Palay, corn production in NorMin post growths in Q3

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – Palay production in Northern Mindanao posted improvement in the third quarter of 2013 as it grew by 19 percent compared to the production in the same quarter in 2012.

Total palay produced in the region increased from 151,278 metric tons last year to 180,481 metric tons this year with both irrigated and rainfed palay posting growths, Engr. Cecilio Y. Clarete, chief economic development specialist of the Development Research Division of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the region said in a media forum held recently at the NEDA Conference Room.

He said the positive performance was attributable to the good production in the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

The 79 percent production increase in Lanao del Norte was due to sufficient rainfall which benefited the province’s rainfed/upland production areas as well as to the movement of harvest to the third quarter, Clarete said.

He further said that the completion of the repair of irrigation canals also contributed to the 35 percent increase palay production in Misamis Occidental in addition to the early plantings harvested during the quarter and more rainfed/upland areas cultivated in Bonifacio, Tangub and Ozamiz City.

Clarete said the region’s average yield also improved by 4.74 percent from 4.59 to 4.78 tons per hectare in irrigated areas and 3.15 to 3.26 tons per hectare in rainfed areas.

Yield improvement was most notable in Camiguin, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.

Clarete said the positive yield was due to sufficient irrigation water, lesser occurrence of infestation of diseases and pests, and use of high yielding variety of seeds.

Lanao del Norte also benefited from the rice rattooning especially in areas covered by the National Irrigation Administration and communal irrigation system, he added.

Overall, the total value of palay for the third quarter amounted to P3.072 billion, up by 24 percent, as a result of the increased production volume and rise in the average farm gate price from P16.36 to P17.02 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, corn production in the region went up by 13 percent reaching 508,581 metric tons in the third quarter of 2013.

Increases were more pronounced in Bukidnon and Camiguin for both white and yellow corn varieties.

The 200 percent increase in yellow corn production in Lanao del Norte was due to the shifting by some farmers from white corn to yellow corn.

Clarete said the average corn yield also grew by 5.52 percent with Lanao del Norte posting the lowest increase in yield by only 0.63 percent due to the hot weather condition during the reproductive stage in some municipalities of the province.

Although some corn farmers in Misamis Occidental shifted to commercial and cash crops, and those in Misamis Oriental to pineapple, palm oil, passion fruit and tobacco, Clarete said both provinces still managed a positive yield due to sufficient rainwater, less prevalence of pests and diseases and favourable weather, and increase usage of RR seeds. (APB/PIA-10)

Delima cites value of sustaining CSBs

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, December 19 (PIA) – To further promote the agency’s target of ensuring food sufficiency and farmers’ access to seeds, the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently conducted its first nationwide Community-Based Seed Bank (CSB) Conference at the Fontana Hotel and Leisure Parks, in Pampanga.

“Ang CSB ay matagal ng practice ng mga magsasaka pero hindi na-institutionalize. Sa pamamagitan ng Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, ginawa natin itong isang programa para seryosohin at mabigyan nang tamang pansin at pondo para ito ay lalago," (CSB has always been used by our farmers, but it was never institutionalized. Now, through the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, CSB is given more emphasis and is operating as a separate program to secure funding allocation for its operations) DA Undersecretary for Operations and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante S. Delima said in his welcome remarks.

He added that it is an alternative source for marginalized farmers in having a better and cheaper access to quality seeds, particularly those not served by formal seed systems in various ecosystems.

The CSB operates through the provision of registered seeds by the national government to qualified irrigator’s associations (IAs), farmer’s associations, people’s organizations (POs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) through a 1:1.5 or 1:2 repayment scheme.  This means that for every kilo of registered seeds received, the recipients pay 1.5 kilos of certified seeds if outright payment is made.  However, if payment is made right after harvest, the recipients pay 2 kilos.  

During the conduct of an open forum, participants consisting of nearly 500 regional seed coordinators, agricultural technicians and farmers have expressed recurring issues and concerns towards a better implementation of CSBs. These include the provision of additional registered seeds and the fine-tuning in the repayment scheme, among others.    

In response, USec. Delima explained that the CSBs are established with the foremost intent to train and empower farmers to produce quality seeds at a cheaper price for their use and sale to fellow farmers while also urging seed exchange among farmers.

