Thursday, August 29, 2013

Asec De Luna Graces National Corn Performance Review: Urges Stakeholders to Reduce Farming Costs thru Organic Agriculture



Surigao City- Amidst high cost of synthetic farm inputs, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Edilberto De Luna urged corn stakeholders to practice organic farming.


DA Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Edilberto De Luna answered queries 
from local  media in a news conference during the National Corn Performance 
Review held in Surigao City. Also with him were Asec Salvador Salacup (right), 
DA Caraga OIC Regional Executive Director Edna Mabeza (left) and Caraga 
Regional  Corn Coordinator Abel Wagas.
He said that under the organic agriculture program, DA through the local government units will train agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmers as well on how to produce organic fertilizers and other natural inputs.

 “You have at least to reduce your cost, don’t rely solely on inorganic inputs”, he said in a news conference in Surigao City during the National Corn Program Performance Review last August 7, 2013 held in Surigao City. 

He said through organic agriculture farmers could reduce the high cost of farm inputs thus helping them to ease their financial burden.

Promotion and adoption of the organic agriculture is stipulated on Republic Act 10068 otherwise known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.

DA Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna is at the same time the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program National Coordinator. 

Meanwhile he said that aside from reducing the cost of production inputs, DA will also help farmers by providing quality corn seeds under the seeds exchange program implemented by the Department through the local government units.

DA will also equip farmers the necessary technology through various training packages apt to their needs. (Aurell P. Arais/RAFID DA CARAGA)

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Monday, August 12, 2013

DA-ACPC Turns-over P 6M Credit Assistance to Butuan Farmers’ Cooperative



       AAMPC Chair Gerardo Mag-isa (center) received the facsimite check
       during the turn-over ceremony on the credit assistance from DA-ACPC
       Handing over the credit assistance to the recipients were DA-ACPC
       Executive Director Jovita Corpuz (2nd from left), DA RFU-13 OIC
       Regional Executive Director Edna M. Mabeza, Ph. D. (right), DA-ACPC 
       Monitoring and Evaluatiion Director Ma. Cristina Lopez (2nd from left)
       and Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. (left).

                                                                  Photo by: Roselle Gultiano                            
Butuan City- Two (2) farmers cooperative in Butuan City received credit assistance amounting to more than 6 million pesos from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) during the turn-over ceremony at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort , Butuan City last July 23, 2013.

ACPC Executive Director Jovita Corpuz together with DA-RFU-13 OIC Regional Director Edna M. Mabeza and Butuan City Mayor, Hon. Ferdinand M. Amante , Jr.  turned-over the two checks to Antongalon Farmers Association Caraga Incorporated (AFACI) with the amount of 1.05 million pesos and to Antongalon-Agusan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AAMPC) amounting to 5 million pesos.

AFACI President Epifania Antoquia said that the credit assistance they had received from ACPC is a big help in the operation of their packing house for vegetables that soon to open in Langihan Public Market in Butuan while Gerardo Mag-isa of AAMPC said that the P 5 million pesos they had received will be utilized for rice production projects.

OIC RED Mabeza in her speech reminded the recipients of the ACPC credit assistance to use the money efficiently and be counted as among the new breed of farmers reflecting the virtues of self reliance, responsibility and care for the community .

As a response to the Director’s message, Mayor Ferdinand Amante signified the LGU’s commitment to help in nurturing the said recipients to use the money efficiently and to give them necessary assistance to ensure sustainability of the projects. 

The said credit assistance will be paid back by the two recipients in a very minimal interest.
ACPC is the government’s primary institution in rural finance policy and programs to address the need for access to sustainable credit of small farmers and fisherfolks.

Meanwhile, Caraga Region Agricultural Credit Desk Officer Marilou M. Gruyal urged other farmer cooperatives who would like to access lending assistance to finance various agricultural projects to coordinate with DA RFU 13 thru the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD). (Aurell P. Arais/RAFID DA CARAGA)

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