DA-BFAR to transform Guiuan into top aquamarine producer
DA turns over P20M for agri-fishery projects in E. Samar, Biliran The Department of Agriculture has extended over P20-million (M) worth of assistance to farmers, fishers and local government units in Eastern Samar and Biliran to increase their productivity and incomes. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala handed over the certificates of awards to beneficiaries, during his two-day (May 31 – June 1, 2012) visit, where he also dialogued with thousands of farmers, fishers and local government officials. Of the total agri-fishery projects, farm equipment and inputs, Eastern Samar received P12M, while Biliran got P8M, including a P2.8M from the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for an aquasilviculture project of the Naval State University (NSU). The DA-BFAR is tapping selected agri-fishery state universities and colleges to promote aquasilviculture which aims to rehabilitate mangrove areas and increase the production of marine fish species, including crabs and other crustaceans. The various equipment distributed to farmers’ and fishers’ groups include hand tractors, rice threshers, flatbed dryers, multi-purpose drying pavements, corn mill, pump and engine sets, cassava granulators, seed cleaners, banana chips processing equipment, and fish cages, fishing paraphernalia and implements. Secretary Alcala also distributed certified rice seeds, hybrid and OPV corn seeds, coconut seedlings, salt and organic fertilizers, assorted vegetable seeds, seaweed planting materials, veterinary drugs and medicines, and several livestock animals like Brahman bulls, carabaos, dozens of sheep and anglo-nubian bucks. He also raffled off to lucky forum participants in three separate locations dozens of farm and equipment, paraphernalia and inputs that include hand tractors, boat engines, several head of carabao with implements, and anglo-nubian bucks. Recognizing a large number of farmers and ruralfolk in Biliran and Eastern Samar who eat white corn grits as their staple, Secretary Alcala committed to provide them with quality white corn seeds that include hybrid, OPV and traditional
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Secretary ‘Procy’ Alcala (inset) encourages the private sector to invest in grains handling and processing, and farm services outsourcing for more efficient rice production, lesser post-harvest losses, and more profitable operations, during the rice industry forum at the Banco de Oro headquarters in Makati City on June 27, 2012. tiniguib,along with several units of corn mill. He also encouraged coconut farmers to intercrop white corn and raise goat and sheep under the coconut trees. They will be assisted by the DA through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) under its nationwide coconut replanting, intercropping and livelihood program called Kasaganahan sa Niyugan ay Kaunlaran ng Bayan (KAANIB). In all, Secretary Alcala visited several agri-fishery projects and consulted with thousands of farmers, fishers and local officials at eight different sites. These include: a DA-BFAR mariculture project in Barangay San Roque, Biliran town; KAANIB proj ect in Barangay Busali, Biliran town; Calumpang communal irrigation system in Barangay Atipolo, Naval; lunch meeting with Biliran local officials led by Governor Gerardo Espina, Jr. and Rep. Rogelio Espina; provincial farmer’s and fisherfolk’s forum at Naval, Biliran; media conference and meeting with top officials of various DA family agencies in Eastern Visayas; visit and dialogue with fishers at DA-BFAR’s Guiuan marine fisheries research center; and provincial farmers’ and fisherfolk’s forum at Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, with Governor Conrado Nicart and Rep. Ben Evardone. During these fora, he enjoined provincial and local government officials to enlist Biliran and Eastern Samar, and their respective municipalities under the proposed Central Philippines Rural Development Program (CPRDP), which the DA is finalizing for possible funding by the World Bank. The CPRDP entails the construction of needed infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, agrifishery trading centers, and postharvest facilities, including
the implementation of sustainable farm and fishery enterprises and livelihood projects. After Eastern Samar, the DA chief visited the island-province of Dinagat. Since July 2010 when he assumed office, Secretary Alcala has gone through 78 provinces to fulfill his self-imposed target to visit all 80 provinces by June 2012, in his journey to bring the government closer to the people, as instructed by President Aquino himself, and feel the pulse and resolve the needs of small farmers, fishers and other ruralfolk, including local officials.
DA chief ...
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“After all, among food distribu tors like supermarkets, the practice of contracting the fresh produce that they will sell in their outlets has already started to take root,” he added. “Let us unite in believing that we are all winners when we produce, process and distribute enough food, and ensure increased incomes for our food producers and industry workers,” Secretary Alcala said. (Adam O. Borja, DA Rice program)
DA allots 7.5M to optimize rubber production in South Cotabato The Department of Agriculture is currently strengthening the optimization of rubber production as one of the priority high value crops in Region 12. As part of this undertaking, the DA through its AgriPinoy High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP) allotted a total fund of 7, 500,000 pesos to boost the Rubber Enterprise Development Project in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. This initiative is in collaboration with the New National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) and the Likas Kayang Kaunlaran Foundation Philippines, Incorporated (LKKFPI). “This project was established to develop the rubber nursery in the locality that would build up the enterprise where agribusiness should be the utmost frontline in advancing economic growth,” cited Honesto F. Baniqued, NABCOR President. The project, Baniqued further stressed will also address farmers’ needs like the availability of rubber seedlings.
