TUKLASIN NATIN

The Department of Agriculture through its Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (DA-PCIC) will expedite the release of P334 million to Luzon farmers whose crops were damaged by typhoons ‘Pedring’ and ‘Quiel’ last week.

The amount is the biggest payout the agency has made to date.

In a report to Sec. Alcala, PCIC President Jovy C. Bernabe said the magnitude of the indemnity owes not only to the severity of the twin calamities, but also to the expansion of PCIC’s insurance coverage among farmers during the last 12 months. 

Bernabe said they will also reactivate their adjusters in the private sector to help PCIC cope with the huge task of verifying the crop insurance claims of farmers.

Fast-tracking the indemnity payments will enable particularly rice and corn farmers to recover their losses and re-plant again, Bernabe said.

Jovy C. Bernabe reported that the combined damage of excessive rain and strong wind to insured crop and non-crop agricultural assets reached.

Bernabe said their preliminary assessment showed about P333.93-million worth of crops, mostly palay, were insured in 30 provinces covering the entire Luzon. The affected farmers who were able to insure their crops totaled 26,794, with a combined farm area of 40,138 hectares.

He assured farmers that the PCIC will process and pay their crop insurance claims in a speedy and efficient manner. Norman R. Cajucom, Acting Senior Vice President, PHILIPPINE CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION (PCIC)

The Department of Agriculture will implement an initial set of interventions to help farm families recover from crop damage due to typhoon ‘Pedring.’

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, in a memorandum to President Benigno S. Aquino III, said the DA through the National Food Authority (NFA) will buy storm-damaged palay to provide farmers enough money for their subsistence.

The DA will also assist them to replant as soon as possible by providing them free certified seeds from the DA seed buffer stock.

Likewise, the DA will implement a ‘Quick-Turn-Around’ (QTA) palay production program to recover the losses due to typhoons.

Sec. Alcala said the DA will link up with agribusiness enterprises, particularly fertilizer and seed companies, to encourage them to implement a plant-now, pay-later scheme, coupled with a rice marketing tie-up with the NFA.

The DA will also implement a credit program through cooperative rural banks (CRBs) in typhoon-affected provinces to provide farmers crop production loans. The DA through the Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC) has initially allotted P400 million for said credit program.

Sec. Alcala said palay damage estimate as of October 4, 2011 has reached 760,207 metric tons (MT), which represents 7.7% of the 2nd semester projected harvest of 9.88 million MT.

Despite the damage, Sec. Alcala said in his memo to President Aquino there is no need to import additional rice for 2011.

He said the DA has created an inter-agency task force to assess and validate the actual damage, particularly on palay, corn and high value crops.

He said this effort will complement the ongoing October 2011 palay production survey, which is conducted every quarter by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

The survey results will include the final estimate of the 3rd quarter palay production, the projected 4th quarter palay production based on standing crop, and projected 2012 1st quarter production based on farmers’ planting intentions. DA Information Service

The Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) has stepped up a food safety and healthy food program with heightened budget for their research and development which will be the focus of this year’s National Research Symposium (NRS).

With food poisoning cases and outbreaks of food borne and nutrient deficiency-related illnesses coming up unexpectedly from time to time, DA-BAR has pushed for more research and development (R&D) works with increased concentration on food safety and healthy food. 

“Food safety policies must be supported and sustained by comprehensive access to recent, accurate, and scientific information.  Food safety and health-related researches should be continuously undertaken which will aid us in a timely and informed decision in our food production programs,” said BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.  

BAR’s R&D program, which for this year’s NRS has an emphasis on “Harnessing Research for Safe and Healthy Food and Agri-Fishery Products,” has proven to be successful with an 80 percent increase in R&D papers filed this year.  This involves 126 papers filed from the previous year’s only 70.   

Outstanding papers, finalists in the R&D NRS contest, will be presented at the NRS on October 10 and 11, 2011  at BAR Building in Elliptical Circle, Quezon City.

Cash prize for winning R&D papers was doubled by 100 percent to P100,000 for the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Act (AFMA) Best R&D Award from P50,000 previously.  The former prize of P35,000 for the first runner up is now raised to P75,000 while the second runner up will receive P50,000 from P25,000 last year.

An intensive promotion of BAR on the importance of R&D contributed to an increase in papers presented.  More DA-attached agencies have also been engaging in R&D works as DA Sec. Proceso J. Alcala has supported the development of new farming technologies, according to BAR Applied Communication Chief Julia A. Lapitan. 

“State universities and colleges used to have a predominance in our NRS R&D program.  Now DA agencies have come up with outstanding researches.  We need good research even in estimating our food production particularly for rice so that we can assure food security for our people,” Lapitan said.

