ENHANCED INTERVENTIONS KEY TO AGRI DEVELOPMENT: DA-CARAGA

It is said that for things to grow and progress, there should always be room for improvement.

With this, the Department of Agriculture (DA) –Caraga, in its pursuit of boosting agricultural development in the region, conducted a Re-Orientation and Updating of Techno Demo Guidelines for High Value Crops commodities particularly coffee, cacao, banana, rubber, mango, and vegetables.

The establishment and rehabilitation of techno demos are among the interventions under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). It showcases certain technologies that aim for improved productivity and enhanced quality.

DA-Caraga HVCDP coordinator Noli G. Orog said that it has been noted that in the implementation of techno demos in the previous years, some of the provisions in the approved guidelines. He added that it is important to follow the guidelines to attain the sought after outcome.

“Since we are after certain outcomes from these techno demos and so as not to compromise our program intervention, we should keep in mind the purpose of having these techno demos which is to showcase a particular technology and promote its adoption,” he said. Caraga, the techno demos for the above-mentioned commodities are focused mainly on fertilization to address the issue of low productivity due to minimum and insufficient inputs. Another one of its objectives is the attainment of high quality yield through proper management including the practice of Good Agricultural Practices.

After the presentation of the existing guidelines, the group discussed matters to be modified to update the said guidelines based also on recent technology updates.

The establishment or rehabilitation of techno demos is one of the support interventions for the One DA Reform Agenda’s 18 Key Strategies to transform agriculture particularly on empowerment of partners.

The activity was spearheaded by the HVCDP last February 3 and 4 in Butuan City and was attended by HVCDP provincial coordinators, DA – Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) chiefs, DA-Research personnel and other DA personnel. (Vanessa P. Sanchez, DA Caraga–RAFIS/ PIA-Caraga)

DA-Caraga updates media partners on the effects of ST Odette on agriculture and fisheries

The Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga recently held a press conference to update the local media partners related to the effects of Super Typhoon Odette on agriculture and fisheries and the corresponding One DA Rehabilitation Plan.

According to the data presented by Girlie Antipaso, the alternate focal person for the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management, the estimated damage on the agri-fishery sector in the region as of January 27, 2022, is around PhP2.2 billion, of which coconut posted the highest loss at PhP745 million, followed by highvalue crops at PhP602 million; and damages of agricultural infrastructure, rice, corn, livestock and poultry, fisheries, and farm machinery and equipment, respectively. by the onslaught of the typhoon is Surigao del Norte, with a total affected area of 9,143 hectares equating to PhP1.5 billion of agricultural damages, followed by Agusan del Norte, with 5,041 hectares amounting PhP136 million; Agusan del Sur with 4,069 hectares amounting to PhP136 million; Dinagat Islands with 2,511 hectares amounting to PhP364 million; and Surigao del Sur with a

total affected area of 639 hectares amounting to PhP39 million.

As an immediate response, numerous interventions were placed, which included the provision of available resources particularly the 1,020 bags of rice seeds, 850 bags of corn seeds, 8,000 pouches of vegetable seeds, and other farm inputs like rodenticides, dewormer, and vitamins which sums up to a total amount of PhP7,355,000.

In addition, the DA Mindanao Clusters also assisted the affected areas by providing 1,900 bags of rice seeds, 891 bags of milled rice, 7 tons of banana, 5.1 tons of assorted vegetables, food packs, canned goods, water, and cash assistance with a total amount of PhP4.9 million. DA-Quick Response Fund also released support for the banner programs with a total amount of PhP141 million. This pertains to the provision of seeds/ planting materials and fertilizer/soil ameliorants for the Rice, Corn, and High-Value Crops Development Program, and for the provision of free-range chicken, feeds, supplements, drugs and biologics for the Livestock program.

Moreover, a total amount of PhP150 million has been allocated for the SURE-AID Calamity Fund to be disbursed to the 6,000 farmers in the different provinces of Caraga region.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also presented their rehabilitation plan for the 11,238 affected fisher folks in the region in which the budget has a total amount of PhP397 million for the interventions such as the provision of fingerlings, seaweed farm implements, motorized and non-motorized FRP boats, fishing gears, lobster cages, floating assets, and survival equipment.

On the other hand, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provided interventions amounting to PhP24.7 million for the 5,542 affected farmers in the region which includes the distribution of incentives, seed nuts/ coconut seedlings, vegetable packets and fertilizer, and banana seedlings.

Regional Executive Director of DA - Caraga Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr. together with Regional Technical Director for Research, Regulations and ILD Nicandro Navia, Jr., Regional Manager of PCA - Caraga Joel B. Oclarit, and Senior Agriculturist Edgardo P. Balambao of BFAR - Caraga served as the panelists of the presscon wherein they addressed the concerns and queries of the media practitioners during the open forum.

RED Oñate also thanked the OneDA family for the support that was rendered to the affected individuals. “I am so thankful to the OneDA family including our DA - Mindanao clusters that supported us through extending their help for immediate giving of food packs as well as agriproduction inputs such as seeds, and even cash assistance,” he added. (Jezreel Sudario, DACaraga/PIA-Caraga)

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