Vol. XXVI No.

A monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture

March 2011

DA Chief sees bright agri prospects

The country is on its way to attaining rice self-sufficiency and food security. Thus, was the optimistic declaration of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala during the agencys 2012 internal budget hearing and planning workshop, held March 1-4, 2011, at Clark, Pampanga. We expect a good summer harvest, and more importantly we are no longer the worlds biggest importer, he said during the workshop, attended by more than 100 DA family top officials. He said the country will be importing less than one million metric (MT) tons (or 860,000 MT) versus more than two million tons in 2010. He added palay production for the first semester may reach more than 7.6 million tons, as estimated by the DAs Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). The projected production is 15% more than last years harvest of 6.6 million tons for the same sixmonth period. The DA-BAS said the increase could be attributed to the expansion in harvest area by 9.6% (equivalent to 174,300 hectares) from the 1.82 million hectares in
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DA allots P50M for coffee sector

The Department of Agriculture will earmark an initial P50 million to support the countrys coffee sector and may double it depending on favorable investor response.
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Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo (3rd from right) appreciate coconut coir geo-textile nets woven by lady workers at Pontmain Resources Inc. (PRI), in Sta. Cruz, Davao City. The coco coir geo-nets, used extensively as erosion control material, have huge export potential, estimated at $225 million annually. Photo also shows Phil. Coconut Administrator Euclides Forbes (2nd from right) and PRI manager Paul Gaite (right).

Turn coco fiber, peat into gold

Coconut fiber and peat or dust could be turned into gold. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said processing coconut fiber and peat into geo-textiles and organic fertilizer or soil conditioner, respectively, could earn for the country millions of dollars in exports, and provide additional income and livelihood to hundreds of thousands of small coconut farmers and their families in the countryside. The DAs Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) estimates that the country produces some 12 billion coconuts annually. Collecting merely one-half or six billion coconut husks, and processing these into coco geotextiles and organic fertilizers, the country could generate at least $225 million annually, said Sec. Alcala during the recent 1st Coconut Coir Summit in Davao City. PCA Administrator Euclides G. Forbes revealed geo-textiles or cocomats serve as erosion control material that are laid on mountain slopes, river banks and dam embankments. Coconut fibers are also transformed into twine or yarn, while fine coco fibers are used in making beds or mattresses. Coconut peat or dust is used as organic fertilizer, soil conditioner, or animal beddings. For every kilo of coconut husk,
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Rep. Pacquiao asks rice-eating Filipinos:

Try corn, other staples

Proceso Alcala to make rice production more efficient. A film crew contracted by the DA went to Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza in Baguio City, where the boxer has been training for a match with American boxer Shane Mosley in May, to film Pacquiao endorsing the food project. Pacquiao, who represents Sarangani in the House of Representatives, said he has been eating corn since he was 7 years old. Corn is a staple in the Visayas and Mindanao, alongside rice. DA Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo said the government may need to increase the production of other crops to supplement rice as a staple food in order to meet food
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Phl to be declared FMD-free soon

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is optimistic that the Philippines will soon be declared as entirely free from the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) by the World Organization for Animal Health or Office International des Epizooties (OIE). With the declarationto be formalized in May during the 79th General Session of the World Assembly of OIE Delegates in Francethe country will gain a foothold in the global meat market, particularly exports of pork and poultry meat products, Sec. Alcala said. One opportunity is export of Philippine pork products to South
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Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is the new face of the Department of Agriculture. Specifically, his role is to convince rice-eating Filipinos to try other staples instead. The DA has embarked on a campaign to urge Filipinos to try other food, in light of a reform program being undertaken by Agriculture Secretary

Editorial
Maliit at malaki
Nakikita natin na nasa magkabilang dulo ang buhay dito sa atin. Halimbawa, ang mga mayayaman ay sobrang yaman. Kung mamili, kala mo pinupulot lang ang pera. Samantalang ang mahirap ay sobra rin sa hirap. Ganito rin ang naoobserbahan natin sa panahon. May mga araw na sobrang init, mayroon namang sobrang lamig. Ang pagiging nasa magkabilang dulo ng mga bagay-bagay ay kadalasang nakikita na magkasalungat. Pero iba ang nakikita natin ngayon dito sa agrikultura. Sa halip na magkasalungat, ang malaki at maliit ay nagtutulungan o complementary at nagbibigay ng positibong resulta. Una pa rin sa listahan ang pagkukumpuni ng irrigation facilities at pagtatatag ng post-harvest facilities. Ito ang nagbibigay ng long-term na benepisyo sa magsasaka. Kasabay nito, mayroon ding mga initiatives ang DA na masasabing maliliit na hakbang para matupad ang itinakdang mga layon. Kapansin-pasin na dito ang dami ng bigas na nakatakdang iangkat ngayong taon, na humigitkumulang ay 1/3 lang ng inangkat noong isang taon. Pinapalakas din ang pakikipagtulungan ng DA sa mga lokal na opisyal. Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa kanila para makahingi ng tulong gaya ng financial assistance sa mga farm inputs, na makakatulong para magkaroon ng third cropping. Isa pa ang pakikipagkasundo ng DA sa Social Welfare department, na kung saan bibilhin nito ang mga sobrang produkto sa mga trading post. Ipinagmamalaki din na mayroon na tayong 60 percent na accomplishment sa Mindanao Rural Development Program. Sa katunayan, kung maipapalabas ang hinihiling nila na panibagong pondo, matutuloy na ang Phase 3 ng MRDP. Ang masasabing malaking ipinag-iba ng pamamalakad ni Sec. Alcala ay ang mga pamamaraang kanyang ginagamit at ang paganticipate sa mga problema. Nakita natin ito nang naiwasan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gulay kahit pa umabot na sa nagyeyelong temperatura sa mga taniman ng gulay sa Benguet. Maagap na nakapagtanim ang mga taga Region 2 at Region 4, dahilan para mapunan ng demand sa Metro Manila at karatig-bayan nito. Bukod dito, ipinagpapatuloy din ang mga epektibong stratehiya na ginawa ng dating administrasyon. Halimbawa nito ang paglalagay at tuluy-tuloy na pagsasaayos ng mariculture parks. Malaking tulong din sa livestock industry ang inaasahang pagdeklara ng buong bansa bilang foot and mouth disease free, without vaccination. Malaking tulong ito sa hangad na pag-export ng produktong karne. Ang mga hakbang na ito at ang inaasahan pang mas maayos na pamamalakad, sa tulong na rin ng mga road maps, ang makapagsusulong pa sa agrikultura ng bansa. Natutukoy na ang direksyon at pati na ang mga konkretong mga programa, kayat asahan natin ang patuloy na pagtaas ng produksyon, kasabay ng pag-angat ng kita ng magsasaka. Ang maliliit na hakbang na ito ang simula sa pagkamit natin sa mga malalaking layon, para sa ikauunlad ng magsasaka at mangingisda.

Sec. Alcala (left) addresses top DA officials during their 2012 internal budget hearing and planning workshop in Pampanga. With him are DA undersecretaries Antonio Fleta (administration and finance) and Joel Rudinas (field operations).

DA chief sees ...

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2010, and increase in average palay harvest per hectare to 3.8 tons (roughly 76 cavans of 50 kilos each) from last years 3.6 tons. Sec. Alcala said palay production will further increase for the entire year, barring strong typhoons, with the completion of irrigation system repairs, establishment of more post harvest facilities, and construction of farmto-market roads particularly in Mindanao. He said these and other DA interventions in partnership with local government units and farmers groups will all contribute to propping up palay production to a target year-end volume of 17.46 million tons. During the workshop he also took the opportunity to issue initial marching orders to all DA officials, highlighting President Aquinos agriculture agenda this year and in 2012, and the AgriPinoy strategic framework that will serve as guide when crafting and implementing DA programs and services from 2011 to 2016.

