Agriculture and Aquaculture Industry [Archive]

jpdm

May 21st, 2012, 02:35 AM

Just how lame and powerless this government when it comes smuggling!:bash::bash:

Massive economic sabotage!:bash::bash::bash:

P15B OF SMUGGLED PORK MEAT BARED

Posted May 21st, 2012
by Christine F. Herrera & filed under Feature.

87 million kilos flooded wet markets in 2011

THE hog raisers on Sunday demanded that President Benigno Aquino III order a crackdown on smuggling syndicates after some 87 million kilograms of pork worth P14.79 billion entered the country and flooded the wet markets last year.

They made their demand even as the meat importers sought the President’s intervention to stop the increase in the reference prices of pork and chicken.

The importers turned to President Aquino after they got rebuffed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who stood his ground and imposed increases in the reference prices of pork and chicken. They dared the hog growers to name the smugglers.

Abono chairman and Swine Development Council director Rosendo So demanded that the Agriculture Department and the Bureau of Customs purge the list of importers after the council found that only 14 percent or 15.03 million of the 102.14 million kilos of offal that came into the country last year were legitimate importation.

“The rest of the 86 percent or 87 million kilos of purportedly offal that flooded the wet markets in 2011 magically turned into prime cuts of pork and were passed off as fresh meat,” So said.

“This outright smuggling has resulted in the killing of 20 percent of the backyard industry.”

Jesus Cham, president of the Meat Importers and Traders Association Inc., Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., president of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc., and Anthony Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, Inc., jointly wrote the President to protest the increase in the reference prices from 80 cents to $2.97 per kilo for swine and from 50 cents to $1.23 per kilo for chicken.:bash::bash:

“The upward increases in the reference values of imported pork and poultry will indiscriminately penalize legal business and [allow] smugglers to continue their illegal trade,” the meat importers said.

So said that of the 142 accredited meat importers, only 29 were meat processors and two were meat integrators allowed to import offal.

“The 111 traders that illegally brought in the bulk of the total 102.14 million kilograms of offal did not even have the facility to process offal.

So said the traders declared their imports as offal and not prime cuts to avoid paying the right tariff.

Offal is taxed only 5 percent, while prime cuts are levied 40 percent.

Cham, Tiukinhoy and Dizon say their frozen meat imports are now being subjected to 100-percent inspection following the hog growers’ complaint, but the growers have not proven that meat is being smuggled in.

Still, So has urged President Aquino to order a crackdown on smugglers that he claims are composed of corrupt Customs and Agriculture staff and dishonest importers.

“We call on President Aquino to declare an all-out war against smugglers not only to protect the local industry but to safeguard the public from possible health problems,” he said.

“We believe a top-to-bottom revamp is in order because the smuggling syndicate could not have done this illegal act without the connivance of [Customs and Agriculture] officials.”

So also took exception to Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon’s claim that his men did not have the expertise to classify meat.

“We don’t believe that [Customs] personnel don’t have the expertise to undertake a thorough inspection of imported meat when they have been doing it for many years already,” he said.
:bash::bash:
“We do believe that experience can teach them how to effectively deal with the technical smuggling, [false] declaration or undervaluation of imported meat if they really want to.” With Alena Mae S. Flores

(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/May/21)
http://news.manilastandardtoday.com/?p=24233

Putong amang mga importers/smugglers na mga yan!! :bash::bash::bash::bash:

jpdm

May 21st, 2012, 02:39 AM

Good news naman.:cheers::cheers:

Recto pitches for farmers

Posted May 21st, 2012
by Joel E. Zurbano & filed under Nation.

SENATOR Ralph Recto urged the government to invest in agriculture that would benefit all sectors, such as hog-livestock raisers, fruits and vegetable farmers, fishermen and other producers and not just for rice sufficiency.

“The goal of achieving food security should not be pegged alone on attaining rice sufficiency. There are other sectors of agriculture that are equally important in delivering adequate food supply to our people,” Recto said, urging the Department of Agriculture to rethink its plan to invest in more post-harvest facilities and irrigation systems to attain sufficiency in rice by 2013.

“While the rice sector will post surpluses next year, let’s not forget the livestock sector,” Recto said. “More neutral investments would benefit everyone.”

A more “neutral investment,” Recto explained, means building additional farm-to-market roads that would benefit the sub-sectors as well as food haulers who will bring in their products to the nearest market.

“The high prices of livestock and other fresh produce is largely blamed on lack of logistics like roads and transport, that it has become cheaper to import than to haul fresh produce from Mindanao to Metro Manila,” he said.

Meanwhile, former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also asked the government to help coconut farmers diversify and build viable cooperatives.

“Diversification is key to the economic survival of small growers facing severe hardship, with the farm-gate price of copra now down to as low as P15 per kilo from P40 a year ago,” said Zubiri.

Zubiri urged the state-run Philippine Coconut Authority to help planters expand their sources of farm income via intercropping.

(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/May/21)

http://news.manilastandardtoday.com/?p=24221

Nabartek

May 21st, 2012, 02:45 AM

I think what the government should do about meat smuggling is penalize/punish those businessmen who buy from smugglers. It's much easier that way that trying to look for smugglers na ang hirap hanapin plus for sure na may kakuntsaba rin na mga opisyales yan.

Greenfield

May 21st, 2012, 04:36 AM

Just how lame and powerless this government when it comes smuggling!:bash::bash:

Massive economic sabotage!:bash::bash::bash:

http://news.manilastandardtoday.com/?p=24233

Putong amang mga importers/smugglers na mga yan!! :bash::bash::bash::bash:

Agree. This is the reason why this country is poor. Smuggling is rampant and the government is not doing anything to stop it.

I think what the government should do about meat smuggling is penalize/punish those businessmen who buy from smugglers. It's much easier that way that trying to look for smugglers na ang hirap hanapin plus for sure na may kakuntsaba rin na mga opisyales yan.

Good suggestion sir.:cheers: But it should be both, from the port of entry down to the consumer market itself.:)

april boy

May 21st, 2012, 07:39 AM

^^^^At least this issue is now being discussed and solve by both the government and the private sector.:)

CarltonHill

May 21st, 2012, 08:11 AM

Sana mas bigatan pa ang parusa sa mga nasasangkot sa smuggling....

sana ganito kabigat: (o kung may mas bibigat pa)

Filipino (pasimuno, leader ng smuggling)
1st offense- PhP25Million bail or 20years jail-time
2nd offense- life imprisonment

Checkwa or other Foreigners (na leader ng smuggling)
1st and last offense- USD1Million bail + 3years in jail then deportation after.

para sa mga kanang kamay na Filipino
1st offense- PhP10Million bail or 10years jail-time
2nd offense- life imprisonment

para sa mga kanang kamay na Foreigner
1st and last offense- USD500,000 + 1year in jail then deportation after.

para sa iba pang responsible
1st offense- USD50,000 bail or 5years jail-time
2nd offense- 30years jail-time

....

:)

first knight

May 21st, 2012, 09:07 AM

Agree. This is the reason why this country is poor. Smuggling is rampant and the government is not doing anything to stop it.

Good suggestion sir.:cheers: But it should be both, from the port of entry down to the consumer market itself.:)

I concur.

Parchie

May 21st, 2012, 12:34 PM

^^^^At least this issue is now being discussed and solve by both the government and the private sector.:)

Dahil nagagalit na ang mga Hog and Poultry raisers! Kung hindi sinabihang mag-launch ng pork at poultry holiday, walang kikilos, ano po? Matagal na palang binigya ng tip ang gobiyerno, hindi lang ginawan ng aksiyon! Jeeezzzzz

Greenfield

May 21st, 2012, 01:45 PM

april boy

May 22nd, 2012, 12:50 AM

The government should effectively stop technical and outright smuggling of agricultural products to our country.

jpdm

May 22nd, 2012, 02:07 AM

The government should effectively stop technical and outright smuggling of agricultural products to our country.

This can be done if there will be a serious clean up in the BOC and Agriculture Dept especially of officials and employees in cahoots with these smugglers.

CarltonHill

May 22nd, 2012, 11:14 AM

160 kilos dynamited fish seized

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Police operatives confiscated Saturday morning some 160 kilograms of fish caught by dynamite blasting at a checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion, San Juan, La Union.

Police said that the dynamited fishes were stored in eight styrofoam boxes loaded in a delivery truck driven by Rolando Daruyo, 37, of Barangay Salisay, Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

The dynamited fishes with an estimated value of P16,000, owned by Jojo Fernandez, 38, of Dagupan, Pangasinan, were set to be delivered to public markets in the northern towns of Ilocos province when intercepted by police.

Fish examiner Margarita Santiago of the Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources (BFAR) certified that the confiscated fishes were caught by blasting.
Police said the fish owner was released from police custody upon paying the appropriate penalty for transporting dynamited fish. (Freddie G. Lazaro)
http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/160-kilos-dynamited-fish-seized/#.T7tYTEUlxcg

could not be really expensive in terms of value, but will surely affect too many people...

JoelVasquez

May 23rd, 2012, 12:18 PM

http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/16913/vietnams-aquaculture-success-boosts-economy

Can we also succeed in this “fishing expedition” ?? Does it need to have a PhD degree for the poor Filipino fisherman to be able to produce fishes like they do in Vietnam?? And sell USD billions to Europe and US ??

Opportunities lost - "gold-in-fish" enjoyed by our neighbors-thailand, malaysia and vietname, ...while we keep on blaming the government..

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2012, 04:15 AM

160 kilos dynamited fish seized

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/160-kilos-dynamited-fish-seized/#.T7tYTEUlxcg

could not be really expensive in terms of value, but will surely affect too many people...

weekly rito sa La Union may mga naririnig ako na explosions sa dagat. I live around 400 meters from the shoreline:bash:

hugodiekonig

May 25th, 2012, 04:17 AM

jpdm

May 26th, 2012, 05:10 AM

weekly rito sa La Union may mga naririnig ako na explosions sa dagat. I live around 400 meters from the shoreline:bash:

Sana ang masabugan yung mga gumagamit ng dinamita!:bash::bash::bash:

jpdm

May 26th, 2012, 05:20 AM

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

Export Action Line
Abaca Jeans In New York

By NELLY FAVIS-VILLAFUERTE
May 25, 2012, 6:30pm

MANILA, Philippines --- Do you know that abaca jeans goes to New York? Recently, on May 21 to 25, 2012, the abaca fabric for jeans was displayed in the Philippine Consulate in Fifth Avenue, New York. This is historic indeed. Both for our textile and export industry.

The credit for coming out with the first abaca fabric (blend of 43% abaca and 57% polyester) for jeans goes to Asia Textile Mills, Inc. (Asiatex), a manufacturing firm with weaving and dyeing facilities in Calamba, Laguna. Asiatex has been around since 1984 exporting other textile products since 1989 to Europe, Asia and some parts in Asia.

Says Matthew “Chuck” Lazaro, President and Chief Operating Officer of Asiatex: “We have come up with a material that looks like the 100% cotton denim. Except that the abaca-based jeans is so uniquely “Pinoy” considering that abaca is a Filipino fiber that gives durability to the fabric due to the fiber’s high tensile strength. The porosity (breathability) of abaca fiber is also incredible because, the fiber strengthens more when it is wet and heat is actually emitted out of the material instantly. In other words, durability and utmost comfort is attained when using the abaca fiber for clothing. The whole supply chain from farmers to textile producers, designers, garment/home textile makers are also benefited. This is the best way we can generate more jobs.”

Asiatex has a stable domestic market. Having a certificate of compliance with Republic Act No. 9242. Enacted last February 10, 2004, R.A No. 9242 is an act prescribing the use of the Philippine tropical fabrics for uniforms of public officials and employees and for other purposes.

Sections 3 and 4 of Republic Act No. 9242 provide:

“Sec. 3. Usage of Philippine Tropical Fabrics. – the use of Philippine tropical fabrics is hereby prescribed for official uniforms of government officials and employees and for the purposes which require the use of fabrics in government offices and functions.

“Sec. 4. Purchase of Tropical Fabrics. – Philippine tropical fabrics used for the uniforms of government officials and employees, and for other government purposes shall be purchased from local sources in accordance with law.”

Not many know that Asiatex manufactures the fabrics for the uniforms of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials and employees as well as the personnel of other government offices. Even private banks patronize the tropical fabrics manufactured by Asiatex for the uniforms of the bank personnel.

Going back to the display of abaca-based products (and other Philippine fiber-based products) in the Philippine Consulate Office in Fifth Avenue, New York – there are other fiber-based products including abaca wallpaper, abaca carpets, abaca draperies, abaca crunch, and raffia-based products on display, as well.

The display of Philippine-fiber based products in the Philippine Consulate in New York is a project of Eugenio “Buster” C. Elevado, Jr., a DTI Trade Service Officer based in New York and formerly based in Israel and Tokyo. Buster, a fellow Bicolano is the same DTI Official who encouraged me many years ago to write about the business culture of Israel in this same column. Buster is so knowledgeable with business practices in Israel because he was DTI’s Trade Service Officer in Israel for many years. Congratulations Buster for introducing the abaca blend fabric for jeans in New York! Yes, we will soon be seeing Americans wearing the abaca jeans.

Have a joyful day!

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/360437/abaca-jeans-in-new-york

CarltonHill

May 26th, 2012, 06:45 AM

Asia Grains-Philippines seeks 100,000 T of Australian feed wheat

SINGAPORE, May 25 (Reuters) - Feed millers in the Philippines are seeking 100,000 tonnes of Australian feed wheat, while South Korean buyers were in the market checking prices this week for some 200,000 tonnes of the grain to be shipped in the last quarter.

Asian grain buyers have been actively eyeing corn and wheat cargoes as global grain prices eased this week, hit by risk aversion and slowing demand.
"Most buyers in Southeast Asia are covered up to July," said one Singapore-based grains trader. "I think half of the positions are still open for August and September while almost everyone is looking for October-December arrival cargoes."

The buyers form the Philippines were negotiating deals on Friday to take Australian feed wheat for November and December shipment, after signing contracts to take more than 200,000 tonnes in the last two weeks.
Chicago Board of Trade corn is down 7.6 percent this week after a U.S. Department of Agriculture weekly export sales report came in lower than expected.

The USDA said weekly export sales of corn were 482,100 tonnes (old crop and new crop combined) and below estimates for 1 million to 1.3 million tonnes.
July soybeans are down 1.6 percent this week, falling for the fourth consecutive week, while wheat is down nearly 4 percent following a rally of nearly 17 percent last week when the market notched up its biggest weekly gains in 16 years.

As a result of last week's rally, millers in the Philippines may have to pay around $295 to $300 a tonne, including cost and freight (C&F), up from around $270 to $285 a tonne paid in earlier deals, traders said.
South Korean buyers were seeking offers from private traders for 200,000 tonnes of feed wheat for October-December delivery, but no deal has been signed.
"I think they were just checking prices and not really keen at the current prices," said another Singapore trader. "They will have to pay close to $300 a tonne, which is not very comfortable after having bought feed wheat below $270 a tonne in recent deals."
Taiwan's Breakfast Soybean Procurement Association has purchased 115,000 tonnes of soybeans from Brazil in a tender for 120,000 tonnes which closed on Friday.

The market is also closely watching India, which is trying to sell wheat from its burdensome stocks after the arrival of a new crop has worsened storage problems.
Six companies, including global traders, bid for wheat from India's stocks to sell overseas at prices between $150 and $230 per tonne, trade sources said, prices that might tempt the world's second-biggest producer as it tries to cut its huge stockpiles.

The tender was floated by State Trading Corp. to test the waters for potential exports to countries including sanctions-hit Iran.
"Indian wheat can be attractive only if the government offers subsidies," said the first trader. "It is still expensive as compared to the international market despite U.S. prices going up last week."

India is trying to export some of its stocks to make room for a record harvest of 90.23 million tonnes this year. Wheat stocks at government warehouses on May 1 were 38.2 million tonnes, more than nine times the official target.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-grains-philippines-seeks-100-090541379.html

jpdm

May 27th, 2012, 02:09 AM

JoelVasquez

May 29th, 2012, 08:20 PM

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/29/genetically-modified-crops-insects-emerged.aspx?e_cid=20120529_DNL_art_1

Please help alert our DA. Above article refutes the findings-study of our dearly beloved Filipino scientist at DA and advocates in Congress of the Philippines that Bt eggplant is safe. Bt toxins are found in the pregnant women and babies in CANADA !!!!! Please my dear friends tell DA in Luzon about this if this article does not make any sense and whether there is any truth to this or not. Bt corn and Bt eggplant is propagated in Luzon

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics

MatudNilaBaby

May 29th, 2012, 11:35 PM

I think if our government with the help of the private sector make the Philippines almost self-sufficient in food and most agricultural products, poverty in the country can easily be cut substantially.

UP Prof. Balisacan (now NEDA secretary) and other poverty experts in country believe that poverty is most prevalent in rural agricultural areas of the country.

For me then, the country should make agriculture viable and productive in the countryside so that we eliminate massive poverty and push economic development in the country.

Urban dwellers especially informal settlers--used to be rural folks, will then be lured back in the countryside and depopulate urban areas.

Paging government

agriculture should get a much bigger share of government funds to assist our farmers in the countryside to keep on planting inorder for us to have a stable supply of food and farm products. the farmers need to be provided with other livelihood income while their crops are growing and waiting for harvest season. that way they dont go hungry and instead will stay in the farms rather than go to the metropolitan and try their luck. most them eventually end up in the streets and becomes a burden to society.

first knight

May 30th, 2012, 12:55 AM

Nabartek

May 30th, 2012, 01:05 AM

Nabartek

May 30th, 2012, 08:22 AM

Akala ko ba malapit na tayo mag export ng bigas? mageexport tayo pero magiimport tayo? :bash:

NFA eyes Vietnam for 100,000 T rice supply deal (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/05/30/12/nfa-eyes-vietnam-100000-t-rice-supply-deal)

MANILA - The Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA) is seeking government approval to award a 100,000-tonne rice import deal to Vietnam which offered the best price for the volume, the head of the agency said on Wednesday.

The world's second biggest rice seller offered a "much lower" price than top exporter Thailand, NFA administrator Angelito Banayo told Reuters.

Banayo said the deal with Vietnam still requires approval from the NFA Council chaired by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. The volume should arrive before the start of the lean harvest season in July.

Parchie

May 30th, 2012, 08:29 AM

Akala ko ba malapit na tayo mag export ng bigas? mageexport tayo pero magiimport tayo? :bash:

NFA eyes Vietnam for 100,000 T rice supply deal (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/05/30/12/nfa-eyes-vietnam-100000-t-rice-supply-deal)

AFAIK, Lito Banayo is a publicist, not a known manager! What can you expect of someone pulled out from Abante, was it?

amigo32

May 30th, 2012, 10:23 AM

jpdm

May 31st, 2012, 02:17 PM

Akala ko ba malapit na tayo mag export ng bigas? mageexport tayo pero magiimport tayo? :bash:

NFA eyes Vietnam for 100,000 T rice supply deal (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/05/30/12/nfa-eyes-vietnam-100000-t-rice-supply-deal)

Malapit na. Before we used to buy more than 2.4 million metric ton of rice. Now, its down to 500,000 T.

This can be wiped out in the next few years and we can start having surplus in a few years to enable us to export rice.

Parchie

May 31st, 2012, 02:53 PM

Malapit na. Before we used to buy more than 2.4 million metric ton of rice. Now, its down to 500,000 T.

This can be wiped out in the next few years and we can start having surplus in a few years to enable us to export rice.

Hold your horses there. Until we see big amounts of money allotted for development of agriculture sector infra, those dreams we have can be realized. Also, we need the IRRI researchers to tweak the various types of rice in the country and produce a new variety that could withstand long immersion in water or a variety that can grow well in the upland fields. I've tested one hybrid that IRRI makes and its yield is promising. The problem is when you don't have enough water, the yield drops significantly.

On the volume aspect, the controlled volume of rice in the market means the prices remain the same--->too high for a poor peasant to buy! It would be nice if the price of rice gets lower to give the poor some breathing air, IMO.

kenken94

May 31st, 2012, 03:37 PM

I think if our government with the help of the private sector make the Philippines almost self-sufficient in food and most agricultural products, poverty in the country can easily be cut substantially.

UP Prof. Balisacan (now NEDA secretary) and other poverty experts in country believe that poverty is most prevalent in rural agricultural areas of the country.

For me then, the country should make agriculture viable and productive in the countryside so that we eliminate massive poverty and push economic development in the country.

Urban dwellers especially informal settlers--used to be rural folks, will then be lured back in the countryside and depopulate urban areas.

Paging government

We need better technology to help the farmers increase their productivity. Provide plow machines and tractors to the simple farmers. Give better irrigation in every province so we can optimize on what arable land we have left. Given our population, we need to innovate and increase domestic production of basic agricultural products to the optimum to avoid being dependent on imports which is unsustainable.

