Natural Farming Training for Trainers

Are you a farmer? or a farmer by heart, willing to help others. Help them by teaching them how to make their own farm inputs. Be a certified trainer of Natural Farming!

There will be an Natural Farming seminar on June 21-26 here in Davao City. With the background an experience of Andry and Joji Lim, they will teach us how to farm better. Help our farmers. Go Organic!

For further information please contact Andry & Joji Lim @ 0917 705 1008.

Animal Scientist gathers on December 28, 2009

The BS Animal Science graduates of University of Southern Mindanao will hold its 2nd gathering on December 28, 2009 9AM at Mergrande Ocean Resort, Davao City.

The activity was organized to meet old and new friends working together for betterment of Filipino people through Animal Industry.

Its pure fun! Kainan, Kantahan, Kantyawan! the old AnSci of USM way!

If you happen to be an AnSci of USM of know some one please inform them.

Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnSci_USM/

MIndanao Agriculture on TV

"Balik Kita sa Uma"(Back to the Farm) radio program is now TV.

The JKR Multimedia Productions & Services, a newly established multimedia company, is now working on how to bring the "Balik Kita sa Uma" radio program series on TV. There were efforts now on to bring in the technologies on TV. Initially it will be shown in XNTV Channel 17 of Bansalan Cable TV.

The "Balik Kita sa Uma" radiop program was sponsored by Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center before. It was originally hosted by Dr. Warlito A. Laquihon, known by listeners as "Warling", Letecia Espero (Letty), Merlie Pagbilao, and later on by Zorayda Guya. According to Janoz Laquihon, the project manager, "We are looking for sponsors who can help us with the project."


"We wish to help farmers through multimedia. With the coming of the internet and local cable TV providers on countryside, we will be able to giveand share valuable information to all farmers... It is our prayer that every farmer will have an abundant life as promised in John 10:10" says Janoz.

If you believe in such advocacy and willing to support the project, contact JKR Multimedia Productions and Services through jkrmmp@yahoo.com.ph or contact 09208688862.

Bansalan promotes Organic Farming

The Municipal Agriculture Office conducted a seminar of organic fertilizer production in celebration on the 57th Araw ng Bansalan last September 16, 2009.

The activity was attended by interested farmers all over Bansalan. According to Mr. Julian L. Albores, the Municipal Agriculture Officer, the said activity was conducted based on the clamor of farmers that the synthetic fertilizer is expensive and could no longer afford to fertilize their soil, thus farmers are looking for alternatives. Vermiculture is one among many alternatives.

Further many farmers are also interested to know the recent technologies on ginger production. Speakers from General Santos City and Kidapawan City were invited to speak and demonstrate the said technology.

For more information visit the Municipal Agriculture Office of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

DAR-MinSSAD poured P20M+ on goat projects in Mindanao

Davao - Upgraded and purebred goats where distributed in Mindanao by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development (MinSSAD) project as alternative livelihood for CARP beneficiaries. The project was funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

According to Percival C. Dalugdug, the National Project Manager of MinSSAD, there are more than three thousand eight hundred does (3,800+) distributed to at least seven hundred (700) farmers and institutions in Mindanao. Areas covered include Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Comval, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Dinagat Island.

Five upgraded native does were given to farmer willing to participate on the said subproject. A cluster of five farmers were formed and each cluster was provided with one purebred Anglo Nubian or Boer buck. The animals were procured and distributed to 16 LGU participants and Central Mindanao University (CMU) based in Musuan, Bukidnon.

Prior to the distribution of goats, the farmers were trained at different training institutions like Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Bansalan Davao del Sur and nearby State Universities and Colleges. After the training they prepared their goat shed and pasture areas as their equity.

The farmer beneficiaries also have agreed among themselves to contribute an amount and managed by their respective clusters or organizations. Under the supervision of DAR and LGUs, the amount is allotted to buy additional heads in case of animals’ death or for procurement of veterinary drugs. Beneficiaries are also required to pay “in-kind” for every goat received.