The DA 2012 internal budget hearing and planning workshop was attended by all undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, and respective directors and heads of 16 regional offices, eight bureaus, 26 attached agencies and corporations, a dozen foreign-assisted programs and projects, DAOSEC services, and commodity banner programs. I urge everyone to strengthen Philippine agriculture via the Agri-Pinoy strategic framework, and prioritize major programs on food staples self-sufficiency, mariculture development, livestock expansion, genetic improvement, disease control, high-value crops development, and strategic trading posts/market linking, the DA chief said. Sama-sama nating baguhin ang kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan, at nang manumbalik ang kanilang tiwala sa pamahalaan (Together, lets improve the livelihood of our countrymen, so we can win back their trust), Sec. Alcala concluded.

is published monthly by the Department of Agriculture Information Service, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Tel. nos. 9288762 loc 2148, 2150, 2155, 2156 or 2184; 9204080 or tel/fax 9280588. This issue is available in PDF file. For copies, please send requests via email: da_afis@yahoo.com.

Editor-In-Chief : Noel O. Reyes Associate Editors: Karenina Salazar, Cheryl C. Suarez & Adam Borja Writers: Adora D. Rodriguez, Jo Anne Grace B. Pera, Arlhene S. Carro, Bethzaida Bustamante, Mc. Bien Saint Garcia, Jay Ilagan, Catherine Nanta Contributors: DA-RFU Info Officers, Public Info Officers and Staff of DA Bureaus, Attached Agencies & Corporations, Foreign-Assisted Projects Photographers: Jose Lucas, Alan Jay Jacalan, & Kathrino Resurreccion Lay-out Artist: Bethzaida Bustamante Printing & Circulation: Teresita Abejar & PCES Staff

DA-NFA launches I-Rice program

The Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Health (DOH) launched this month the I-Rice program that seeks to lessen, if not totally eliminate, malnutrition particularly iron-deficiency anemia, through the introduction of iron fortificant to rice, the countrys staple food. To be implemented nationwide through the National Food Authority (NFA) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the IRice program is also in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 8978 that calls for the mandatory fortification of staples such as rice, flour, cooking oil and refined sugar. The program is particularly focused on sectors mostly susceptible to iron-micronutrient deficiency like nursing mothers, pregnant women and young children. Findings of the National Nutrition Survey of 2008 showed that 19.5 percent of Filipinos, from infants six months old to the elderly over 60 years old, are suffering from anemia. It also showed that the prevalence of anemia is highest among infants - six months to less than a year old - at 55.7 percent followed by pregnant women at 42.5 percent. There was, however, a significant drop in the percentage of anemia prevalence among the citizenry from a high of 30.6 percent in the nutrition survey made in 1998, which the government wants to further reduce to 15.3 percent by the year 2015.

Senator okays more Sentros

Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan supports the establishment of trading posts similar to the Sentrong Pamilihan ng mga Produktong Agrikultural ng Quezon (SPPAQ) in Sariaya. He said wholesale markets like SPPAQ will enable farmers sell their products directly and thus earn bigger profit and income. W ith agri trading posts in place, farmers have regular venues to sell their products to institutional wholesale buyers, and thus earn steady income. Sena-

Sec. Alcala (left) and Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan (right), chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, share light moments while harvesting pole sitao (string beans) from the organic farm of Jun-Jun Perez (2nd from right), in Sariaya, Quezon. Perez harvests up to 400 kilos a day which he sells at nearby Sentrong Pamilihan ng Produktong Agrikultura ng Quezon. Last year, he grossed P300,000 per hectare. One interesting practice he employs is spraying the vines with cows milk to make them more luscious and produce longer and bigger string beans. Also shown is Director Abelardo Bragas of DA Region 4-A.

tor Pangilinan thus joined Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala in encouraging local officials and farmerss groups to develop more vegetable farms, and subsequently, wholesale markets and trading posts. SPPAQ has become a major vegetable trading center in Southern Luzon since it was built in 2006 by Sec. Alcala, when he was a still a Representative of the 2nd District of Quezon. The trading post recently put up a vegetable processing facility that produces noodles fortified with squash and malunggay, and

Fish cages to be put up in Marinduque

Secretary Proceso J. Alcala vowed to put up more fish cages in Marinduque as the Department of Agriculture eyes to establish mariculture parks to boost fishers income and provide ample fish supply in the province. vacuum-packed vegetables that will form part of the food relief basket distributed to disasteraffected families by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. We have to take advantage of the geographical setting that Marinduque is blessed with, Alcala said during his recent visit stressing the vast potential of the heart-shaped island which lies in between Tayabas Bay and Sibuyan Sea. We have to make sure that markets are filled with abundant fish products, so consumers will not buy from as far as Dalahican, he stressed To jumpstart the proj ect, Alcala immediately instructed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to fast-track the submission of the proposal for the mariculture park expansion in Angas. As mariculture is among DA priority programs, additional parks are being planned to address the long-term impact of declining productivity, generate employment and alleviate poverty in the countryside.

Cordillera chief executives are requesting President Benigno S. Aquino III through DA Sec. Proceso Alcala (5th from left, standing) to reduce the required LGU counterpart for infrastructure projects so they could undertake more farmto-market roads (FMRs), communal irrigation, and potable water systems, under the $66-million Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management (CHARM2) project. The project aims to benefit indigenous peoples, farmers and their families in 170 barangays in 37 towns of the six Cordillera provinces. Shown (seated, from left) are: Governors Leonard Mayaen (Mt. Province), Jocel Baac (Kalinga), Eugene Balitang (Ifugao), Nestor Fongwan (Benguet), Eustaquio Bersamin (Abra) and Elias Bulut Jr. (Apayao). Behind them (from left) are: CHARM2 project manager Cameron Odsey; Representatives Eleanor Bulut-Begtang (Apayao), Manuel Agyao (Kalinga), Maximo Dalog (Mt. Province), and Ronald Cosalan (Benguet); and DA-National Irrigation Administrator Antonio Nangel, DA Undersecretary Antonio Fleta, and DA-Cordillera Regional Executive Director Lucrecio Alviar.

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requirements. Araullo is national coordinator of the DAs rice program. Based on Araullos report, Alcala plans to increase rice sufficiency from 15.77 million metric tons (MT) produced in 2010 to 21.12 million MT by 2013.(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

March 2011

DA recommends giant gourami for aquaculture

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala urges fish farmers to venture into growing giant gourami scientifically known as Ospronemus gouramy as alternative or complementary to bangus, tilapia and catfish in inland water bodies such as in fishponds, rivers, lakes and even in dams and reservoirs. Alcala said that based on research findings of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), giant gourami can easily be grown and can thrive on a variety of organic food including kangkong, duckweed and small insects. Growing giant gourami will greatly benefit marginal fisherfolk as they need not buy the costly commercial feeds to grow their fish, Alcala added. BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr. said the agency had long been engaged in developing non-traditional fish species to broaden its aquaculture base in order to attain food security and provide more livelihood opportunities to fisherfolks. We have been continuously exploring means to reduce the production cost in growing fish by looking into species that could be grown organically and is less dependent on commercial feeds, Sarmiento said. He added that with the farming of giant gourami, the marginal fisherfolk would j ust need to grow kangkong and duckweeds in their pond dikes or nearby swampy areas. The giant gourami is a large freshwater fish native to parts of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. It comes in two varieties: albino and black. It is regarded as a highly esteemed table delicacy in many parts of Asia because of its superior taste and peculiar light-yellow colored flesh which is easy to digest. The fish can thrive well in fresh, brackish, and slow moving bodies of water. It is capable of breathing moist air, so that it can survive out of water for long periods of time. According to Dr. Adelaida Palma, chief of the Tanay inland station of BFAR, the albino giant gourami is highly adaptable to pond culture because of its omnivorous feeding habits preferring plants, insects, worms and vegetables such as fibrous plants like hydrilla, kangkong, cabbage and sweet potato. It could also be trained to eat commercial feeds. The giant gourami can attain 0.7- 1 kilo in an 8-month culture

A BFAR-technician shows a full-grown albino giant gourami breeder weighing some 2 kilograms at the BFAR station in Tanay, Rizal.

period. It can be polycultured with tilapia and other freshwater fishes. Field trials are currently in progress for its organic culture using indigenous feeds, Dr. Palma said. Gourami varieties are

currently propagated at the facilities of the BFAR National Freshwater Technology Center (NFFTC) at the Muoz, Nueva Ecija, and in National Inland Fisheries Technology Center (NIFTC) in Tanay, Rizal.