The government has to strengthen the industry as well as use the technology we gain to modernize farming in this country so we can get more with what we have. Then we can see optimum results and a self-reliant Philippines.

In the medium term, we have to do all means to remain insulated form abrupt changes in the world economy. Depend less on exports and strengthen the domestic market so that we ourselves can push the growth further off the charts. There's no way to go but develop our own potential to create growth on our own (of course with this I will still say that we really need FDI's).

dreamtime07

May 31st, 2012, 04:17 PM

GOOD NEWS mga kababayan!

Matagal na ako nakatira sa China, siguro mga 7 months na, at lahat ng banana dito, walang hindi nanggaling sa Pilipinas. at dahil sa ban ng pag-import ng china ng banana, hindi na masasarap ang mga banana dito at di pa gaano maganda ang itsura, minsan kadiri pa tingnan. at di na rin sila dito nagbebenta ng pongkan. sa tingin ko galing din sa pilipinas yun.

Ang good news ay: MALAKING KAWALAN sa CHINA ang pag-BAN ng IMPORTATION ng prutas galing PILIPINAS. wala na silang masarap na banana, ang mga banana nila dito na pumalit, mukang torpedo sa laki at hindi masarap, at hindi na sila gaano kadami magbenta ng banana, pakonti-konti na lang, di katulad ng dati!!!

icarusrising

June 2nd, 2012, 12:37 AM

Philippine Hybrid Rice Gains Int’l Acceptance; Indonesia Plants Big Area (http://mb.com.ph/node/360986/philippine-hybrid-rice-gain)
By MELODY B. AGUIBA
June 1, 2012, 10:57pm

MANILA, Philippines --- The locally developed SL-8 hybrid rice has become a popular international rice variety with 32,000 hectares now planted in Indonesia and is expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa.

A total of 105,000 hectares is aimed to be planted with SL AGritech Corp.’s (SLAC) hybrid rice varieties in Indonesia.

The company’s agreement with the Indonesian government has led to a plan to expand the hybrid area which consists of 40,000 hectares in East Kalimantan, 21,000 hectares in South Kalimantan, 34,000 hectares in South Sulawesi, and 10,000 hectares in Southeast Sulawesi.

SLAC is also shipping this year 1,000 metric tons (MT) of seeds to Bangladesh in an agreement with the government and another 1,000 MT to Vietnam.

“The Philippines is now famous among Bangladesh farmers because Bangladesh traditionally uses Chinese hybrid. But it’s only SL that has become a government-supported hybrid, so they’re always talking about SL-8 as a government hybrid,” SLAC President Henry Lim Bon Liong said in a press briefing.

It will beef up seed shipment volume to Myanmar, Brunei, India, and Nigeria.

But the aim of the company is to partner with foreign governments so that the hybrid rice seeds may be grown abroad rather than exported from the Philippines.

“We want to do seed production in their land because we have limited land,” said Lim.

In Myanmar, SLAC initially shipped 10 to 11 MT of parental seeds worth $35,000 which has since been showing favorable results.

“During the harvest of the seeds, even the president of Myanmar was there because it their highest yield (so far) in Myanmar,” he said.

A yield of up to 17 MT per hectare has already been achieved in the country from these hybrid rice seeds since the government adopted a hybrid rice program 10 years ago.

Among the highest yielders were Severino Payumo, 17.28 MT per hectare in Nueva Ecija; Aida Badong, 17.2 MT, Camarines Sur; Fernando Gabuyo, 16.75 MT, Nueva Ecija; and Eduardo Policarpio, 15.8 MT, Nueva Ecija.

Yield in Bangladesh has been reaching to 12 MT per hectare.

While India is also a hybrid rice seed producing country, SLAC has an opportunity to expand in India, said Lim, while it is likewise expanding in Nigeria.

(snipped)

JoelVasquez

June 2nd, 2012, 02:05 PM

Aquaponics is planned to be used in conjunction with Vertical Farming and Renewable Energy to achieve ZERO WASTE or almost zero waste. That is in the US. Can we do something similar to this in the Philippines?? Fully integrated, self-sustainable, energy efficient system. Singapore - has built their ZERO Energy Building. Can we beat them to it by introducing a self-sustainable energy and food production included?

Please check out side below.

http://www.thebioenergysite.com/news/11083/vertical-farm-produces-zero-waste

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics

jpdm

June 3rd, 2012, 02:50 AM

Singapore firms eye Phl fruit products

By Czeriza Valencia
(The Philippine Star)
Updated June 03, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - At least five big supermarket and retail companies in Singapore have expressed interest in Philippine fruit and fruit product exports such as Cavendish bananas, pineapples, coconut sugar and coconut water, according to the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Malacañang earlier announced that the country is eyeing alternative markets for bananas – one of which is Singapore – to help local banana growers affected by the stricter entry requirements imposed by China, which claimed to have found pests in the fruits from the Philippines.

These Singapore-based companies are supermarket chains NTUC Fairprice, Sheng Siong, Carrefour, and shopping centers Takashimaya, and Mustafa.

Data obtained from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), a sub-agency of the DTI shows that to date, Philippine fruit exports have gathered 761 inquiries following the country’s participation to the Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) 2012 expo held in Singapore from April 17 to 20.

CITEM, at present, is still negotiating the inquiries, some of which came in post-event.

CITEM executive director Rosvi Gaetos said onsite sales of Philippine fruit and fruit product exports reached $8.54 million.

The trade show drew over 40,000 visitors from 91 countries. Most of the trade visitors came from the airline, cruise, and rail food service; hotel, restaurant and catering; hospitality consulting and hotels; supermarkets and groceries; and industrial sectors.

Ten local firms participated in the trade expo in Singapore. These are: Agrinurture Inc. which grows fruits and vegetables (Cavendish bananas, mangoes, pineapples, coconuts) for export as well as processing into canned juice and frozen products.

Brandexports Philippines, Inc. which manufactures dried mangoes, coffee, suchero coconut sugar, tropical fruit cocktail in cans, tropical fruit juices and purees, canned coconut milk/cream, desiccated coconut, coconut milk powder and Filipino food assortment.

Green Heights Agricultural Corp. which grows Mt. Fuji-brand Japanese rice, Koshihikari variety; Hi-Las Marketing Corporation which produces fresh mangoes, frozen mangoes, frozen puree, dried fruits, fresh okra, and mango concentrate.

Marigold Manufacturing Corp. (Mama Sita) which manufactures the well-known Mama Sita’s mixes and sauces; Market Reach International Resources which processes candies, Filipino ethnic food, sauces, condiments, chips, noodles, and beverages.

Also, Megafishing Corp. which manufactures Mega Sardines in jitney cans and pouches, dried fish, and bottled sardines; Philippine Grocers Food Exports Inc. which manufactures assorted consolidated products such as beverages, snacks, frozen food among others.

TBN Food products which manufactures assorted food items; and Universal Canning Corporation which manufactures canned seafood under the brands Master, Family’s, Atami, and Mikado, as well as dried and frozen fish.

China has begun accepting Philippine banana exports but demand has been low.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=813348&publicationSubCategoryId=66

wolfram74

June 3rd, 2012, 05:25 AM

Aquino fails to meet land reform target (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/205489/aquino-fails-to-meet-land-reform-target)
June 2, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—They risked their lives for his mother in the twilight of the Marcos regime and voted him for president in 2010 but now more than 5,000 peasants from across the country are marching on Manila because the Aquino administration supposedly has chalked up a record in agrarian reform that is worse than all the other post-Edsa administrations.

(snipped)

:ohno::ohno::ohno:

Greenfield

June 4th, 2012, 12:13 AM

Parchie

June 5th, 2012, 12:05 AM

Its about time the country should diversify its export market for our agricultural products. We should at the same time diversify our export products and domestically, make our country self-sufficient in food.

Having a brain fart lately? :nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts:

Diversifying involves looking for other agri crops to be planted, grown and then be exported! Then you said "make our country self-sufficient in food". When you decide to plant a different crop for export, you take away a portion of arable land that used to be planted with staple crops of our countrymen! Did people miss a lot here?

jpdm

June 5th, 2012, 09:08 AM

jpdm

June 5th, 2012, 09:17 AM

Its about time the country should diversify its export market for our agricultural products. We should at the same time diversify our export products and domestically, make our country self-sufficient in food.

Yes, if China rejects our banana export (together with Australia), then we can explore other market like Iran and Singapore as mentioned in recent news.

Surprisingly, aside from our traditional agri-exports like abaca, banana, pineapple and copra , we are now in limited quantities exporting organic rice.

More lands especially those idle lands owned by the government(sprawling military camps and other government agri-lands in the provinces) should be harnessed and planted with food crops. So far we are doing well with rice, corn and other staple food due to the rehab of irrigation system and support from the dept of Agriculture.

Nabartek

June 5th, 2012, 09:32 AM

^^ Dream ko makatikim kahit Philippine cavendish man lang (I understand hindi matagal ang shelf life ng Lakatan) at Philippine mangoes. Fruits from Central and South America and Mexico just suck (bland taste). To be blunt. Suerte lang nila at may NAFTA at CAFTA at masmalapit sila.

Greenfield

June 5th, 2012, 12:24 PM

I think you are the one farting here by posting this stupid manure reply. :lol::lol:

Its so easy to understand @greenfield's post and expectedly you came up again with another nonsense reply..:lol::lol::lol:

Yes, if China rejects our banana export (together with Australia), then we can explore other market like Iran and Singapore as mentioned in recent news.

Surprisingly, aside from our traditional agri-exports like abaca, banana, pineapple and copra , we are now in limited quantities exporting organic rice.

More lands especially those idle lands owned by the government(sprawling military camps and other government agri-lands in the provinces) should be harnessed and planted with food crops. So far we are doing well with rice, corn and other staple food due to the rehab of irrigation system and support from the dept of Agriculture.

Find this @parchie guy's post either empty or plain rubbish.

^^ Dream ko makatikim kahit Philippine cavendish man lang (I understand hindi matagal ang shelf life ng Lakatan) at Philippine mangoes. Fruits from Central and South America and Mexico just suck (bland taste). To be blunt. Suerte lang nila at may NAFTA at CAFTA at masmalapit sila.

Hopefully, Dole Philippines will help bring Philippine bananas and other fruits in the Americas.

Nabartek

June 6th, 2012, 02:40 AM

Find this @parchie guy's post either empty or plain rubbish.

Hopefully, Dole Philippines will help bring Philippine bananas and other fruits in the Americas.

it will be hard. we face stiff competition from central and south america and think of it, they have free trade agreement with the US. given our distance, it will make our bananas more expensive

maybe, if we could find a way to prolong the life of the lakatan, we will "kill" their cavendish banana industry :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Nabartek

June 6th, 2012, 02:49 AM

Fusarium Wilt Threat Is Real (http://www.agrizaccess.com/2012/04/fusarium-wilt-threat-is-real.html)

Davao City
The Fusarium Wilt disease of Cavendish banana that has been played up in the media is a real threat to the multi-million dollar banana export industry in the Philippines.

This is stressed by Dr. Agustin Molina, the senior scientist of Bioversity International, a non-government agency based in Rome that is particularly interested in promoting the banana industry worldwide.
He e-mailed thanking us for what we have written about Bioversity’s program in in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) and the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture. “Your articles, I am sure, will be read by international audience since Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is a very important global concern. It is still in the mind of the global banana industry how Panama Wilt devastated the banana industry in Central America in the ‘50s. It is called Panama Wilt because the first epidemic was in Panama in 1918.”

Dr. Molina said that the wilt disease that attacked that time was the Race 1 which affected the Gros Michel variety which was a favorite of the growers as well as the consumers in the world market. The Gros Michel produced big bunches and the fruits were sweet. It also had good transport quality. But then it was susceptible to the disease. Eventually, Gros Michel was replaced with Cavendish which was resistant to the Fusarium Wilt Race 1.

The Panama disease eventually spread to neighboring countries like Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia. Dr. Molina said these were the major banana producers at that time. Banana was such an important export crop in these countries, a major source of their foreign currency. And that’s probably the reason why these countries were called Banana Republics.

He said that it took the big banana companies 40 years of grappling with disease devastations and moving from one place to another to establish plantations. The big companies included United Fruits (now Chiquita), Dole and Del Monte. They were forced to change Gros Michel in the late ‘50s with Cavendish which was resistant to Fusarium Wilt Race 1.

Now, the TR4 is threatening not only the Cavendish in the Philippines but also other varieties like Lakatan and Latundan. The disease is a big threat if not given the right R&D attention for its mitigation, according to Dr. Molina. He says that TR4 first appeared in Taiwan in the late ‘60s causing lots of damage in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Then it appeared in Malaysia and Indonesia in the early ‘90s, making them uncompetitive.

Of course, the threat is not only on the Philippines. India (the biggest banana producer but mostly for domestic use) is also worried just in case the disease gets into that country. So with the growers in Central America and in Africa.

Parchie

June 6th, 2012, 05:08 AM

Fusarium Wilt Threat Is Real (http://www.agrizaccess.com/2012/04/fusarium-wilt-threat-is-real.html)

Thanks for posting this.

JoelVasquez

June 7th, 2012, 01:03 AM

Lemmon grass can grow in an aquaponic environment. Grow lemmon grass and fight cancer the natural way. Start your aquaponics herbal garden, your private pharmacy at home. Check this site below.

http://israel21c.org/health/fresh-lemon-grass-fields-in-israel-become-mecca-for-cancer-patients/

www.facebook.com/philippine.aquaponics
www.facebook.com/groups/philippineaquaponics

Saddhim

June 7th, 2012, 03:28 AM

Yes, if China rejects our banana export (together with Australia), then we can explore other market like Iran and Singapore as mentioned in recent news.

Philippine bananas have already penetrated the Singapore market. We always have it in the office and also I always buy Philippine bananas from the market. It's the best tasting banana in Singapore as far as I'm concerned.

Greenfield

June 8th, 2012, 02:08 AM

Philippine bananas have already penetrated the Singapore market. We always have it in the office and also I always buy Philippine bananas from the market. It's the best tasting banana in Singapore as far as I'm concerned.

Nice to hear this sir.:cheers:

Greenfield

June 8th, 2012, 02:34 AM

Having a brain fart lately? :nuts::nuts::nuts::nuts:

Diversifying involves looking for other agri crops to be planted, grown and then be exported! Then you said "make our country self-sufficient in food". When you decide to plant a different crop for export, you take away a portion of arable land that used to be planted with staple crops of our countrymen! Did people miss a lot here?

Simple statements you cant just comprehend. Now look who's farting.

Yes, if China rejects our banana export (together with Australia), then we can explore other market like Iran and Singapore as mentioned in recent news.

Surprisingly, aside from our traditional agri-exports like abaca, banana, pineapple and copra , we are now in limited quantities exporting organic rice.

More lands especially those idle lands owned by the government(sprawling military camps and other government agri-lands in the provinces) should be harnessed and planted with food crops. So far we are doing well with rice, corn and other staple food due to the rehab of irrigation system and support from the dept of Agriculture.

Agree on this sir.:cheers:

Nabartek

June 10th, 2012, 11:10 PM

In South Korea: Peru, Philippines in Banana ‘war’ (http://www.edgedavao.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3819:in-south-korea-peru-philippines-in-banana-war&catid=34:the-economy&Itemid=68)

<snippet>
It is mainly due to South Korea eliminating tariff on the Latin American bananas and not to the vociferous “Dirty Bananas” campaign of the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS) and the Davao City Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (DCTFAAS) of the Interface Development Interventions, Inc.
A foreign-funded non-government organization, Misireor, earlier claimed that they have convinced the Japanese and South Koreans not to patronize Philippine bananas as “the Philippine export banana industry is not environment-friendly.”

Unknown to the anti-aerial spraying group, all the protocols in the production of Philippine export bananas were provided by the Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare which experts say are the most stringent quality control standards for bananas in the world.

<snippet>

The 911 Save Our Sagingan Movement and landowners in 11 Mindanao provinces hosting banana farms are calling on government to put closure to the aerial spraying issue to protect the Philippine export banana industry from lobbyists of foreign interests masquerading as civil society groups.

“There is a clear pattern among these foreign-funded groups to undermine our public and private institutions and disable us from making full use of our national patrimony for the benefit of our people,” warned Aldeguer, a rebel returnee and agrarian reform beneficiary

Nabartek

June 10th, 2012, 11:13 PM

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/economy/5218-government-peace-panel-to-touch-base-with-malaysian-facilitators.pdf

<snippet>

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) told BusinessMirror that “while we are still at the upper hand in terms of volume and sales, the sales began to take a dive this week in favor of Peruvian banana because Peru got a zero tariff privilege in a bilateral agreement with South Korea.”

<snippet>
“It’s the banana war between Peru and the Philippines and the Peruvians are getting the upperhand reportedly outselling Philippine bananas three to one,” the statement said.

PBGEA said that the losing position of Philippine banana was “mainly due to South Korea eliminating tariff on the Latin American bananas and not to the vociferous ‘Dirty Bananas’ campaign of the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying and the Davao City Task Force Against Aerial Spraying of the Interface Development Interventions Inc.”

Some countries are not playing it fair! Maybe, we should take R&D seriously so that we can prolong the shelf life of the Lacatan and export it.

Nabartek

June 10th, 2012, 11:14 PM

Philippines: The China banana saga continues (http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=97235)

Filipino Agriculture Secretary, Proceso J. Alcala has cautioned exporters against offering bargain prices for their produce if they are unable to get it into China.

Despite the movement of bananas at ports again now, there are still 2000 containers rotting at Chinese ports, having been found to contain pests. In addition there are still reports that much of the produce is not getting through.

Exporters are asking for relief from the government like suspension of import duties on raw materials and exemption from wage hikes.

The banana industry is employing half a million workers in total.

"The losses continue to pile up and we need more immediate help from the government that will provide both short term and long term solutions for the industry," Stephen Antig, president of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association said.

One of the big companies exporting Philippine Cavendish bananas to China still has 193 container vans of bananas that are still stuck and rotting in Chinese ports. The contents of the vans will either be dumped in China or sent back to the city.

The company is set to lose $2.9 million for that shipment alone, notwithstanding the cost that the company will incur should the container vans be shipped back to Davao City.

Antig says the situation is still bad, despite government attempts to play it down.

"Government officials have downplayed the situation, saying that the situation in China is normalizing. How can they even call this normalizing? We do not expect the situation to normalize soon, although we are hoping and praying that it does," Antig said.

hugodiekonig

June 11th, 2012, 11:48 AM

Plant some ‘talong’ to reduce rice pests, expert says
Posted at 1:50 pm June 11, 2012

http://loqal.ph/business-and-finance/files/2012/06/plants_ss.jpg

MUNOZ, NUEVA ECIJA – Farmers should start planting vegetables along rice bunds to help manage pests, a crop protection expert said.

Planting vegetables such as okra, kalabasa, talong and other vegetables provides food for egg parasitoids and shelter for predators of crop pests so it is wise to plant them in rice bunds, said Gertrudo Arida, division head of the crop protection division at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Arida promotes “ecological engineering,” a strategy that lessens pesticide use by improving the habitat of beneficial insects that can control pests. Spiders, coccinelid beetles, long legged flies, and yellowish-brown ants are among the beneficial insects that can help control pests in rice paddies.

read more at source (http://loqal.ph/business-and-finance/2012/06/11/plant-some-%E2%80%98talong%E2%80%99-to-reduce-rice-pests-expert-says/)

jpdm

June 12th, 2012, 02:27 AM

^^^^^^Interesting..:):)

hugodiekonig

June 12th, 2012, 05:03 AM

^^^^^^Interesting..:):)

Ang galing nitong discovery na ito. No need much of pesticides to kill pests.

danicag6

June 12th, 2012, 11:23 AM

Hello, I'm just new here. Just wanted to share and promote this:
We actually have a Grapes farm in La Union, locally grown :)

My family has been growing grapes for 30 years. We would like to offer our grapes to wholesale buyers that are interested.

Read more: http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/4368907/Grapes+wholesale

Find us also on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/GapuzGrapesFarm
http://www.facebook.com/GapuzGrapesFarm

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=366354536758737&set=a.240992029294989.63877.231312286929630&type=1&theater

:)

amigo32

June 12th, 2012, 11:52 AM

Manila-X

June 15th, 2012, 04:23 AM

Aquino to farmers: You will have land
‘Happy’ land tillers call off strike
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:03 am | Friday, June 15th, 2012

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/212713/aquino-to-farmers-you-will-have-land

Addressing personally for the first time concerns of peasants and prelates, President Benigno Aquino on Thursday vowed to fully implement his mother’s 24-year-old agrarian reform program and allocate the necessary funds for the effort before its expiration in two years.

Briefing reporters after the two-hour meeting in Malacañang with representatives of the farmers and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also said the President directed the military and police to ensure “the peaceful and orderly installation of farmer-beneficiaries of all lands under the program.”