He added that the program also looks forward in eliminating the ‘dole-out’ system, which has been previously practiced by the government in assisting its populace. Accordingly, USec. Delima stressed that it is the responsibility of every farmer to settle transactions in their assigned CSBs as this would be a participatory approach in sustaining the operations of the program.

He further said that the 20 kgs. of seeds from the regional field offices (RFOs_ is just enough for farmers to determine whether seed varieties are adaptable or not in their respective farmlands.

“Hindi uunlad ang mga magsasaka kung lahat ng binhi ay iaasa natin sa ibang sektor sa lipunan,” (Our farmers will never be successful if we leave the operation of seed bank to the other sector of the community.) he concluded. (JLOlson, DA-10/PIA)  

KBP-Misamis Occidental Chapter, now an accredited NGO

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Dec. 19 (PIA) – The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP)-Misamis Occidental Chapter is now an accredited Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Ozamiz City.

This, after the Ozamiz Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) has approved its application for accreditation, in compliance with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular (MC) 2013-70.

The said MC sets the guidelines relative to the selection of civil society organizations to strengthen their participation in local governance and development processes. 

Meanwhile, the KBP-Misamis Occidental Chapter was organized in 1980, and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an affiliate of a larger organization, the KBP-National Chapter.

As stated in their application, its goals are to inform, educate, entertain and motivate people to help in the development of the areas they serve and to commend and appreciate all things done for the benefit of the greater majority of the people and condemn all malpractices in order to stop them.

“As broadcasters, we serve as partners in the development and at the same time serve to bring about changes for the better,” their application states.

Represented by its Chairperson, Delia T. Rosal, KBP-Misamis Occidental has its office at Radio Station DXOC, Ozamiz City with contact numbers: 521-1108 or 0920-257-4495 and email to ocozamiz@yahoo.com .

Among its activities, was the conduct of “The KBP Awareness on Climate Change and Forest Ecosystem in Western Mindanao: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Banyan Green Mitigation,” attended by some 40 members and the Planting of the Banyan Tree, commonly called “Balite” in Barangay Gango, near the Airport of the city, Rosal said. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Tourism, PACT treat streetkids, trafficked persons, child laborers an educational tour

By Elaine O. Ratunil

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Dec. 18 (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT), in partnership with the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT), spearheaded an educational tour for street children, trafficked women and children, and child laborers in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

With this year’s theme “Wakasan ang Human Trafficking, Ito’y Ating Tungkulin,” Charlita C. Ladera, DOT-10 Project Officer and PACT CDO-Chairperson, said like in the past years, we aim to make of this venue and opportunity to share with the least of our brethren—the street children, trafficked women and children, and child laborers, information about child trafficking and popularize the Human Rights Standard on the Protection of the Trafficked Children.

This is also intended for children to be aware on the issues and threats of trafficking and for them to join the advocacy on-anti-child trafficking and for them to enjoy the spirit of giving and sharing during Christmas season, Ladera said.

Meanwhile, Ladera said this initiative is an offshoot of DOT’s membership to the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC), region 10, and in line with the celebration of the International Day Against Child Trafficking.

The tour was participated by the different government agencies, local government units, non government organizations, children and young people in school and in communities.

The 48 children-beneficiaries were given the chance to visit primarily the seaports and airport where they were briefed ports are the potential exit sites for human trafficking. They were also ushered to McArthur Marker at the Macabalan Wharf, La Castilla Museum, briefing/tour of airport facilities and a Holy Mass at the Divine Mercy Hills Chapel in El Salvador City. Children were also treated to a film showing on the Best of Northern Mindanao.

For his part, Director Catalino E. Chan III, DOT-10, cited the educational tour is one of the two pet projects under his watch. The other one is the Singing Ambassadors, he said.

This tour is a way of reaching to the underprivileged kids and inspires them with hope, adding that poverty is not a hindrance to success. He related a number of success stories relating to achieving success amidst poverty.

Be safe against strangers especially when alone or with other kids, said Director Chan to the children.

He also expressed his optimism that more children-beneficiaries will benefit in the next tours and more people will help DOT in this initiative. (EOR/PIA-10)