DA has supported agricultural enterprises’ adoption of globally-recognized food certification systems like the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).  This will guarantee food safety of Philippine products.  On top of that, good food safety practices will raise Philippines’ agricultural export revenue since discriminating markets like the US, Japan, and Europe requires stringent food production processes. 

Safe food preparation practices are being continuously intensified in Europe even as a serious outbreak of an illness caused by a novel strain of  E. coli just occurred in Germany in the first half the year.  As of July 2011, this food-borne illness’s outbreak in Germany involved a reported 3,785 cases and 45 deaths.

On the production of healthful products, BAR has also pursued R&D on the expansion of herbals and essential oils after considering their unique potential arising from a global health and wellness craze.

“Plants have healing and beautifying elements.  These contain natural colors, inherent preservatives, oils and exudates (fluid with healing effects on inflamed parts) for health and food-enhancing benefits,” according to BAR Digest Head Rita T. dela Cruz.

The market for health and wellness products has been rising as phytotherapeutical sales in the United States alone was placed at $4.41 billion as of 2005.  That trend in the US should impact on the Philippines.

 “With the Philippines making a pitch on medical tourism, demand for herbal products is expected to steadily rise,” according to the IPHW plan.

The priority crops in BAR’s Indigenous Plants for Health and Wellness (IPHW) program include oregano,  zingibers, citronella, tanglad, seed oils, malarayap, Four o’clock, luyang dilaw, pakingan, katuray, alugbati, annatto, barberry, cashew, pili, coffee singkamas, papaya, and duhat.

 “Worldwide there is an increasing demand for food phytochemicals which due to their functional properties can be developed as cosmeceutical and nutraceutical ingredients for application in the skin and hair health care, foods, and pharmaceutical industries,” reported BAR.

Government is exploring the potential of indigenous plants for health and wellness which may grow with ecotourism.  The Spa Association of the Philippines (SAPI) believes demand for these products are increasing with more tourists coming into the country. 

The IPHW plans to put up gene banks and an herbarium collection for these essential oils and herbals project.  It intends to pilot test technologies for their farming best practices.

Despite Philippines’ high biodiversity rate as a habitat for 13,500 species of higher vascular plants, attrition rate for certain flora and fauna species eyed for medicinal herbals is high.

Related to these herbs and essential oils is the spice industry which the IPHW plans to likewise boost.

The Philippines was noted to have imported from 2000 to 2005 spices at between 510 to 1,215 metric tons (MT) yearly valued at $900,000 to $2.2 million. Export of spices was smaller at only 12 to 249 MT valued at $40,000 to $400,000.

 “The high cost of producing the crop is an issue that has often been raised in relation to cheaper counterparts.  Appropriate use of crop variety and proper application of cultivation methods and postharvest handling techniques need to be addressed,” said the IPHW.

Important crops in spices include annatto, anis, sesame, kasubha, pandan, native bawang and onions, siling labuyo, yerba buena, piper species, begonia, and papait. Ms. Julia A. Lapitan, DA-BAR

Ang Department of Agriculture ang host ng selebrasyon ng “Consumer Welfare Month” na pasisinayaan sa Oct 3-7 sa Bureau of Soils and Water Management sa Visayas Ave. at Department of Agriculture central office sa Diliman, Quezon City. Ang tema ng pagdiriwang ay “Sapat, ligtas at abot-kayang pagkain para sa lahat.”

Ang buwang ito na inilalaan para sa mga konsumer ay taunang isinusulong ng National Consumer Affairs Council (NCAC).  Sa mismong pagbubukas ng pagdiriwang humigit-kumulang mga 300 bisita at mga magsisilahok sa food at product exhibits at mga food technology demonstration ang dadalo.

Ayon kay Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, ang tema ay tugmang-tugma sa mga programa ng Kagawaran na nagsusulong ng kasapatan sa pagkaing ligtas at mataas ang kalidad. Iyon ay bukod pa sa layuning ang pagkain ay abot-kaya ng mga konsumer lalo na ng mga karaniwang mamamayan at ng mga maralita.

Dagdag ni Alcala, ang 2011 ang pangatlong taon na ang DA ang host ng pagdiriwang at kasama ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan na kasapi sa NCAC gaya ng Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, DepEd, DENR, Department of Energy at DOTC. Kasama rin sa konseho ang apat na kinatawan ng mga consumer organizations at dalawang kinatawan mula sa sektor ng industriya at pagnenegosyo.

Bilang host sina Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador S. Salacup at Director Leandro H. Gazmin ng Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service ang mga punong abala kasama ang mga miyembro ng National Consumer Affairs Council na pinangungunahan ni Bb. Velma Lim. .