The scheme of implementation in MinSSAD project is different compared to other dispersal projects of the government. The original does received by the farmers will be transferred to the next line farmer beneficiary. The original farmer will retain the highly upgraded weaned offspring therefore will have better animals compared to the original does. The scheme also serves more farmer beneficiary in a shorter period of time.

On the other hand, DAR-MinSSAD funded the establishment of Goat Breeding Center with 100 highly upgraded does and 20 purebred bucks at CMU. The breeder stocks were procured from selected farms in Mindanao and Visayas like MBRLC and Abello’s Farm at Negros Occidental. - jxysl

Locally Made Equipment Saves Dairy Industry

The locally fabricated milk processing equipment have helped the Philippine Dairy Industry save a lot. Dairy farmers no longer need to import batch pasteurizer, milk blender, and even milk cans.

According to Engr. Julius Sante, an experience dairy engineer, the said equipment were made of stainless steel which are food grade and made to satisfy the standards set by Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) in dairy processing. He further stressed that the equipment are efficiently designed to lower the cost of processing and can be repaired by local technicians.

The equipment he designed were installed at Pangantucan, Maramag, Kalilangan (PAMAKA) Farmers Dairy Cooperative based in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. The said equipment were funded by Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development (MinSSAD) project of the Department of Agrarian Reform. This project would be of great help in the development of the dairy industry. Other government agencies helping the project include: National Dairy Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Central Mindanao University, Philippine Carabao Center- CMU, Cooperative Development Authority, and the Local Government Units of Pangantucan, Maramag, and Kalilangan.

Such equipment are designed to suit the production capacity of the farm.

For more information please call or text Agri-Sense Enterprises at 0920-86-888-62.

Rice Fortification Program Launched!

The municipality of Bansalan officially implements the RA8976 on rice. The program was formally launched on July 7, 2008 at Municipal Hall, Bansalan, Davao del Sur in celebration of the nutrition month with the theme "Sa wastong nutrisyon ni Mommy, siguradong healthy si baby!". The activity were attended by mothers with their children, traders, unit heads, officials, food handlers, law enforcer, and non-government organizations.

Bansalan is the first municipality of Davao del Sur that implements Food Fortification Program specifically the Iron Fortified Rice. According to the Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Capacio, the implementation of the said program is backed up with the national law, Republic Act 8976, otherwise known as Food Fortification Law of 2000 and Municipal Ordinance No. 350 and Resolution No. 305, S2004. Further she stressed, that almost "3% of pregnant women visiting the Municipal Health Center have Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)". It would be wise to ensure that pregnant mothers are healthy, iron supplement could be used to decrease IDA.

During the activity, the children were fed with vegetables and fortified rice. According to Ms. Arlene Bangahon, the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) the feeding was sponsored by the Holy Cross of Bansalan College Alumni Higschool batch 1983 while the Agri-Sense Enterprises represented by Ellen S. Laquihon distributed Iron Fortified Rice Premix to mothers. They were also educated on the benefits of using the Iron Fortified Premix especially the pregnant and lactating women.

Municipal Ordinance No. 350 Article 8 States "MANDATORY PRODUCTION, SALE AND USE OF FORTIFIED RICE, SUGAR, OIL, AND FLOUR IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANSALAN. It is hereby required of all manufacturers, importers, repackers, traders, and suppliers to manufacture, import, repack, and sell only fortified rice, sugar, oil and flour in the municipality of Bansalan."

The Local Government of Bansalan based on the said Ordinance section 6, appropriates one million (P1,000,000.00) pesos from the IRA of the municipal office to be used for the development and implementation of the local government food fortification program.

A municipal task force on food fortification program, will be monitoring all traders, millers, and food handlers. Section 7 of thesame article states that any violators of the ordinance maybe penalized "in the amount of not less than P2,000 but not more than P100,000.00 and revocation of Business Permit by the Local Chief Executive, without prejudice to other penalties, after due notice and hearing."

