private sector,have vastly improved people’slives  and how its new strategywill enable them to have manymore.”

Anchored on a vision of a“prosperous, food-secure andresilient dryland tropics,” thenew strategy has four thrusts:resilient dryland systems,market institutions and policies,dryland cereals, and grainlegumes.

With these thrusts, ICRISATaims to generate cutting edgeinnovations to increaseproductivity and science-based

Result of the group’s workhave been published in theonline peer-reviewed sciencejournal PLoS ONE.

Meanwhile, Bob Phelps, ex-ecutive director of Gene Ethics,an anti-GM advocacy group,said there was little prospect ofcommercial success from thelatest research.

He said the drought tolerancetrait was mediated by multiplegenes and the only successfulGM crops to date involved trans-formations of single genes.

“Multi-genic traits are just toocomplex for crude genetic ma-nipulation techniques,” he said.

“Monsanto and the rest of theGM industry have spent tens ofbillions of dollars over 30 yearsto create drought and salt tol-erant plants, nitrogen fixation ingrains and more nutrit iousfoods. (IRRI)

WorldFish Center, formerlyknown as International Center forLiving Aquatic ResourcesManagement (ICLARM), is nowpromoting its breeding programto include freshwater prawn(Macrobrachium rosenbergii),after gaining worldwide successin breeding genetically improvedstrains of farmed tilapia andcarp.

Freshwater prawn is one ofthe most important crustaceansin inland aquaculture,WorldFish said.

It is economically importantfor the poor because it fits wellin smallholders’ typical systemof prawn polyculture with carpor tilapia in Bangladesh, China,India, Philippines, Thailand andVietnam.

It does not require expensivehigh-protein feed, thrivinginstead on locally-procuredplants, yet it fetches a muchhigher price than freshwaterfish.

Demand is high in domesticand export markets alike.

WorldFish aims to develophigh-yielding strains of

freshwater prawns that adaptwell to environmental challengesand have high survival rate.

This is the first attempt togenetically improve the prawnspecies.

Implementation entailscollecting and evaluatingstrains, establishing thefoundation population, designingand implementing the selectionprogram, developing strategiesfor effectively disseminating theimproved strain, and building thecapacity of local scientists.

Selective breeding has begunin India, Malaysia and Vietnam,in collaboration with nationalpartner-agencies with requiredfacilities and skilled personnel.

In said three countries,physical facilities have beenconsolidated, the technique offamily identification using visibleimplant elastomer mastered,and family production begunfollowing the single-pair matingdesign.

The involvement of the threecountries ensures that theproject captures their wealth ofexperience.

The project will significantlycontribute to understanding ofthe species’ genetics andprovide a model for geneticallyimprovng other crustaceans.

WorldFish Center began in1977 as ICLARM, based in thePhilippines. In 2000, it moved toPenang, Malaysia.

It is an international, non-profitNGO based in 8 countries(Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt,Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines,Solomon Islands, and Zambia).

It is one of 15 centers sup-ported by the Consultative Groupon International Agricultural Re-search or CGIAR.(Worldfishcenter.org)

Farmed shrimp, Bangladesh[Malcolm Beveridge] (worldfishcenter.org)

ICRISAT unveils10-year researchstrategy

policy advice to stabilize foodprices and availability.

For his part, ICRISAT DirectorGeneral William Dar said “thenew research strategy willenable farmers to multiply theirfarm productivity andsubstantially increase theirincomes, while improving  theresilience of their lands andlivelihoods.”

To pursue this, “we willemploy a systems perspectivein setting our priorities to ensurethat all important issues alongthe dryland agriculture valuechain are addressed,” Dr Daradded. (ICRISAT)

11September 2010

DA chief ... (from p2) Mindanao agri .. (from p1)

Editorial... (from p2)

Sec. Alcala said:“In sum, we will be going back

to the basics, and that thesebasic elements of equitablegrowth need to be pursued withdeliberateness, determinationand good governance.

“You can be sure that I willpersonally lead and supervise allof these programs together withthe officials of the Department.

“We will also be most open tosuggestions and advice from theprivate sector and the businesscommunity on how we can in-crease investments and eco-nomic activity for rural develop-ment.”

Below are the other key inter-ventions that the DA will under-take for other major commodi-ties and sectors.