Ang Consumer Welfare Month ay ipinagdiriwang tuwing Oktubre batay sa Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 na inilathala nuong 1997. Pinasimulan ito ng NCAC at pinagtibay ng Republic Act No. 7394 o Consumer Act of the Philippines na naglalayong mapabuti ang pangangasiwa, pag-uugnayan at bisa ng mga programang nagbibigay proteksiyon sa mga karapatan ng mga konsumer at mamimili. DA Information Service

Agri-based enterprises are often small operations with very little income. Often, this income isn’t enough to support the farm family throughout the year. Enter the dragon! Or rather the dragon fruit!

Dragon fruit is slowly gaining ground in the local market because of its health benefits and command for profit. Recognizing the potential of this fruit for enhancing livelihood and agri-based tourism, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) teamed up to establish a Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) on organic production of dragon fruit.

This STBF is located on part of a 10-ha farm of Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Edita Dacuycuy that also is being developed into an agro tourism site.  PCARRD and ILARRDEC effectively partnered with the “dragon fruit lady of the north”, who incidentally received the Department of Agriculture’s National Gawad Saka Award.

The STBF, one of the major modalities under PCARRD’s TechnoGabay Program, showcases the effectiveness of science and technology (S&T) interventions in improving productivity and income derived from specific commodities.

Specifically in Ilocos Norte, it aims to establish a chemical-free production technology for the dragon fruit, develop strategies to prolong its shelf life and promote the S&T interventions to at least 30 farmer-adopters in the community.

To ensure that production is organic, MS Dacuycuy is evaluating the effect of fruit bagging on the quality of the fruits as well as best methods to control pests and diseases. She also produces her own organic fertilizer to maintain the overall health of the soil and to reduce production costs.

Aside from seeking to improve fruit production, the STBF will ensure the production of planting materials to support expansion to other areas. In fact, MS Dacuycuy has been supplying planting materials to farmers from all over Ilocos Norte as well as to those from other provinces in Luzon and Mindanao. She also provides technical support to more than 30 other growers all over the province.

The speed at which dragon fruit has gained acceptance in Ilocos Norte can be attributed to several success factors. MS Dacuycuy herself is one of these. Always enthusiastic for the crop and passionate about sharing, she easily gets converts from among her audience.

Another factor is its promotion by the local government units and the ease with which the production technology is accepted. In fact, even elementary pupils are now dragon fruit producers and they have in turn, convinced their parents to start planting.

As part of its commitment in promoting the fruit nationwide, PCARRD is bringing its Technology to the People (T2P) in Ilocos Norte in time for Dragon Fruit Festival to be held on July 5-6.The T2P on dragon fruit will be held on July 6 in Dacuycuy’s farm located in Brgy. Paayas, Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

During the T2P, PCARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon will be on hand to share with media PCARRD’s initiatives in the promotion of dragon fruit. As well, he will be sharing his thoughts on the direction for the commercialization of the fruit.

The growers of dragon fruit in the province prefer to call the dragon fruit Saniata, meaning light and wealth. As the self-envisioned Dragon fruit Capital of the North, Ilocos Norte, MS Dacuycuy and her REFMAD Farms, PCARRD and ILARRDEC will work together to ensure that the vision becomes a reality.  Butch Pagcaliwagan and Lily Ann Lando, S&T Media Service

Eligible small farmers and fishers will now be able to avail themselves of loans for either agricultural production or microfinance with an interest rate of fifteen percent per annum (15% p.a.).

This is now possible after the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) approved the implementation of the depository mode scheme of the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program-Cooperative Banks Agri-Lending Program (AMCFP-CBAP).

According to ACPC Executive Director Jovita M. Corpuz, they were able to eliminate one layer in the current wholesaler-retailer scheme, which allowed them to further lower the interest rates.

“The depository mode scheme offers a pass on rate to borrowers at a maximum of fifteen percent per annum (15% p.a.). This is much lower than the interest rates offered in our other programs,” ED Corpuz said.

She explained that under the said scheme, eligible cooperative banks will be given a stable, low-cost funding support, in the form of special time deposits, which will have a one year maturity with a maximum interest of 3% per annum.

“The earnings from these special time deposits can be used to finance loans for small farmers and fisherfolk, in addition to the banks’ existing appropriate and incremental agricultural loan portfolio,” she added.

ED Corpuz also said that should there be any “material adverse change in the financial condition or in the regulatory assessment of the cooperative bank, the special time deposit shall be due and demandable at anytime.”

As part of the guidelines, participating cooperative banks must also disburse the proceeds of the special time deposits to eligible farmers/fisherfolk borrowers within 90 days from the receipt of the deposit.