The meeting was hastily called Thursday just after noon on a day some 300 farmers were to begin a hunger strike to press Mr. Aquino to make a firm commitment he would implement Carper within its mandated term, an issue he had ignored even in his State of the Nation Addresses.

Leaders of Task Force Mapalad (TFM), a civil society organization helping the farmers, said the hunger strike had been called off temporarily until the farmers were satisfied that Malacañang would carry through its promises.

Christian Monsod, TFM counsel, said the farmers were “very happy” with the President.

“He opened the doors. He said he can meet them when they need him,” said Monsod, who participated in the meeting marking the first time Mr. Aquino, himself a wealthy landowner, addressed the issue he had previously left to his aides to deal with.

“That’s sending a message that the President is hands-on and that Malacañang is on top of hastening the implementation of land acquisition and distribution,” said Butch Olano, a TFM board member.

Carper beyond 2014

Lacierda said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police would be mobilized for the distribution of nearly 1 million hectares of land, comprising some of the country’s prime agricultural estates, yet to be covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

CARP was launched by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1988 as the centerpiece of her social justice promise to ease widespread poverty and remove one of the major causes of a simmering communist insurgency. It was extended for another five years in 2009 with a total allocation of P150 billion and is now called CARP extension with reforms, or Carper. It expires on June 30, 2014.

“Between now and June 2014 all agricultural land shall be covered and distributed to qualified beneficiaries. Priority shall be given to landholdings 25 hectares and above and notices of coverage shall be issued on or before December 2012,” Lacierda said.

He said notices of coverage for lands 10 ha and above should be issued on or before December 2012. He said that for land holdings under 10 ha, notices of coverage would be issued not later than July 2013.

Asked whether the President mentioned what would happen if the government failed to meet its target, Lacierda said, “Our commitment is to put all the agricultural lands under notices of coverage that will ensure the implementation of the Carper beyond 2014.”

Some 300 farmers had staged a 10-day march from their farms in Negros Occidental, Davao and Bukidnon provinces to dramatize their concerns that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under Mr. Aquino was “consistently underperforming,” an apprehension contained in a letter prepared by the Catholic Church and sent to Mr. Aquino on June 1. The letter was endorsed by 52 of the 100 members of the CBCP.

Olano said that Mr. Aquino basically agreed to implement commitments made by Cabinet officials in a meeting at the Palace on June 8 when the farmers marched on Malacañang at the end of their long march while Mr. Aquino was in London.

Lacierda said among those in the meeting were Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff.

The farmers were represented by Monsod, former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., TFM national coordinator Armando Jarilla, TFM president Alberto Jaime, and TFM spokesperson Edna Sobrecaray.

P30-B annual budget

The members of the Catholic Church present were Ipil Bishop Antonio Ledesma of the CBCP, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines executive director Fr. Marlon Lacal and Fr. Anton Pascual of Caritas Manila.

Lacierda indicated that the government would start allocating the budget required under the law for the program.

continued on the provided link above.

william :D

June 16th, 2012, 04:19 PM

$1.03-billion aqua farm to rise in Baliuag
By Dino Balabo (The Philippine Star) Updated September 27, 2006 12:00 AM Comments (0)

BALIUAG, Bulacan — A $1.03-billion modernized aquaculture farm funded by Korean investors is set to rise in a 51-hectare land in Barangay Pagala located on the northwestern part of this town.

Based on documents obtained by The STAR, the investment will come in three phases as the Korean investors represented by Isla Maharlika Development Corp. (IMDC) will construct a campus-like facility of the Green Aqua Farm project.

The facilities of the Green Aqua Farm Project will have state-of-the-art facilities for breeding, farming and culture of tropical fishes, mollusks, shell fish, crustaceans, and lobsters, which will be primarily sold to the export market.

The major components of the project includes the construction of the 20-story cooperate building, a twin 20-story employee and workers building, 30 seven-story building for aquaculture production, thirteen 20-story buildings for agriculture production using hydroponics, a facility and maintenance building, a feed mill, a water treatment facility and a power generating plant.

Documents showed that the corporate building will have a total floor area of 15,370 square meters, two basement levels for parking, and a ground floor that will be used as corporate office and showroom. The second up to the 14th floor will be used as residential units, the 15th to 17th floors will house the executive residential suites, and the rest will be utilized for penthouse, view decks and helipads.

The aquaculture building was designed to have offices and cold storage facilities on its ground floor, while the second to the sixth floor will be used for fishpond and aquaculture production.

Meanwhile, the 13 seven-storey agriculture building will have hydroponics planters and troughs.

Lawyer Enrique dela Cruz, a municipal councilor, told The STAR that they are still studying the project proposal.

However, he also said that the initial phase of the project, which will cost $300 million, will generate thousands of employment and additional revenues for the municipal government projected to reach at least P25 million.

Meanwhile, other residents privy to the project describe it as one single mammoth project for aquaculture and agriculture.

They said the construction of the facilities alone in the 51-hectare proposed site in Barangay Pagala would mean livelihood to literally thousands of blue collar workers in Baliuag and neighboring towns.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=360035&publicationSubCategoryId=67

luma na pong balita ito pero this month lang daw po mag uumpisa. May nakakaalam po ba sa inyo tungkol dito?

if this is true, its a good good news! :cheers:

jpdm

June 17th, 2012, 04:28 AM

^^^^^^I hope this is true.

the glimpser

June 17th, 2012, 02:09 PM

Coconut husks touted as next big PH export

MANILA, Philippines—The coconut industry is expected to get a further boost once it capitalizes on its potential to be a top exporter of cocopeat, a fibrous substance made from coconut husks.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said that given the proper post-harvest technology, the Philippines could easily make export-grade cocopeat and become its biggest supplier worldwide with the sheer size of lands devoted to coconut trees.

PhilMech is mandated to conduct research on the ways farm waste could be put to good use.

The agency said it had developed a two-step drying system with its partners in order to produce quality cocopeat.

Cocopeat is a by-product of coconut husk and is used as a growing medium for plants using hydroponics, a method of growing crops without using soil only water.

PhilMech said cocopeat is becoming more popular in hydroponics, noting that it has a water retention capacity of up to eight times its weight. Cocopeat needs less watering compared to peat moss, which is also used in hydroponics. It is resistant to bacteria, weed and fungal growth and can be used for up to eight years.

According to PhilMech, the Philippines has enough coconut trees to overtake India and Sri Lanka, the current top cocopeat suppliers.

Both countries export more cocopeat even if India only has one million hectares of coconut lands and Sri Lanka has only about 1.76 million ha planted to coconuts. In comparison, the Philippines has 3.3 million ha of coconut lands.

http://business.inquirer.net/65553/coconut-husks-touted-as-next-big-ph-export

RonnieR

June 19th, 2012, 11:27 AM

Tablet PCs to help farmers
Indian NGO to help produce $100 computers :cheers:

By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
Published: 12:34 June 19, 2012
Gulf News

Manila An India-based non-government organisation will help the department of agriculture in the Philippines produce a cheap Tablet-computer with applications that farmers can use to produce high yield in agricultural products, sources have said.

Creating a $100 (Dh367) Tablet-PC for Filipino farmers is a joint project of the Manila’s Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, based in India, said Loqal, a business and finance website.

“We have an idea to revolutionise Philippine agriculture,” said William Dar, a Filipino national and general manager of ICRISAT, an NGO that was founded in 1972 with the help of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, with assistance from the United Nation

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/philippines/tablet-pcs-to-help-farmers-1.1037698

Greenfield

June 25th, 2012, 12:26 PM

Alcala launches national food plan

Posted June 25th, 2012
by Othel V. Campos

The Agriculture Department will mark its 114th anniversary today with a soft launching of a policy document on the country’s food sufficiency program.

“The crafting of the… document was not an easy task, and the implementation of programs to achieve self-sufficiency in food staples is a continuing challenge. We need all the help we can get from all sectors,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a statement.

President Benigno Aquino III will sign the program on July 5, 2012 when he attends the 2nd Makina-Saka agricultural machinery exposition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The food sufficiency plan is the banner program of the Agriculture Department’s Agrikulturang Pilipino framework concerned with food security and self-sufficiency in rice and other staples.

The department under the program will outline three major government measures aimed at ensuring enough food for each Filipino family without need for the state to import from other countries and assuring farmers that they enjoy decent and rising standard of living.

The program cited three major measures that include production support like irrigation, quality seeds, post- harvest facilities and other components relating to the production of rice.

The second is the enhancement of economic incentives and mechanisms that include market reforms in palay and rice, provision of credit to farmers and strengthening of insurance coverage.

The third involves the management of food consumption through conservation of rice and reduction of food wastage, consumption of alternative food staples and intensifying farming of other staples like sweet potato, banana, corn and cassava.

(Published in the Manila Standard Today newspaper on /2012/June/25)
http://business.manilastandardtoday.com/2012/06/25/alcala-launches-national-food-plan/
:cheers::cheers:

Manila-X

June 28th, 2012, 03:48 PM

Philippine farmers among least mechanized in Southeast Asia
By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:23 pm | Thursday, June 28th, 2012

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/41993/philippine-farmers-among-least-mechanized-in-southeast-asia

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino farmers use the equivalent in power of a small electric fan per hectare of farmland.

That’s because the Philippines has one of the lowest rates of mechanical equipment use in Southeast Asia—at half a horsepower (.5 hp) per hectare (hp/ha), according to newly installed Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Executive Director Rex Bingabing.

“In layman’s terms, that’s equivalent to one small electric fan,” said Bingabing in an interview on Thursday.

Other agricultural countries in the region like Vietnam and Thailand–both of which export rice–have a much higher mechanization rate at .7 hp/ha. Fully industrialized Japan utilizes 7 hp/ha, while developed South Korea recorded 4 hp/ha.

This translates to more efficient work, higher productivity and greater yield for their farms, Bingabing pointed out.

The PhilMech director said Filipino farmers rely heavily on manual labor in the land preparation, planting and harvest stages. Drying and milling machines used post-harvest are often inefficient, leading to huge rice losses, he said.

Bingabing said that 16 percent of the total rice output was lost due to inefficient farming methods and equipment.

“If we can reduce that to single digits, we won’t have to import rice,” he said. “If we do that, we can get a net gain of 6 percent. That would be an additional yield without changing much in production,” Bingabing said.

President Benigno Aquino wants the Philippines to be self-sufficient in rice by 2013. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the government will not import rice after that year. This year, the rice importation is only 500,000 MT.

Bingabing said many Filipino farmers did not have the money to buy hand tractors and other small farm equipment. The Department of Agriculture, he said, was addressing this lack with a credit facility for the farmers.

The farmers are also reluctant to mechanize because they fear losing work. “They feel that they will be displaced. But if they look at the bigger picture, they will realize that if they can do in half a day what they used do in a full day, they can do other jobs,”

Bingabing said.

Bingabing said Philmech, a DA-attached agency, aims to increase the use of mechanical equipment on Filipino farms to match the rates of Thailand and Vietnam.

PhilMech, he said, will focus on developing small-scale farm machinery that will help farmers add value to their produce and avoid waste at the same time.

He observed that many farmers allowed much produce to be wasted or to rot because of excess production or because traders were not willing to pay better prices.

“I have observed that many corn farmers are left with harvests that they cannot sell and these will deteriorate if not processed into value-added products like flour. Also, tomato farmers who have excess production can process their unsold harvests into tomato paste or dried tomatoes,” Bingabing said.

As of April, PhilMech was ahead of its schedule in distributing different farm equipment to qualified farmers’ organizations. It has given out 644 hand tractors, 33 four-wheel tractors, 270 palay threshers, 14 single-pass rice mills, 326 rice drum seeders and 90 rice reapers.

the glimpser

July 17th, 2012, 04:17 PM

DENR adds coffee production under greening program

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has allotted some 86,000 hectares of land in a move to boost local coffee production.

The selected upland areas will be developed into coffee plantations under the food security objective of the National Greening Program (NGP).

The project aims to enable local farmers to turn high-value crops like coffee and eventually void of the need to import coffee beans, such as from Indonesia and Vietnam, to meet the local demand.

In an article published at the Bureau of Agricultural Research Research and Development Digest, two of our prevalent varieties of coffee include the arabica and robusta varieties.

It also noted that the country is also among the few countries in the world where these coffee varieties, along with excelsa and liberica, exist.

However, coffee plantations in the country have already decreased from 149,657 hectares to 138,830 or an average of 1 percent reduction a year.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/denr-adds-coffee-production-under-greening-program-080314778.html

jpdm

July 22nd, 2012, 02:23 AM

Commentary

Agriculture Secretary Alcala: Farmers’ asset?

By: Ernesto M. Ordoñez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:09 am | Friday, July 20th, 2012

Is the Agriculture Secretary an asset to farmers? It depends on the Secretary. Sometimes, he is a liability.

In the case of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, he has turned out to be an asset. Farmers must take advantage of this. Otherwise, they will lose a valuable opportunity to improve their incomes and contribute meaningfully to food security and agricultural development.

Committed

Alcala is committed to helping small farmers and fisherfolk. Proof of this is the groundbreaking initiatives he has embarked on.

Alcala knows credit is still the small farmer’s biggest problem. Having no access to credit, the farmer is forced to resort to usurers who use the 5-6 scheme for loan rates. For a three-month term, this means an annualized 80 percent interest rate; for one month, this is 240 percent!

Opposing strong forces advocating purely market-based mechanisms, and losing powerful allies in the process, Alcala instituted a loan program with lower-than-market interest rates. This also includes insurance coverage. There are many instances when Alcala has favored the small farmers over other forces, at a high cost to his own personal welfare.

Humble

Alcala is humble. He credits others instead of himself, even in those instances when he deserves the most credit. He admits his mistakes. When the idea of Agriculture Fisheries 2025 (a public-private effort to have a vision for 2025 and the accompanying policies and programs) was proposed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Alcala ordered the DA bureaucracy to give this full support.

As a result, AF 2025 has made significant achievements. This would not have happened without Alcala’s backing.

Paradox

There is, however, a paradox. Philippine agriculture is in crisis. Rice production is hampered by inefficient, and in many cases corrupt, irrigation construction and maintenance.

The coconut industry is in trouble, with one-third of coconut land without any fertilization, and one-sixth with senile trees. Smuggling in pork and poultry importation is rampant.

DA statistics show that 20 percent of backyard swine raisers have lost their jobs in the last two years. Fisheries production is declining, impoverishing further the lowest-income sector in the country.

If Alcala is an asset, why is this happening? The fault, dear reader, is in the bureaucracy.

Most of those in the DA bureaucracy are talented, compassionate and good. But there are a few but powerful DA officials who are sabotaging Alcala’s initiatives.

Necessary action

The farmers must now tell Alcala who these officials are and provide the needed information so they can be removed, or at least reassigned. They are responsible for most DA shortcomings.

Recently, Alcala removed two powerful bureau directors, which would not have occurred without the farmers’ participation. This must continue.
I have worked in two government agencies and the Office of the President for 16 years as Undersecretary or Secretary.

I know reforming the bureaucracy cannot be done overnight. But it can be done faster with private sector involvement.

Farmers must now participate in agricultural governance by directly reporting misdeeds to Alcala. They can significantly help Alcala solve the major problem of bureaucracy.

Alcala will then not only be an asset to farmers; farmers will also be an asset to Alcala.

(The author is chairman of Agriwatch. For inquiries and suggestions, e-mail agriwatch_phil@yahoo.com.)

http://business.inquirer.net/71923/agriculture-secretary-alcala-farmers%e2%80%99-asset
:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

Greenfield

July 22nd, 2012, 12:14 PM

DENR adds coffee production under greening program

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/denr-adds-coffee-production-under-greening-program-080314778.html

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

RonnieR

July 25th, 2012, 09:34 AM

http://www.spxdaily.com/images-lg/super-bags-reduce-rice-wastage-lg.jpg

Super Bags to thwart rice wastage now available to Filipino farmers
by Staff Writers
Los Banos, Philippines (SPX) Jul 25, 2012

Farmers' investment is protected by keeping stored rice grains viable, and kept away from destructive pests and other causes of physical losses like moisture.

An airtight, reusable plastic bag that protects stored rice from moisture, pests, and rats, and keeps rice seeds viable, is now available to Filipino farmers in almost 200 retail stores nationwide. IRRI Super Bags reduce losses incurred after harvest that usually stem from poor storage conditions - helping prevent physical postharvest losses that can be around 15%. On top of these losses, farmers also experience loss in quality.

Developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)'s postharvest experts in collaboration with GrainPro Inc., the IRRI Super Bag is meant for small-scale rice farmers to protect the viability and quality of rice stored in their homes.

The IRRI Super Bag is manufactured by GrainPro Inc. and is marketed as SuperGrainbag. IRRI, through its national partnerships, has verified the benefits of the IRRI Super Bag with tens of thousands of farmers throughout Asia, but acknowledges it is a challenge to bring the bags to millions of farmers in a commercial way.

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Super_Bags_to_thwart_rice_wastage_now_available_to_Filipino_farmers_999.html

Porknight

July 25th, 2012, 03:15 PM

drying paddy or palay ???

Anyone has any clue where to buy a dryer in Nueva Ecija ?

Pls help

the glimpser

July 28th, 2012, 05:23 PM

PH ranked 63rd in global food survey

SINGAPORE—The Philippines ranked 63rd out of 105 countries surveyed in the Economic Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Food Security Index, which found the country to have relatively affordable and nutritious food but also had challenges in making food accessible to more Filipinos.

In terms of the three pillars measured in the index, the Philippines fared fairly well in affordability (with a score of 43.5 out of the highest score of 100) and food quality (with a score of 54.3), but not so well in availability (with a score of 37.7), experts said at the DuPont Asean Media Forum here.

The Philippines ranked around mid-level in affordability and food quality because prices were not as expensive as in other countries and national food standards were high, said Ramon S. Abadilla, country managing director of DuPont Far East Inc. “The Philippines also ranked well in nutrition in terms of having agencies checking on food nutrition and quality, as well as school feeding and other programs that push agencies and communities to make sure that people, especially children, get nutritious food,” Abadilla said.

However, the country faces challenges in transporting food and making it available to more people. “Programs such as the RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) transport system and having more farm-to-market roads for key areas are addressing the issue of food availability,” Abadilla said.
http://business.inquirer.net/73829/ph-ranked-63rd-in-global-food-survey

the glimpser

July 29th, 2012, 05:45 AM

Good move by the DA. I personally believe that agriculture should be one of the pillars of the economy in there, specially moreso in the context of inclusive growth.

After rice, veggies target of self-sufficiency by gov’t

Filipinos may be picky eaters of greens, but by 2016, they should have their fill of sitaw (string beans) and kalabasa (squash) and other vegetables grown around the classic song “Bahay Kubo.”

“After rice, our next focus is to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said at the recent 10th National Vegetable Congress in Butuan City.

In a statement, Alcala said the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) is aiming to increase domestic self-sufficiency in vegetables from 65 percent to 100 percent and beyond within four years.

Food security is a priority of the Aquino administration, with rice self-sufficiency topping the agenda. In his third State of the Nation Address on July 23, the President underlined his administration’s goal of making the Philippines a rice exporter.

Once this is done, Alcala said, the attention will focus on vegetables and fish.

Through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (Amas) and HVCDP, the DA has been working to match and directly link farmers’ groups with wholesale market traders and institutional buyers, Alcala said.

The aim is to provide a comfortable profit to producers and sellers as well as a regular supply of reasonably priced, safe and good quality vegetables to consumers, he said.

For example, agriculture officials have been meeting with major vegetable traders from the Divisoria wholesale market in Metro Manila to determine their vegetable supply and demand requirements, Alcala said.

The information will then be relayed to farmers’ cooperatives and groups, allowing them to schedule their production, harvest and delivery operations, he said.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/238477/after-rice-veggies-target-of-self-sufficiency-by-govt

Juan Pilgrim

July 30th, 2012, 05:48 AM

^^ a lot of good news :applause:

the glimpser

August 2nd, 2012, 04:54 PM

Local coconut industry to get P1.75B boost in 2013

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANIL A - President Benigno Aquino III said plans are underway to strengthen the coconut industry in the Philippines through a P1.75 billion investment in 2013.

The budget would be used to purchase new equipment for extracting coconut water and other usable parts of the coconut tree.

President Aquino mentioned the planned investment during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) address.

