CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In support to the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10’s (DA-RFO 10) fight against African Swine Fever (ASF), the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association (NorMinHog) turned over reagents and other laboratory supplies to the agency.

On behalf of DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga received the reagents worth around P200,000 on Wednesday, January 20.

Said ASF laboratory supplies (Primers, Probes and PCR reagents), which can test 1,000 reactions will be used by the agency’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory’s (RADDL) Real time – Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to test blood samples of hogs.

As explained by Dr. Oryza B. Baylo, Veterinarian II of the department, real time-PCR is a molecular technique in detecting Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/Ribonucleic acid (RNA) of viruses from blood samples.

RTD Madriaga shared, the reagents are significant in monitoring hog farms to avoid another ASF infection in the region.

She added, in order to transport hogs, they need a certification from DA assuring that their hogs are ASF-free.

Meanwhile, NorMinHog Association President Leon Tan, Jr. said, ASF can easily be contained with the joint support of DA, the local governments, private sector and the consumers.

Tan emphasized, backyard hog raisers must use healthy and safe feeds that are available in the market, instead of swill feeding to avoid the risk of contracting the virus.

He remarked, the increased price of commercial live hogs, which reaches up to P160 per kilo is due to the increase of the demand of pork products in other regions that are greatly affected by ASF. # # #  (EMBentulan / DA-RFO X, RAFIS)

Demo farming shows great potential for 2021 banana production

A banana plant takes about nine months to mature and produce bananas. Bananas are grown in the tropics and can also survive in cool weather for a short while. It is most widely consumed in all regions as snack and an alternate staple.

In Sulu, the lack of water supply is the most common cause of death for bananas. But this challenge did not stop the Department of Agriculture IX – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) program from providing support to five municipalities in Sulu to its development.

The municipalities of Maimbung, Talipao, Indanan, Panamao and Parang received 10,000 banana plantlets in 2019 intended for one hectare demo farm per area. The delivery of the banana plantlets arrived during the summer time, so the farmers had to wait for rainy season to start planting.

“Scarcity of water is one of the causes that farmers become hesitant to plant banana. But with the demo farms SAAD has established, we can prove to them that this too can be a good source of income. A lot of our brethren also eat banana as second option from cassava,” said Analisa Dauring, Area Coordinator in Talipao.

Towards the end months 2020, banana harvest recorded  85% of success in barangay Tubod, Talipao and barangay Anak Jati, Maimbung, while 75% outcome in Bangalan, Indanan and 65% in Lupah Abu, Parang, and 30% result in Suuh Panamao.

While the Tausugs remain committed to their superstitious belief; that collecting banana suckers for replanting are forbidden unless they have already harvested from it, the SAAD Area Coordinators patiently and continuously educate and explain to them the science in banana production.

With an open mind, the support of the field technicians and staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) also extended assistance in the realization of the banana demo farming in Sulu. # # # (Shara Malaica Ussam/DA-RFO IX, SAAD)

Corn farmers in Negros Oriental grateful for the cash and food subsidy 

“We never expected to receive this cash and food assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA),” said Sosima P. Cabus, a farmer beneficiary from  Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

Cabus was teary eyed while sharing her comment about the cash and food subsidy to the DA7 staff.

She said that she never expected that the DA will give them P5,000 cash and food subsidy.

“Daku kaayo akong pasalamat sa Ginoo ug sa gobyerno ilabi na sa DA nga nahimong instrumento aron kami matabangan sa among kalisod karong panahona,” Cabus said.

(We are very thankful to God as well as the government especially the DA-being an instrument to help us in this tough time.)

Another farmer Margie Tubaga, also from Zamboanguita said she received a text message informing her of the assistance.

“Abi nako nga scam tong text nga ako nadawat nga naa koy madawat nga ayuda. Unya, ang ako mga silingan nakadawat man susama nga text, nakaingon ko nga dili diay ni scam. Daku kaayo among pasalamat sa DA  sa ayuda ilabi na nga naglisod jud mi tungod sa pandemya,” Tubaga said.

( I thought that it was a scam text message that I will receive assistance. But when my neighbors also received same text, I said that this is not a scam. Im very grateful to DA for the assistance to the marginal farmers, especially that life is very hard right now due to this pandemic.)

“To our DA Secretary William Dar and to DA7, thank you very much for allocating a budget for this program. This is a big help to us small farmers,” said Rochelyn Rojo Libosana  from Basay, Negros Oriental.

The cash and food subsidy are given to qualified corn farmers from the 4th, 5th and 6th class municipalities.

“A farmer beneficiary will receive an amount of P5,000 each divided into P3,000 for cash and P2,000 for food items covering P1,000 worth of rice, P600 worth of dressed chicken and P400 eggs,” said Sarah Perocho, DA7 Agriculture Program Coordinating Officer in Negros Oriental.

“These farmers and fishers filled up the Registry System on Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBA) form and who tills a corn area of one hectare and below,” Perocho added.

The subsidy is also given to fishers, coconut farmers and Indigenous People (IP). # # # (DA-RFO VII, RAFIS)