BULB ONION THRIVES IN THE REGION
STORY BY VANESSA P. SANCHEZ
Another farmer’s group in Butuan City has proven that onion production in the region is indeed doable.
Three months after transplanting, the bulb onions at the trial production site of the Diversified Agribusiness Farmers’ Cooperative (DAFACO) in Bit-os, Butuan City is ready for harvest.
Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga Regional Executive Director Arlan M. Mangelen together with Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega, and Field Operations Division Chief Melody Guimary led the ceremonial harvest on April 5.
The trial served as a show window for other people to see that onion
production in the region can be done.
The suitability trial of bulb onions in the region began in the early part of 2023 when its price in the market reached as high as 400 pesos because of the low supply.
The DAFACO is one of the farmer’s organizations that has partnered with DA-Caraga to conduct an onion suitability trial in the region.
The DA-Caraga through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) provided the group with the agri inputs including seeds and fertilizer. In addition, the DA together with the City Agriculture Office also provided technical assistance to the group.
Out from the 36 sq. m area planted by the DAFACO, the group harvested a total of 94.14 kg of bulb onions.
In his message, Director Mangelen said that since it has been proven that onion production is really doable in Caraga, then it should already be sustained for the region to contribute to the country’s onion production.
On the other hand, Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega said farmers should not only focus on one crop but should go into intercropping so that they will not rely on just one crop especially now with the challenges of climate change.
DA-CARAGA CAPACITATES DA INFO NETWORK
STORY BY AURELIUS P.
To harness the power of communication through radio and social media, the Department of Agriculture-Caraga conducted a Radio Program Production and Social Media Management Training.
Spearheaded by the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Information Section (RAFIS), the three-day training was held in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on April 17-19. The participants were information officers and farmcasters from local government units and DAattached agencies and bureaus.
Emmylou Presilda, RAFIS Chief, emphasized that radio remains
an effective medium of communication especially in reaching out to those in far-flung areas. Additionally, radio is being boosted nowadays with the advent of social media through livestreaming of the radio programs.
The resource person of the training, Marisol D. Tuso is multi-awarded and recognized in the field of communication and project management and monitoring. She is also currently the Executive Director of Butuan Bay Development Alliance.
Various workshops were conducted to hone the skills of the participants in the aspects of
communication through radio and social media.
“I am grateful to be included as one of the participants. What I’ve learned is not just for radio communication but in packaging the right messaging towards our clientele, especially the farmers,” Engr. Jingle T. Paloma, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Caraga Regional Focal said.
DA-Caraga has been continuously collaborating with DA-attached agencies and bureaus, as well as the LGUs to widen dissemination of agricultural information.
ARAIS
P10M MODERNIZED INSPIRE TO HELP REVIVE SWINE
STORY BY LOVELY JOY L. SALUDEZ
A brighter future awaits the swine industry for the Palasao Agriculture Cooperative in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga through the Livestock Program turned over to the association the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) on April 30.
The project is a modernized-bio secured and climate-controlled facility with stocks, feeds, biogass, and 300 head weanlings which totals to P10M.
The INSPIRE project focuses on rehabilitation efforts from the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) through repopulation and the establishment of swine farms and facilities.
In his message, DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Arlan M. Mangelen hoped to speed up the repopulation of hogs to have a steady supply of meat around the province and at the same time, help the association members revive their livelihood.
“We know that the outbreak of ASF has detrimental impact on biodiversity and the livelihood of farmers. Through INSPIRE, we hope to bring back enough meat and stabilize the price,” he said.
Caraga was first hit by the ASF virus back in November 2020. Cases were reported in Surigao del Sur and eventually affected other provinces, affecting the region’s pork supply.
With this project, Cantilan Mayor Philip A. Pichay thanked the DA for its help to accelerate the recovery of the swine industry in the municipality.
“I am very thankful to the DA because this is a big help not only to revive the income of the farmer-beneficiaries but also to the community as well. It will now ensure that pork will be available and affordable in the municipality,” Mayor Pichay said.
The facility is equipped with features that could greatly help in preventing ASF contamination. It has a climate-controlled animal house, basic farm equipment, feed storage, waste management, and a shower room.
MILITARY MEN EMBRACE MUSHROOM PRODUCTION FACILITY INDUSTRY
Palasao Agriculture Cooperative President Jennifer Miranda conveyed her commitment to ensuring the project’s success.
Also joining Director Mangelen at the turn-over were Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Caraga OIC Center Director Jessie V. Beldia, Cantilan Municipal Mayor Philip A. Pichay, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Margarito La Torre, OIC Municipal Agriculturist Cherry Salazar, Livestock Focal Person Jekem Sanchez, President of Palasao Agriculture Cooperative Jennifer Miranda, and other DA officers and government officials.
Around 30 men-in-uniform from the 402nd Infantry “Stingers” Brigade, underwent a Mushroom Production Training conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga on April 24 at Camp Romualdo C. Rubi, Bancasi, Butuan City.
