AGRICULTURE

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao — The province’s farmers had until Tuesday queued here for the distribution of P 35 million worth of mechanized farming equipment by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through its Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF ARMM).This was the last time the region’s agriculture agency extended aid to farmers in a forum at the complex here of the DAF-ARMM Information and Area Resource Center (IARC).Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Manny Piñol said aiding the farmers through upgrading the country’s agriculture was the government’s way of rewarding the tillers

MANILA - The country's private banks, including a government bank and thrift banks, have offered to provide funding to the banner projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA), including the Solar-Powered Irrigation Projects (SPIS), the farm mechanization program and even the completion of Farm-to-Market Road network.In a meeting held at the Office of the Agriculture Secretary yesterday, the bankers, led by Alfredo Yao of Zest-O Group of Companies, said they have about P200-B which they could use to fund Agriculture and Agrarian Projects to comply with the Agri-Agra Law.The Agri-Agra Law

Buluan, Maguindanao - President Rody Duterte yesterday gave the green light for the start of the initial negotiations between the Department of Agriculture and a major Israeli agro-industrial firm which earlier offered to build 6,200 units of Solar Powered irrigation Systems in the country worth P44-B.The President issued the directive following his talks with Israeli Ambassador Rafael Harpaz last week who briefed him on the interest of several Israel agricultural companies to support the development of Philippine farming.Go ahead.

BULUAN,
Maguindanao -– A total of 1,740 hectares
of lands were distributed by President Duterte on Monday to 780 Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries (ARBs) in ceremonies held at Buluan municipal gymnasium.

The
distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) was historic since
it was done during the 2nd Inaul Festival, a colorful and vibrant
festival from Februaury 8 to 14. Inaul refers to a hand woven cloth and it
means literally weaved.

LIBUNGAN, North Cotabato - The National Food Authority (NFA) has purchased 1-million bags of paddy rice in the first 15 days of the year as the agency started an aggressive procurement program from local farmers.With an initial budget of P7-B, the NFA aims to buy 350,000 metric tons of paddy rice for the first half of 2019.This is equivalent to 227,500 metric tons or 4.450-million bags of rice.With a buying price of P17 per kilo plus an incentive of P3.70 per kilo, the NFA expects to hit the 350,000-metric ton procurement target well ahead of time.The NFA is supported by the Department of A

New Quarantine Officers have taken over the supervision of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Quarantine Stations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.Footbaths were also installed in all entry points of the NAIA as part of the Quarantine Protocols against the spread of the African Swine Fever.BAI Director Dr. Ronnie Domingo reported that the new Quarantine Officers are Dr. Rey Quilang - Terminal 1 Dr. Imer Dante Occeña - Terminal 2 Dr.

The announcement by the Economic Managers that government will now focus on Agriculture which they said dragged down economic growth is a breath of fresh air for the sector which has long been asking for bigger budget allocation.Without even retrieving documents and recommendations submitted by the Department of Agriculture in the past, I have listed here five major projects to improve food production and reduce poverty in the countryside.1.

KARIHATAG, MALIMOMO, Surigao del Norte - The government's Easy Access Lending Program (EALP) is changing the lives of poor people in the countryside.In the remote fishing village of Karihatag, the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program of the Department of Agriculture has allowed poor fishermen to buy new fishing boats.Since the program allows them to choose the equipment that they need, the fishermen were able to buy sturdier and better boat engines.The sleek wooden boats are so powerful that some of them fish for Tuna in as far north as Camiguin Island and even the seas off the coast

Philippine Agriculture is expected to post a positive 2.5% to 3.5% growth in 2019, way above the national target of 2% as the crops and fisheries sectors are projected to perform well with the interventions to be implemented by the government through the Department of Agriculture.The Rice Industry is expected to post a record harvest of 20-million metric tons next year mainly because of the Rice Tariffication Program which assures the rice sector of P10-B additional funding every year.With P10-B, the DA through the PhilMech will provide farmers with machinery and equipment worth P5-B, free