Among the first trader and millers who followed the ordinance were B&B Grains corner owned by Mr. Edgar Balunan and Arches Rice Mill. Food establishments like AJR's Luncheonette & Snack Inn also serves fortified rice only.

If you drop bye and eat in restaurants in Bansalan, you are assured that the rice is Iron-fortified. You can see posters in these food stablishments with captions of "LIKAYI ANG ANEMIA! PAG IRON FORTIFIED RICE NA!" which means PREVENT ANEMIA, USE FORTIFIED RICE NOW!

Bansalan will soon decrease itS Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) prevalence rate with the strict implementation of Municipal Ordinance 305 and with the help of all leaders, NGOs like HCBC Alumni, Cooperatives, Rural Improvement Club, Bansalan Cable TV, and Business Sector.

Cheers Bansalan Health Office and all stake holders.

Philippine Goat raisers goes to Davao!

Ring! Ring!

"Hello noy! Can you come over? I want to discuss something with you." "Is that urgent dad? I'm travelling now towards Bukidnon." I replied. "Not really... but I have recieved an invitation letter from Vice Governor Pinol, chairperson of the organizing committee, for us to present a paper at The Philippine Goat Raisers Conference!""So how can I help you dad?"... my dad answered "Son, I need your thesis. I want you and you kuya (older brother) to join me in this presentation." Without any hesitations I immediately replied "I will be there on saturday." and I hanged up the phone.

I was so excited that our family could share the experiences in Dairy goat farming! Since, 1978, we were raising dairy goats at Mt. Carmel. I graduated my college with goats and now I am still working with goats. The passion of raising goats and dairy industry is there. I cannot deny it!

Foreigners and local speaker were invited to talk and discuss at PGRC 2008 that was slated on July 23-25, 2008 at Davao Convention Center, Davao City. The Laquihon's will be speaking on raising goats (the family experience) and local feed formulation.

For more details on Philippine Goat Raisers please visit http://philgoat.com/#

See you there!

The Hidden Hunger

A seven year old girl, named Mary jane, was rushed to the emergency room of the local hospital. "She fainted!" her mother yelled. "She was not able to eat breakfast this morning even though we prepared enough. She must be hungry."

After the doctor checked Mary Jane and a series of test. The doctor said "shes not just hungry... she has hidden hunger. we call it Iron Deficiency Anemia".

Are Filipinos hungry?

Recent survey says that hunger in Philippines declined to 15.7% from 21.5% in September 2007. According to the SWS, this is specifically involuntary hunger, which means, suffering hunger but not necessarily mean not having anything to eat. Good to know that our government is trying its best to reduce hunger but its a long way to go.

The same survey says that in Mindanao, 15.3 percent says that the moderately hungry which means they are suffering only once or a few times in the previous 3 months.

The Hidden hunger or Micronutrient malnutrition on the other hand is still high especially in the case of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). According to the study conducted by Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in 2003, there is an increasing incidence of IDA in infants at 66% from 56%, likewise it was found out that 50.3% of pregnant women and 42% of lactating women were anemic.

IDA causes Fatigue, low productivity and apathy among adults and poor school performance among children.

We have managed to reduce hunger and there is alarming increase of hidden hunger most of infants, children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

In 2000, The RA 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act 2000 was signed into law. Its government strategy to reduce the hidden hunger. It aims to increase dietary intake of Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine equivalent to 50% of recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) contributed by fortified food.

RA 8976 mandates the fortification of staple food to include Rice with Iron, flour with Vitamin A and Iron, Edible Oil with Vitamin A, and Sugar with Vitamin A.

The Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), Depatment of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Nutrition Council (NNC), National Food Authority (NFA), Local Government Units (LGU), and other non-government organizations are working together to reduce micro-nutrient malnutrition.