For corn:•Provision of one-pollinated

varieties as support to increas-ing national production and con-sumption of white corn, which willease off the supply pressure onrice.

•Promotion of cassava as acorn substitute for feed.

•Farm mechanization•Provision of postharvest facili-

tiesFor livestock:•Improvement of genetic ma-

terials•Disease prevention, control

and eradication•Establishment of meat cen-

ters (with slaughterhouse, cut-ting floor, cold storage, and pro-cessing and packaging facilities)

For high-value commercialcrops:

•Provision of quality seeds andplanting materials

•Construction of production,postharvest facilities and tradingcenters

•Intensify extension services For fisheries:•Maintenance and operation of

existing mariculture parks•Establishment of seaweed

nurseries•Provision of training and tech-

nical assistance•Establishment of multi-spe-

cies hatcheries•Implement more coastal re-

sources management projects·Strengthen the fisheries and

aquatic resource and manage-ment councils

•Ensure compliance with glo-bal food safety standards

•Pursue bilateral talks withneighboring coastal states forfishing access

•Actively participate in theCoral Triangle Initiative.

ers 225 of the 420 towns acrossMindanao, jointly funded by theWorld Bank, national and localgovernments, and project pro-ponents.

The MRDP implementsprojects like farm-to-marketroads, communal irrigation sys-tems, potable water systems,bridges and other infrastructurecritical to increasing farm yield,resource-based livelihoods, en-vironmental conservation, andgovernance reform

The infrastructure projects areundertaken via counterpartingarrangement or cost-sharingscheme, where half of the costis shouldered by the DA-MRDPand the remaining half by theLGU proponent.

MRDP Dir. Ramos said whenPresident Aquino assumed of-fice in July 2010, LGUs begansubmitting more proposals forinfrastructure projects.

To date, of the six regionscovered by MRDP, NorthernMindanao (Region 10) has themost proposed projects, atP1.357 billion, followed by Cen-tral Mindanao (Region 12), withP1 billion.

The other four regions, withtheir corresponding amount ofproposed projects are: WesternMindanao (Region 9),P722.7million; Caraga (Region13), P612.7M; Davao Region(Region 11), P533.9M; and Au-tonomous Region in MuslimMindanao, P248.7M.

“Along with the thrust of thecurrent administration, we needto invest more on infrastructureto maximize the agriculture pro-duction potential of Mindanao.These projects could increaseyields, improve incomes of farm-ers, cut transportation costs andopen more economic opportu-nities to farmers, fisherfolk andthe local government units,”Ramos said.

Further, she said under theMRDP Community Fund for Ag-ricultural Development compo-nent, a total of 1,532 livelihoodprojects were proposed by 225municipalities, where about35% of beneficiaries are ruralwomen and indigenouspeoples.

Among the completed MRDPprojects are several farm-to-mar-ket roads (totaling 94 kilome-ters), five potable water sys-tems, and 1 bridge, measuring39 meters long.

Set for completion are: 1 irri-gation system in Davao del Sur,servicing 100 hectares; severalFMRs, totalling 163.18 km,three potable water systems,and two postharvest facilities.(Sherwin Manual, DA-MRDP)

kakayahan ni Sec. Alcala nakumbinsihin ang mga lokal naopisyal na tulungan ang DA samga programang sila rin angmakikinabang.

Hindi tulad dati na sanational government naka-atang ang pag-unlad ngpagsasaka.

Sabay na pag-gastos,sabay na pakikinabang.

Oras na nga na ayusin natinang paggastos ng sarili natingpera, pati na rin ang pera nggobyerno.

Tutal, sa buwis din namannatin galing ‘yun.

Kung tayo nga may listahankung saan napupunta angating perang pinaghirapan, lalonang kailangan ito sagobyerno, na kung saanbilyon-bilyon ang pinag-uusapan.

Nang sa ganun pag-gisingnatin sa bagong taon, maykinukumpuni na na bagongdaan, wala nang naka-bilad napalay sa highway at may tubigna sa mga sakahan.

Tiwala kami sa iyo Sec.Procy, pero ‘di ba ang tiwalaay kailangang paghirapan atalagaan?

Sabi nga sa ating paboritongmga tele-serye, mula kayMarimar hanggang saMagkaribal: Abangan!