Rice and corn farmers go hi-tech with DA grain moisture meters

Slowly but surely, rice and corn farmers are starting to go hightech as the Grain Moisture Meter (GMM) that the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) has developed gains wider acceptance. DA-PhilMech Executive Director Ricardo Cachuela said the GMM can help rice farmers, traders and millers determine the moisture of grains accurately compared to the feel and grit method which is prone to errors. The GMM is a hand-held device which is small enough to transport and use on the field. It can instantly determine the moisture content of grains like palay, milled rice and corn accurately, and has a digital readout. There are Grain Moisture Meters that can be imported but these are very expensive compared to the unit developed by DA-PhilMech, Cachuela said. If more GMMs will be adopted by small farmers, it could help achieve the vision of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to achieve rice self sufficiency by 2013, since farmers will know how much time their grains need to dry and thus reduce postharvest losses, he added. The Grain Moisture Meter was commercialized by DAPhilMech starting in 1998, when the agency was still known as the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE). It was commercialized by DAPhilMech with Alexan Commercial, a local firm specializing in the development and distribution of electronic products to industries and consumers. Imported Grain Moisture Meters cost from $800 to $2,000 shipping costs and tariffs not included. The GMM developed by DA-PhilMech costs only P13,500.00.(PhilMech)

PhilRice farmers get crop loans

About 40 farmers in Bulacan and Aurora province received an initial P700,000 in crop loans from a micro-financing organization that lends to eligible location specific technology development (LSTD) proj ect sites of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). In a report to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, PhilRice announced the Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development, Inc. (APPEND), through its affiliate, Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI), initially released the crop loans in preparation for the planting season. APPEND is the countrys first non-government organization focusing on Christian development. ASKI, a microfinancing provider in Luzon, provides crop loans to eligible LSTD farmer-partners for a minimum of three years. Dr. Aurora M. Corales, the partnership initiator, said loans could still be extended until the farmers group is officially registered as an organization. Operations of ASKI are limited in Luzon. To reach other farmers, APPEND, its mother organization will set-up syndicated funds to assist farmers across the country, she said. Based on the agreement, farmers who participated in a season-long PalayCheck Field School and rice science and production training will be prioritized. Corales also said that APPEND and its partners will develop and facilitate market linkages for products of LSTD farmers through value-chain financing. Virgina P. Juan, APPEND president and CEO, hopes that the partnership will create more farming communities with good production, increased income, and profitable market.

PhilRice and ASKI started its partnership in 2005 when the micro-financing organization helped the women in Sta. Monica, Aliaga, Nueva Ecija earn additional income by producing and marketing ricebased food products. Secretary Alcala, during the recent Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 summit in Antipolo City, underlined the need for more farmers cooperatives and organizations that will both serve as program conduits and beneficiaries for the countrys agricultural programs. He also said the DA is embarking on a massive program through its Agricultural Training Institute, in partnership with local government units, to retrain farmers, fishers, including rural women and youth on both conventional and organic system of farming. The training also includes devolved agricultural and fishery extension workers and technicians.

Alcala urges tilapia farmers to try skip-feeding

The Department of Agricultures Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) encourages tilapia growers to try skip-feeding or feeding every other day in order to cut on the production costs in raising said fish. During these times of impending food crises and rising costs of consumer goods, we advise our fish growers to follow proper fish cage management practices so that they would be able to benefit more from their fish farming venture, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said. Alcala said that by skip-feeding, fish farmers would be able to cut by half the cost of feeds which would be beneficial not only to them but also to the consumers and the environment. The alternative feeding scheme of skip-feeding is one of important findings of the extensive studies conducted by the BFAR in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD) to determine best fish cage management practices in the countrys major lakes. BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, Jr., in his report to Alcala, said the research funded by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) supporting these practices was conducted in Lake Buhi, Lake Bato, Laguana de Bay and in Ambuklao Dam by the BFARs National Inland Fisheries Technology Center (NIFTC) in Tanay, Rizal. The study found that all excess food is just put to waste. It is not used up by the fish and accumulates only in the lakes bottom, later polluting the lakes waters, Sarmiento explained. Fish cage farmers normally use up to 60 percent of their production costs for the procurement of feeds alone. In addition to skip feeding, fish cage operators are also advised to use bigger fingerlings of uniform sizes. This strategy, he said, would reduce the number of days in growing fish. BFAR also cautioned fish farmers to refrain from overstocking their fish cages. Just like other living organisms, fish requires oxygen in order to grow, and overstocking not only prevents free movement, but also reduces the amount of available oxygen in the water, Sarmiento said.

Sec. Alcala (right photo, 2nd from left) assures Philippine Association of Meat Processors Incorporated Executive Director Francisco Buencamino (left) that the DA is now working on establishing more AAA slaughterhouses in FMD-free areas all over the country to improve local production of pork during an open forum at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) 81st Anniversary on March 8, 2011 held at the BAI Grounds, Quezon City. Alcala also signified his intention to strengthen public and private partnership in improving and promoting local quality meat products to provide Filipinos sufficient and safe food as well as be able to compete in the global market. Seated beside Alcala are (L-R): Australian Embassy First Secretary Carolyn Atkinson, BAI Director Efren Nuestro, and Agriculture Assistant Secretary Davinio Catbagan.

PCC showcases carabao-based enterprises

Carabao-based enterprises in rural areas were showcased by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in Nueva Ecija in connection with its 18th Anniversary celebration last March 21-25. Dairy farmers, as well as prospective entrepreneurs and other interested parties, have been invited to visit select individuals and cooperatives that have shown considerable success in raising dairy buffaloes and engaging in enterprises that provide them big income. There are now many farmers who have imbibed scientific ways of improving the breed of their dairy carabaos and improving the system of maximizing benefits from their carabaos, Dr. Libertado Cruz, PCC executive director said. He added that farmer-owners are now conversant in crossing and backcrossing their animals to attain quality breed. They achieve this with the help of PCC experts who show them how to do it. Cruz said farmers either submit their carabaos to artificial insemination (AI) using semen from quality dairy buffaloes produced by the PCCs national bull farm, or use superior bulls loaned by PCC. Private village-based AI technicians trained by PCC are also on hand to help farmers. We now have about a thousand village-based AI technicians positioned in many places in the country. They are known by the acronym VBAIT and the farmers are happy to pay a fee for helping them improve the breed of their carabaos, he added. Cruz said at least 2,000 more VBAITs will be trained by PCC to cover various places in the country. The PCC is mandated to conserve, propagate, and promote the Philippine carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk and hide. For reproduction, the PCC has developed biotechnologies such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, in vitro embryo production , and ovum pick-up, and technologies of semen sexing and cryopreservation. Also, many farmers are taught about increasing milk harvest, faster and more sanitary ways in milking carabaos and storing milk for marketing. Specific technologies include the use of milk replacers, flushing, use of a portable machine for milking, and use of a communal freezer. On March 25, PCC also launched the book Businessing the Carabao written by Dr. Anselmo Roque, a multiawarded agricultural journalist. Outstanding dairy farmers and dairy cooperatives, as well as VBAITs and employees of PCC were also honored.