The announcement of the budget comes as the government reported that the coconut industry, one of the largest exports of raw materials, generated $1.95 billion for 2011, up from $1.6 billion in 2010. Consequently, export volume for all coconut-based products for that year was at 1.5 million metric tons.http://ph.news.yahoo.com/local-coconut-industry-p1-75b-boost-2013-122608541.html

Parchie

August 2nd, 2012, 05:13 PM

Local coconut industry to get P1.75B boost in 2013

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/local-coconut-industry-p1-75b-boost-2013-122608541.html

A very good plan, IMO.:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

hugodiekonig

August 5th, 2012, 07:18 AM

galing ako sa department of agriculure sa qc circle last monday. Wow ang dami palang mga magagandang organic na produkto all over the country. I saw mango wine, calamansi soap, basi (wine), malunggay products as well as native bags and wallets mula ARMM, Caraga na ang gaganda! :okay:

Parchie

August 6th, 2012, 04:38 AM

drying paddy or palay ???

Anyone has any clue where to buy a dryer in Nueva Ecija ?

Pls help

I suggest to just make your own. There is a flatbed dryer design that you can benchmark on. Please click on this link (http://www.mixph.com/2008/09/techno-guide-on-making-a-flatbed-dryer.html).

Parchie

August 6th, 2012, 05:07 AM

11k agrarian workers affected; pullout due to peace problem (http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/08/06/mass-firing-at-da-up-as-japan-quits-project/)

Lawmakers on Sunday denounced the government’s plan to fire some 11,000 agrarian reform employees by October as its rice self-sufficiency program suffered a serious blow from Japan’s decision to yank $159 million in funding for irrigation projects in Mindanao due to peace and order problems.

AA Kasosyo Rep. Nasser Pangandaman and Agham Rep. Angelo Palmones said the “mass firing” of personnel from the Agrarian Reform Department was an offshoot of the government’s failure to provide a safety net for them.

On the other hand, the pullout by the Japan International Cooperation Agency would put the Agriculture Department’s much-vaunted rice self-sufficiency target next year in doubt, the lawmakers said.

The House committee on agrarian reform will investigate the twin setbacks today after Pangandaman and Palmones demanded a probe.

At last week’s hearing of the House committee on appropriations led by Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, Pangandaman expressed alarm after Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio De los Reyes admitted the phaseout of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms by 2014 would render 10,973 Agrarian Reform employees nationwide jobless.

Of that number, Reyes said, only 3,000 or those involved in the delivery of services would be absorbed by the Agriculture Department.

“I am worried the government will not be able to effectively implement [the agrarian reform program] because it did not only reduce the funding for land distribution, it also would start firing the employees who would carry out the task,” Pangandaman told the Manila Standard.

Pangandaman, a former Agrarian Reform secretary, said the law allocated P30 billion annually to distribute 100,000 hectares to farmer-beneficiaries.

“I am surprised because the government reduced the budget allocation to P21.4 billion for 2013,” Pangandaman said.

“When I turned over the reins, there were more than one million hectares that had yet to be distributed. It means that in five years, which was the life span given to [the program], the department needs to distribute 200,000 annually at a reduced budget and with a reduced number of personnel,”

“How would the government expect the DAR to accomplish the task and help pave the way for rice sufficiency? We demand a comprehensive plan as to how the government plans to implement the land distribution program and why was there no contingency or fall-back plans for the 10,973 employees nationwide.

“Most of the 10,973 employees are in their 50s now. They are still at their prime but who would hire them at their age? They have nowhere to go, yet the government would tell us they would be fired and nothing can be done about it. We reject that,”

Delos Reyes said some 640,000 hectares were up for distribution under the agrarian reform program.

He said his department aimed to distribute some 180,000 hectares for this year alone and 260,000 hectares in 2013.

The remaining 200,000 hectares would be distributed in the first half of 2014.

Also last week, the administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, Antonio Nangel, confirmed that the Japanese had withdrawn financial assistance to the second phase of the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project due to the poor peace-and-order situation in Mindanao.

The announcement led Palmones to call for an investigation of a P1.7-billion allocation to the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan program under Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, which was supposed to provide livelihood projects and empower the people in the insurgency-stricken communities.

But Palmones said the P1.7 billion was not even earmarked in the Palace-proposed Net Expenditure Program, nor in the national budget bill.

“We were surprised that there was a classic insertion of P1.7 billion only after the President signed the 2012 national budget into law,” Palmones said.

With the huge peace and order funding, Palmones said, “heads must roll” for the JICA pullout.

“The peace and order situation in the previous administration was more serious and JICA was there precisely to help address the problem by providing financial assistance to the farmers,” said Palmones, who comes from Cotabato, where the JICA project was located.
Land Reform Program? Wanna bet this program will have to go for the powers-that-are there, to maintain their grip on HL!

Rice sufficiency goes out of the window? How big is the Mindanao rice granary?

hugodiekonig

August 6th, 2012, 02:33 PM

The farming of the exotic sea urchin

http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/R.-Garcia.jpg
By: Robert Garcia

I WAS introduced to the fascinating world of coral reef, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests during a summer class in Bolinao where never-been-seen animals and plants overwhelmed me. I remember the sea urchin, a slow moving animal encased in a round shell surrounded with spines, grazing in the intertidal reef in great numbers.

That was then. Now, the overharvesting of this resource almost decimated its fragile population.

The sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla), locally known as kuden-kuden in Bolinao and maritangtang in other parts of the Ilocos region, is an important fishery resource valued for its gonad or eggs and thus commands a big demand and high market price. This resulted in the unrelenting collection and depletion of the wild stocks in the country for several years.

Fortunately, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, based in Bolinao, resolved the issue by the breeding and culturing the species, paving the way for the re-stocking of the wild population and at the same time providing livelihood for coastal communities.

The farming of sea urchin was widely promoted in the Ilocos Region by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and was highly successful, particularly in La Union. The young animals were collected in the wild and placed in cages located in protected shore waters with high salinity. They are fed with the brown algae Sargassum, which is abundant in the area, until they reach seven centimeters in diameter during which they are harvested. They are sold fresh or in processed form in the local market, restaurants, or to exporters. Considered as a delicacy among locals and an exotic food in Japan and Taiwan, the gonad of the sea urchin commands a very good price. Also, some enterprising locals utilize the empty shells for making decorative souvenir items.

The beneficial impact of the successful culture of sea urchin in the country can be deemed in the generation of livelihood in coastal communities, but more significantly in the re-population of the decreasing wild stocks.

Let's bring back the glory days of the amazing marine world!

source (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/2012/08/06/business-proposition-28/)

hugodiekonig

August 6th, 2012, 02:38 PM

^^ Balaoan, La Union Sea Urchin Farm

Locally known as "Maratangtang"

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/394093_359052014113403_1902707935_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/426313_359052227446715_1789807164_n.jpg

hugodiekonig

August 6th, 2012, 02:40 PM

Sea Urchin Farm in Balaoan

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/397816_359052104113394_944027268_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/423958_359052330780038_383062246_n.jpg

photo source: La Union Information and Tourism Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.359051740780097.92887.204145946270678&type=3)

Porknight

August 6th, 2012, 03:31 PM

I suggest to just make your own. There is a flatbed dryer design that you can benchmark on. Please click on this link (http://www.mixph.com/2008/09/techno-guide-on-making-a-flatbed-dryer.html).

i called munoz they told me they wont sell to private families but only to government agencies ...

and I noticed that most people here in central luzon they dry their paddy rice at the sun over roads or cemented spaces , which is fine during the summer .. but what about november ?

well im clueless .. ill try in november to dance so the gods will see me and send the sun .. let's see if it works

hugodiekonig

August 6th, 2012, 03:38 PM

Parchie

August 6th, 2012, 03:56 PM

i called munoz they told me they wont sell to private families but only to government agencies ...

and I noticed that most people here in central luzon they dry their paddy rice at the sun over roads or cemented spaces , which is fine during the summer .. but what about november ?

well im clueless .. ill try in november to dance so the gods will see me and send the sun .. let's see if it works

I've seen a local design where the palay is hauled into a square wooden flat bed, the bottom portion lined with fine wire mesh (palay grains will not pass down). The cavity under the flat bed is supplied with not-so-hot air heated up by burning rice hulls taken from the rice mills being fanned by manual air flap blowers! The palay inside the box is stirred by wooden planks to distribute the heat evenly and not cook the palay.
I asked how they control the temperature and was told the air should not be higher than 90 degrees C. You can think of any way you make that temp control happen; maybe place a thermometer on the hot air duct and bypass/vent some of the hot air out if it gets too hot or ask automation techies for some help. I'll see if others have a better way other that sun dryers (concentration of suns heat using mirrors or using natural air convection).

It's crazy why our government officials who are getting their salaries from our taxes do not help private persons who are the taxpayers!

amigo32

August 7th, 2012, 04:57 AM

temp sensors kailangan, feedback sa microcomputer controller or PLC:D

hahaha, nagmamagaling lang:lol:

Parchie

August 7th, 2012, 05:01 AM

temp sensors kailangan, feedback sa microcomputer controller or PLC:D

hahaha, nagmamagaling lang:lol:

The low-tech option: manumatic -->manual opening of duct vents when the monitored thermometer reading goes to the ceiling!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Parchie

August 7th, 2012, 05:12 AM

Or this type of blower that is very much controllable::lol:
http://www.cosmile.org/gallery/powergas/pedal_l.jpg
(Credits goes to the website owner)

amigo32

August 7th, 2012, 05:22 AM

puede maglagay ng gym dyan, para yung mga gumagamit ng stationary bikes dyan na pagagamitin:lol:

may kita sa gym, may dryer pa na libre ang power:rofl:

Parchie

August 10th, 2012, 03:41 AM

puede maglagay ng gym dyan, para yung mga gumagamit ng stationary bikes dyan na pagagamitin:lol:

may kita sa gym, may dryer pa na libre ang power:rofl:

Pwede rin. Pwedeng mag innovate at gumawa ng gasifier (burning palay thresher waste o rice hull). Nung maliit pa po akong bata, meron po kaning ginawang turbofan sa talyer ng uncle ko gamit ang isang spare na turbocharger! Napakalakas pong umihip ng hangin, mainit pa!

bulabog jalaur

August 23rd, 2012, 02:16 PM

Rice Gene Can Boost Yield

A rice gene isolated from Indian plants could boost crop yields at least 20 percent as it increases uptake of the vital but often trapped nutrient phosphorus, scientists at the Los Baños-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said.

The finding will aid food security for farmers on nutrient-poor land, adding to global production, and help increase their incomes, the Philippines-based IRRI said in a statement.

''The gene–called PSTOL-1, which stands for Phosphorus Starvation Tolerance-1–helps rice grow a larger, better root system and thereby access more phosphorus,'' the institute said.

The institute noted that phosphorus was often locked in the soil, unavailable to plants grown in problematic fields, such as those with acidic soils or upland plots that are not irrigated.

Large areas of Asia have phosphorus-deficient soil, and often farmers are forced to use phosphate-based fertilizers, which have numerous negative impacts on the environment.

The gene was developed from the Kasalath rice variety from India, which grows well in soils low in phosphorus, said IRRI senior scientist Sigrid Heuer, who led the team that published the discovery in the scientific journal, Nature.

''In field tests in Indonesia and the Philippines, rice with the PSTOL-1 gene produced about 20 per cent more grain than rice without the gene,'' she said.

''In our pot experiments, when we use soil that is really low in phosphorus, we see yield increases of 60 per cent and more,'' she added.

The IRRI said scientists in Indonesia were breeding rice plants with the gene and that the new varieties could be available to farmers within a few years.

''The plants are not genetically modified, just bred using smart modern breeding techniques,'' it said.

The finding also shows the importance of conserving genetic diversity of traditional crop varieties, the institute said. It conserves more than 114,000 types of rice in its gene bank.

source (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/370721/rice-gene-can-boost-yield)

related news

the glimpser

August 28th, 2012, 04:29 PM

PhilRice looks into rice straw as energy source

MANILA, Philippines— As the cost of petroleum fuel rises, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is studying the viability of rice straw as a source of alternative energy, officials said on Tuesday.

PhilRice recently signed an agreement with ENERTIME, a company in France, to assess the feasibility of using rice straw for power generation, which could help reduce production costs among farmers.

Under the agreement, ENERTIME, a specialist on energy production using renewable resources, will finance the feasibility study once funds are granted by the French Economic Ministry’s Fund for Studies and Private Sector Support Program.

ENERTIME will also assess the biomass supply, estimate power plant cost, and help find project investors.

PhilRice, on the other hand, will provide rice production data and technical support in collecting and transporting rice straw, contracting rice straw supply organizing site visits, and validating sites feasible for biomass energy production.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/259558/philrice-looks-into-rice-straw-as-energy-source-2

Nabartek

August 28th, 2012, 10:46 PM

Or this type of blower that is very much controllable::lol:
http://www.cosmile.org/gallery/powergas/pedal_l.jpg
(Credits goes to the website owner)

This is a good business. Produce energy for revenue, and on the other hand, have this as work out and produce revenues. 2-in-1 :lol:

bobdehn

September 14th, 2012, 10:33 AM

AGRICULTURE is the new advocacy of former Rep. Cynthia A. Villar and she pledged to work for the passage of remedial laws that would help propel the growth of the local agriculture industry.

“We need to put in place a good agriculture development program to the poor folk who comprise 70 percent of the agri sector,” she told a dinner-news conference with the staffers of the media outfits of the Antonio L. Cabangon Group of Companies (BusinessMirror, Philippines Graphic, Pilipino Mirror and DWIZ) at the BusinessMirror editorial offices in Makati City where she and her husband, Sen. Manny Villar, were the featured guests.

Mrs. Villar plans to run in the 2013 Senate elections to replace her husband who is now serving his last term as senator.

Toward the end of the news conference, Senator Villar said it was not true that his wife will run for the Senate to keep his bench warm. (Elective public officials are entitled to only three consecutive three-year terms or a total of nine years; they can run for another elective position after this but can return to their former elective positions after three years.)

The senator said Mrs. Villar established a good record in the House of Representatives, where she led the organization of woman legislators during her incumbency as representative of Las Piñas. Mrs. Villar, said the senator, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and took further studies at New York University.

Mrs. Villar said that if she got elected to the Senate, she would also pursue enactment of laws that would expand livelihood programs to augment the income of poor families, as she had done during her three terms (nine years) in the House of Representatives.

“We intend to improve on those projects to serve more poor folk and help them earn a living through institutionalized livelihood programs,” Mrs. Villar said. She also said she plans to replicate in various areas of the country the livelihood programs of the Villar Foundation that she and her husband and their family founded to help the poor folk of Las Piñas. One of their projects won a United Nations award.

In response to questions, Senator Villar reported that majority of the senators were wary of granting “too much powers” to the Anti-Money Laundering Council as proposed in an amending law demanded by the Financial Action Task Force.

The FATF is a Paris-based global finance watchdog seeking to expand the coverage of the existing Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) in order to take the Philippines out of the list of borderline compliant countries.

He also said a closed-door meeting called by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile during a break in Wednesday’s session failed to reach a consensus on the last Amla amendment, seen to upgrade the status of the Philippines in the FATF as a fully compliant country, to avoid impeding foreign-currency remittances by overseas workers, as well as bank letters of credits to Philippine businesses.

“There is no consensus yet on the Amla amendment,” Villar said, adding that there were “many issues that have to be clarified first…. questions that have to be cleared.”

Villar noted that Congress already passed into law two previous Amla amendments that removed the Philippines from the FATF watch list of non-compliant countries.

He then admitted that the main stumbling block to its early passage in time for the FATF meeting in October were provisions granting extra powers to the Anti-Money Laundering Council. “’Yung ginawa kasi sa [amending] bill, the AMLC would be more powerful than the President. It covers everything.”

The amending bill, co-sponsored by Senators Sergio Osmena II and Teofisto Guingona III, cited the “urgency to put more teeth to the country’s anti-money laundering law, not only to make the Philippines compliant with international standards, but to protect the country’s financial integrity and economic development.” Villar, however, told the BusinessMirror forum that proposed amendments to expand the list of medicines covered by the cheaper medicines law will likely pass before the current Congress adjourns next year.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/32773-agriculture-will-be-ex-rep-villars-senate-baby

inyaquin

September 16th, 2012, 11:21 AM

Hello guys! Though I'm not an active member, I read the Philippine forums on a daily basis. If you could just help me find an article posted a long time ago regarding old coconut trees in the country which are less productive.. I will participate in a debate which centralizes on this idea: This house believes that the Phil govt should initiate now a high priority R&D program on genetically modified coconut. From what i remember, the article I am referring to has discussions about the Philippines having vast plantations of coconut trees but these trees are already matured. Despite this vast plantations, other countries which have smaller lands allotted for coconut have better coco yields in terms of volume and quality for the simple reason that their trees are younger (more productive).

Sorry for the OT post but this I think this is still quite relevant given the large potential of the country in this sector and the coco juice export surge.

hakz2007

September 21st, 2012, 03:07 AM

Senate bill to protect ‘sinarapan’
NAGA CITY—The preservation and conservation of the exotic fish “sinarapan,” said to be the world’s smallest commercial fish, will be advanced by a Senate bill that seeks to establish “sinarapan sanctuaries” in Camarines Sur and Albay provinces.

With Senators Francis Escudero, Pia Cayetano and Franklin Drilon as authors, Senate Bill No. 3264, now on second reading in the Senate, seeks to place the sinarapan protected areas under the category of wildlife sanctuary, complete with institutional and enforcement mechanisms.

The measure seeks to name four small lakes as the fish’s sanctuaries, with all lands surrounding them falling under the classification of “National Park as provided for in the Philippine Constitution.”

Under the bill, lakes Manapao (2.7 ha), Makuao (1.03 ha) and Katugday (2.43 ha) in Buhi town in Camarines Sur, and Danao (8.3 ha) in Malinao town in Albay will be protected to ensure the conservation of sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), an endemic fish species found in the waters surrounding Mt. Asog in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

A little more than 2 millimeters in size, sinarapan, a much sought-after delicacy once numerous in Lake Buhi, started disappearing in the 1980s with the advent of motorized commercial fishing.

Acting on the problem of sinarapan depletion in 2006, the municipal government of Buhi banned the capture of the fish in Lake Buhi and established a sanctuary in Lakes Manapao and Katugday, where sinarapan was raised for restocking into Lake Buhi.

With the Senate bill, the local initiative of the municipal government to preserve and conserve sinarapan will become a state policy that will involve national government agencies. Read more (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/274630/senate-bill-to-protect-sinarapan)

JoelVasquez

September 22nd, 2012, 01:33 PM

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/09/22/superbugs-destruct-food-supply.aspx?e_cid=20120922_DNL_art_

Hope that your friends and familes are not eating the "Bt corn" that are GMO, according to "experts" in DA is safe and fed this "Bt corn" to the people in Pangasinan...hope this is not in Cebu.( Corn is my favorite)

JoelVasquez

September 22nd, 2012, 01:58 PM

Improving Soil Fertility without chemicals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6-Mx585F_cY#t=163s

Manila-X

September 25th, 2012, 10:25 AM

Health advocates slam int’l tobacco growers meet in PH (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/277306/health-advocates-slam-intl-tobacco-growers-meet-in-ph)
By Tina G. Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
3:51 pm | Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Anti-tobacco and health advocates on Tuesday slammed the planned meeting of the International Tobacco Growers Association in Manila amid the Philippine Senate’s deliberation on the sin tax bill.

“The fact that ITGA is holding its conference in Manila at a time that the Senate is set to decide on imposing a higher levy on tobacco products is an insult to the sovereignty of the legislative branch. The tobacco lobby and its minions are now using all its resources to influence legislation to side with business than with health,” according to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines.

“This is a desperate act by the ITGA which we all know is a front group of the tobacco industry. Surely all the hype being waged by the industry about the economic and job losses to tobacco farming because of increased taxes are nothing but empty threats compared to the truth that millions of lives are being lost due to smoking,” added Dr. Maricar Limpin, FCAP executive director.

According to FCAP, ITGA has been holding conferences in different parts of Asia to lobby against government-imposed tobacco control measures and criticize the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control signed by 176 countries.
ITGA is a front group using tobacco farmers and funded by transnational companies Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, it added.

Limpin said ITGA is trying to challenge the sin tax bill currently being deliberated by the Senate by holding their meeting in Manila on Tuesday and being hyped as attended by tobacco farmers.

The ITGA is against Articles 17 and 18 of the FCTC pertaining to crop substitution and accuses the WHO of trying to kill tobacco farming in the world by pushing for alternative livelihood, she added.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, which has also been opposing the ITGA meeting in Manila, said tobacco-farming areas in Northern Philippines could shift to planting garlic and other food crops which are more profitable.

Citing results of the 2011 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, SEATCA said farmgate prices and incomes for garlic, tomato, eggplant and onion in the Ilocos region yield higher profits compared to tobacco which produces only P147,400 in earnings per hectare or at P67 per kilo. Compare this to garlic which yields a total P252,000 earnings per hectare or P84 per kilo in the Ilocos region. Food crops, unlike tobacco, are also harvested twice a year.

SEATCA said transnational tobacco companies are focusing on Asian markets like the Philippines as they lose grip in the West where stronger tobacco control measures are in place.

d7beast

September 27th, 2012, 01:47 AM

Perversion of creation,..