"DI LANG BUSOG DAPAT MALUSOG!" (Not just full but also healthy) are one of the slogans used by the advocates against hidden hunger. Indeed, rice could be available but is it healthy? Fortified Rice should be made available to everybody.

Today, the GRAINS FORTIFICANT Marketing Inc. and AGRI-SENSE ENTERPRISES is helping reduce the Iron-Deficiency Anemia by having Iron Fortified Rice Premix or Colored Rice available to grassroots level. Colored rice is the only fortified premix approved by the DOH and BFAD in Mindanao if not Nationwide. This is manufactured by CG Foods by coating the common rice mixed with Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) and passed the standards set by BFAD.

The program is now implemented in Region XI. Fastfood chains like Chowking, Jollibee, McDonald, other food establishments in Davao are serving not only rice but iron-fortified rice. Other neighboring cities like Tagum, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, Mati, and municipalities of Bansalan, Matanao, and Magsaysay are making every effort to have Iron Fortified Rice in their areas.

For more information contact jxysl2000@yahoo.com.

Executive Order 606 – Is it working?

“…Floods …caused millions worth of damage to crops and infrastructure.” These are the words in Philippine news papers lately. Same lines were seen the past decades and same lines will be seen 10-20 years from now if we take no action.

According to the report of Vicente S. Paragas, former Director of DENR Region X, deforestation and improper land use of uplands has resulted to land degradation and severe soil erosion. He further stressed that “Improper management, insufficient technical know-how, among others, has resulted in the failed in implementation of already existing laws on watershed protection and preservation.”

What the government did?

In February 27, 2007, Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the Executive Order 606 Pursuing Sustainable Upland Development anchoring on food, wood, and non-wood security and economic productivity and providing the mechanisms for its implementation. The DENR is tasks to take lead for the implementation of the said order. It will be assisted by DA, DAR, DILG and LGUs. I hope by this time, it will not fail again.

Not long time ago Ms. Li-Ann de Leon, the Executive Director of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), called to replicate the Sustainable Upland Development (SUD). She emphasized on the four models to be used by the Local Government Units (LGUs) namely: 1) Land-Used Based Barangay Development Planning (LUBBDP), 2) Upland Agricultural Extension Delivery for introducing Diversified Farming Systems or DFS with upland farmers (UAED-DFS), 3) Barangay Forest Protection and Management (BFPM) and 4) Labor-Based Routine Barangay Road Maintenance (LBRBRM). On the other hand, Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr., emphasized that SUD is “…definitely doable” most especially that Executive Order No. 606 was already in place. He further stressed “The LMP in partnership with the Mayor’s Development Center , can now go full blast in its campaign to replicate SUD all over the country.” Kudos to you,

Soil erosion can’t be stopped at all but rather be controlled. In a study conducted in Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in 2004 revealed that using Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and planting of vetiver grass in contour lines had effectively reduced the soil loss. On the other hand, technologies like terracing, natural vegetative barrier, and rock wall had higher soil loss as high as 32 tons per hectare per year. It is alarming to note that there will be higher rate of erosion when farmers do not have any conservation measures at all.

Many of our uplands today are cultivated for vegetables, corn, banana and even sugarcane. These farming systems were used without any soil erosion control. Uplands in provinces of Cotabato, Davao , and Bukidnon, are vastly converted to plantation crops (banana, pineapple and later to include jathropa) without any soil erosion measures but rather large canals for irrigation and drainage. As a result, more flash floods in lowlands and higher rate of soil erosion.Have we not learned from the tragedies of Ormoc to the recent damages in Cotabato? Do our politicians have the “WILL TO SERVE” or the agencies like DENR, DA and DAR to include DILG are doing its best to have executed E.O. 606? Or let’s just for more damages and calamities?

The LMP again will have another convention. Their actions along with the DENR, DA, and DAR per E.O. 606 remains to be seen. Is it doable? Prove it else we will see more headlines of calamity due failed implementation of existing laws tomorrow.