An initial fund of four hundred million pesos (PHP 400M) has been allocated for the program, which will be implemented in areas where participating cooperative banks operate. Rice, corn, fishery, and other high value crops prioritized by the Department of Agriculture will be financed under the program.

The ACPC is composed of the Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, Finance, and, Budget and Management; the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and, the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority. Director Norman William S. Kraft, ACPC – Public Affairs and Information Services, AGRICULTURAL CREDIT POLICY COUNCIL

Despite the misdemeanor, the humanity in our brothers and sisters who are behind bars is still there.

The inmates of Butuan’s Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) proved this fact to the personnel of the Philippine Coconut Authority during the latter’s conduct of Coir (Coconut Fiber) Twining at Butuan City Jail on August 3, 2011.

According to PCA Administrator Euclides G. Forbes, the training was initiated by PCA as a livelihood project for the inmates whereby additional income could be derived to support their families despite their detention. It is likewise a means to develop camaraderie among the inmates.

The PCA team provided the three (3) units of manual twining machines and ten (10) sacks of coir used during the training.

PCA Region 13 Regional Manager Roberto A. Manlunas observed that after a week of training, the inmates continuously produced coir twines with utmost zeal. Accordingly, they requested 50 units of twining machines and continuous supply of coir for processing. Administrator Forbes has assured them of continued support through provision of additional twining machines.

With the success of this project, Administrator Forbes assured the public that a comprehensive project proposal is currently prepared. The project will be replicated in other jails among coconut growing areas.

The BJMP – Butuan City acknowledged the endeavor of the PCA – Region 13 for this worthwhile assistance. Coconut Media Service, PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY

Dr. Gelia T. Castillo, national scientist and member of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Board of Trustees, challenged Mindanao farmers to improve their yield during the recent Farmers’ Field Day and Forum in PhilRice Agusan in Basilisa, Remedios T.  Romualdez, Agusan del Norte.

Close to 1,000 farmers, students, representatives of local government units, and members of the press from Regions 10, 11, and 13, attended the activity.

Recognizing the issues on food production, Castillo said “farmers have a huge role to play” in producing more rice to feed the ballooning population.

“The Caraga region has slightly higher per capita rice availability (129 kg) than the national average (119 kg)…..The challenge now is how to increase rice productivity so the region can contribute to Philippine rice self-sufficiency,” Castillo said.

Castillo stressed that 27 percent of the country’s population are in 26 marginal provinces while 17 and 16 percent are in non-rice producing cities in the National Capital Region and non-rice producing provinces, respectively. To feed this population and for the country to be rice self-sufficient in 2013, Castillo urged farmers in provinces with higher per capita rice availability to increase their production.

Castillo noted that the farmers’ inquisitiveness and their eagerness to bring their children to PhilRice experimental fields to learn with them show the tillers’ determination in improving their yield.

Meanwhile, PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. assured farmers that the Institute will intensify rice research and development efforts in Mindanao as some of the country’s poorest farmers are in the region. In Northern Mindanao and in Davao and Caraga regions, the areas covered by PhilRice Agusan, wet and very wet climatic conditions limit the farmers in attaining high yield.

To help farmers attain high yield, PhilRice-developed varieties such as NSIC Rc160, a variety with an average yield of about 6 t/ha. The variety, with a maximum yield of 8 t/ha, was the farmers’ most preferred among the other varieties owing to its good eating quality and yield.

NSIC Rc160 is also good for ratooning or letting the rice plant produce new tillers after harvesting the crop. 

“It feels great learning that farmers like the variety we bred at PhilRice,” said Dr. Manuel Jose C. Regalado, PhilRice deputy executive director for research.

Regalado also announced that the Department of Agriculture will train farmers’ associations on seed production to improve their capability in producing their own high-quality seeds.

DA-PhilRice is a government-owned and –controlled corporation that aims at developing high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

For more information, please visit or contact DA-PhilRice at Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija with telephone number (044) 456-0285 loc 511/512 or any PhilRice station near you. You may also visit their website at www.philrice.gov.ph or text your questions to 0920-911-1398. PHILIPPINE RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PhilRice)             

The National Food Authority has todate issued a total of 10,425 bags of rice to local government units doing relief operations and assisting victims of typhoon Pedring.

NFA administrator Angelito T. Banayo said the initial report of rice issuance were mostly in Regions 5, 3 and 2. For Region 5, out of the total volume issued, 6,150 bags went to Albay; 500 bags for Camarines Norte; 45 bags for Catanduanes and 10 bags for Camarines Sur.