Local duck breeders prodded: Go global

Duck breeders must be globally competitive by developing lines that produce more eggs and better quality red meat, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala. Alcala said it is time the Philippines took advantage of the fact that it is certified to be free of the avian influenza (AI) virus that had decimated large duck populations in China, Taiwan and Hongkong, the three big producers and traders of Peking ducks which are known to have more red meat than other species. The duck industry had 10.37 million birds in January 2010, and the total value of the industry two years earlier was placed by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) at P5.95 billion. Duck is actually next only to chicken as a source of egg and meat. Alcalas marching orders were issued when industry players met at the Department of Agriculture (DA) to discuss the influx of dressed Peking ducks from China, the United States and other countries. In the US, these ducks are known as Long Island ducks, and they comprise the biggest segment of the popular duck in that country. Despite the economic significance of the duck industry, the local duck species, known as Philippine mallard or itik, is grown not so much for its red meat but for its eggs that are sold as balut or penoy. Moreover, the Philippine mallard is typically small and free ranged unlike the Peking ducks. They can be kept in coops or allowed to roam and devour broken rice, corn grits and commercial feeds. Alcala is batting for a stronger presence of breeders in Pe(Pls turn to p8)

March 2011

Discovering tea in Zamboanga

By Adora Dolores Rodriguez
Call it serendipity. It was less than two decades ago when Leodegario Garcia stumbled across Ceylon Tea while attending a seminar at the City of Pines. Impressed by its delicate flavour and aromatic taste, he collected half a kilo of the marble-like tea seeds from the Bureau of Plant Industry at the Baguio Experiment Station, and took it home to La Paz, Zamboanga City. I thought since Baguio and La Paz have similarly cool weathers, the tea seeds would thrive and grow abundantly back home, Garcia said. He was right. Eighty-five percent of the seeds sprouted and blossomed after they were planted in potted plastic bags. Soon, seedlings for research purposes were abundant. With the help of a team of experts, Garcia conducted a study on the adaptability and other cultural practices related to the massive production of Ceylon Tea. Based on their research, Ceylon Tea could be propagated thru marcotting and can be produced on a massive scale. Garcia added that applying a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizer with high nitrogen content would induce leaf formation enabling the plant to produce more. Its also good to regularly trim it to allow the branches and leaves to multiply, he added. The study also shows that when planted at a distance of one meter along the contours of upland farmlands, the plants can prevent soil erosion. As such, Garcia recommended that a project on the massive production of Ceylon Tea be undertaken by the government with private entrepreneurs as partners. Sadly, our proposal was disapproved due to lack of funds, he said. Aside from this, there was also difficulty in the availability of planting materials, a good marketing scheme as well as processing machines. Call it luck. In 2003, organic agriculture advocate Dante Delima was giving a lecture at La Paz on organic fertilizer production and compost-making when he himself stumbled across Ceylon Tea. During that time, the tea trees were not utilized for its beverage purposes but as firewood and fuel source. Sadly, the tea was not used for its value, Delima commented. Seven years later, Delima, now director of the Department of Agricultures High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), is set to strengthen programs and maximize the use of Ceylon Tea trees. We are setting aside P725,000.00 in funds under the HVCDP to cover the establishment of Organic Tea Production and Commercialization Project, Delima said. The program will include the construction of model farms in two barangays with corresponding trainings on the rehabilitation, protection and management of existing tea trees as source of planting materials. Two New Multiplier Farms will also be established. DA is partnering with the Alternative Center for Organizational Reforms and Development, Inc. (ACORD) in the implementation of the program. We believe that ACORD is capable to establish the organic tea production and commercialization, Delima said. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is positive that the project will prosper with combined efforts from the national and local governments and non-government organizations. Once production picks up, DA is ready to assist and provide a viable marketing scheme that will benefit all stakeholders. Simula na po ng pagbabago, may taya ang pamahalaan kaya dapat ay may taya din ang farmers,

Why billions eat unhealthy riceand shouldnt

FILIPINOS HAVE been described as among the most polite and hospitable people on earth. And, in our numerous sojourns to this country over three decades, we can count on one hand the number of disagreements we have had. Then, on our last visit in 2010, we learned from organic farmers why the country would be better off with a large-scale shift from polished white rice to less processed brown rice. When we mentioned what we had learned from these organic farmers to a number of other Filipinos, the disagreements flew. First, let us explain the case for less processed brown rice. Typically, after farmers harvest their rice, it goes to a mill. There, it is cleaned and the husks are taken off the grains. At this point, it is referred to as brown rice, and it is full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and protein. Rice at this stage is quite healthy to eat. However, most people now prefer to eat white rice, which is what comes out of the process of milling and polishing the rice. Health problems come because of the polishing. Polishing rice into the sparkling white form that most people prefer has three major negative impacts on health. The first is, polishing removes most of the vitamins and minerals that are vital to health. In the World War II

Sec.Alcala (middle) listens intently to DAs High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) director Dante de Lima (left) on the benefits of Ceylon tea during a nursery visit in La Paz , Zamboanga City . DA is setting aside P725,000.00 in funds to cover the establishment of Organic Tea Production and Commercialization Project. Alcala is positive that the project will prosper with combined efforts from the national and local governments and nongovernment organizations. With them are (from right) DA-Region IX Director Oscar Parawan and Leodegario Garcia.
Alcala said urging farmers to extend full cooperation to the program. (This is the beginning of change, the government has placed its bet, and so must the farmers.) Call it fate. And so today, what started as a bag of half-kilo seeds is now over 3,000 seedlings that will place the town of La Paz in the Philippine map as the tea capital of the country.

Ariel Dolores, 38 of Faigal, Guimba, Nueva Ecija never saw himself as a farmer right after graduation with an agriculture degree from CLSU in 1992. He got himself employed as an executive in a Japanese firm based in Mindanao specializing in the production of dried fruits and vegetables. For eight years, Dolores was an assistant manager of the foreign firm until management squabbles forced him to quit the job. He turned to business, buying tons of bananas from the South and bringing it to Luzon. His business however turned sour after a year when his partner swindled him of his revolving capital.

Back to zero, Dolores decided to farm three hectares of rice in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Unlike ordinary rice farmers however, he decided to engage in rice seed production as this is more promising in terms of investment returns. Moreover, a Christian church he attends offered him to run and

Rice seed production is his forte

manage an additional 13 hectares of ricelands with 20 percent of the income allotted to him. The rice land