Keep off GMO from filipino staple,..

Up1nFwBHzZ8

David Hernandez

October 25th, 2012, 06:36 AM

“I am happy to note that Filipino agricultural workers are being exposed to Israeli agricultural technology that is considered among the best in the world,” Binay said.

Wow. This was from what I read earlier: Binay urges Israel to hike trade with PHL (http://www.blackpearl.com.ph/content.php?id=33851).

Do you think there is a good potential for investment between Philippines and Israel?

Monchhichi

November 8th, 2012, 07:55 AM

WB, EU to fund agriculture projects in Bicol
The World Bank and the European Union have approved the funding of agriculture projects in Bicol next year, the Department of Agriculture regional office said Thursday.

The WB will finance the P28-billion Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) and the European Union (EU) will bankroll the Enhancing Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture (EC-DRRA), said Agriculture regional executive director Jose Dayao.

PRDP is “a six-year national government platform for an inclusive, value-chain oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector expected to raise total funds of close to P28 billion from a loan portfolio of the WB and equity share of national and local government units,” Dayao noted.

The program to be implemented in the six provinces of Bicol is the "upscale" version of the successful Mindanao Rural Development Program, he said.

With funding support from the EU’s Disaster Preparedness- European Commission's Humanitarian Office, the EC-DRRA will be implemented for 18 months in Albay, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

“It aims to enhance the livelihood resilience of small farmers and fisherfolk in disaster-prone areas through institutionalization of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in agriculture,” Dayao said.

The project will build on the outcome of "Strengthening Capacities for Climate Risk Management and Disaster Preparedness in Selected Municipalities of Bicol Region," an earlier Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project implemented in Bicol from 2009 to 2011.

An FAO Japanese-funded project, entitled "Analysis and Mapping of Impacts under Climate Change for Adaptation and Food Security Project, which also built on the experiences and results of FAO projects on climate change adaptation and DRR management, is closely tied with these WB and EU projects, Dayao noted.

Stakeholders are laying the ground work for the two projects by conducting briefings and orientation involving various partner agencies like local government units, state colleges and universities and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, he said.

Data gathering and other ground works necessary for the implementation of the projects are also ongoing with the Agriculture regional office as overall project coordinator and manager, Dayao added. — VS, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/281489/economy/agricultureandmining/wb-eu-to-fund-agriculture-projects-in-bicol

Parchie

November 8th, 2012, 10:59 AM

“I am happy to note that Filipino agricultural workers are being exposed to Israeli agricultural technology that is considered among the best in the world,” Binay said. ------Binay urges Israel to hike trade with PHL

Do you think there is a good potential for investment between Philippines and Israel?

Any reader can see something is wrong with how the mind of the source of information works, IMO. technology --> trade?

How about technology transfer? Is he missing that?

Monchhichi

November 13th, 2012, 06:57 AM

Global rice exports to go up 2% in 2012 — FAO
Global rice exports will go up 2 percent to 37.3 million metric tons (MT) for 2012 despite two of the biggest rice importers—the Philippines and Indonesia—curbing their importation, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

In its "Food Outlook," the FAO noted that both the Philippines and Indonesia have self-sufficiency goals in place and are restraining their reliance on foreign rice, to 900,000 MT and 1.3 million MT respectively this year.

Their smaller rice orders will be offset by increases from other countries. Nigeria, which is the world's biggest rice importer according to data from the Asian Development Bank, will increase its purchases by 17 percent on year to a record 2.8 million tons.

Other countries in the Near East and Africa such as Iran, Brazil, and Venezuela will also see increases in their rice imports this year.

An "outstanding development" is the emergence of India as the world’s top rice supplier, after decades of Thailand being on top, said the FAO report.

The organization also expects rice exports to up slightly in 2013 to 37.5 million tons, as ample supplies in exporting countries could intensify competition in the world market and lead to lower prices.

According to the report, global rice utilization in the 2012-2013 period is expected to rise by 1.4 percent to 475 million tons, with over 85 percent (402 million tons) for human consumption. The rest will be used for feeds or industrial uses. — BM, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/281990/economy/agricultureandmining/global-rice-exports-to-go-up-2-in-2012-mdash-fao

PHL, Thailand, Indonesia form sugar alliance for ASEAN 2015
Thailand, Indonesia, and Philippines agreed in principle to form the ASEAN Sugar Alliance (ASA) to strengthen their respective industries ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

A united sugar industry in the region is in response to the changing business environment in trade, growing demand for sugar, advances in farm and mill technologies, and changing weather patterns, the Philippine Department of Agriculture said in a statement Tuesday.

Elected as ASA chairman was Thailand’s Cherdpong Siriwit, while the Philippines’ Pedro Roxas was elected vice chairman during an organizational meeting last Nov. 7 in Bangkok.

Thailand broached the idea of a regional alliance when stakeholders from the Philippines visited the country in August 2012.

The alliance originally comprised Thailand and Indonesia, whose representatives decided to include the Philippines as an incorporating party.

While Thailand is the region’s largest producer and exporter of sugar, Indonesia is the biggest consumer and importer of the commodity in Southeast Asia.

The Alliance’s mission focuses on the important role of sugarcane as a raw material for food and energy, the cooperation on sugar related business development, and the support to the government sector for the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community.

With a population of almost 600 million, ASEAN produces around 17 million tons of sugar, and consumes about 14 million tons a year. The consumption ratio per person is 23 kilograms per year, according to the International Sugar Organization. — VS, GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/282062/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-thailand-indonesia-form-sugar-alliance-for-asean-2015

watcher09

November 16th, 2012, 09:58 AM

Higher support for seaweed sector readied

BusinessWorld
By Marites S. Villamor

CEBU CITY -- Government is allotting more funds to support the seaweed industry and ensure the Philippines retains its position as the world’s biggest carrageenan producer while regaining leadership in raw seaweed production from Indonesia.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala yesterday said a budget of P265 million for the sector, about six times more than the current allocation, has been included in the proposed 2013 budget of the Department of Agriculture.

He also vowed to implement farm-to-table interventions to ensure stable supply and prices of raw seaweeds, expand production areas and tap new markets for carrageenan, a hydrocolloid derived from seaweeds (Eucheuma cottonii, spinossum and gracilaria) with applications in the food, dairy, pharmaceutical, personal care and other industries.

"This is the government’s contribution to the seaweed industry. For a long time, only the private sector has been working to promote the sector. This time, government will partner with the private sector to give more attention to seaweeds," Mr. Alcala said in Filipino during his keynote address before seaweed farmers, traders and processors gathered here yesterday for the National Seaweed Convention.

In an interview, Mr. Alcala said the government is taking a hard look at the sector not only because of the deterioration in the Philippines’ global stature as a seaweeds supplier but also because of its potential to create jobs for hundreds of thousands of farmers.

He noted, however, that while the Philippines, which used to be the world’s biggest seaweed supplier, has been overtaken by Indonesia and has become a net raw seaweed importer, it continues to be the biggest carrageenan producer in the world.

During his speech, he noted that only 23%, or 56,624 hectares, of the potential production areas have been planted with seaweeds. The DA has identified a total of 255,000 hectares as potential seaweed farms.

More...
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Higher-support-for-seaweed-sector-readied&id=61530

Sleepwalker

November 17th, 2012, 04:43 AM

Monchhichi

November 17th, 2012, 09:45 AM

DA injects P40-M into mango industry
MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked an initial P40 million to strengthen the competitiveness of Philippine mangoes abroad and help develop more production areas in the country.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the funds would be used to bankroll various initiatives under the five-year development plan of the Philippine Mango Industry Foundation, Inc. (PMIFI).

Of the total amount, P10 million will be used to provide production inputs and rehabilitate mango farms affected by recent typhoons, while P30 million will be used to fund projects lined up by PMIFI for next year.

Alcala said that DA-High Value Crops Development Program would continue to provide farmers quality mango seedlings with the establishment of nurseries and scion groves, and the provision of needed production and marketing support.

The agency will also put up more postharvest facilities and conduct skills training to help processors produce other world-class mango by-products like wine, puree, and dried strips, among others.

Virginia dela Fuente, PMIFI president, said farmer-members have committed to earmark five percent of their farms for intercropping with cassava and sweet potato as part of her group's contribution to the Aquino administration's Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP).

She also said they plan to set up irradiation facility to ensure the products are free from diseases and pest, and to comply with stringent phytosanitary requirements especially when exporting fresh mangoes.

Organized in 2001, the PMIFI is composed of 15 mango associations and federations, with thousands of members nationwide.

Alcala asked PMIFI to consider “geo-tagging” mango farms nationwide so that provision of assistance will be focused, and monitoring of production and harvest would be more accurate and efficient.

The DA chief said geo-tagging has been proven to be successful in the implementation and monitoring of infrastructure and farm-to-market road projects in Mindanao.

Data from the Mindanao Fruit Industry Council (MinFruit) showed that Japan and Hong Kong remain the biggest buyers of Philippine mangoes, accounting for 51 and 31 percent of mango exports, respectively.

Other countries where Philippine mangoes have gained a market foothold are South Korea, the USA, Singapore and China.

Luzon, which accounts for 64 percent of production, remains the country’s primary producer of carabao mangoes while Mindanao accounts for 23 percent.
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/48221/da-injects-p40-m-into-mango-industry

MatudNilaBaby

November 19th, 2012, 02:22 AM

^^If only this came earlier, Shemberg Corporation would have stayed in the country. It was reported that Shemberg has appealed the government to support seaweed farming, but no positive reaction..:bash:

Good work, Sec. Alacala.

well, we're under a new govt administration and a new direction for the department of agriculture. maybe it realized how important the seaweed industry is to our economy.

i think shemberg is still operating in cebu under new management as it was sold by the owner (a family relation) who died last year here in the us of brain cancer. the profitability of the seaweed industry is too dependent on the peso-dollar exchange rate as the its carrageenan product is mostly intended for export. a government assistance might propel back the seaweed industry as a leading export product for the country.

Juan Pilgrim

November 19th, 2012, 03:47 PM

http://www.locowholesale.ca/image/cache/data/Food/nuts/IMG_0835-500x500.JPG
Dried Young Coconut from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.

http://addictedtocostco.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/20120722-5.jpg
100% Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.

http://triessential.com/storage/ptyler/coconut-water/Coconut-juice.jpg
sorry for the huge size.
Coconut water and Coconut juice from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.

salamangkero

November 22nd, 2012, 12:12 AM

just saw a bunch of Tablea chocolates from Davao in Whole Foods (Texas)

David Hernandez

November 22nd, 2012, 03:00 AM

"National Year of Rice 2013 campaign launched in Visayas (http://www.blackpearl.com.ph/content.php?id=35481)"
The campaign was launched through "Rice is Life Dumaguete Adventure Marathon" where more than 3,000 runners have pledged to conserve rice and support the campaign.

Question is, do we have enough rice for our increasing population? And why was the campaign not launched in Luzon where we have the "Kaban ng Bayan"?

-----

Any reader can see something is wrong with how the mind of the source of information works, IMO. technology --> trade?

How about technology transfer? Is he missing that?
I wonder. But I hope all means possible to strengthen our economic ties will be utilized. Since we're both agricultural, I believe we can focus on that first. But hopefully we'll be expanding possibilities.

Monchhichi

November 25th, 2012, 06:34 AM

DA, IRRI to ink rice sufficiency pact in December
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to sign an agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to prepare the country’s rice sector in the vagaries of climate change.

The signing is scheduled this December, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, who will sign the agreement with IRRI director general Robert Zeigler.

Under the agreement, both agencies will work together and renew their commitment toward reducing poverty and hunger, improving the health of both farmer and consumers, and ensure food and environmental sustainability. Specific areas of cooperation will be on the production and distribution of high-quality and improved rice seeds that are adaptable to climate change.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/283839/economy/agricultureandmining/da-irri-to-ink-rice-sufficiency-pact-in-december

Monchhichi

November 28th, 2012, 08:16 AM

PH unlikely to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2013
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' goal of rice self-sufficiency by 2013 is impractical and not feasible, according to a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

In a study, PIDS senior research fellow Roehlano Briones said the country is not likely to achieve rice self-sufficiency, whether in 2013 or even through 2020.

President Aquino has boasted that the Philippines will not only become rice self-sufficient by 2013, but also become a net rice exporter. The Aquino administration has crafted the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) aimed at rice self-sufficiency or zero imports by 2013.

Briones said the Department of Agriculture's efforts to improve rice production, such as improving irrigation and developing new crop varities, are not enough.

He noted the FSSP targets are based on highly ambitious and unrealistic projections palay yield , from 3.78 tons/ha to 4.53 tons/ha, and production from 17 to 22.7 million tons, over the period 2011 to 2016, corresponding to annual growth rates of 3.8 and 6.3%, respectively.

"These growth projections are clearly unattainable considering that historically, yield and production grew by a meager 1.5 and 3.2 percent, respectively, from 1994 to 2010," he said.

Raising rice production alone would not eliminate importation, Briones added. The only way to achieve rice self-sufficiency is to increase import barriers, but this would make rice more expensive.

"The supply-demand analysis furthermore shows that simply raising productivity growth even higher would still fail to eliminate imports. The only way to make self-sufficiency feasible is to raise barriers to rice imports. However, this makes rice substantially more expensive — an outcome that is inimical to food security," he said.

Briones further said the government should not equate "self-sufficiency" with zero imports.

"For one, policy should target nutritional norms for rice consumption, rather than accommodation of consumer choices... Moreover, self-sufficiency should be qualified by affordability; a country should not be seen as 'self-sufficient' in rice, if its price prevents poor households from achieving nutritional norms in food intake," he said.

Briones added, "Investments for rice (particularly irrigation) should not be dictated by simplistic production/consumption imperatives. Rather, traditional measures of project worth, such as internal rate of return, should be reinstated as part of the budget allocation process. This way the government can avoid cost escalation and restore fiscal sustainability in the self-sufficiency program."

The PIDS senior fellow urged the government to rethink its goal of rice self-sufficiency.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/11/28/12/ph-unlikely-become-self-sufficient-rice-2013

amigo32

November 28th, 2012, 01:35 PM

hindi totoo yan
mag eexport pa nga tayo eh

:naughty:

b_9904

November 30th, 2012, 08:21 AM

How rice efficient is the Philippines?

By rice efficient I mean, is our country more efficient in producing rice or are we more efficient in producing other agricultural products?

I checked with IRRI and FAO and nakita kong mababa ang yield ng Pinas. So I was wondering if we are rice efficient.

Monchhichi

December 1st, 2012, 07:06 AM

DA eyes seaweed farming as anti-poverty industry in Bicol'Â€Â™s coastal areas
LEGAZPI CITY – Most of Bicol’s coastal waters are potential seaweed farming sites and the Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking to maximize seaweed production in these areas to create jobs and ease poverty among the region’s coastal communities.

The intention is to harness the already existing Philippine asset as a producer of United States-Food and Drug Administration-approved Philippine Natural Grade (PNG) carrageenan, a product made from seaweed.

Carrageenan is a “hydrocolloid” or gel in contact with water extracted from red seaweeds which employs a nature-friendly low-energy mild alkali process.

In a statement here Friday, Nicomedes Eleazar, director of DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), said his agency is looking into supporting more projects in seaweeds since it is a product that is unique to us and where we can have the competitive edge globally.

The use of carrageenan over other substitutes is even more becoming a global trend considering its environment-friendly manufacturing.

“If possible, we want to plant seaweeds in all suitable areas of the country so that we can contribute to elimination of pollutants. Seaweeds utilize excess organic matter in the environment and functions to filter natural waste,” according to Eleazar.

Seaweed’s potential as a dollar earner, he said is equivalent to around $200 million, including $87 million for semi-refined carrageenan, $41 million for refined carrageenan and $15 million for raw dried seaweed.

Given government support, dollar revenue generation from the sector may reach $500 million to $1 billion yearly.

Apart from dollar earnings, the industry job creation role is also important given that over a million marginal fishermen are engaged in seaweed farming with an average annual income of P120,000, Eleazar said.

The Philippines over the last two decades has been dominating the seaweed supply globally, accounting for 70 to 75 percent attributable to the unique blending of the country's coral reef structure, temperature and currents of its waters, and the accessibility of easily-trained workers.

At present, seaweed farmers in Bicol and other parts of the country need extensive financing for seedlings, farm devices and for daily sustenance. The needed skills in growing are already well-provided.

The Philippines, according to Eleazar, obtained in 1994 an approval for its PNG carrageenan from the Coded Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants in Rome which conducted toxicological assessment of the food additive.

A Codex Alimentarius food safety certification has also been assigned to the Philippine product.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/49356/da-eyes-seaweed-farming-as-anti-poverty-industry-in-bicols-coastal-areas

hakz2007

December 8th, 2012, 04:00 AM

Philippines loses exclusive access to Pacific Ocean tuna fishing grounds
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines - The Philippines will soon face competition in the pockets of high seas previously reserved for Filipino fishermen, after the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) failed to reach a consensus on closing huge areas that serve as the migratory path of tuna and tuna-like species.

But the 9th regular session of the WCPFC held at the Philippine International Convention Center agreed to a 4-month closure of four pockets of high seas to purse seine operations and FAD fishing, which refers to the use of fish aggregating devices.Read more (http://www.interaksyon.com/business/49880/philippines-loses-exclusive-access-to-pacific-ocean-tuna-fishing-grounds)

hakz2007

January 17th, 2013, 12:57 PM

Entry of Thai firm will kill local hog, poultry industry
MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers on Thursday warned that the entry into the country of a foreign company engaged in the livestock business will kill the hog and poultry industries in the Philippines.

Reps. Isidro Lico (ATING-KOOP Party-list), author of House Resolution 2920, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investment (BOI) have granted the Charoen Pokphand, a Thai livestock company, with seven-year tax holiday, incentives for importation and other perks.

“The entry of this foreign company will definitely kill the local hog and poultry industries and will affect the employment of thousands of people,” Lico said.Read more (http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/01/17/898033/entry-thai-firm-will-kill-local-hog-poultry-industry)

Monchhichi

January 20th, 2013, 06:24 AM

Domestic Rice Production Rising 6%

January 19, 2013, 7:20pm
Rice production in the Philippines, the world’s fourth-biggest importer, may rise 6 percent year-on-year due to increased planting, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.

Aggregate rice production, including the main season and ongoing secondary season, may total 18 million metric tons, up from 16.998 million tons a year earlier, the Rome-based FAO wrote today in a country report on its website. That’s equivalent to 11.8 million tons of milled rice. The main-crop harvest, which finished in mid-December, rose 11 percent from a year earlier to a record 10.1 million tons, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics’ estimate cited in the report.

“The increase mainly reflects an expansion in the planted area and higher yields following favorable weather as a result of the La Niña phenomenon during the main season,” the FAO said, referring to the weather pattern caused by cooling equatorial waters in the Pacific Ocean.

Corn production may total 7.42 million tons, up from 6.97 million tons a year earlier, the FAO said.

Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), which brought heavy rain and wind to parts of the country in early December, likely will have only a minimal impact on national grain production, the FAO said. The storm may have damaged about 28,000 hectares of rice and 35,000 hectares of corn, mostly in the Northern Mindanao and Davao regions.

Philippine grain import requirements in the 2012-13 marketing year that began June 1 may total 4.2 million tons, 21 percent less than a year earlier, as domestic production expands, the FAO said. The country is expected to import 3.2 million tons of wheat.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/390321/domestic-rice-production-rising-6#.UPuAMh3vH-Y

hakz2007

January 21st, 2013, 06:06 AM

Philippines sees 2013 farm output up 4.3-5.3 pct
Jan 21 (Reuters) - The Philippines expects its agriculture output to grow between 4.3 to 5.3 percent this year, supported by higher rice production, the farm minister said on Monday.

Manila expects its unmilled rice output this year to hit 20 million tonnes against an actual 18.03 million tonnes in 2012, Proceso Alcala told reporters. Read more (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/21/philippines-agriculture-target-idUSP9E8L401T20130121)

nayki

January 22nd, 2013, 01:31 AM

Farm output grows 2.9 pct in 2012

MANILA - Farm output in 2012 grew by 2.92 percent year-on-year on the strength of the crops, poultry and livestock subsectors, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.

The growth however was below the full-year target range of 3-5 percent.

In a press briefing, Secretary Proceso Alcala said the agriculture sector produced P1.4 trillion worth of products last year, as the three subsectors, which accounted for a combined 82 percent of total farm output, grew an average of 3.6 percent.

The crop subsector turned in growth, led by rice production, which grew 8.1 percent year-on-year to 18.03 million metric tons on the back of a 3.4 percent increase in harvested area.

“The 8.1 percent increase in palay output is the highest growth rate achieved since 2000,” Alcala said.

Also contributing to the record palay harvest was the government's early cropping scheme, which enabled farmers to replant after the summer harvest for a quick turn-around (QTA).