The capability training prepared the military personnel as a recipients of the mushroom growing facility worth P300,000, along with 2,000 mushroom fruiting bags and 200 bottles of spawn worth P54,000 under the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP).
DA-Caraga Field Operations Division Supervising Agriculturist Marco Antonio Morido said that the DA and Philippine Army tie-up is part of the Department’s initiative in ensuring food security, creating livelihood opportunities, and promoting a healthy lifestyle by making available nutritious food for Filipinos, specifically in urban and peri-urban areas.
Sergeant Joemar Cucharo, said that the training will equip them to sustain the project entrusted to
them. He added that the increasing popularity and demand for mushroom growing encouraged them to engage in it. Aside from their personal consumption, it will also serve as an additional livelihood they could share in the community.
Ismael Cabalinan, Science Research Specialist II, served as the resource speaker during the lecture and actual demonstration. The participants were encouraged to try their hands on mushroom fruit bag production, pasteurization, incubation, and inoculation techniques.
In the Caraga region, a total of five identified beneficiaries will receive the mushroom growing house facility. This includes the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Butuan, the Diocese of ButuanSocial Action Center, the Friends Foundation in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, and the and the Hill Tribe Economic Development Farmers Association in Bayugan City.
STORY BY RHEA C. ABAO
DA REGULATORY AGENCIES UNIFY EFFORTS TO ENSURE FOOD SAFETY
STORY BY LOVELY JOY L. SALUDEZ
Food safety should go hand in hand with food security.
With this, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga spearheaded the conduct of the DA-Food Safety Regulatory Agencies (FSRA) Coordination Meeting on April 16, 2024, at the DA Conference Hall, Butuan City.
Anchored on Republic Act No. 10611, also known as the Food Safety Act, the meeting intends to bolster the coordination mechanism among the involved agencies and at the same time, strengthen the food safety regulatory system in the region. This is primarily to protect consumer health and facilitate market access to local food and food products.
This includes the combination of regulation, food safety standards,
inspection, testing, data collection, monitoring, and other activities carried out by FSRAs and the Local Government Units (LGUs).
Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Abel F. Wagas stressed the role of DA in the implementation of the Food Safety Act.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that the food being produced is safe from farm to fork to protect consumers’ health,” he said.
To date, Caraga Region has a total of nine active Good Agricultural Product (GAP) Certified Farms and five active Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certified farms.
GAP and PGS are both certifications that ensure the quality and sustainable practices of farms. GAP certification is a
standard that verifies if farms follow recommended agricultural practices, while PGS is a locally focused quality assurance system for organic farms.
Meanwhile, Regulatory Division Chief Johnny M. Concon stressed the establishment of a Framework for DA-FSRA Collaboration, and the Re-activation of the Food Safety Unit to ensure the collaboration of all FSRAs in protecting public health by ensuring unsafe food is monitored, controlled, and removed from the market.
“The implementation of the Food Safety Program is a continuous process. May it be a small or big progress, what matters is we are working on it. This time, we need to harmonize our efforts, establish a Framework for FSRA Collaboration, and reactivate the Food Safety Unit to speed up the
regional update
DA-4K CARAGA BOOSTS ABACA PRODUCTION IN IP COMMUNITY IN SURSUR
The Department of AgricultureCaraga continuously looks for ways to help the Indigenous People (IP) communities improve their livelihood.
On April 2-3, around 5000 abaca suckers worth P250,000 were turned over by DA-Caraga to the IP farmers who are members of the Bayogo Indigenous Peoples Organization (BIPO) under Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT 238) at Brgy. Bayogo, Madrid, Surigao del Sur.
DA-Caraga implemented the program through Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) to help alleviate the economic status of the IP communities providing an additional source of income.
Aside from abaca suckers, the DA-Caraga 4K Program also turned over 160 bags of fertilizer composed of 80 bags of Complete and 80 bags of Urea.
The group is targeting to plant around five hectares of land within their ancestral domain with the support they received.
The delivery and turnover were facilitated by Zaiprill Ortiz, Community Development Officer of DA-4K Caraga with Engr. Shiela May Pamad, Agricultural Technician of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Madrid, Surigao del Sur.
IP President and IP Leader Datu Benjamin Tindogan extended their gratefulness for the government support they received.
“We are thankful to the DACaraga, 4K Program is a big help for our IP community and in boosting our livelihood,” he said.
4K is a locally-funded program that caters to Indigenous People Farmers and Fisherfolk within their Ancestral Domains in the Philippines.
implementation”, Concon explained.
The FSRAs were committed to harmonize and unify efforts in overseeing compliance to regulations and enforcement of the same at the department level. This is in collaboration with other government agencies as well as concerned stakeholders.
The current FSRA in the region is composed of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Caraga, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Caraga, Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) Caraga, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Caraga, National Meat Inspection System (NMIS) Caraga, National Food Authority (NFA) Caraga, National Dairy Authority (NDA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Caraga, and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Luzon and Mindanao Area.
rafis@caraga.da.gov.ph
www.caraga.da.gov.ph
STORY BY AURELIUS P. ARAIS