DA Caraga Partner for Progress in Agusan del Sur

Governor Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur

Patin-ay, Prosperidad - Agusan Del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza lauded the Department of Agriculture Caraga for being a strong ally towards the development of the province.

On his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on June 17, 2015 as one of the highlights of the 48^th Founding Anniversary, Plaza underscored the partnership of the Province of Agusan del Sur and the Department of Agriculture on various interventions for agricultural development.

Agusan del Sur is a landlocked province in Caraga Region with an area of 8,966 square kilometers and considered as the 4^th largest in the country thus making agriculture as a prime driving force of its economy.

With its huge land, Agusan del Sur embark on a flagship program called USAD or the Upland Sustainable Agri-forestry Development, a development interventions that cuts across the economic, infrastructure, social, environment, public safety and transforming the bureaucracy.

To date the province of Agusan del Sur had developed 603 hectares for rubber, upland rice, high value crops and established a rubber seedling nursery.

The province also established a 2-hectare rubber budwood garden at the Agricultural Resource Center in Bayugan City and a crumb rubber processing plant to support the rubber industry in the province.

For food production, Agusan del Sur had an area of 92,260 hectares planted with rice and a production of 326,510 metric ton (MT) with an average yield of 3.65 MT per hectare. On the other hand, a total of 23,157 hectares of corn produced 90,674 MT with an average yield of 3.9 MT per hectare.

“We supported the implementation of Organic Agriculture in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Region 13 through the provision of farm inputs and equipment”, Plaza said.

A total of 528 hectares of rice production and 47 hectares of corn were converted into organic farming system with an average production of 3.6 MT and 3.06 MT per hectare, respectively.

“To support the farmers, we have established 11 grains processing center in partnership with the Department of Agriculture serving 1,379.50 hectares and 887 farmers which surpassed the target of 5 units in 2014 or 70% of the total target in 2016”, Plaza added.

The province also provided 118 units of other pre and post harvest facilities jointly funded by the PLGU and DA with 1,120 recipients.

The province was recognized for its good agricultural practices from production to harvesting and post harvest handling and was among the top 5 in the National Corn Quality Achievers Awards by the Department of Agriculture.

On animal health and production program, a total of 1,594 heads of pullets (chicks) were distributed to various associations or individuals. 

“A significant increase of 12.5% on the number of heads distributed as compared to the previous year and consequently a 262.9% increase on the number of beneficiaries”, he said.

PLGU of Agusan del Sur took leap on its climate change mitigating measures by mobilizing the 14 local government units in the formulation of their respective Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

 

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders and fellow Agusanons who in one way or another contributed for the province to rise above the challenges, he added “with the achievement the province have had attained, there are still lot of things to be done.” (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

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DA Caraga Cares for Environment

Gathering of environment advocates

Butuan City - The Department of Agriculture Caraga joins hand in the celebration of the World Environment Month this June, 2015.

One of the highlight of the celebration was the conduct of the Environment Fun Walk spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last June 5, 2015 wherein DA Caraga was an active participant.

This year’s celebration has a theme “Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care. 

 

Participated by various government agencies, the fun walk started at Guingona Park traversing J.C.Aquino Avenue and ended at Agusan del Norte Covered Court.

During the short program, DENR Regional Director Nonito Tamayo appreciated all government agencies who took part on the celebration.

“Iisa lang ang ating mundo, dapat nating kalingain” (Our planet is one and only, so we have to care of it), Tamayo said.

He urged the participants that upon returning to respective offices, each should have to look for ways in contributing the protection of the environment.

The theme infers resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production within the context of the planet’s regenerative capacity. Seven Billion Dreams refer to the world population inhabiting in just one planet. 

The month of June of each year is declared as the Philippine Environment Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed in 1998 by then President Corazon C. Aquino to focus public attention to the protection and conservation of the country’s natural resources. 

As contribution for environmental protection, Department of Agriculture embodied certain measures on its programs such as planting of fruit trees and most is the implementation of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 or RA 10068. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

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DA Caraga Turns-over Hand Tractors to Farmers

DA Caraga Regional Director Edna Mabeza during turn-over ceremony

Butuan City - To empower farmers to become more productive, the Department of Agriculture Caraga turned-over a total of 37 hand tractors with implements to various farmers associations last April 15, 2015.

In a simple ceremony held at DA Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Station in Taguibo, Butuan City, DA 13 Acting Director Edna Mabeza appealed to the recipients to maintain the farm equipments and utilized it to the fullest.

“Among hangyo kung adunay mga madaut panahon sa inyong paggamit, pahibaw-a kami aron mapangitaan ug solusyon aron dili masayang.” (Our appeal is that if something goes wrong while using the equipment, just tell us so we can look for a solution so it won’t be in vain), Mabeza emphasized.

Of the 37 hand tractors being turned-over, 29 units were under on 85:15 counter parting schemes wherein 85 % of the amount was funded by the government while the remaining 15 % was shouldered by the farmers association or cooperatives while the other 8 units were on full grant.

Nineteen (19) units goes to various farmers association or cooperatives in Agusan del Sur, 9 units to Surigao del Sur, 4 units to Surigao del Norte, 2 units to Butuan City, 2 units to the Province of Dinagat Islands and 1 unit to Agusan del Norte respectively.