By Robin Broad, John Cavanagh prison camp in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, (where Johns grandfather was interned), Here is the bold, American prisoners suffered unadulterated fact: from beriberi until they conthe mainstay of vinced the Japanese prison most Filipinos guards to let them cook the diets is bran shavings that came off the polished polished rice; then the beriberi white rice, where went away. Why? Rice bran milling and polishing contains vitamin B and thiahave eliminated most mine, which are key to prevent- of the nutrients. ing beriberi. When we The second relates to diaberaised these tes, which is threatening to issues reach epidemic proportions in with the Philippines over the next couple of decades. The layers removed during the polishing of rice contain nutrients that guard against diabetes. Polished rice further contributes to diabetes risk because it causes bloodrice mills to the Philippines a sugar levels to rise more rapidly non-farmer friends across the century ago, Filipinos found than brown rice does. According Philippines, most were interto the New York Times, a 2010 ested but not convinced enough the taste of the new white rice strange, and it took a while to Harvard study showed that to shift to brown rice. Our people who consume white rice children find white rice easier to get used to it. Traders who exported rice demanded that it at least five times a week are digest, several told us. Or, almost 20 percent more likely to white rice tastes better. Or, it be shipped as polished white develop Type 2 diabetes than is hard to find unpolished brown rice, which further spread its consumption. those who eat it less than once rice. Some did point out And, then, over the decades, a month. Indeed, across the accurately that it takes longer the dominant culture defined Philippines, we found people to cook brown rice, which brown rice as dirty and fit shifting to brown rice at their requires more fuel. And, a few only for the poor, while white doctors suggestion because of mentioned the reality that rice was seen as sophisticoncerns about diabetes. brown rice sitting in a sack in cated and modern. Finally, polishing rice also your kitchen invites more The consumption of white reduces its protein content, insects, which are attracted to polished rice spread, even as which can mean the difference the same nutrients that make it denied people and their between being well-nourished or brown rice so healthy. malnourished. We dug back into the history children vital nutrients. A shift to unpolished rice The bottom line on all three of books and found that 150 years would enhance health across these health fronts is the same: ago, people across Asia ate the more polished the rice, the unpolished rice in great quanti- the board. And because each less healthy it is. ties. When Westerners brought grain contains up to 10 percent more calories than polished grains, people need week-long wangled a blueprint of the less of it to fill their stomachs. Ariel Dolores at his farm seminar in design from PhilMech and Indeed, by our calculations, seed producset up a flat bed dryer of his and drying facility (inset). with a switch to brown rice, tion to get his own for his seed production the Philippines can eliminate accreditation business. rice imports, which now number. Before Before firing the rice hull account for roughly one tenth hand, he fed furnace, Dolores allows of consumption. meticulously two hours of cold air to flow So, how about a big camplanned for the through his seed batch. This paign to shift consumption enterprise, ensures that the seeds are back to brown rice? People starting with not ruined. When the seed with diabetes are making the drying facilities batch is ready, he slowly switch. Rep. Manny Pacquiao, which he applies heat and maintains a how about taping some deemed as an temperature of 40 degrees for advertisements promoting the important 16 hours if rice seeds have health benefits of brown rice? investment in moisture content of more (Phil. Daily Inquirer) By Pete Samonte rice seed than 30 percent. production. He knows the number of (Robin Broad is a professor Even before bags of rice hull required to at the American University and abuts his own rice farm to flat bed dryers are to dry a batch of rice seeds. John Cavanagh co-chairs the his advantage. be adopted and While drying, he regularly New Economy Working Group He got serious in rice seed popularized for comchecks how many bags of at the Institute for Policy production. He attended a mercial use, he (Pls turn to p12)
Studies.)

March 2011

BFAR earmarks P3.5M for fish hatchery in Iloilo

The provincial government of Iloilo will receive P3.5 million (M) from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for the establishment of a multi-species fish hatchery. Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso T. Toledo said in a statement that the local government will provide P1.2-M as its counterpart fund for the project. A memorandum of agreement was signed early this month to this effect. The hatchery will be set up inside the Iloilo Provincial Integrated Jail compound in Brgy. Nanga, Pototan town. Toledo said a 1.5-hectare lot within the jail complex has been identified as project site. Iloilo Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr., who signed the agreement, said the project could serve as a model for other provinces in Western Visayas. We have lost a lot [from natural calamities and illegal fishing] but there is still hope. All we need is commitment to restore whatever we can, Defensor said. BFAR Regional Director Drusila Esther E. Bayate said the project aims to make Iloilo a regional center for the culture and propagation of catfish, tilapia and other freshwater fish species. Before the multi-species hatchery project was conceived, BFAR-Western Visayas and the Iloilo provincial government collaborated on growing iridescent shark (Pangasius hypophthalmus) a type of catfish inside the same jail complex. (Business World)

CALABARZON storm victims get foreign aid

Thousands of farmers from CALABARZON whose farms were affected by floods during typhoon Ondoy in 2009, received aid from international funding agencies; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) through the Department of Agriculture (DA). With its aim of offsetting damages brought about by flooding during typhoon Ondoy, the DA distributed agriculture and fisheries inputs to a total of 10,610 affected farmers and fishers from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Some 6,948 beneficiaries re

Agriculture Sec. Alcala (4th from left) hands over to Marinduque Gov. Carmencita Reyes a certificate of entitlement for a P2-million agricultural tramline to benefit vegetable farmers in the town of Buenavista. While in Marinduque, Sec. Alcala also inaugurated a barangay trading post at Landy, Sta. Cruz, dialogued with participants during a provincial agriculture strategic planning workshop, and visited a prospective site of a mariculture park at Barangay Angas, Sta. Cruz. Also shown (from left) are retired PNP chief General Recaredo Sarmiento II, president of Marinduque First Saturday Movers, Inc., DA Region 4B Director Antonio Gerundio, DA-PhilMech Engineer Don David Julian, Buenavista Mayor Russel Madrigal, and Marinduque Vice Gov. Antonio Uy.
ceived planting materials for high value crops, 2,022 for tilapia and milkfish fingerlings and seaweed cuttings, and 1,640 for small ruminants and hogs. The distribution started last year and will continue in various towns and cities in the CALABARZON Region. Apart from these,DA will also provide technical assistance to farmers through seminars and orientation about the said inputs.

DA-BSWM gives cassava granulator-shredder

Two cassava granulators cum shredder and vermi huts were turned over recently to Kasanyangan Foundation, Inc. (KFI) in Vitali, Zamboanga City and Dinas Community Integrated Cooperative (DCICO) through the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM). The machinery is a two-in-one facility that can granulate cassava fresh tubers and shred agricultural wastes for the production of substrates for vermi composting. A vermi hut with concrete beds was also provided to facilitate the production of compost to serve as organic fertilizer. The granulator costs P800,000 each while the vermi hut costs P20,000 each. The units were officially turnedover by Dr. Candido B. Damo, National Cassava Coordinator to Roger Ross in behalf of Atty. Ibarra Malonzo, the KFI Manager, and Nelson M. Nantes, the Manager of DCICO. According to Dr. Damo, the machine can granulate eight tons per hour of fresh cassava and shred various kinds of agricultural biomass for vermi composting. Present during the turnover were Teodulo Bersabe of BSW M- Manila, Edgardo B. Tabal, chief of the Agricultural Extension Program Division, Felizardo M. Salomes, Regional Corn Coordinator and Ahmad A. Nahul, Regional Focal Person for Cassava, from DA 9.

Local duck ... (from p5)

king duck market but regulations have come in the way following the AI contamination worldwide and compelled the implementation of restrictions on the transport of Peking ducks raised locally. Moreover, local breeders complained to the DA that the possibility of contamination by the dreaded virus is highly improbable since the birds they have been keeping did not originate from China, Hongkong or Taiwan. (Manila Bulletin)

Beneficiaries from Rizal province receive tilapia fingerlings during a ceremonial distribution on March 25, 2011 at the Ynares Gym, Antipolo City. The project led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) with aid from Food and Agriculture Authority (FAO) and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) aims to provide farmers and fishers from CALABARZON Region whose livelihood was affected by floods during the 2009 Ondoy typhoon. In the photo handling the fingerlings are: (L-R) Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III, AECID Coordinator Vicente Selles, FAO Representative Kazuyuki Tsurumi, and DA Undersecretary Joel Rudinas.