He was joined by Gov.Villafuerte, DA Bicol regional di-rector Jose Dayao, and Dir.Ricardo Cachuela of the DA-Phil. Center for PostharvestDev’t. and Mechanization.

The respective agriculturalprojects and their correspond-ing costs are:

•P1.6-million (M) worth of vari-ous livelihood projects to 24 FAsand FCs, RICs, and 4-H Clubs;

•Three trading centers andcold storage facilities (worthP5M);

•25 Barangay Bagsakans(P1.25M);

•Three hand tractors withtrailer (P490,000);

•Two palay threshers withblower (P178,000);

•Two tractors (P2.4M);•15 collapsible tarpaulin

grains storage tents (P750,000);•25 tunnel-type greenhouses

with drip irrigation facility(P2.5M); and

•Three packinghouses(P2.7M).

Finally, Sec. Alcala held aconsultation with 100 provincialboard members, municipal may-ors, provincial and municipalagriculture officers, and headsof DA family agencies, atCamarines Sur provincial capi-tol, in Naga City, hosted by Gov.Villafuerte. Also present wasCatanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua.

P76-M fishery ... (from p12)

PCA wants ... (from p5)

the coconut industry. “How-ever, these findings togetherwith innumerable anecdotalstories still a need a definitiveclinical study to once and forall establish that indeed VCOand CNO are beneficial tobody cholesterol.”

Pool R&D Resourcesfor Clinical Study

Considering the magnitude,precision and authoritativenessthat the clinical study will re-quire, Garin bared that thePCA is considering the adop-tion of the PPP or Public Sec-tor – Private Sector Partner-ship strategy enunciated byPresident Benigno S. AquinoIII as may be applicable to re-search and development coop-eration.

“For one, we know for a factthat all business entities, in-cluding our coconut productsmanufacturers, are allowed bylaw to set aside a certain per-

centage of their income foruse in their research and de-velopment, the same amountis allowable as deduction” hestressed explaining that a por-tion thereof may be pooled to-gether to help fund the verytimely and vital research en-deavor.

“This is a good opportunityto explore and should involveall coconut industry stake-holders” he declared of theproposed PPP stressing thata definitive clinical study willnot be favorable of the VCOonly but to CNO, coconutmilk, desiccated coconut andthe whole coconut based foodand nutraceutical productlines.

“There will be a tremendousincrease in world demands forthese products thereby provid-ing a most promising area ofopportunity for wealth genera-tion for coconut farmers and

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (top photo, middle) appre-ciates a miniature model of the P500-million modern corn process-ing and bulk storage facility in Reina Mercedes, Isabela, a projectof Mindanao Grains Processing Co. Inc. of La Filipina UycongcoCorp. When completed, the facility can process up to 200,000 met-ric tons (MT) of corn-on-cobs into dried quality grains, and storethese in huge bulk silos (foreground) with a total capacity of 60,000MT. With Sec. Alcala are Sammy Mamauag (left) and Jess Bioco,of Mindanao Grains Processing.

DA-BFAR, PCG catchillegal fishermen, vessels

In a bid to put a halt on illegalfishing operations in Manila Bay,operatives of the DA-Bureau ofFisheries and Aquatic Re-sources (DA-BFAR), togetherwith the Philippine Coast Guard(PCG) caught a total of 17 ves-sels and 153 fishermen, boatcrew members, owners and op-erators in Cavite following twosuccessive operations, firstweek of September.

In a report to Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso Alcala, BFARdirector Malcolm I. Sarmiento,Jr. said the intensified driveagainst illegal fishing is under-taken to improve and restore themarine life of Manila Bay and toassist the LGUs in Metro Ma-nila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna,Bulacan, Pampanga andBataan in developing, using rec-ognized methods, the fisheriesand aquatic resources in ManilaBay.

“We had been undertaking alot of interventions in the past,mostly in collaboration with theLGUs and the local fisherfolk or-ganizations of these municipali-ties, even providing them withalternative livelihoods, but de-spite all these efforts, many il-legal fishing activities continueto prevail,” Sarmiento lamented.

“This time we have to use ouriron fist if only to show theserecalcitrant fishing operatorsthat we mean business,” hestressed.

The two operations conductedSeptember 2 and 7, 2010,yielded 14 commercial trawlers(4 in Cavite, 8 in Tanza and 2 inNoveleta), 2 ring netters and 1push netter, all caught withinCavite municipal waters.