Benhur Torreda, chairman of the Sto. Thomas ARB and Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative of Loreto, Agusan del Sur said that they are grateful to the government through DA for providing the needs of the farmers. 

“Dako gyud ang among pasalamat kay mao ni ang among gidamgo nga among madawat” (We are grateful because this is what we are dreaming of), Torreda said.

Hand tractor is used for a faster and efficient preparation of the land before planting.

It was learned from Engr. Rene Morales, chief of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division that more farm equipments are due to be turned-over to farmers association or cooperatives in the coming days in support to farm mechanization program. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Info Section)

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DA Caraga Boosts Rice Farming through Farm Mechanization

Butuan City – To further boost the rice production in Caraga Region, the Department of Agriculture turned-over around 53 units of floating tillers to various farmers associations last February 20, 2015.

The turned-over ceremony was held at DA Research Station in Taguibo, Butuan City graced by DA Caraga Acting Director IV Edna Mabeza.

Of 53 units, 19 units were turned-over to farmers associations in Agusan del Sur particularly from municipalities of Loreto, Talacogon, San Francisco, Sta. Josefa, La Paz, San Luis, Trento and in Bayugan City; 9 units goes to Surigao del Norte particularly to municipalities of Gigaquit, Bacuag and Surigao City; 9 units goes to Butuan City; 7 units to Agusan del Norte particularly to municipalities of Kitcharao, Santiago, and RT Romualdez; 4 units to Surigao del Sur particularly municipalities of Marihatag, San Miguel and Barobo and 2 units to Province of Dinagat Islands.

Recipients of the remaining 3 units are yet to be finalized.

In her message, Director Mabeza said that the floating tillers are part of the implementation of the farm mechanization program for the year 2014 and urged the recipients to maximize the use of the said farm implements.

Floating tiller is an on-farm machine aids the farmers for an easier, faster and efficient land preparation.

Dionisio Ruperez, chairman of the CAGUIMACAN Irrigators Association of Capalayan, Surigao City said that their group is looking forward to use the said farm machine since it is a big help for their means of livelihood.

He said that using the floating tiller they will probably saved around 30-40% of the cost on one hectare lot during the land preparation than the traditional way of using the carabao.

“Siguro sir makatipid mi ug mga 30-40 porsiyento sa among galastuhan pag-andam sa among basak, maong mapasalamaton gyud mi sa DA” (We can probably save 30-40% of the cost during land preparation that is why we are so thankful to DA), Ruperez said.

After the turned-over ceremony, the recipients brought home their respective units of floating tiller with a smile looking forward for more successful rice farming. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA CARAGA)

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DA’s Municipal Food Terminal Marketing Hub for Farmers and Fisherfolks

Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel and Isabelita Ocampo of DA RFO 13

Tandag City – In an effort to bring producers closer to buyers and consumers, the Department of Agriculture Caraga launched another Municipal Food Terminal (MFT) in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur last January 30, 2015.

The said project is the second MFT launched in the area and is situated in Barangay Bongtud, Tandag City under the management of the recipient Tandag Boholano Fishermen Association (TANBOFISA).

TANBOFISA was formerly a barangay food terminal recipient with outstanding track record having won the Regional Search for Best Barangay Bagsakan in 2014 and ranked third in the national level.

Recognizing its role in the community, DA Caraga granted TANBOFISA an additional capital of P1M upgrading it into a municipal food terminal.

Lucita Solis, president of TANBOFISA said that the amount they received from DA will be used for the expansion of their business mainly on rice trading.

“Hangyo ko sa mga membro nga makighiusa aron ta molambo kay wala koy mahimo kung dili mo musuporta” (I am appealing to the members for unity so together we will make progress because I can do nothing without your support), Solis said.

Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel directed the City Agriculture Office to closely monitor the project to ensure its success.

“Aron masiguro nga hapsay ang operation, ang LGU magmonitor niini ilabi na ang financial nga aspeto” (To ensure smooth operation, LGU will monitor particularly the financial aspects), she said.

To ensure steady supply of farm products such as rice and rootcrops, the first MFT of Tandag under the Maitom Farmers Association inked a marketing agreement with TANBOFISA.

Under the agreement Maitom MFT will supply TANBOFISA of not less than 200 bags of rice  and other alternative food staples and vice versa TANBOFISA will supply to Maitom MFT the aqua marine products.

Maitom Farmers Association President Ricardo Fernandez said that both fisherfolks and farmers could directly benefit from the project since they now have sure market for their produce.

“Dako gayud ni nga bentaha kay ang tanang abot sa Maitom among paliton ug among isuply sa TANBOFISA, ang mga mangingisda pud sa Tandag mahalin pud ang ilang mga kuha, so sure gayud ang income sa mga mag-uuma ug mga mangingisda” (It is a great advantage since we will purchase farm products in Maitom to be supplied for TANBOFISA, while fisherfolks in Tandag, their catch will be purchased also, so both farmers and fishermen have sure market), Fernandez said.

To date, DA Caraga had launched a total of 57 Barangay Food Terminals and 9 Municipal Food Terminals strategically located across the region.

BFT is a community-based food depot and distribution system offering safe and quality agri-fishery products at low prices to the consumers through directly linking farmers and fisherfolks to the consumers. (Aurell P. Arais/DA Caraga)

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