Sec. Alcalas travelogue for March 2011

PAMPANGA March 1--Budget preparation in Clark, Pampanga BACOLOD March 4 QUEZON PROVINCE March 5--W ith Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan; presented mechanics of the Sentrong Pamilihan ng Agrikultura ng Quezon; visited Earth Keepers Garden, Jun-Jun Perez Farm and Ugu Bigyans Potters Garden; visited the Earth Keepers Learning Farm where Sen. Pangilinan tried his first rice planting session. BATANGAS March 12--Keynoted the 41st Annual General Assembly of the LIMCOMA Multi-purpose Cooperative at De la Salle Sentrum, Lipa City, Batangas. He was welcomed by RFU-4A Exec. Dir. Abelardo Bragas , AGAP Party List Rep. Nicanor Briones, LIMCOMA Chairman Camilo Sapo, and LIMCOMA Pres. Joselito Lingao. Also turned over 100 heads of pigs to LIMCOMA members. MARINDUQUE March 14--Had breakfast meeting at Biglang-Awa Shrine, Balanacan Pier with the provincial officials headed by Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes; proceeded to the blessing and inauguration of Barangay Food Terminal in Barangay Landy, Santa Cruz; turned over technical assistance and gave P140,000 for the terminal with P80,000 counterpart from the LGU; pledged an additional P150,000 for the expansion of the facility and P75,000 for seed money; had an open forum with mayors and residents; turned over three sets of shallow tube wells, a tramline, UV film rainshelter, assorted vegetable seeds, and garden tools. He keynoted the Strategic Planning Workshop on Agriculture at the Provincial Training Center in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque and had a surprise visit to the Mariculture Park in Angas, Sta. Cruz and instructed BFAR to expand mariculture livelihood program. DIPOLOG - March 4--Keynoted Commencement Exercises in Dipolog TARLAC March 22--Delivered inspirational message at the LBPCLSU Technology Promotion Center and Farmers Field Day in Victoria, Tarlac DAVAO March 24--visited the 1,075-hectare Panabo City Mariculture Park, in Davao del Norte and launched the DA-BFAR Fish Cage Livelihood Project. Present were LGU officials headed by Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario;proceeded to Carmen Municipal Hall where he turned over (1) One Unit Hauling Truck worth P900,000. He also pledged 2 hand tractors and certified seeds and promised to return to further help the farmers with their farmland; visited the Multi-Species Hatchery and Soft Shelled Crab Production project in Bincungan, Tagum City; surprise visit to Mindanao Rural Development Project Office in Davao City; he keynoted the 11 th National Convention cum Seminar-Workshop of the League of Municipal Agricultural Officers, Municipal/city Agriculturists of the Philippines, Inc. (LEMMCAP) at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City with local government officials headed by Sorsogon 1 st Dist. Rep. Salvador Escudero III; visited multi-species hatchery and soft shelled crab production project at Bincungan, Tagum City CAMARINES SUR - March 26-- Keynoted Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSU) Commencement Exercises in Pili, Camarines Sur. DAVAO CITY March 30--Delivered opening remarks for over 800 participants of the 1st Coco Coir Summit in Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City. Also in attendance were DTI Sec. Gregory Domingo, PCA Administrator Euclides Forbes, and PHILCOIR Pres. Atty. Ariel Aguirre; visited and toured the 10 hectare lot Xylose Plant of the CJ Toyota Tsusho Philippines, Inc. in Darong, Sta. Cruz with CJ Toyota Tsusho Phils. Managing Dir. Son Dae Ho, Governor Douglas Pa. Cagas, and other government officials; visited the Pontmain Resources, Inc. in Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, a manufacturer of coco coir fiber and other coco products. Before Davao, he attended the conclusion of the Coco Coir Summit and received Summit resolutions from PHILCOIR Pres. Ariel Aguirre. March 31--MANILA-- Hosted the welcome dinner for the UN mission to the Philippines with members of the Executive Boards of UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNICEF, UN WOMEN & WFP at the Marble Hall, National Museum in Manila and presented a video presentation of the DA corporate profile and the DA-DAR-DENR convergence initiative.

Care for McNester dried mangoes, catsup?

Starting in 2003 with a measly capital of P700 that initially churned out calamansi j uice concentrate, now eight years later McNester Food Products in Guimaras, Iloilo has grown more Rebecca Tubongbanua proudly shows off than 500-fold, dicalamansi juice concentrate and mango catsup, versifying into the ingredients of her sweet success in business. more than a dozen novel processed food prodAsked why she choose a foructs bannered by dried mangoes, eign-sounding trade name, she and more recently, mango cat- replied:I simply named it after sup. our sons Mac-Mac and Nester. With the assistance of various Conquering the more lucrative government agencies including Metro Manila supermarkets and the Department of Agriculture, the later on the global arena may not foreign-sounding company has be a tall order after all, as transformed literally into an en- McNester can very well qualify terprise of sweet success, now and compete quality and considered as one of the islands taste-wise, and interestingly leading fruit processing ventures. name-wise. Proprietor-owner cum chemist Rebecca Tubongbanua recounts: DA info group meets to I started with calamansi concen- herald SPJAs thrusts trate as my first product, but I had To synchronize all information to expand the business to make campaigns and advocacies of room for the processing of vari- the agriculture department, parous mango products. ticularly the policies and program Perhaps, it was the demand, thrusts of Secretary Proceso J. or maybe it was her desire to help Alcala, the agencys regional inmango producers sell their har- formation officers and the DAvests. But what started from OSEC information service team st bottled citrus beverages has convened for their 2011 1 quargrown into a company with over ter consultative meeting, in Iloilo, March 28-30, 2011. 20 product lines, led by dried and The consultation served as a processed mangoes. venue for the DA info team to disWhen I started this project, I cuss and share the latest upjust worked in an abandoned dates on the various programs house, she narrates. pursued under the Agri-Pinoy Luckily, her hard work paid off. strategic framework, covering With everyone lending a hand, major sectors that include rice, I was able to buy better equip- corn, high value crops, fisheries, ment and upgrade my small fac- livestock, information technology, and foreign trade agreetory, she adds. Exposed to a variety of jobs ments and policies, among other topics. and the worlds inevitable difficulDA Region 6, under the leadties, Tubongbanua may be con- ership of Director Larry sidered a survivor and a good hit- Nacionales, graciously hosted ter, as she has batted away the three-day event, which was whatever curve ball life has spiced by a tour of various agriculture and fishery institutions, thrown at her. Her fruit processing business and agribusiness enterprises is set to conquer local and inter- starting off with the DA-BPI Nanational markets with its unique tional Mango Research and Development Center in Guimaras concoctions and mixes. (hosted by Center Chief Yondre Today, McNesters product line Yonder), tour of mangrove reincludes dried mangoes, mango planting projects along the coast puree, mango catsup, and of Buenavista, and a visit to the mango j am. Mango-achara, facilities of McNester Food Prodmango calamansi concentrate, ucts. The group also visited the famango chutney and polvoron with mango bits also occupy shelves cilities of the Southeast Asian at the companys showroom. Fisheries Development Center She still maintains her pioneer- Aquaculture Department in ing calamansi juice concentrate. Tigbauan, hosted by Dr. Joebert Toledo.

March 2011

Turn coco fiber ... (from p1)

30% or 300 grams of fiber or coir can be extracted, and the rest is coco peat or dust, Administrator Forbes added. Secretary Alcala said the Department of Agriculture is spearheading the initiative through the PCA and Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) per instructions of President Benigno S. Aquino III to strongly support, promote, and develop the coco coir and peat industries to achieve its optimum production and export potentials. The DA will develop the fledgling coco fiber and peat industry in partnership with the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Public W orks and Highways (DPWH), and Science and Technology (DOST), in cooperation with small coconut farmers cooperatives and federations, and the private sector, like the Philippine Coco Coir Exporters Association, Inc. (PhilCoir), and the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF). On exports, China remains one big untapped export market, Sec. Alcala said. Other potential buyers of geo-textiles and coco peat organic fertilizers and soil conditioners are Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, and the USA. He noted that China alone imports 200,000 tons of coco fiber annually, driven by its increasing demand for mattresses. This demand has prompted the setting up of over 50 coir production workshops in the country, which are not enough, Alcala added. In China, to date we only seize merely 0.05% of its coco fiber imports. The room for further growth is therefore immense, the DA chief said. The PCA said last year the country exported less than 5,000 metric tons (MT) of coconut coir worth roughly $6.5 million. Sri Lanka is the leading exporter, at more than 150,000 MT. For his part, DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo said government aims to increase exports of coco geo textiles to at least $6.5 million by 2016. At the conclusion of the summit, leading stakeholders signed a statement of commitment to develop the countrys fledgling coconut fiber and peat industry. The signatories include Secretaries Alcala and Domingo, and representatives of other government agencies like the DPWH, DOST, PCA, FIDA, Coconut Industry De-

