Caraga farmers to
pursue onion production
BUTUAN
CITY, May 17 -- Farmers from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur are optimistic that
onion production in their town will be a profitable venture.
The
farmers recently underwent training on “Good Agricultural Practices on Onion
Production” conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga, in
coordination with the Local Government Unit of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.
Municipal
Agriculturist ViΓ±a Ranoco shared that some of the products sold in the local
market are from the other provinces and even from other regions.
She
encouraged the farmers to put to good use what they have learned from the
training so that the town will soon be producing their own onion. She
said that this way, they will no longer have to source out from other places.
In addition, they can also contribute to the country’s drive to cease
importation of onion through sufficient local production.
Resource
Person Noe N. Parocha, East-West Seed Field Marketing Supervisor for
Mindoro/Visayas/Mindanao, said that the bulk of the onion production in the
Philippines is coming from Luzon with Nueva Ecija claiming the top spot.
Data
from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that in 2016, the country
had a production volume of 122,594 metric tons with Central Luzon accounting
for 76.1 percent, followed by Cagayan Valley with 13.8 percent, and Ilocos
Region with 6.1 percent, while the rest of the onion-producing areas chipped in
a total of 4.0 percent.
Parocha
said that the country’s current production is not enough to meet the demand,
thus, it is quite welcome that the other regions, especially in Visayas and
Mindanao, are now showing interest for this crop.
“Through
proper management, onion will thrive in Mindanao,” he said. Parocha
further added that he saw the willingness among the farmers and noted also the
support by the local government and the DA, so it is really doable.
Aside
from discussions on onion production, the participants also had a hands-on
training on seedbed preparation and seed sowing.
Elena
Espina, Chairman of the Alegria Vegetable Farmers Association, said that she is
thankful for the opportunity to have undergone the training since onion production
is relatively new to most of them. However, she is confident that if they just
set their mind to it, nothing is impossible.
“I am
looking forward to the day that onion production in our town will prosper
because it will not only be economically good for us but it will also be our
pride that we were able to do it,” Espina added. (DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
MGB
Caraga conducts groundwater resource mapping, assessment in Siargao Island
By Melvin A. Mantilla
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 17 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
in Caraga carried out the groundwater resource mapping and assessment in
the municipalities of General Luna and San Benito in Siargao Island on April 18
to May 5, 2018.
The
activity aimed to establish the geology of the area and determine the general
groundwater resource potential of the different lithologic units.
Likewise,
the activity aimed to assess the vulnerability factors that could affect the
water quality of the existing water supply sources in the study area and to
identify possible areas for development and future extraction.
The
assessment was conducted by a team of geologists, cartographer and on-the-job
trainees from the Negros Oriental State University.
As
for the mapping aspect of the activity, it was composed of an inventory of the
existing groundwater resources (e.g. springs and wells) of each barangay within
the said municipalities, identification of the lithologic unit and the overall
geomorphologic characteristic of the groundwater locale, and in determination
of the basic water chemistry of the groundwater.
For
2018, MGB Caraga hopes to conduct Groundwater Resource Mapping and Assessment
in the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur. (MGB-13/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
PNP-Caraga
welcomes cops deployed for BSKE 2018
BUTUAN
CITY, May 17 (PIA) -- Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 Deputy Regional Director
for Administration CSupt. Carlos Lozano spearheaded the welcome for the
police officers deployed for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections
2018 during the ceremony here Wednesday afternoon.
Highlight
of the activity was the giving of awards to the deserving police personnel who
had played vital roles in ensuring the safety and security of the recently
concluded electoral process.
SSupt.
Rogelio Raymundo, chairman of the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center
and the chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division, was one of the
awardees.
The 2,798 policemen
who rendered election duties regionwide would receive the Medalya ng
Papuri or the Philippine National Police (PNP) Commendation Medal.
“Let’s
be grateful that in the overall, there was no major trouble even in election
watchlist areas. The integrity of the electoral process had been safeguarded
and the democratic rights of the people are protected,” CSupt Lozano said.
(PRO-13/PIA-Caraga)
Claver farmers
celebrate 'KANINhawaan' feast day
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 17 (PIA) -- A ceremonial harvest dubbed as “KANINhawaan” Feast Day of
the project kaPALAYapaan of the 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion
(36IB), Philippine Army and the THPAL Nickel Corporation was celebrated on May
12, 2018 at Sitio Capangdan, Brgy Urbiztondo, Claver town.