The fishermen were chargedof using illegal fine-meshed netsand active gears.

Sarmiento said the appre-hended 17 fishing boats are inthe custody of the PCG atSangley Pt. in Cavite City.

The intensified Manila Bayseaborne operations is part ofthe strategies identified by theBFAR-led Task Force on SaveManila Bay composed of keyofficials of the National MarineFisheries Development Center,Legal Division, and its regionaloffices in Regions 3 and 4A.

The Task Force has also mem-bers from the Philippine CoastGuard, the LGUs and theBantay Dagat.

The successful operationswere conducted using BFAR’s30-meter MCS 3006 patrol ves-sel commandered by PCGComdr. Allan Corpuz.

Two units of the PCG rigid-hull inflatable boats assisted inthe operations along San Nicho-las Shoal and Cañacao Bay inCavite City.

Sarmiento is optimistic thatthe efforts and commitment ofthe operatives would not be putto waste once the full measureof the law will be implemented.

Sec. 86 of RA 8550 stipulatesthat unauthorized fishing or en-gaging in authorized fishingactivities carries a fine equiva-lent to the value of catch or Tenthousand pesos (P10,000)whichever is higher, 6 monthsimprisonment, confiscation ofcatch and fishing gears, andautomatic revocation of the li-cense of the boat captain andhis officers.

Moreover, the use of finemeshed nets carries a fine fromP2,000 to P20,000, or impris-onment from six months to twoyears or both. Such fine andimprisonment are at the discre-tion of the court for the boatcaptain and the master fisher-man.

The boat owner/operator isalso subjected to the samepenalties, including an admin-istrative fine and/or cancellationof permit or license or both.

On the other hand, the useof active gears such as trawl are

penalized with imprisonmentfrom two years to six years forthe boat captain and masterfisherman, and a fine fromP2,000 to P20,000, upon thediscretion of the court, and con-fiscation and forfeiture of fishcatch.

Meanwhile, boat owners/

operators employing unlicensedfisherfolk or fishworkers are im-

posed a fine of P500 each for

every month that the same has

been employed and/or P1,000

for every month for each unli-

censed crew member who has

been employed. (DA-BFAR)

P76-M fishery ... (from p1)

(NAFC). The facilities include alaboratory, feed mill, fish pro-cessing plant, and a trainingcum dormitory.

Sec. Alcala thanked the Japa-nese government on behalf ofPresident Benigno S. Aquino IIIand the Filipino people for itscontinuing support to helpingthe Philippines increase the pro-ductivity and income of Filipinofarmers and fishermen.

He urged DA-BFAR to opti-mize the use of the facilities toteach more Bicolano fishermenadopt modern and sustainableproduction and processingtechnologies so they could pro-duce and earn more.

Further, he said the DA-BFARwill establish more mariculture (Pls turn to p11)

parks in partnership with hostLGUs. They will jointly identifythe poorest of the poor fisher-men who will be prioritized torent and operate fish cages.

He added that the DA-BFARand LGUs will jointly enhancethe production of capiz (PlacunaPlacenta), which is abundant inSan Miguel Bay, as source ofsustainable income for fisher-men and their families.

Also present during the inau-guration ceremonies were:Camarines Sur Governor LuisRaymund Villafuerte, Jr.; Rep.Luis Villafuerte (3rd District,Camarines Sur); Mr. AkioIsomata, minister for economicaffairs, Japan Embassy;Mr.Takehiko Sakata, Japan Em-bassy agriculture attaché; Bulatown Mayor Benjamin Decena;

and DA-BFAR Bicol region di-rector Dennis del Socorro.

Thereafter, the DA chief had adialogue with 2,500 students ofthe (CBSUA) in Pili, CamarinesSur, where he announced thatthe DA will provide 20 scholar-ship grants to qualified students.

Sec. Alcala then motored toCamarines Sur convention cen-ter, where he awarded P16-mil-lion worth of farm and fisheryprojects and equipment to doz-ens of farmers’ associations andcooperatives (FAs/FCs), ruralimprovement clubs (RICs), 4-Hclubs, and LGUs.

He also handed over certifi-cate of completion to 200 farm-ers who finished a five-weekschool-on-the air course onpostharvest technologies.