“Our efforts are paying off, and we would like to implement similar early planting and QTA schemes and cover more areas this year, and attain our sufficiency target of 20 million MT by end of 2013,” Alcala said.

The average harvest per hectare increased by 4.3 percent to 3.84 MT from 3.68 MT in 2011.

Corn production also turned in a record harvest of 7.41 million MT, or 6.25 percent more than the 6.97 million in 2011.

The DA attributed this to higher yield per hectare at 2.86 MT last year from 2.74 MT in 2011.

Other crops that performed well last year included tobacco (up by 7 percent), pineapple (6.7 percent), coconut (3.8 percent), and rubber (4 percent).

The poultry subsector, which accounted for 14.3 percent of total farm output, grew by 4.5 percent to P167.1 billion, while livestock inched up 1.1 percent year-on-year to P214.3 billion.

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/53211/farm-output-grows-2-9-pct-in-2012

Nabartek

January 22nd, 2013, 01:39 AM

Entry of Thai firm will kill local hog, poultry industry
Read more (http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/01/17/898033/entry-thai-firm-will-kill-local-hog-poultry-industry)

I have nothing against foreign companies venturing but if they are getting tax holidays while local hog raisers are not, there is something wrong there. I think it is not the coming of this Thai poultry that will kill local hog but rather their "quirks" given by the government will do.

Competition is good, as long as it is fair competition.

Manila-X

January 22nd, 2013, 08:48 AM

PH misses ’12 farm output growth target (http://business.inquirer.net/103739/ph-misses-12-farm-output-growth-target)
Contraction in fisheries sector dragged performance
By Niña P. Calleja
Philippine Daily Inquirer
11:39 pm | Monday, January 21st, 2013

The country’s farm output grew by 2.92 percent in 2012, falling short of the government’s growth target of between 3 percent and 5 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said this year’s agriculture production was pulled down by the 0.04 percent contraction in the fisheries sector, which was brought about by
the 3.9-percent decline in the municipal fish catch.

“It’s still in the negative but we are projecting the fisheries sector to post growth by the second semester (this year),” Alcala said.

Alcala said the Philippines was recently granted special access to a portion of the high seas in the Pacific Ocean until February 2014, giving commercial vessels more time to fish for tuna.

In contrast, three agriculture subsectors—crops, poultry and livestock—which accounted for about 82 percent of the total farm output, posted a combined growth of 3.6 percent in 2012.

Alcala noted the record-high performance of the rice and corn subsectors in 2012 despite the adverse effects of the typhoons that hit the country last year.

Harvests of palay (unmilled rice) and corn in 2012 reached 18.03 million metric tons and 7.41 million MT, respectively.

The palay harvest, which was 8.1 percent higher than the 2011 output of 16.68 million MT, was the highest since 2000, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Alcala attributed the palay production growth to the 3.4-percent increase in the area harvested to 4.69 million hectares from 4.54 million ha in 2011.

“The target to produce 20 million MT by 2013 to achieve self-sufficiency is no longer impossible,” Alcala said in a briefing on Monday.

Programs of the DA such as the early cropping and third cropping systems encouraged farmers to plant and increase production.

“Our efforts are paying off, and we would like to implement similar early planting and QTA (Quick-turn-around) schemes and cover more areas this year, and attain our sufficiency target of 20 million MT by end of 2013,” Alcala said.

The average harvest of palay per hectare also increased by 4.3 percent to 3.84 MT from 3.68 MT in 2011.

The DA said this was due to innovative schemes to make high-quality seeds accessible to farmers.

Monchhichi

January 23rd, 2013, 03:53 PM

PH agri leaders unite vs smuggling

ROSALES, Pangasinan – For the first time in more than 20 years, major stakeholders in the country’s agriculture sector formed a united front denouncing rampant smuggling and what they called as “unlawful entry” of a Thai food company that had been granted tax exemptions and other perks.
Rosendo So, director of the Swine Development Council, said 25 national agricultural leaders, farmers and representatives of allied industries signed a resolution that warned about the death of Philippine agriculture because of government policies that would hurt local food producers.
“The move of the industry leaders is unprecedented in the past two decades. This is the first time that such a big group came together to denounce the unabated smuggling of meat and other agricultural products, as well as the tax perks extended to Thai conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods),” said So, also chair of the party-list group Abono.
He said industry leaders welcomed the support of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several lawmakers for their campaign to protect local farmers and hog and poultry raisers.
The resolution was adopted during the 6th Multisectoral Agriculture Summit held in Metro Manila early this month. The summit discussed the impact of CP Foods on food production and retail.
The Board of Investments (BOI) granted the Thai firm a pioneering investment status, which would allow the foreign company to enjoy a six-year tax holiday along with import incentives for corn and other raw feed materials.
“The BOI move favoring CP Foods undermines our sovereignty and food security. It will also result in the loss of employment for millions of Filipinos as the agricultural sector employs 33 percent of the entire Philippine labor force,” the resolution read.
“The BOI’s grant of preferential treatment to [CP Foods] reveals the national government’s incoherent policy direction on agriculture,” it said.
The resolution was submitted to Malacañang on January 18.
“We are hopeful that the President would take action,” said So.
Aside from So, among those who signed the resolution were Agap Representative Nicanor M. Briones, Durian Tan and Alfredo Dy of Swine Development Council; Daniel Javellana Jr., chair of National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.; Edwin Chen, head of Pork Producers Federations of the Phils. Inc.; former Pangasinan Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, Agham Rep. Angelo B. Palmones, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Eduardo So, head of Mindanao Alliance of Pork.
Jesus Aranza, head of Federation of Philippines Industries Inc.; Javier P. Mateo, head of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association Inc.; lawyer Jose Elias Inciong, head of United Broiler Raisers Association; Gregorio San Diego Jr., head of Philippine Egg Board; Jayson H. Cainglet, head of Agri-Business Action Initiatives.
Norman C. Ramos, head of Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc.; Wilfredo Resoso, head of Philippine College of Swine Practitioners; Arturo Alejar Jr., head of Crop Protection Association of the Philippines; Napoleon Co, head of Association of Aqua Feed Millers Inc.; Joji Co, head of Philippine Confederation of Grains Association.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/345293/ph-agri-leaders-unite-vs-smuggling

saintelm

January 30th, 2013, 08:22 PM

jpdm

January 31st, 2013, 12:49 AM

Major local players finally are doing the right thing!:cheers::cheers:

PH agri leaders unite vs smuggling

ROSALES, Pangasinan – For the first time in more than 20 years, major stakeholders in the country’s agriculture sector formed a united front denouncing rampant smuggling and what they called as “unlawful entry” of a Thai food company that had been granted tax exemptions and other perks.

Rosendo So, director of the Swine Development Council, said 25 national agricultural leaders, farmers and representatives of allied industries signed a resolution that warned about the death of Philippine agriculture because of government policies that would hurt local food producers.

“The move of the industry leaders is unprecedented in the past two decades. This is the first time that such a big group came together to denounce the unabated smuggling of meat and other agricultural products, as well as the tax perks extended to Thai conglomerate, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods),” said So, also chair of the party-list group Abono.

He said industry leaders welcomed the support of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and several lawmakers for their campaign to protect local farmers and hog and poultry raisers.

Aside from So, among those who signed the resolution were Agap Representative Nicanor M. Briones, Durian Tan and Alfredo Dy of Swine Development Council; Daniel Javellana Jr., chair of National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc.; Edwin Chen, head of Pork Producers Federations of the Phils. Inc.; former Pangasinan Rep. Mark O. Cojuangco, Agham Rep. Angelo B. Palmones, Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño, Eduardo So, head of Mindanao Alliance of Pork.

Jesus Aranza, head of Federation of Philippines Industries Inc.; Javier P. Mateo, head of Philippine Veterinary Drug Association Inc.; lawyer Jose Elias Inciong, head of United Broiler Raisers Association; Gregorio San Diego Jr., head of Philippine Egg Board; Jayson H. Cainglet, head of Agri-Business Action Initiatives.

Norman C. Ramos, head of Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc.; Wilfredo Resoso, head of Philippine College of Swine Practitioners; Arturo Alejar Jr., head of Crop Protection Association of the Philippines; Napoleon Co, head of Association of Aqua Feed Millers Inc.; Joji Co, head of Philippine Confederation of Grains Association.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/345293/ph-agri-leaders-unite-vs-smuggling

Parchie

January 31st, 2013, 12:51 AM

PHL mulls creation of coco industry hub for Asia
January 29, 2013 5:13pm

To encourage investments and establish the Philippines as the center of coconut oil trade in Asia, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) are mulling over the creation of a 150-hectare industrial estate.

The would contain “... all the support needed by the coconut industry, PCA administrator Euclides Forbes told reporters in a press conference Tuesday, saying this was part of his conversations with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

...read more (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/292480/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-mulls-creation-of-coco-industry-hub-for-asia)
They're talking about the market-end. They ought to be concerned with the facilities that will systematically replace our old and less productive varieties in the countryside (fam-side). Please remember that it will take seven to eight years before coconuts bear fruit. Or ten years before each tree becomes fully productive!

jpdm

February 2nd, 2013, 06:55 AM

For an agricultural country, this is bad news.:ohno::ohno:

Anyway, with DA Secretary Alcala in the Pnoy govt, this bad situation will be resolve..:)

Agri trade deficit widens

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 1, 2013 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s agricultural trade deficit widened by 34.13 percent to $2.41 billion in the first nine months of 2012 from $1.79 billion a year ago, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported yesterday.

Export earnings from agricultural products were placed at $3.6 billion during the nine-month period, down 9.8 percent from export earnings in the same period in 2011. Farm exports for the period accounted for 9.14 percent of the country’s total export earnings for the period.

Payments for agricultural imports from January to September 2012, on the other hand, stood at $6 billion, up by 3.55 percent from the same period in 2011.

Trade with Japan and the European Union registered surpluses of $434.67 million and $229.32 million, respectively.

Deficits were recorded in trade with ASEAN countries at $1.1 billion, with Australia at $519.01 million and with United States at $386.25 million.

Dollar earnings generated by the country’s top 10 agricultural exports fell 15.27 percent to $2.5 billion last year from $3 billion in 2011.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Commodities that registered decreases in export earnings were: coconut oil, down 33.56 percent; dessicated coconut, 27.40 percent; tobacco manufactured, 22.13 percent; seaweed and carrageenan, 14.32 percent; centrifugal sugar, 45.91 percent; milk and cream products, 38.27 percent; and fertilizer manufactured, 42.47 percent.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has instructed agricultural attaches to find new ways to increase the exports of Philippines farm commodities and address the usual deficit in agricultural trade.

During his recent meeting with the Department of Agriculture’s foreign agriculture service corps (FASC), Alcala told agriculture attaches to review trade relations and explore ways to export non-traditional agriculture products along with traditional ones.

http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=agri%20deficit&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philstar.com%2Fbusiness%2F2013%2F02%2F01%2F903353%2Fagri-trade-deficit-widens&ei=UqcMUYumD-udiAeV_4GQCg&usg=AFQjCNEg9O1vv4ynV3DZ6N8DIrGzKZN1bg

hakz2007

February 2nd, 2013, 01:57 PM

PHL to start exporting rice this year – Alcala
The Philippines will start exporting special varieties of rice this first quarter and stop importation by 2014 after domestic rice production exceeded the target by at least two million metric tons during the 2011-2012 cropping season, a government press release said.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the government would start the exportation of fancy rice varieties as early as this first quarter after the country's rice production reached about 18.3 million MT in 2012, which surpassed its target of 18-million MT for the same year.Read more (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/February/02/businessnews3.htm)

Monchhichi

February 4th, 2013, 09:15 AM

Palace says land distribution on track, rejects bishops’ call for DAR revamp

Even as it maintained the government's land distribution efforts remain on track, Malacañang on Sunday rejected Catholic bishops’ call to revamp the leadership of the Department of Agrarian Reform due to the supposed under-performance of the government’s land reform program.

“Secretary [Virgilio] delos Reyes enjoys the full trust and confidence of the president,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio, even as she admitted there are “more challenges” in the process of acquiring land to distribute to farmers.

On the other hand, a Presidential Communications Operations Office statement quoted Valte as saying the government has so far distributed 300,000 hectares of agricultural land to 169,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries.

“Admittedly, there are more challenges in the process of acquiring and distributing private lands (because before this), what government was distributing were government-owned land. Now, we are in the process of acquiring and distributing privately owned lands,” she said.

Catholic bishops had voiced dismay over Aquino’s commitment towards genuine land reform, noting the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with extension and reforms (CARPER) ends July 2014.

In a letter to Aquino dated Jan. 24, about 84 prelates, including Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, reminded him of his promise for speedy implementation of the law.

They called on the President to “revamp” the leadership of the DAR, which they said had been under-performing particularly in land acquisition and distribution.

“We are greatly alarmed, however, that barely one a half years from the expiration of CARPER, the accomplishments of DAR have been dismal, to say the least, and many promises made to the farmers in June dialogue are not fulfilled,” the bishops added.

“We, therefore, make common cause with the farmers and many agrarian reform advocates in the call for speedy implementation of this law that touches deeply a grave social justice issue in the country affecting so many poor farmers,” they added. — LBG,
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/293239/news/nation/palace-says-land-distribution-on-track-rejects-bishops-call-for-dar-revamp

Monchhichi

February 5th, 2013, 06:32 AM

30,000 ARMM farmers to get help from Italy
DAVAO CITY—Ten towns in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will benefit from some P2.5-billion assistance, mainly from the Italian government, to uplift the conditions of over 30,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in the area.
ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the Italian aid will go a long way in improving the lives of people in 35 agrarian reform communities through the building of rural infrastructure and providing start-up financing for livelihood projects and microenterprises in the area, not only for agrarian reform beneficiaries but also for indigenous peoples, fisherfolk and upland farmers in these communities.
The project, funded mainly by a soft load of 26,190 euro (P1.57 billion), a grant of 1.35 million euro (P81 million) from the Italian government and some P866-million Philippine government counterpart, will benefit 53,000 households and will be carried out in the next six years, said Hataman during the signing of the memorandum of agreement with the Department of Agrarian Reform for the implementation of the program.
“This means a lot to us, especially in the context of the signing of the framework agreement,” Hataman said, referring to the document signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in October last year that is expected to pave the way for the end of the four-decade old Moro conflict in Mindanao.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes said the project would be poured into the Maguindanao towns of Datu Montawal, Datu Piang, North Upi, SK Pendatun and Sultan Mastura; and the Lanao del Sur towns of Wao, Bubong, Kapatagan, Balindong and Malabang, among others.
The project seeks to increase agricultural productivity of agrarian reform communities, develop viable markets for traditional crops and cash crops and fishery products, strengthen the organizations of agrarian reform beneficiaries and improve their access to quality economic and basic support services.
Hataman said the six-year development project seeks to address rural poverty and promote sustainable development in rural Mindanao.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/352569/30000-armm-farmers-to-get-help-from-italy

chanlatorre

February 5th, 2013, 09:34 AM

Philippine farmers hope for coconut-craze windfall
By Cecil Morella | AFP News – 3 hours ago

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/6uVSuQWBCK0koJ6EsEfvSg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDE7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_sg/News/AFP/photo_1360038882512-1-HD.jpg
This photo taken on August 30, 2012 shows a vendor displaying coconut-water products in Manila. After centuries of replenishing Filipinos, the mineral-rich liquid has become a must-have health drink thanks to aggressive marketing by a beverage industry looking to offset soda sales that have lost their fizz

Philippine farmer Liezl Balmaceda has never heard of Madonna, but the US pop star's endorsement of coconut water may help change her impoverished life for the better. After centuries of replenishing Filipinos, the mineral-rich liquid has become a must-have health drink thanks to aggressive marketing by a beverage industry looking to offset soda sales that have lost their fizz.

Balmaceda, 33, and her husband process truckloads of coconuts at their backyard each week to get the meat that is turned into vegetable oil. The arduous labour earns the family of five about $9 a day, barely enough get by. "We just throw the water away when we extract the copra (coconut meat). But if you tell me people actually pay money to drink it, we could use the extra cash," she told AFP in rural Mulanay town, four hours' drive south of Manila.

In his most recent state of the nation address, President Benigno Aquino hailed coconut water as one of the country's most promising new export opportunities. He cited industry figures showing exports jumping more than nine-fold to 16.76 million litres (4.4 million gallons) in 2011.
Manila-based Fruits of Life is one local business to have started profiting from the growing appreciation in the West for coconut water as an alternative to sugar-laden carbonated drinks. "People have become more health-conscious in general," said Phoebe de la Cruz, sales manager for Fruits of Life. "Athletic types have taken to coco water for its natural electrolytes."

Fruits of Life, which began exporting its own branded product in 2006, now exports about 240 tonnes in cans and tetra packs a year directly to supermarket chains in the United States and Canada.

The biggest players in the global beverage industry, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have also jumped into the coconut water health drink craze in recent years.

ZICO, a US coco water brand majority owned by Coca-Cola, has supermodel Gisele Bundchen and basketball star Kevin Garnett as its endorsers.
Meanwhile, pop stars such as Madonna and Rihanna, as well as baseball player Alex Rodriguez, are among celebrity shareholders in Vita Coco, one of the other major brands. Its 0.33-litre (11-ounce), $3 drink is touted as a healthier alternative to energy drinks for athletes and the company boasts an office in New York's Flatiron District.

The Philippines is already the world's biggest exporter of coconut products. Big Philippine mills have for years processed desiccated coconut meat and turned it into powder for baking biscuits, snack bars, cakes and pastries. Coconut flesh is also turned into vegetable oil used for cooking and in a range of common household products, including bath soap.

Supply is not a problem in the Philippines with 350 million coconut trees growing from the beaches up to its hills and yielding 15 billion fruits a year, according to industry regulator the Philippine Coconut Authority. In the Philippines, coconut water remains a popular, cheap drink, with stalls selling it straight from the fruit -- a common site throughout the big cities as well as the countryside.

However, because of a lack of demand as well as the costs required to process and preserve it, the water had never been profitable enough to sell overseas, Philippine Coconut Authority chief Euclides Forbes told AFP. "From mere waste it's being turned into gold," Forbes said.
Nevertheless, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that while coconut water holds the potential of improving the lot of impoverished Filipino coconut farmers, logistical issues held the industry back.

"The demand is huge. The only problem is how to bring the liquid to the processing centres before it spoils, since most coconut farms are in hilly areas without good roads," Alcala said.

Meanwhile, some farmers remain sceptical that they will cash in on the Western craze, citing the fact they have remained poor for decades while big business has profited from other coconut exports. Among them is Rodolfo Aquino, 68, who is paid by traders to haul coconuts by ox-drawn cart about two hours' drive from Manila. "Whether they want the meat and water or just the meat, we get paid the same," Aquino told AFP.

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-farmers-hope-coconut-craze-windfall-044824908--finance.html

spearhead

February 6th, 2013, 05:54 PM

Mag slow down daw muna sa oil palm plantations kasi mahina daw humigop ng tubig ang mga coconut trees kumpara sa mga regular trees, kaya nagdudulot daw ng mga baha:
7V5eba3Xhvw

spearhead

February 6th, 2013, 05:56 PM

Shiit inaatake na tayo ng mga intsik by deploying soft-shelled turtles, eating our plantations daw at mga tilapia, ano ba yan...!?
9eODXVfwKig

Parchie

February 7th, 2013, 12:32 AM

Mag slow down daw muna sa oil palm plantations kasi mahina daw humigop ng tubig ang mga coconut trees kumpara sa mga regular trees, kaya nagdudulot daw ng mga baha:
7V5eba3Xhvw

Pwedeng isa sa mga dahilan pero hindi kapanipaniwala! Meron kasing binaha, ni walang isang punong niyog dun!:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Nabartek

February 7th, 2013, 02:29 AM

Shiit inaatake na tayo ng mga intsik by deploying soft-shelled turtles, eating our plantations daw at mga tilapia, ano ba yan...!?
9eODXVfwKig

Economic sabotage....!

Covered kaya ito ng UN? Baka puede ulit silang kasuhan

hakz2007

February 8th, 2013, 12:51 AM

Philippines bans poultry imports from Germany
MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said the Philippines is barring poultry imports from Germany because of an outbreak of two separate strings of avian influenza.

Under Memorandum Order No. 1, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala imposed a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds—including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen— that come from Schleswig-Holstein District of Stormarn and Hessen District of Waldeck-Frankenberg in Germany.Read more (http://www.interaksyon.com/business/54466/philippines-bans-poultry-imports-from-germany)

TambayBlues

February 8th, 2013, 09:17 PM

I have nothing against foreign companies venturing but if they are getting tax holidays while local hog raisers are not, there is something wrong there. I think it is not the coming of this Thai poultry that will kill local hog but rather their "quirks" given by the government will do.