“The development of this rubber project seeks to improve the quality of life of the communities through generation of job opportunities,”Mr. Martin P. Atinen, Jr., LKKFPI Executive Director expounding the project’s endeavors. Besides enhancing the skills of the members of these communities, the project is also a means of reforestation thereby cushioning the effects of climate change. Included in the project package were one hectare rubber nursery, one hectare budwood garden and 40-hectare rubber plantation. Planting materials needed for this project will be sourced from the established rubber nursery and budwood garden. Moreover, each component of the project is considered a project investment where farmers in the locality and other areas could source out rubber seedlings from this project. Direct beneficiaries of the project were the farmers with (Pls turn to p11)
At the eastern most part of the Visayas region, particularly in the pristine coastal town of Guiuan, frequented by beach lovers and international and Filipino surfers, one could also find a haven filled with a variety of aquamarine species. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Guiuan Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (BFARGMFRDC), is a 1.25-hectare multi-species hatchery for blue crabs, abalones, sea cucumbers, giant clams, and lapu-lapu, and soon for lobsters and mub crabs, too. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the center mainly aims to produce quality seedstocks of aquamarine species that will be ‘seeded’ or dispersed back to the wild or coastal waters and revive depleting stocks in Eastern Visayas. Initially, the DA-BFAR plans to make the center a source of quality blue crabs for dispersal at municipal waters, and for interested fisherfolk groups and entrepreneurs who wish to go into commercial crab production and crab meat processing. Guiuan center chief Nonita Cabacaba said they started their blue crab hatchery operations in 2009, and since May 2010, they have cultured and dispersed more than 10,000 blue crablets back to the wild or awarded to municipal fishermen. She said they regularly buy 'berried' or blue crab spawners from fishermen at a premium price of P170 per kilo. She said such strategy is cheaper and more convenient than raising female crabs, as culturing them until they spawn is more expensive in terms of food and shelter. The berried crabs from the wild are 'nursed' at the facility, which serves as a 'lying-in' or maternity clinic, which they lay their eggs in just a couple of days, said Cabacaba. A week after, the mother crabs are returned back to the wild. The eggs then hatch and grow into crablets in a span of 35 days. Each spawner lays from 600,000 to 1.2 million eggs – of which only about three to five percent survive and develop into crablets, ranging from 30,000 to 50,000, Cabacaba said. At present, GMFRDC focuses on seeding back or stocking crablets at fish sanctuaries like Monbon Reef and Manapag Reef, in Eastern Samar. Further, Cabacaba said they
May 2012
can also raise and produce ‘softshelled’ crabs, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine which sells more than ordinary crabs. In all, Secretary Alcala commended Cabacaba and her staff for their continuing efforts, and assured them the DA-BFAR will invest more in GMFRDC to serve as a major 'lying-in' center or hatchery, not only for blue crabs and also for lobsters and mud crabs (alimango). For her part, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said she will encourage investors to set up a crab meat processing facility, as she aims to transform Guiuan into a major crab producer in two to three years' time. At a fisherfolk’s forum after touring the center’s facilities, Secretary Alcala dialogued with fisherfolk and committed to provide them technical and marketing assistance to increase their catch and income. He assured them that the Center will continuously produce crablets, which will be dispersed in the wild or municipal waters for their benefit. He said the DA-BFAR will install payaos for tuna fishermen in Guiuan.
Secretary ‘Procy’ Alcala holds a ‘berried’ or spawner blue crab, as Nonita Cabacaba (left), chief of the Guiuan Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center in Eastern Samar, explains that it could lay as much as 1.2 million eggs, of which only about 30,000 to 50,000 survive and grow into crablets. Secretary Alcala said the DABFAR is putting up similar multi-species hatcheries and ‘lying-in’ centers nationwide to increase the production of blue crabs, mud crabs, lobsters and other high value marine fish species. Also shown are DA-BFAR Eastern Visayas Director Justerie Granali (2nd from right), Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan (3rd from left), National Irrigation Administrator Antonio Nangel (2nd from left), and a Guiuan facility technician. In appreciation for their attendance, Secretary Alcala raffled off prizes from DA-BFAR to lucky fishermen, who won five units of
First quarter virgin coconut oil export up by 138.65% Philippine Coconut Author- The Administrator added ity (PCA) Adm inistrator Euclides G. Forbes reported a 138.65 percent increase in export earnings for Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) for the first quarter of this year with earnings of $7,566,132.00 compared with figures of the same period last year in the amount of $3,170,394.00. He added that the first quarter 2012 volume likewise registered an increase of 93.58 percent with 1,719.23 MT compared with last year’s 888.11 MT. According to the Administrator, VCO is exported to 27 countries in Asia, Europe and the United States of America. He said that the first quarter export to France registered the highest with a 1,011.76 percent increase in value with earnings of $76,000 for this quarter compared with last year’s figures of $6,836.00. Volume also increased by 662.96 percent with this quarter’s volume recorded at 16.48 MT as against last year’s 2.16 MT.
that last year’s total VCO export was a high 0f 169.74 percent increase in value with $22,498,130.00 as against $8,340,742.00 in 2010. It was also up by 79.51 percent in volume with 4,913.50 MT as against 2,737.17 MT the previous year. The administrator attributes increasing demand for VCO to the growing awareness on the health benefits of VCO. He reiterated the announcement of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala early this year that VCO intake is good for the body based on the PCA sponsored study conducted by the University of Santo Tomas Research Team on the Effect of VCO on Human with Emphasis on Cholesterol. VCO is obtained from fresh mature, kernel of coconut by mechanical or natural means with or without the use of heat is suitable for consumption without further processing. (Coconut Media Service)
7-horsepower motor boat engines, 10 anglo-nubian bucks, and one boat complete with engine.
PhilRice announces research grant Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead agency in rice research and development, is calling on scientists, researchers, and thesis students to avail of the Institute’s research fellowship program. Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director, said the program aims to provide career growth opportunities while helping the country achieve rice self-sufficiency. Research proposals fostering rice science for improved productivity and profitability will be accepted until July 15 for the first semester and Sept. 30 for the second semester. Fellowships on research and thesis/dissertation and graduate research assistantship range from P150,000-P300,000 and monthly stipend of P30,000P50,000. Research fellowship for outstanding research and development practitioners covers six months to two years. On the other hand, thesis and dissertation funding and graduate research assistantship cover two semesters. (Pls turn to p11)
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