Shooting Rep. Pacquiao

manager Michael Kontz. The scheduled 8 oclock meeting was reset to 2:00 p.m., and by the door of his room talking then again at 5:00 p.m., at 8:00 p.m., hurriedly to members of his staff and finally at 10:00 p.m. when and training crew. It was almost 1 Manny was supposedly ready to oclock in the morning, and Manny retire for that day. Pacman Pacquiao, the legendIt was past 10 oclock when we ary Filipino boxing hero was still frantically pulled some more up and about in his three-door strings in a final attempt to corner suite at the fourth floor of Manny Pacquiao. That time, a Cooyeesan Mall and Hotel in small group of men were lingering Baguio City. at the mall lobby, and the unmisDespite its modest offerings, takable sturdy profile of Buboy Shape Up Gym and the malls ho- Fernandez was easily recogniztel facilities had been home to able in the crowd. Pacquiaos high altitude training Buboy was dubbed to be in the Philippines that proved es- Mannys best-kept secret weapon sential to his two latest victories because his friendship with Manny against Joshua Clottey and Anto- went back to their childhood days, nio Margarito. their common struggles against Around 24 hours ago, and poverty their fraternal bond even in some 250 kilometers away, a tele- victory. vision crew and representatives W e patiently explained the situof the Department of Agriculture ation to Buboy, who finally agreed central office left Manila after mid- to vouch for us. night on March 20, 2011. Anticipating that Manny would be Their mission was to take foot- tired and sleepy, we were intent in ages of the boxing champ to com- shooting the video clip in less than plete an advertisement where he ten minutes. Eventually, an exaswould endorse the Departments perated Michael Kontz gave us five food security goals, specifically to minutes with our boxing champ. boost white corn consumption Contrary to our earlier notion, among Filipinos. Manny was wide awake and quite The groundwork for the photo bubbly when he came out of his and video shoot was coordinated room to greet us along with condiearlier through the auspices of the tioning coach Alex Ariza. After introDA and the office of Sarangani ductions were made, he was kept Congressman Pacquiao. aside by Direk Robbie Castro IV But it turned out that coordinat- and producer Leng Mercado and ing with Manny the Congressman told him about the script and his was a breeze compared to set- role in it: He would endorse white ting up a pictorial with Manny the corn as an alternative or additive to Boxer, thanks to Pacmans PR rice and promote corn consump striped yellow and shirt F a blue denim pants,whitestood and he inally, he was there...Sporting

Manny Pacquiao training in Baguio City

tion by actually eating white corn grits with rice and whole corn kernels on a cob. Uy, kakain tayo ng mais he excitedly said. He was given corn on a cob and recited his line: Para sa malakas at malusog na Pinoy, mag-mais tayo. There were a few takes for the shoot, and all the while he was nibbling at his corn on a cob. He was also given a plate of rice with white corn grits, which he gamely chewed for the camera. After the shooting, he also posed for pictorials and signed autographs with each of the coverage crew. W hile doing this, he narrated that he had been eating plain corn until he was eight years old. He barely knew of rice at that time, and he thought it should be eaten without viands. Manny Pacquiao believes in the Department of Agricultures thrust of promoting corn consumption to achieve food security in the country. Aside from its obvious role in reducing poverty, he said corn provides a balanced diet especially for athletes like him. How he wished, he said, that corn would be re-established as staple food not only in Visayas and Mindanao, but all over the country. The taping and autograph session took about an hour. It bolstered our earlier belief that if we were only allowed to spend a minute with the Peoples Champ himself, he would not let us go until weve had him to our hearts content. And this proved true the following morning when we showed up for his road run through the hills along Marcos Highway in the boundaries of Baguio and Benguet. He gamely joked with us, posed for us, and treated us like we were long-time friends. He was a real champ, and wed gladly take another opportunity to shoot Manny Pacquiao all over again.

Sec. Alcala (left) and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith (right) discuss market opportunities available for both countries during the latters courtesy call at the DA office recently. Aside from Guimaras and Davao del Sur, Smith said that Australia is keen on procuring mangoes from other provinces in the Philippines on the condition that it meets the biosecurity policies Australia have set.
velopment Fund, and PhilCoir. We are highly appreciative of the recognition by the government of the importance and potential significance of the coco coir industry, and we are committed to working with the government in developing our industry, PhilCoir said in a position paper presented during the summit. The position paper also put forward pressing and strategic concerns for the coconut industry, alongside recommended solutions and courses of action.

10

DA allots ... (from p1)

This was the commitment of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala at the 1st Philippine Coffee Investors Forum, held March 9, in Makati City. He said the P50M that will be drawn from the DAs High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) is what the government can offer in the meantime. Once we see investors willing to partner with farmers to help them help themselves, we can always double our funds for the coffee industry, he added. He lamented that the country imports about P2-billion worth of coffee every year. W ith investor support, said amount could be better spent on farmers who could be encouraged to produce local coffee varieties and boost the domestic economy. The investors forum was attended by about 100 participants, with about one-fourth representing 25 investor groups. Also present were officials of Nestle Philippines, the countrys biggest coffee buyer and manufacturer; Banco De Oro Unibank Inc. and the Land Bank of the Philippines. Other DA officials, coffee farmers and entrepreneurs also participated in the one-day forum. Government interventions HVCDP national coordinator and assistant director of the Bureau of Plant Industry Dante Delima said the P50-M initial fund is earmarked for 10 priority regions, where the DA targets to provide farmers over 1 million coffee planting materials in priority provinces. Delima said 70 percent of Philippine coffee is Robusta variety. Other varieties are arabica, liberica, and excelsa. He said the DA will also provide small farm equipment and machinery like 232 sprayers, 20 screen houses, 18 nurseries, and a planting materials laboratory; rehabilitate five screen houses, and five nurseries; establish seven organic or biological fertilizer plants, rehabilitate seven others; put up two bio-control agent plants, and organic fertilizer composting plants; distribute soil analysis instruments, consisting of 409 PH meters and 4 multi-meters; and fund three coffee production-related research activities. On irrigation, the DA will establish 10 small farm reservoirs, and provide 46,460 meters of high