Competition is good, as long as it is fair competition.

I agree. The Thai company got its perks due to the BOI granting it "pioneer status". The bone of contention is whether the company qualifies under this status to justify the perks.

AFAIK, there are two ways among others by which "pioneer status" can be awarded to a company be it local or foreign. These are;

a). The scale of investments especially if situated in geographical areas that are identified by the government as priority due to underdevelopment.

b). The product or production process employed by the company has never been available or utilized locally by similar businesses operating in the country.

Poly Arm

February 12th, 2013, 01:12 AM

Milk production grows 12 pct in 2012

By: Orti Despuez, InterAksyon.com
February 11, 2013 6:39 PM

MANILA - Philippine milk production grew 12 percent in 2012, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) said on Monday.
In a statement, NDA administrator Grace Cenas said local milk production reached 18.45 million liters last year, up 12 percent from the 16.45 million in 2011.
The country's dairy animal stock reached 40,696 last year.
Cenas said last year's growth was more than twice faster than the 7 percent annual average increase in the last five years.
Despite last year's robust growth, local dairy production accounts for less than a percent of the country's annual rquirement.
Given this, the Department of Agriculture has increased the budget of NDA to P262 million this year, or P90 million higher than last year's allocation.
“With this budget, the NDA will accelerate local dairy development, further increase fresh milk production, provide dairy farmers more income and livelihood, and supply Filipino consumers with quality fresh milk,” Cenas said.
read more http://www.interaksyon.com/business/54820/milk-production-grows-12-pct-in-2012

jpdm

February 12th, 2013, 02:51 AM

I agree. The Thai company got its perks due to the BOI granting it "pioneer status". The bone of contention is whether the company qualifies under this status to justify the perks.

AFAIK, there are two ways among others by which "pioneer status" can be awarded to a company be it local or foreign. These are;

a). The scale of investments especially if situated in geographical areas that are identified by the government as priority due to underdevelopment.

b). The product or production process employed by the company has never been available or utilized locally by similar businesses operating in the country.
This Thai company is not qualified.

Im just really pissed off with this Gregory Domingo led DTI, always bias against Pinoy interests!:bash::bash:

Traitor Domingo and your minions in DTI!!Pro-foreigner and anti-pINoy!!!:bash::bash::bash:

the glimpser

February 12th, 2013, 03:23 AM

PH hybrid rice captures big slice of Bangladesh market

A hybrid rice variety developed in the Philippines has captured 20 percent of Bangladesh’s hybrid rice market, thus helping the developing country in South Asia meet its goal to become self sufficient in rice, an exporting Filipino firm said Monday.

Local firm SL Agritech Corp. has been shipping its SL-8H variety seeds to Bangladesh since the initial production of seeds in 2006.

Although the hybrid rice sector in Bangladesh accounts for only 600,000 hectares out of the 10 million ha of rice areas, it contributed some 18 percent to the country’s total production.

It was enough to wipe out its rice imports reaching 500,000 MT each year, the Bangladeshi official said.

SL-8H performs well under Bangladesh soil conditions, hitting an average yield of 11 metric tons per hectare, which is 20 percent higher than the output of traditional varieties.

Bangladesh has more than three times the Philippines’ rice area of three million hectares. It has 4.7 million hectares of irrigated rice land and 5.2 million hectares of rainfed areas.

SL Agritech claimed that Bangladesh was ahead of the Philippines by at least two years in hybrid rice adoption. It started by importing the seeds from China in 1999.

“The Philippines, which is among Asia’s pioneers in hybrid rice commercialization along with China and India, is importing up to 200,000 MT of rice this year, according to the Department of Agriculture,” SL Agritech said.

hakz2007

February 12th, 2013, 07:04 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427206_337022943069569_455079097_n.jpg

Poly Arm

February 12th, 2013, 08:12 AM

DA allots P89 million for projects in Cavite

By: Orti Despuez, InterAksyon.com
February 12, 2013 1:10 PM

MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allotting P89 million for projects in Cavite in a bid to revive the province's coffee and vegetable industries.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the department would provide technical support, inputs, farm machinery and marketing assistance to farmers and local government units (LGUs).
He said the effort is in line with the agency's "farm-to-table" approach, under which the government would provide assistance to ensure the delivery of farm produce to their markets at the least cost and fastest way.
“We will tap idle lands to expand the vegetable and coffee industry in the province. The DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will also assist fisherfolk revive mussel and oyster raising,” Alcala said.
“Sayang ang Cavite. Sayang ang lupain nating hindi nabubungkal. Sayang ang sipag ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda ng lalawigan, kung hindi po natin ito mapapakinabangan,” he said.
The DA distributed P14 million worth of farm machinery and inputs to farmers, fishers and LGUs during Alcala's visit on February 7.
The DA will also construct P55-million worth of farm-to-market roads and P20-million worth of municipal fish ports.
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/54882/da-allots-p89-million-for-projects-in-cavite

Parchie

February 12th, 2013, 12:22 PM

DA allots P89 million for projects in Cavite

By: Orti Despuez, InterAksyon.com
February 12, 2013 1:10 PM

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/54882/da-allots-p89-million-for-projects-in-cavite

Ilang kilometro kaya ang magawa niyang P55 milyones na farm-to-market-road/s? Kung hindi gawa sa semento yan, kelangan naman ng pera ulit upang gawin ang mga daan na iyan.

chanlatorre

February 12th, 2013, 04:05 PM

Philippines as an emerging ‘quality’ cocoa origin

The Philippines can evolve as a top-quality cocoa source and serve the needs of growing demand for chocolate in Asia, according to a start-up company trading beans in the market.

Full story: http://www.confectionerynews.com/Commodities/Philippines-as-an-emerging-quality-cocoa-origin

chanlatorre

February 12th, 2013, 04:26 PM

Green product preference buoys Philippines’ abaca industry
February 12, 2013

Thanks to the rising preference of people for green products, both in the local as well as international markets, the abaca industry of Philippines is expecting an eight percent rise in exports this year, after experiencing a decline last year.

In a statement, Administrator of the Fibre Industry Development Authority, Cecilia Gloria Soriano, said abaca being a natural fibre and also because of its ability to curb adverse effects of climate change has bright prospects, particularly from producers of renewable goods and composites for construction and transport sectors.

Around 90 percent of the abaca traded in world markets is produced in Philippines.

Abaca exports from Philippines for initial 10 months of 2012 totalled US$ 91.35 million, making it apparent that the industry would not be able to achieve the US$ 151.84 million target set for the year.

Attributing the fall in exports to waning demand in key markets like the US and the EU, Ms. Soriano said exports almost sky-rocketed during 2011, but then as people started holding back their expenses in the wake of global economic slump, there was a dip in demand and exports dropped in 2012.

However, she said the demand has once again started recuperating, with rising preferences for green and natural fibre products like abaca.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=121037

jpdm

February 13th, 2013, 02:04 AM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427206_337022943069569_455079097_n.jpg

Talagang kaya!!!!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

jpdm

February 13th, 2013, 02:05 AM

Green product preference buoys Philippines’ abaca industry
February 12, 2013

Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=121037

Yes yes and yes!!!!!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Monchhichi

February 14th, 2013, 08:25 AM

DA readying livestock, poultry subsectors for export

The Philippines can become competitive in exporting livestock and poultry, especially with the elimination of tariffs on most farm goods traded within the ASEAN region once the region is integrated into a single market in 2015, the Department of Agriculture said.

“We have the capability to export," said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala at the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday.

"We are preparing the livestock and poultry sector because these industries are free from foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu,” he also said.

The poultry subsector had a gross value of P167.1 billion in 2012, registering a 4.5-percent year-on-year growth. The subsector, which accounts for 14.3 percent of the full year farm output, also saw gains in the production of chicken (4.6 percent) and egg (4.4 percent) respectively. Duck meat and egg production increased by 2 percent and 5.5 percent respectively.

Livestock production grew 1.1 percent and had a total gross value of P214.3 billion. The subsector accounts for 16 percent of the full year farm output.

The Agriculture Department is negotiating a large export volume of duck to Japan and Singapore, with the government currently establishing triple dressing plants for the product.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/294820/economy/agricultureandmining/da-readying-livestock-poultry-subsectors-for-export

wolfram74

February 22nd, 2013, 05:35 AM

Local farms behind in good practices (http://www.manilatimes.net/~manilati/index.php/business/top-business-news/41958-local-farms-behind-in-good-practices)

The Philippines badly trails in the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) as compared to its neighbors in the Southeast Asian region like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, according to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). :ohno::ohno::ohno:

While Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have granted GAP certifications to thousands of farms, the Philippines only has four GAP-certified farms, namely: Del Monte Philippines (pineapple); Basic Necessity Inc. (lettuce and herbs); Cardava Integrated Inland Farming (cardava banana); and Leonie Agri-Corp. (various vegetables).

“A Searca-funded study showed that there are efforts for GAP adoption in farms devoted to exports. But I think that there should be a change in mindset among farmers of rice, corn and vegetables to also adopt Good Agricultural Practices,” Searca Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. said.

But he added that even with the Philippine government’s efforts and the Philippine National Standard (PNS) - Code of GAP for Mango being in force since 2009, there is still no GAP-certified mango farm in the country. :ohno::ohno: The Department of Agriculture issues the GAP Certification for Philippine farms.

“The low level of adoption can be attributed to the lack of awareness and understanding of GAP on the part of both producers and consumers, costs associated with adoption and certification, the tedious and lengthy certification process, and the lack of local demand and price premium for GAP-certified produce,” said the study leader Dr. Agnes T. Banzon, Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines-College of Economics and Management.

The study recommended a two-track approach to increase GAP adoption in Philippine farms. One is a “push strategy” to intensify awareness campaigns for the GAP implementers, including farmers and organizations. The other is a “pull strategy” to step up efforts to create awareness among the end consumers.

Dr. Banzon added that to make GAP adoption more affordable, collective farms can be established by farmers whose lands are adjacent to each other so they can share the associated costs, responsibilities and risks.

According to the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization, GAP are “practices that address environmental, economic and social sustainability for on-farm processes, and result in safe and quality food and non-food agricultural products.”

Monchhichi

February 25th, 2013, 09:53 AM

Soccsksargen farmers receive P321M in machinery from DA

The Department of Agriculture, as part of the its farm mechanization program, distributed P321-million worth of farm machinery to farmers in the Soccsksargen region. The region includes the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

During the turnover ceremony in Barangay Bololmala, Tupi, South Cotabato, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said, "Let us always remember that the primary objective of the Aquino administration is to achieve food staples self-sufficiency."

DA 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the P321-million worth of farm machinery would be distributed to farmers’ groups, seven local government units, and two state-run schools in Soccsksargen.

The machinery was sourced through the DA’s banner programs: rice, corn, high value crops, organic agriculture, and agribusiness and marketing.

The DA Agri-Pinoy rice program provided farmer-beneficiaries with 40 hand tractors, 20 floating tillers, 35 shallow tube well engines, and seven mini four-wheel drive tractors.

From the corn program, farmers received three cassava granulator-cum-shredders, two moisture meters, two disc harrows, a 90-HP 4-wheel drive tractor, two village-type corn dryers, eight hermetic cocoons, and two shredders.

From the high value crops development program (HVCDP), farmers received 13 power sprayers, 14 knapsack sprayers, 35 plastic water drums, 1,800 meters of HDPE pipes, and 1,700 cans of onion seeds.

The DA-High Value Crops Development Program also provided one hand tractor with complete accessories to the LGU of Malungon, Sarangani, and one 35-HP, 4-wheel drive tractor to the LGU of Tupi, South Cotabato.

Under its organic agriculture program, the DA provided three shredders to the LGUs of Kidapawan City, General Santos City, and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat.

The DA also distributed three chillers and two chest-type freezers to two barangay food terminals in Glan, Sarangani.

The Agriculture department last year launched its mechanization program for rice farming as part of its efforts to make the country rice self-sufficient by 2013.

Under the program, the government would shoulder 85 percent of the cost of farm machinery distributed to qualified farmer organizations while the remaining 15 percent would be shouldered by farm groups.

The rapidly aging agricultural workforce is pushing the government to increase farm mechanization in order that they be at par with neighboring countries in the ASEAN region.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/296467/economy/agricultureandmining/soccsksargen-farmers-receive-p321m-in-machinery-from-da

wolfram74

February 26th, 2013, 12:01 AM

Rice Farmers Mull Boycott Over Rampant Smuggling (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/395526/rice-farmers-mull-boycott-over-rampant-smuggling#.USvtBGdmPwk)

MANILA, Philippines --- Protesting government’s alleged inability to stop rampant rice smuggling, farmers with small landholdings yesterday vowed to stop planting rice next cropping season unless state agencies are able to address the problem.

Abono party-list chairman Rosendo So said farmers agreed to reconsider their decision to boycott their rice fields if government agrees to include them as recipients of the conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

So warned that a massive farmers’ boycott would result in the non-cultivation of some 4,689,980 hectares of rice lands, at least 3,163,182 hectares of which are irrigated.

So urged Malacañang to act on the problem to avert a “devastating setback” to the government’s much-vaunted rice sufficiency program.

The agriculture sector, particularly rice and corn farmers and millers, have assailed the seeming inability of the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture to put an end to unabated smuggling of rice.

Farmers and millers said the entry of huge shipments of smuggled rice has drastically reduced the cost of palay, thus, resulting in ridiculously low prices of their harvest.

So said farmers’ economic plight for this year is worse than last year when they sold their palay at P17.2 per kilo or a net income of P4,000 a month, unlike this year when rice farmers are expected to sell their palay to as low as P14 per kilo, which means they will be selling their palay at a loss of P3.2 per kilo.

The agriculture leader made observation as he disclosed that a copy of the manifesto signed by farmers, millers, retailers, and other allied agricultural groups calling for an expansion of the CCT program as a counterbalance to the unabated grains smuggling has been transmitted to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Secretary Alcala, for his part, agreed to talk with Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and has committed to give the manifesto to President Benigno Aquino III.

“He was receptive and open to study the proposal. We will meet with DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman on Wednesday to discuss this proposal further,” So disclosed.

“For one harvest season, farmers usually have a gross return of P60,000 for five months with the price of palay at P17.20 per kilo. Minus cropping expenses of about P40,000, that leaves farmers at least P4,000 a month,” So said.

“But nobody is buying because warehouses are still filled to the rafters. Retailers cannot compete with smuggled rice flooding the country. If our proposal is adopted by the government and the DSWD, the price of rice will hit the P23 per kilo mark, defeating the efforts of rice smugglers to undercut the market and ensuring a stable and affordable price of rice for all,” he added.

Based on the computation, allocating a fourth of the CCT budget or about P10 billion to farmers would allow them to sell palay at a discounted price of P14 per kilo from P17.20, the expected price dip of the grain due to the flooding of the market of smuggled rice.

Doing so will ensure that market competition would kill smuggling operations as a discounted cavan price of P1,150 will be able to compete with smuggled rice being sold at P1,200 per cavan.

But without government help through the CCT expansion, farmers will have to sell their palay at a loss and earn only P9,000 per cropping season or P1,800 per month.

“At less than P2,000 a month, there is no incentive for farmers to plant palay. We will face a rice crisis and our food security will be undermined by rice smugglers,” So said.

scamingue

February 26th, 2013, 12:10 AM

[I]

[B]Rice Farmers Mull Boycott Over Rampant Smuggling (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/395526/rice-farmers-mull-boycott-over-rampant-smuggling#.USvtBGdmPwk)

MANILA, Philippines --- Protesting government’s alleged inability to stop rampant rice smuggling, farmers with small landholdings yesterday vowed to stop planting rice next cropping season unless state agencies are able to address the problem.

Abono party-list chairman Rosendo So said farmers agreed to reconsider their decision to boycott their rice fields if government agrees to include them as recipients of the conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

So warned that a massive farmers’ boycott would result in the non-cultivation of some 4,689,980 hectares of rice lands, at least 3,163,182 hectares of which are irrigated.

So urged Malacañang to act on the problem to avert a “devastating setback” to the government’s much-vaunted rice sufficiency program.

The agriculture sector, particularly rice and corn farmers and millers, have assailed the seeming inability of the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Agriculture to put an end to unabated smuggling of rice.

Farmers and millers said the entry of huge shipments of smuggled rice has drastically reduced the cost of palay, thus, resulting in ridiculously low prices of their harvest.

So said farmers’ economic plight for this year is worse than last year when they sold their palay at P17.2 per kilo or a net income of P4,000 a month, unlike this year when rice farmers are expected to sell their palay to as low as P14 per kilo, which means they will be selling their palay at a loss of P3.2 per kilo.

The agriculture leader made observation as he disclosed that a copy of the manifesto signed by farmers, millers, retailers, and other allied agricultural groups calling for an expansion of the CCT program as a counterbalance to the unabated grains smuggling has been transmitted to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Secretary Alcala, for his part, agreed to talk with Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and has committed to give the manifesto to President Benigno Aquino III.

“He was receptive and open to study the proposal. We will meet with DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman on Wednesday to discuss this proposal further,” So disclosed.

“For one harvest season, farmers usually have a gross return of P60,000 for five months with the price of palay at P17.20 per kilo. Minus cropping expenses of about P40,000, that leaves farmers at least P4,000 a month,” So said.

“But nobody is buying because warehouses are still filled to the rafters. Retailers cannot compete with smuggled rice flooding the country. If our proposal is adopted by the government and the DSWD, the price of rice will hit the P23 per kilo mark, defeating the efforts of rice smugglers to undercut the market and ensuring a stable and affordable price of rice for all,” he added.

Based on the computation, allocating a fourth of the CCT budget or about P10 billion to farmers would allow them to sell palay at a discounted price of P14 per kilo from P17.20, the expected price dip of the grain due to the flooding of the market of smuggled rice.

Doing so will ensure that market competition would kill smuggling operations as a discounted cavan price of P1,150 will be able to compete with smuggled rice being sold at P1,200 per cavan.

But without government help through the CCT expansion, farmers will have to sell their palay at a loss and earn only P9,000 per cropping season or P1,800 per month.

“At less than P2,000 a month, there is no incentive for farmers to plant palay. We will face a rice crisis and our food security will be undermined by rice smugglers,” So said.

OA naman. Wala namang ngsabing walang problema ang bansa.

nayki

February 26th, 2013, 02:00 AM

Philippines aims to export 300,000 MT of rice by 2016

MANILA - The Philippines will export 300,000 metric tons of rice by 2016 amid of expectations of a glut because of the country’s import commitment under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.

Assistant Secretary Dante Delima, who is also National Rice Program coordinator, said the government will match, or at least narrow down, the country's rice trade deficit for the next three years to prevent a possible drop in prices due to the influx of cheaper rice.

Under the WTO agreement, the Philippines has committed to a minimum access volume (MAV) of about 350,000 MT, with a 40-percent tariff.

MAV refers to the minimum volume of a product that is allowed to enter a country at reduced tariffs, with shipments outside the quota slapped higher import duties.

“We want to at least match the volume entering the country so that prices will not be affected,” Delima told reporters on the sidelines of the National Year of Rice launch in Quezon City.

He said the agency expects a surge in the number of takers for the MAV, as the government stops rice importation this year.

Over the past few years, the country has reduced its rice imports in line with its goal of self-sufficiency in the staple after 2013.

Formerly the world’s biggest rice importer, Manila has allowed the importation of some 500,000 MT of rice for 2012. Of the total volume, 120,000 MT was purchased by the National Food Authority to serve as a buffer stock during the lean season.

In 2011, the country imported 860,000 MT of rice -- with the private sector importing 600,000 MT; farmers’ groups, 60,000; and the NFA, 200,000. For 2010, the Philippines imported a record 2.45 million MT.

The DA earlier said the country may import between 150,000-200,000 MT this year to serve only as buffer stock during the lean season in June.

“By end of 2013, after [the government] stops importing rice, traders can still bring in grains since we have a commitment to the WTO. This may result to influx of rice in the market, which may pull down prices,” Delima said.

“We want to narrow down our rice trade deficit. That is why we are preparing our farmers for the export of our locally produced varieties,” he said.

Delima said that they will start this year the export of special rice varieties such as colored rice (black, red, pink, brown and purple), aromatic white rice, and long grain white rice.

He said the Philippines cannot compete in the export of ordinary rice so it will focus on premium rice which can be competitive because these varieties cannot be found in other countries.

“In fact, we will start this quarter the initial shipment of at least 100 MT of rice,” he said, adding that the grains would be shipped to Macau and Hong Kong.

Delima said the government is also considering exports to the US, the Middle East, India, Japan, Singapore, and the EU.