For Region 3, the Office of the Governor of Bulacan has issued a total of 1,900 bags of rice to the flood-prone towns of Hagonoy, Paombong and San Rafael. The province of Tarlac and Bataan has also respectively issued 50 bags of rice each to the towns of San Manuel and Pilar.

For Region 2, meanwhile, a total of 550 bags of rice were issued to the local government of  Isabela and 300 bags for Cagayan.  Initial damage to stocks were also placed at P5 million. 

Rice requests for relief operations were either paid in cash or credit under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the local government units and other government agencies doing relief assistance.

Banayo is also in constant touch with the NFA regional directors who are still assessing the extent of damage brought by typhoon Pedring to their rice inventory.

As of todate, only the National Capital Region has submitted an estimated damage to rice stocks in warehouses destroyed by the typhoon. At Metro Food Complex Warehouse No 5 located at Malanday in Valenzuela, the North District Office of NFA has initially reported a damage of 1,500  bags of rice  when some seven  span of roofing at the warehouse were blown off at  the height of the typhoon.

At Kingswood warehouse in Caloocan, some 200 bags of rice were damaged when the warehouse roofing were similarly blown by typhoon Pedring.

To keep updated on the extent of damage to NFA properties, Banayo said the NFA  maintains a 24-hour operation of its Central Office and Field Office  Operation Center (OPCEN) to receive requests for relief assistance and ensure smooth coordination between NFA warehouses and the agencies withdrawing rice.

Despite the typhoon, as of the third week of September, the overall country’s food security inventory is still high at 2.5 million metric tons equivalent to 75 days supply given the  estimated  domestic daily requirement of  34,000 metric tons.

Of this volume, the NFA has a total of 1.3 million metric tons while household  and commercial has a total of  638,700 and  596,700 MT, respectively .  NFA’s rice inventory is equivalent  to 52 percent  of the total rice stock of the country. Household and commercial stock respectively represents 25 and 23 percent of the total rice inventory of the country.

The National Capital Region has the highest rice inventory with 7 million bags. Region 3 follows with 2.7 million bags; 2.5 million bags for Southern Tagalog; 2.2 for Region 1 and 1.6 million bags for Region 5. Region 2 still has close to a million bags sufficient to meet for almost a month the required 31,000 bags regional daily rice consumption. Director Rex C. Estoperez, Public Affairs Department, NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY

The Philippines through the National Rabies Committee (NRC) spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI)  will join the world in the celebration of World Rabies Day on September 29,2011 at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City in collaboration with  the Animal Welfare Coalition, and Merial, Novartis, Sanofi and Nestle Philippines, Inc.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the celebration will raise public awareness and understanding about the importance of rabies prevention.  “Rabies is the oldest and deadliest disease known to mankind and the people should know how to protect themselves, their pets and the community, as well,” Alcala added.

NRC is an inter-agency committee composed of Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), private sector and non-government organizations.

DA-BAI assistant director and NRC chairman Dr. Victor Atienza said rabies is primarily a disease of children with about 2.8 deaths per million population, and of which 40% are children below 15 years old. “Children are particularly at risk from this terrible disease, due to their close contact with dogs, the major global source. They are more likely to suffer multiple bites and scratches to the face and head, both of which carry a higher risk of contracting rabies.  They are often unaware of the danger that dogs transmit rabies and may not tell their parents when a bite, lick, or scratch has occurred from an infected animal” he added.

“Working Together for a Rabies-Free Philippines” is this year’s theme. To increase public awareness on the rabies prevention, NRC has lined up the following activities in partnership with Merial Philippines, Inc. (MPI), Sanofi Pasteur, New Marketlink and SM Pet Express at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

· National Poster Presentation of Rabies Activities

· Launch of Rabies Free Philippines Pins

· Awarding of Rabies Free Zones (Camotes Group of Islands and Malapascua Island)

· Free Photo booth and Games for Kids

· Live Entertainment

Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to animals and humans.  The disease is transmitted mainly by bite, but exposure may also occur through contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with saliva from an infected animal. Once neurological symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans.  Vaccination prior to possible exposure is a crucial part of health management of domestic animals, and is the single most important factor in rabies prevention.

Rabies prevention starts with the animal owner.  Protect yourself, your pet and your community by taking animals to be vaccinated.  Avoid stray animals.  If you are bitten, wash bite wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.  If your pet is bitten, consult your veterinarian immediately.  Prompt and appropriate treatment after being bitten and before the disease develops can stop rabies infection and/or prevent the disease in humans and animals. Victor C. Atienza, DVM, FRVC, CESO IV, Assistant Director and Chairman, National Rabies Committee, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY