DA Caraga Reaches out to LGU agri extension workers

DA RFO 13 Corn Coordinator Rebecca Atega answer queries from AEWs

To keep abreast on the latest developments on corn industry and to ensure proper coordination, the Department of Agriculture Caraga conducted a retooling for the local government units (LGU) based agricultural extension workers (AEWs) last February 29 - March 1, 2016 in Butuan City.

The retooling and technical briefing of the AEWs was spearheaded by the AgriPinoy Corn Program attended by extension workers designated to corn and cassava on their respective local government units as well as with municipal and provincial corn coordinators.

Considering the number of AEWs in the region, two batches of training will be conducted wherein the recent batch of participants were from municipalities in Agusan del Norte including Butuan City, Surigao del Norte, and the Province of Dinagat Islands while the second batch will be held in Surigao del Sur on the later part of the first quarter for participants coming from Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur. 

Aljurie Galos of Claver Surigao del Norte, a first time participant on the said training said that the activity was knowledge enhancing and very useful for the farmers in their area.

“As a young member of the corn program, I’ve learned a lot from this training especially the technical aspects such as the quality control and environmental management,” he said.

Field Operations Division Chief Rebecca Atega, who is also the corn and cassava program coordinator answered queries from the participants so as to attain common level of understanding among regional and LGU program implementers.

Proper coordination between DA and LGU are very crucial link in the delivery of services to the farmers to ensure that the target set for CY 2016 will be met by the end of the year.

The involvement of the local government units thru its AEWs plays a big role in the implementation of projects and programs for agricultural development in the region. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

=-###=-

DA-BUB Lowers Farm Expenses

Farmers can slash down their expenses by half during land preparation through farm mechanization.

This was proven true by farmers in Trento, Agusan del Sur who were beneficiaries of the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) pre and post harvest facilities.

In 2014, six farmer associations in Trento, Agusan del Sur became recipient of BUB’s pre and post harvest facilities such as thresher and floating tiller implemented by the Department of Agriculture and the local government unit of Trento.

“Before the farm implements from BUB arrived, I use to hire privately owned floating tiller including labor for a fee of P850.00. But with BUBs intervention, we only need to pay P444.00,” says Bernado Paña, a farmer and a member of TIBARAO Irrigators Association.

Meanwhile Ronnie Fancobila, chairperson of the TREKA Irrigators Association said that BUB’s pre and post harvest facilities is an answer to their needs.

“Considering the 120 members in our association, the existing farm machines in our community is not enough to accommodate the demand during land preparation but with additional unit from BUB it helps a lot,” Fancobila said.

Meanwhile, Trento Municipal Agriculture Office conducts regular monitoring to ensure the sustainability of BUB projects.

“We have regular monitoring with our agricultural extension workers to check the status of the equipment, I even require the associations to submit the lists of farmers being served by the equipment,” Municipal Agriculturist Norma dela Cruz said.

Seeing the potential of improving the lives of the farmers, farm mechanization is being pushed by the Department of Agriculture through its regular and special programs such as the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB).

BUB is one of the major reform initiatives of the Aquino administration and has been seen as a component of its budget reform thrusts that are aimed at making the national government budgeting process more responsive to local needs. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

=-###-=

DA’s Municipal Food Terminal Increases Purchasing Power

Residents in Brgy. San Roque, Bislig City are now enjoying stronger purchasing power in obtaining fresh farm produce and other household items.

This is due to the presence of the former Barangay Food Terminal now Municipal Food Terminal (MFT) serving in the said area.

Joint monitoring with Bislig City Agriculture and DA AMAD on MFT Bislig

MFT San Roque operated by San Roque Farmers and Displaced Workers Multipurpose Cooperative (SRFDWMPC) with its strong 106 members is a great advantage for the community.

Artemio Cuanan, MFT manager said that they offered fresh farm produce and almost complete household items at a lower cost than other contemporary stores.

“Diri sa MFT, ang among mark-up 6-8 percent lang kada item, so makabarato gyud ang mga residente dinhi” (Here in MFT our only mark-up ranges only from 6-8 percent per item, so residents could definitely save), Cuanan said.

Before the existence of the Municipal Food Terminal, residents would have to travel around 13 kilometers from their barangay to Mangagoy Public Terminal which costs them 40 pesos fare and spent half a day in buying their necessities.

However, with the establishment of MFT in San Roque, residents need not to travel to the public market to buy their daily needs because MFT can already cater their necessities thereby saving transport cost.

“Tungod kay dili na nila kinahanglan nga mobyahe pa maka-save sila sa galastuhan ug panahon nga igugol pagpamalit kay nia ra man sa duol and MFT, so mas mukusog ang ilang purchasing power” (Since there’s no need for them to travel, they will be able to save expenses on transportation and shorten the time of shopping since MFT is just near, thereby increasing their purchasing power), Cuanan added.

Based on record, MFT San Roque posted an estimated daily sales of P12,000.00 to P14,000.00 from agricultural products such as rice, spices, fruits, rootcrops, grocery items and other commodities.

Supported by its 106 members, its store operation starts as early as 5:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Sunday to ensure optimum services to its customers.

According to Cuanan success of the MFT San Roque is anchored on three factors: training, thriftiness and transparency.

“Trainings and seminars help a lot in our operation; it equipped us with the necessary skills while thriftiness led to savings. Transparency and full disclosure of our day to day operation builds confidence from our cooperative members”, Cuanan said.

One of the direct beneficiaries of the presence of MFT San Roque is a farmer from Sitio San Nicholas of the said barangay. Lydia Alvior said that aside from her farm produce, she consolidated other products from her neighbors to be delivered to the cooperative, thereby ensuring market for the local farmers like her.

“Dako gyud ang gikatabang kay mahalin man ang among mga abot sa uma unya makapalit sab mi ug mga galamiton sa panimalay” (It really helped us a lot since our farm produce will be sold out and in return we can buy our households needs), Lydia said.

The SRFDWMPC is a duly registered cooperative and supported by the City Cooperative Development Office which started in the year 2005.

Majority of the members of the cooperative were former employees of the defunct PICOP Resources Incorporated who are now venturing in various farming endeavors to sustain the daily needs of the family.

In 2008, the cooperative was designated by the Barangay Council of San Roque as the operator of the then Barangay Food Terminal through the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 13 thus BFT San Roque commenced its operation on June 2008.

DA Caraga provided various equipments such as chest freezer, upright chiller, digital weighing machine, cash register, plastic crates and a working capital of P30,000.00 aside from other support from Local Government Units of Bislig and Brgy. San Roque.

In 2013, BFT San Roque was upgraded to Municipal Food Terminal (MFT) and received P1 million grants from the Department of Agriculture intended for rice trading. To expand its operation and cater more customers, a food terminal outlet at San Roque Public Market was also established.

During the General Annual Assembly, all members of the cooperative received equal sharing of dividend based on their capital investment. Patronage refunds were also given to members who patronized its business through purchasing the items being sold in the cooperative.

Currently, MFT San Roque expanded its rice trading operation through the purchase of 6-wheeler truck for bulk delivery of rice to barangays in Bislig City. They are also planning to engage into copra and abaca buying business since the Province of Surigao del Sur is abundant with the said commodities.

With clear vision and active participation of its members, MFT San Roque is not far to becoming a landmark of excellence among cooperatives in Surigao del Sur. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

=-###=-

DA Caraga to Implement P1B PAMANA Projects

Residents in Bislig City now enjoys a PAMANA Funded FMR

True to its mission to effect development in the region, the Department of Agriculture Caraga is set to implement around P1,010.59 billion worth of farm to market roads and livelihood projects based on 2013-2015 fund allocation under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or PAMANA.

PAMANA FMRs will connect conflict affected areas in Caraga to the main road networks to spark development in those areas.

Some of the said FMRs are already completed while others are still on implementation stage, thus initially it gives employment opportunities as labor during the construction period.

Recently, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala turned-over around P225M worth of check for the implementation of Bangayan-Zapanta Valley FMR (Phase II) in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte, Rosario-Marfil Tagbina FMR (Phase II) in Rosario, Agusan del Sur and Road Opening and concreting from Janipaan to Andap Valley FMR in Surigao del Sur.

Likewise DA Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna turned-over three farm to market roads particularly the San Roque to Sito Mabog, Bislig City connecting boundary Bunawan FMR, 

concreting of Diatagon Km. 16 (Lianga) connecting Sitio Lagangan, Caras-an- Tago FMR and road opening and concreting of Brgy. Lubo, Cantilan-Brgy. Panikian, Carrascal FMR all in Surigao del Sur.

“Rural infrastructures will open economic activities within its service areas and could result to lasting peace and development”, De Luna said.

As per 2013-2015 plan, DA Caraga is targeting to implement around 19 farm to market roads amounting P991.39 M in conflict affected or vulnerable areas.

Nowadays, DA had implemented climate resilient farm to market roads so it could withstand severe climatic conditions and be useful for the longer period of time.

With road access from conflict affected areas to main road networks, transport of goods and services will improved that would hasten development.

Aside from FMR, DA-PAMANA also implemented livelihood projects ranging from high value crops production, abaca production and weaving, poultry raising, fruit tree-based integrated farming, muscovado sugar processing and other with total allocation of P19.2 million.

The implementation of the said projects signals the strong commitment of the Department of Agriculture to help improve the socio-economic conditions of the communities in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas.

DA Caraga Regional Director Edna Mabeza emphasized that aside from PAMANA, DA is also offering various services to its clientele through the banner programs and special projects.

Aside from agricultural development, opening up of road access can be of help to bring the government closer to the residents on far-flung areas by delivering various government services and programs. Beneficiaries of such projects include women and indigenous peoples (IPs). 

The Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, as embodied in the Philippines Development Plan for 2011 to 2016, was launched as the National Government’s framework for intervention in conflict-vulnerable areas to complement the peace negotiation efforts in line with its commitment to address the causes of conflict and issues affecting the peace process. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)

=-###=-