Phl to be ...
(from p1)
Korea, where there is a currently an FMD outbreak. Koreas pork production is expected to decline by 760,000 metric tons or one-third of the previous total estimates of 2011. Sec. Alcala hopes to capture a segment of the South Sec. Alcala (inset) announces the entire Philippines will soon be declared FMDKorean pork marfree by the OIE during the 41st general assembly and election of officers of the ket until it recovers Lipa City Multi-Purpose Coop. Marketing Assn. (LIMCOMA), in Batangas. from the FMD outbreak. He expressed such optimism He commended LIMCOMA He said the DA will strongly during the 41st general assembly members, mostly farmers and support farmers, livestock and and election of officers of the Lipa hog raisers, for their strong spirit poultry raisers, fishers, fruit and City Multi-Purpose Cooperative of cooperativism, which is worth vegetable dealers who will folMarketing Association emulating by other farmers, live- low the footsteps of LIMCOMA. (LIMCOMA), Batangas, March stock raisers and ruralfolk all over One of the biggest, success12, 2011. the country. ful cooperatives in the country, LIMCOMA is now engaged in several food supply chain enterdensity polyethylene pipes, 328 bilitation of existing areas. They prises, from corn production, plastic water drums, and five al- are also ready to finance irrigaternative irrigation systems that tion systems if needed. Borrow- feed milling, swine raising, integrate hydro and solar tech- ers are also allotted a grace pe- slaughterhouse operation, pork nology. riod to repay the loan until processing, and meat shop and market operation. On infrastructure and cashflow is generated. postharvest development serIt prides itself with the first fully On our part, BDOs support vices, Delima said the DA will proautomated or computerized vide 29 coffee processing equip- to agriculture and fisheries is now feedmill in Southeast Asia imment, 7 postharvest and storage slowly picking up. Our bank is equipment, 7 household and 5 vil- open to individual borrowers pro- ported from the Netherlands. It has also invested in a 97lage level processing facilities, vided they can comply with all the and funds for postharvest related requirements of the bank which foot twin silo facility that can research activities. are needed to secure their abil- store up to 3,000 tons of corn, ity to repay the loan, explained and a pelleting machine that can Expansion areas Rhoda Orsolino, Senior Vice produce up to 20 tons of pellet For his part, Marriz B. Agbon, President. feeds per hour. president of DAs Philippine AgriSuccessful coffee entrepreIn 2010, the cooperative cultural Development and Comneurs also shared their experi- earned a total of P23.7 million mercial Corporation (PADCC) said the DA eyes expansion ar- ences. One of them is Noel S. from its various enterprises. eas in the provinces of Isabela, Gonzales, chairman and CEO of For their efforts, the DA furBohol, Leyte, Bicol, Cebu, Corporate Holdings Management, ther boosted the cooperatives Negros, Bukidnon, Misamis Ori- Inc. (CHMI), which diversified into swine breeding and raising opental, Bulacan, and Davao Del coffee production. erations by sharing several head Sur. Our plan is to cover 4,000 He added areas identified by the hectares in a five-year period of breeder boars and 100 pigDENR as potential coffee planta- through the help of the govern- lets. Sec. Alcala enjoined the cotions include Bulacan, with about ment and banking sector and in operative to further improve its 67,000 hectares; Bataan with 19,000 hectares; and Davao with partnership with Nestle as buyer. slaughterhouse and meat shop At present, we were able to plant operations to produce more 28,000 hectares. Together, the potential of de- 333 coffee trees covering 200 quality and affordable pork prodveloping at least 15 to 20 percent hectares in Alcoy, Cebu within ucts for consumers in Batangas, of target areas will be able to cover only five months and now we are nearby provinces and Metro Mathe 2010 coffee import figures, preparing 300 hectares more for nila. which is in the vicinity of 26,600 planting. W e are also eyeing Finally, he thanked the metric tons, Agbon said. Antipolo and San Mateo as new LIMCOMA officers and memPeter Noszek, chief finance sites for coffee production, said bers for providing him the opporofficer of Nestle Philippines, said Gonzales. tunity to touch-base with them, they buy about 80 percent of the For his part, CHMI president reassuring them that through opportunities, he said. Simeon L. Kintanar said they good and transparent goverPublic-private partnership to envision making Cebu as the cof- nance, the DA will regain the intensify local coffee industry fee corridor in Central Visayas. publics trust and confidence, in Land Bank and BDO officials (with reports from Adam Borja, An- compliance with President siad they are prepared to fund new gelica Barlis and Miko Jazmine J. Aquinos directives to the department. coffee plantations and the reha- Mojica)

March 2011

11

Phl sends free bananas to Japanese tsunami victims

The Philippines intends to send food to Japan, starting with a shipment of bananas and plantains, to help feed the hundreds of thousands of victims of the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeastern part of the country. We are trying to send some containers of bananas to help with their food needs, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said. The magnitude 9 earthquake spawned a destructive tsunami that all but wiped out towns along the northeastern coast of Japans Honshu island. The temblor and tidal waves also damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, raising fears of a nuclear meltdown as authorities furiously try to contain the disaster. Alacala said the Department of Agriculture plans to start by sending bananas since this is one of the top commodities that the Philippines exports to Japan. A total of 95 percent of the bananas consumed in Japan Let us not raise prices, lets come from the Philippines, he keep it at the proper level, he noted. said. He also noted that the He said the DA would send the lakatan variety along with damaged areas in Japan were saba, a species of plantain that may be cooked as a staple. Later, the DA may also send pineapples, he added in an interview. Alcala said the plan to send fruits had the blessings of the President. We have coordinated and have sought the permission of the President, and he said that it is only right that we show our solidarity with them, since they are among the best importers of our bananas, he said. He said Japan imports more food from the Philippines than it exports to the country. Alcala also said the Philippines could be expected to export more food to Japan now, but called on exporters not to take advantage of the quake-hit country. damaged on March 11 will be recalled. We would like to give the public the assurance that any chocolate- milk products from the prefectures that were shipped after March 11 will not be allowed to enter the Philippines, he said. Earlier, the United States Food and Drug Administration stopped the importation of milk, vegetables and fruits from the predevoted to agriculture, and the Philippines should try to help by producing the kind of crops that have been badly affected. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Sec. Alcala (left) and Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario appreciate a lobster raised at the 1, 075-hectare Panabo City Mariculture Park, in Davao del Norte, a joint project of the DA-BFAR, Panabo City and fishfarmers groups. The park has initially developed 80 hectares for culturing lobsters, bangus, siganids groupers, red snappers, seahorses and seaweeds.
fectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it will conduct random sampling of mackerel from Japan to determine whether these contain abnormal radioactivity. Bureau Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento disclosed the Philippines imported 4,000 tons of mackerel for processing from Japan. The government noted that Japan is not a primary source of meat products and other major food products. It said Japan exports mostly manufactured goods to the Philippines such as noodles and tea. Earlier, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the Food and Drugs Administration declared they would test soy products, milk and noodles that entered the Philippines after nuclear reactors in the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant were damaged by the earthquake and the tsunami. Some food products sampled at sites both within the Fukushima prefecture and in adjacent areas have been contaminated by radioactive materials, a joint statement of the Food and Agriculture Association and the World Health Organization said. (Business Mirror)

... Bans Japanese meat, dairy products

The Philippines will temporarily ban the entry of chocolate-milk products and meat products from areas in Japan where radioactivity contamination was detected, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said. We will no longer be issuing veterinary quarantine clearances for chocolate-milk product and meat products coming from affected prefectures in Japan, said BAI Director Efren Nuestro. Nuestro also disclosed that chocolate-milk products shipped to the Philippines from prefectures in Japan that are within the vicinity of the nuclear reactors

Rice seed production is ...

rice hull was fed to the furnace. He consumes 36 bags of rice hull per seed batch scoring a 98 percent germination for his seeds. As an accredited seed producer, he regularly plants some eight to ten varieties of foundation seeds as required by PhilRice. At times, Dolores wants to plant just a single variety of seeds that he thinks will sell like hotcakes, but he sticks to the rules of accreditation nonetheless. His sales averages 1,400 bags of registered seeds per season, which he sells at Php 1,200 per 40-kg.bag or about Php 1.6 million per cropping season! He has four outlets in the nearby town of Munoz. He never resorts to outsourcing of seeds when his stocks are

and involving 750 farmer beneficiaries. They have exhausted. under their care the mainteTwo years ago, barangay nance of some 9 kilometers Faigal became the direct of irrigation canal laterals beneficiary of irrigation water and sublaterals that lead to their area. The irrigators coming from the Casecnan Irrigation project of the National association, covering 11 barangays in three municiIrrigation Administration. The palities, was adjudged as project opened some 13,000 second best association in hectares of rice land in the the entire country with a 100 towns of Munoz, Talugtog and percent collection in irrigaGuinba, all in Nueva Ecija. tion fees. Dolores admits that before For two successive the irrigation service was seasons, the irrigators opened in his area, he usually association earned P1.6 consumes some 36 drums of million during the dry season diesel fuel for his Shallow Tube and another P800,000 for Wells to irrigate his 16-ha. rice the wet season. The assofarm. ciation uses the amount for At one point, he bought the regular cleaning of diesel for Php 50 per liter, canals that service their translating to a production area. expense of Php 360,000 in a As a farmer and a rice single cropping season! seed producer, Dolores has He was also elected treasurer no regrets whatsoever about of the Irrigators association that fate that brought him back to the farm. covers some 1,231 hectares

(from p6)