Following
the success of the Project kaPALAYApaan in the province of Surigao del Sur, the
36IB under the 402nd Infantry Brigade has partnered with THPAL
Nickel Corporation thru its Community Relations and launched the said project
last November 29, 2017 at the Municipal Hall of Claver, Surigao del
Norte with the motto of “I Believe.”
The
KANINhawaan Feast Day is a farmer’s celebration of a bountiful harvest in
availing the project kaPALAYapaan.
The
farmers in Brgy Urbiztondo situated at the foot of the infamous “Red Mountain”
were encouraged to turn their 12 years laterite-laden and abandoned farm lands
into organic rice fields through the project kaPALAYapaan.
A
total of 15.5 hectares were dedicated for the said project as the pilot area.
Lt. Col.
Xerxes Trinidad, during the celebration, said they partnered with THPAL and
other stakeholders who share the common goals of serving the people to attain
peace and development in the community.
He
said the 36IB will always be the people’s committed partner to bring programs
and projects to every community.
“A
challenge was presented and we have accepted it because we strongly believe in
the project kaPALAYapaan. What we are witnessing now is the new roles of your
army to alleviate the plight of the farmers and facilitate convergence in the
delivery of basic services of our government," Trinidad said.
On
his part, 402nd Brigade Commander BGen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal said the
province of Agusan del Norte will also now embrace the said project.
"The
Philippine Army, specifically the 402nd Infantry Brigade, is fully
committed in this project kaPALAYapaan. This is the evolution of the role of
the Army; we are now the so-called agent of change. Our organization is here in
order to help and extend whatever help we could offer to the LGUs with our only
intent of having a productive and festive community that will eventually uplift
our lives," Gacal said.
The
project kaPALAYapaan is a program for the farmer sector, which means “there is
peace in rice farming” to address the perennial problem of the farmers on “high
cost, low yield” farm production. It is a convergence of stakeholders that aims
to increase the farm production of the farmers, promotes organic farming,
and introduces new farming techniques. (36IB, Phil. Army/PIA-Surigao
del Norte)
Farmer-groups
thank DAR-IFAD-ConVERGE for agribusiness project in AgNor
By Gil E. Miranda
BUTUAN CITY, May 17 -- Farmers from different Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) in Agusan del Norte are grateful to
the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) finance project
under the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and
Empowerment (ConVERGE) implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
of Agusan del Norte.
This
was the collective voice of the group-leaders expressed during the visit of
Charlotte Salford, IFAD Associate Vice-President of External Relations and
Governance, and Wei Wang, IFAD Director for APL and Special Adviser
to the IFAD President at San Isidro Upland Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative or
SIUFMULCO of Santiago town on May 6, 2018.
“It is
exciting to see how much potential there is for family farms and indigenous
producers when they are fully engaged in inclusive value chains and have access
to markets, technology and financing,” Salford said.
DAR
Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Andre B. Atega said that the project has
invested around P180 million funds in support to abaca enterprise and related
commodities in the province that will cater to the needs of the farmers
involving SIUFMULCO and 20 other participating farmer-groups in Tubay,
Jabonga, Kitcharao and Santiago.
Leonora
Mila, SIUFMULCO Manager, said that they are very thankful for the ConVERGE
interventions and support services provisions that bring positive impact in the
lives of the farmers in the cluster.
“The
interventions of project ConVERGE indeed changed not only the acres
of abaca plantation but also the way of life among the famers,” Mila
added.
Based
on the data of DAR, three years in the implementation of Project ConVERGE for
the period of 2016 to 1st quarter of this year performance, the project claimed
P55.6 million or 31 percent of P180 million total project cost allocated up to
2021.
This
performance included the 80 classes with 13 types of Capability Enhancement
Trainings to 21 peoples’ organizations; provision of 12 mobile stripping
machines; one unit 10-wheeler truck; provision of planting materials and other
farm inputs covering 300 hectares distributed to ten ARBOs; and farm-to-market
road to be implemented within this year.
In her
visit, Salford was joined by Wei Wang, IFAD Director for APL and Special
Adviser to the IFAD President; IFAD Country Programme Officer Jerry Pacturan;
Special Adviser, Yolando Arban of IFAD Philippines Country Office; and DAR
Provincial Director Andre B. Atega, CESO V. (DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)