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/55809/philippines-aims-to-export-300000-mt-of-rice-by-2016

2010 - 2.45 million MT
2011 - 860,000 MT
2012 - 500,000 MT

Nice...slowly rice imports are on the downtrend year by year :cheers:

tambacan2000

February 26th, 2013, 03:47 AM

KUNDOL IN THAILAND — Kundol, wax gourd in English, is commercially grown in Thailand and big volumes are sold at the giant Talad Thai Market, a wholesale market about an hour’s drive north of Bangkok.
Kundol or wax gourd is an old fruit vegetable in the Philippines but it remains a very minor and neglected crop. There is need to promote the growing of this vegetable both in backyards as well as in commercial scale.

Kundol growing and consumption should be promoted for a number of good reasons. Simple dishes could be prepared with very little expense, yet delicious and tasty. One old dish we remember in the Ilocos which is not common now is to cook thinly sliced kundol with pieces of native chicken and sotanghon with just enough broth. For variation kundol could be prepared into a soupy dish. Of course there are some other ways of preparing.

The kundol is also used for making sweets. The good thing about kundol is that the fruits are big and a lot of sweets could be produced with just one fruit.

Kundol is easy to grow. They are high-yielding, too. We have seen some at the International Field Day at the Simon N. Groot Research Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand recently. And the good thing is that improved varieties are being developed by seed companies like East-West Seed.

We met Ing-Orn Srikubua at the International Field Day where she attended to visitors in the wax gourd section of the demo farm. She said that they have developed a cylindrical variety for the Thai market whereas another type with round fruits was developed for the Indian market. Both are high-yielding and resistant to diseases.

The good thing about kundol is that the fruits can be stored for months under ordinary conditions. That is why it is also a favorite in Taiwan where they have winter. They call the kundol winter gourd because that’s what is most available during the winter months.

At the 30th anniversary celebration of East-West Seed in Bulacan last December, we saw a showcase of prolific kundol at the demo farm. To this day, we have been wondering why farmers are not producing more kundol. It could be a money-maker even for the small-scale growers. Big-volume producers could also encourage more processors to do value-adding to the neglected kundol fruit.

jpdm

February 28th, 2013, 02:40 PM

Government project launched to reduce coffee imports

Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 19:47
Written by Manuel T. Cayon / Mindanao Bureau Chief

TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur—Nestlé Philippines recently launched a government inter-agency project aimed at reviving the local coffee industry and reducing imports of the commodity, of which the country was once a top exporter.

The project, called Coffee Technologies and Funds to Fuel Economic Empowerment (COFFEE), was launched to support the government’s National Convergence Initiative (NCI), which is undertaken by the departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Environment and Natural Resources.

Arthur Baria, agricultural services head of Nestlé Philippines, said indications from the company’s community-development programs showed that more farmers have either started or reverted to planting coffee, with millions of coffee seedlings already planted.

The NCI is a cooperation plan among the three departments to jump-start the country’s capability to meet the demand of the domestic coffee market. Seventy-five percent of the country’s coffee imports come from Indonesia and Vietnam.

The four-year COFFEE project, now on its second year, aims to reduce that number to 60 percent and increase locally sourced coffee to 40 percent.

“By 2020 we hope to entirely reverse the currently high 75-25 importation reliance,” Baria told reporters in Tagbina town, once a top coffee producer in Surigao del Sur province. He and other local government officials launched the project in Tagbina to make it a recipient of incentives to grow coffee. These incentives include skills and technical training, seedling support and the installation of a buying station.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/business/agri-commodities/9939-government-project-launched-to-reduce-coffee-imports

:cheers::cheers:

jpdm

March 2nd, 2013, 01:57 AM

At least somebody from the government still have some common sense.:cheers:

I never thought Balisacan and Abad are a bunch of pricks and traitors to the interests of Pinoy farmers and agents of ADB who wants the Philippines to become a mere importer of rice.:bash::bash:

Undermining self-sufficiency, Agri exec hits Neda, DBM over rice policy:bash::bash::bash::bash:

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
7:44 am | Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—An official assistant of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday lashed out at other agencies, including the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), for their proposals that purportedly undermine the government’s rice self-sufficiency program.

Assistant Secretary Dante Delima, the national coordinator of the DA’s “Agri-Pinoy Rice Program,” assailed the lobbying made by the Neda and the Department of Budget and Management for the abolition of the National Food Authority (NFA), and for the lifting of restrictions on rice imports.

“If people from the Neda, and the DBM are so set against our dream of rice self-sufficiency, perhaps we should just continue this program at the DA.

While we are trying so hard to attain our dream of rice self-sufficiency, they now want to abolish the NFA,” he told a crowd of agricultural officers at Camelot Hotel in Quezon City.

Angry, emotional

Turning angry and emotional, Delima said he had had enough of trying to be respectful to officials of other agencies, whom he declined to name but, in an interview with reporters later, he described them as Cabinet-level officials.
He said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala was not aware of his plans to speak out, and that he was prepared to face consequences, including dismissal from service.

“They have no hearts for those of us on the ground… What they’re doing is a political suicide,” he said referring to the actions taken by the agencies to remove the so-called QR, or the temporary qualitative restrictions on cheap imported rice.

Delima said the removal of the QR would result in cheap rice from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia flooding the local markets and driving Filipino farmers out of business.

Legalizing smuggling

“If we are being hurt by rice smuggling now, what more if smuggling were legalized? Imagine it’s already legal if cheap rice were to flood our market. What will happen to our farmers? And now they even want to add to our problems with the abolition of the NFA and the QR,” he said to cheers from the audience.

“What sort of government service is that? Don’t they have any conscience? They are being paid by taxpayers’ money. I don’t know about them but I feed my family from just my salary from the DA,” said Delima, who cried at various times during his speech.

Delima said the DA was pushing temporary qualitative restrictions precisely so imported rice would not flood the markets “because we want to prepare our farmers first.”

“I know our president supports rice sufficiency. But the people there sitting in other agencies are against what the President wants. What do they mean? That they are more powerful than the President?” he said.

Delima said he understood the desire to lower the prices of commodities, but this should not be done at the expense of rice farmers.

What farmers need

“Who would not be happy about lower prices? But the problem is those who will suffer are the majority. How many are working to till the soil? How many are planting rice? If we sum up the numbers of rice farmers and those who depend on them, that will amount to 10-15 million Filipinos,” he said.

What Filipino farmers need, he said, is for government to improve irrigation, build roads, and to improve technologies and facilities such as driers and millers to make them competitive against neighboring rice-exporting countries.

“They want imported rice to just flood markets. They said we should just raise taxes. Do they think we are insane? They know we know we can’t just raise tariff under the WTO-GATT (World Trade Organization-General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), which is intended to remove these tariffs over time,” he said.

“How do we compete against Thailand? Vietnam? How much is rice in their countries? Only about P20, or P18 [per kilo]. If that rice floods our markets, what happens to us?” Delima asked.

- See more at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/367411/undermining-self-sufficiency-agri-exec-hits-neda-dbm-over-rice-policy#sthash.SeJSPEIN.dpuf

tita01

March 3rd, 2013, 09:42 AM

Agriculture:

Poverty incidence among families by Region (PHILIPPINES)

Luzon:

Ilocos Region : 17.8 percent
Cagayan Valley: 14.50 percent
CAR: 17.1 percent
Central Luzon: 12.0 percent
CALABARZON: 10.30 percent
MIMAROPA: 27.60 percent
Bicol Region: 36 percent
NCR: No Data

Visayas

Western Visayas: 23.80 percent
Central Visayas: 30.2 percent
Eastern Visayas: 33.2 percent

Mindanao

Zamboanga Peninsula: 36.6 percent
Northern Mindanao: 32.80 percent
Davao Region: 25.60 percent
SOCCSKSARGEN: 28.1 percent
Caraga Region: 39.80 percent
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: 38.10 percent

Source: http://countrystat.bas.gov.ph/

nayki

March 3rd, 2013, 10:04 PM

nayki

March 3rd, 2013, 10:04 PM

New markets eyed for beef, pork exports

THE PHILIPPINES is eyeing to export beef and pork products to new markets this year in a bid to improve livestock and poultry raisers’ income.
THE PHILIPPINES has initiated talks with Papua New Guinea for pork exports, and Indonesia, for beef exports. -- Jonathan L. Cellona
"We are currently in talks with the governments of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea for the possible exportation of beef and pork products," said Rubina O. Cresencio, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director, in a telephone interview last Saturday, adding the Philippines may export beef to Indonesia and pork to Papua New Guinea.

However, Ms. Cresencio said the talks are still at a stage where the Philippine government is asking what these foreign countries require.

"These are just potential markets that’s why we are touching base with them so we can find out what their requirements are or if there are any protocols that we must observe before we can export," she explained.

The Philippine livestock and poultry sector’s main advantage over other Asian countries is its foot and mouth disease (FMD) and avian influenza (AI) free status. Aside from this, the Philippines is also preparing its certification system for animal husbandry, biosecurity and animal welfare.

"These will help assure our trading partners that our products are disease-free and are of quality," Ms. Cresencio said.

Based on Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) data, actual cattle production last year was 254,000 metric tons (MT), 0.89% lower than 2011’s 256,000 MT. Hog production, on the other hand, grew by 1.71% to 1.97 million MT from 2011’s 1.94 million MT.

Although cattle production declined last year, Ms. Cresencio said that local livestock producers are able to increase their production based on the market’s demand.

The country exported a total of 14.87 million heads of cattle in 2011, 43.81% higher than 2010’s 10.34 million heads, BAS data showed. -- Raymond Jun R. Portillo
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=New-markets-eyed-for-beef,-pork-exports&id=66704#sthash.3x3wPwQ7.dpuf

nayki

March 3rd, 2013, 10:05 PM

P900M allotted for corn

THE GOVERNMENT has allocated around P900 million this year for the mechanization of corn farms and the provision of post-harvest facilities to improve the country’s corn production, a government official said.
THE GOVERNMENT is increasing its investments in post-harvest facilities for corn but says the private sector can contribute more. -- BW file photo
Edilberto M. De Luna, Department of Agriculture (DA) assistant secretary and coordinator of the National Corn Program (NCP), said in a telephone interview yesterday the DA has allotted P380 million for the mechanization of corn farms and around P520 million for the provision of post-harvest facilities for small-scale corn farmers.

Most of the budget will be spent purchasing four-wheel-drive, 90-horsepower tractors. Mr. De Luna said one tractor, costing between P2.5 million to P3.5 million, will be deployed to a corn farmer cooperative covering a total clustered area of not less than 300 hectares.

Aside from tractors, farmers will also be provided with corn planters to lessen the time it takes for farmers to plant corn.

The DA-NCP is also planning to provide small-scale corn farmers with post-harvest facilities like grain dryers, cob dryers, shredders and corn silos.

"Last year, only 10% of total corn production underwent proper post-harvest processing. This year, we want to increase that to 20% but we cannot do this without the private sector’s support," Mr. De Luna said and added the department has been convincing the private sector to invest in post-harvest facilities.

He added the department can raise the percentage of total corn produced that undergoes proper post-harvest processing to only 12% since post-harvest facilities are directed at small-scale farmers only.

Proper post-harvest processing involves the use of mechanized driers, shredders and silos. These will prevent the corn from being exposed to outside elements, in contrast to the traditional way of drying, which involves laying the corn grains on the road to dry, Mr. De Luna said.

The use of post-harvest facilities can also reduce post-harvest losses. Mr. De Luna said DA wants to reduce the percentage of post-harvest losses to 10% this year from 12.5% last year.

"Aside from increasing corn production, we also want to improve production efficiency by producing good quality corn, promoting proper post-harvest processing and deploying more post-harvest facilities," Mr. De Luna said.

This year, the government targets to produce 8.4 million metric tons of corn, 13.36% higher than last year’s actual production of 7.41 million MT.
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=P900M-allotted-for-corn&id=66703#sthash.9VDHNCS3.dpuf

Monchhichi

March 4th, 2013, 08:40 AM

Philippines in talks with neighbors for livestock, poultry exports

MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the government is in talks with neighboring countries for the export of livestock and poultry products ahead of Asean integration in 2015.

DA-Bureau of Animal Industry Director Rubina Cresencio said the government is in discussions with Papau New Guinea, South Korea, Hong Kong and Indonesia for possible exports to these markets.

Cresencio said the government is also eyeing more shipments to Japan, which already buys yakitori nuggets from the Philippines.

"We constantly keep in touch with these countries to find out their health protocol and requirements. We are going to conduct a government-to-government collaboration to find out their requirement and protocol, and later on proceed to a business-to-business transaction,” she said.

Cresencio said the Philippines may face tough competition from Thailand and Vietnam, but expects Manila's certification as avian influenza- and foot-and-mouth disease-free to be an edge over the two other countries.

“We are free from diseases, such as avian influenza and FMD, so we have greater chances to access our target markets now,” she said, adding that the Philippines was among the few countries that the World Organization for Animal Health certified as bird flu- and FMD-free.

Thailand suffered from a severe outbreak of bird flu last year.

"Based on our assessment, when AFTA (Asean Free Trade Agreement) takes effect, we need to compete with Thailand. They are big poultry producers and also AI free. Meanwhile, for pork, Vietnam is very aggressive," Cresencio said.

The poultry subsector accounted for 14.3 percent of the Philippines' farm output in 2012, growing 4.5 percent to P167.1 billion.

Livestock production comprised 16 percent of farm output, rising 1.1 percent to P214.3 billion.

The DA is building two export-oriented slaughterhouses in Luzon, adding to the 18 built the previous year.
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/56300/philippines-in-talks-with-neighbors-for-livestock-poultry-exports

jpdm

March 5th, 2013, 12:44 AM

Ano naman tumatakbo sa mga kokote ng mga to? :ohno::ohno:

Ewan ko ba sa ating gobyerno. Isang magandang programa i-undermine ng sariling kabaro sa gabinete.

New markets eyed for beef, pork exports

Sana bago mag-export unahin muna yung local market at please tigilan na ang massive outright and technical smuggling na ginagawa ng mga importers/smugglers na karamihan ay mga meat processors, restaurant owners at dealers are sangkot.

Parchie

March 6th, 2013, 11:21 AM

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has confiscated 20 twenty-footer container vans of illegally imported rice from Taiwan worth over P10 million in Cebu, an official said Wednesday.

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said that 20 containers of illegally imported rice were consigned to two Cebu-based rice importers at 10 container vans per consignee.

The rice imports, consigned to ARFG Trading and Cargo Facilities Services and JBD Trading, both of Mandaue City, were misdeclared as STC wall insulator slabs to avoid the required importation permit from the National Food Authority (NFA), he said.

The rice imports arrived at the Port of Cebu during the third week of February this year, he added.

Also seized were four other container vans containing smuggled sugar worth P5 million, guns worth P200,000, high-end bags estimated to be worth P100 million, and a Cagiwa Raptor motorcycle worth P800,000.

The smuggled sugar was placed at the Port of Cebu holding area at Cebu International Port, while the guns, consisting of US-made caliber .22 Jennings pistol, one M16 rifle (baby armalite), one .357 magnum revolver and one 9mm caliber pistol, were consigned to one Ronald Banks of Australia.

It was Port of Cebu District Collector Edward dela Cuesta who presented the guns to Biazon.

Biazon, together with dela Cuesta, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Danny Lim, and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Fernandino Tuazon, also recovered smuggled high-end bags at Shang Building in Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City, particularly at the AHA Real Value Fashion Collection.

Dela Cuesta ordered the establishment padlocked pending investigation.

The group also seized a Cagiwa Raptor motorcycle at the U-Freight Cargo Forwarder.

“The significance on the seizure of the motorcycle is that the smuggler used a locator at Mactan Economic Zone locator by misdeclaring it as machinery parts for plant production,” Biazon said.

He said the seizure will serve as a warning to traders who may be contemplating of illegally importing goods to think twice, before they even seriously consider smuggling.

"We will strongly pursue our anti-smuggling program until it hurts smugglers the most," he stressed.

According to Biazon, the two consignees of the smuggled Taiwan rice will not only be blacklisted as its owners and brokers would also be charged in court.

"We will never allow violators of the country's Customs laws, particularly those involved in the illicit importation of rice to be left unpunished. We shall, as much as possible, apply the full force of the law, if only to protect the interest of the local farmers," the BOC chief said. (SDR/With EOB of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex) (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2013/03/06/p10-m-worth-smuggled-rice-taiwan-seized-cebu-port-271528)

jpdm

March 8th, 2013, 11:34 AM

P-Noy bent on reviving coco industry

By Edith R. Regalado
(The Philippine Star)
Updated March 8, 2013 - 12:00am

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Aguino government is bent on reviving the coconut industry especially after super storm Pablo struck the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, considered to be the country’s largest coconut-producing areas.

According to President Benigno Simeon Aquino, “We have short and medium term interventions but what is important is the long-term intervention for the areas affected by Typhoon Pablo and in the long run, eventually revive the country’s coconut industry.”

The President admitted though that it would take a long time for the coconut industry to fully recover.

The President arrived here Wednesday for a series of engagements including addressing the participants to the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Events/ Exhibits Conference (MICECON) 2013 forum held here.

The President also joined the Team PNoy senatorial candidates as they barnstormed key areas in Southern Mindanao.

The President cited the short-term interventions carried out by the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Industry in providing farm tractors and chainsaws to clear the coconut debris brought about by Typhoon Pablo.

He said coconut farmers were also given vegetable seeds which they could plant for their alternative source of livelihood.

The President likewise pointed out that for the medium-term intervention for the coconut farmers affected by typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental, they were provided an additional 40 units of chainsaws for the clearing operation.

The DA also distributed corn seeds intended for planting under the coconut trees.

The President said government would look into improving the production of coconut water for international market.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/08/917003/p-noy-bent-reviving-coco-industry

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

nayki

March 8th, 2013, 07:02 PM

More local milk for Filipinos

Not too many of us know it but dairy is our second largest agri import in the country today, and local demand continues to increase. Per recent NSO survey, dairy expenditures of Filipinos reached over P71 billion, and the country’s average volume of import of dairy products is around 300 million kilos/year, or $700,000.00, the bulk of which is in milk powder.

The ready-to-drink milk market which is mostly composed of UHT (ultra high temperature processed milk) is not even a significant part of this import volume. The liquid milk volume is 47 million liters, 29 million of which is imported and 18 million liters are locally produced. This is already a big increase for the local dairy industry because previously, the ratio stood at 1 out of 4 glasses; it now stands at 2 out of 5 glasses, or an improvement of about 40 percent.

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is not as familiar to the average Filipino as the more high-profile (read: political) agencies, but it is worth a second look, if only to appreciate their quiet effort in moving the industry forward. Even the government has seemingly relegated it to the background for some time, appropriating for it a measly P50 million annual budget that has not moved for 15 years, until last year when it was jacked up to P170 million (still measly compared to most other agencies). Apparently, someone in the budget department saw enough reasons to re-invigorate the oft-forgotten dairy body, and last year, the budget grew to P262 million.

No one is happier about the turn of events than NDA administrator Ms. Grace Cenas who says they can do wonders with a richer coffer. They can beef up their Dairy Multiplier Farm (DMF) project which is similar to the regular breeding farms, except that the DMF is expected to have better reproducing and milking capacity. The way the system goes is the NDA distributes the dairy animals to the DMFs. The resultant offspring will then be used to repay the NDA (in eight years), and these offspring will then be distributed to small-hold farmers. The DMFs are supposed to showcase the best practices in the dairy industry, so the small-hold farmers will surely benefit from the new technology which spells faster reproduction and increased milk production.

Our dairy industry is slowly growing, though we are still a long way from being competitive. In 2010 – 2011, the industry posted a growth, which is measured in both increase in dairy animals and increase in milk production, of four percent. In 2011-2012, the increase jumped to 12 percent, clearly benefitting from the increase in budget. Increasing the number of dairy animals on the ground is of course the agency’s primary task, but improving the breed is also a priority. Though NDA continues to import the animals, the cross-breeding and up-breeding programs have been intensified using artificial insemination until they have reached the full-fledged level. In the course of this, they are mindful of our tropical weather’s effects on the new breed to ensure an effective propagation of the cross-breed.

They also have this Buy Back Fund which has now been fortified by the new budget where the National Dairy Authority buys back the upgraded or cross-bred animals produced locally by our farmers. They certainly don’t want these upgraded animals to find their way into the slaughter houses, more especially the female cows which can be still be very productive in terms of milk production and propagation. When the small-hold farmers need money, the first thing they think of is selling off these animals which can easily fetch easy money for them in times of need. The NDA now has the funds to buy back these animals to prevent the female dairy animals from landing on the dining table— the males, though, may contribute to our meat supply. The bought-back animals will be re-distributed to interested parties who may want to be a part of the dairy system.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 From last count, we have about 10 million dairy animals on the ground, and these include cows, carabaos and goats. The insemination program of NDA continues to intensify and they relentlessly identify possible “surrogate mothers”, working with our local beef cattle farmers to inseminate these “mother cows” in areas where the population of beef cattle is high. They continuously train animal inseminator technicians and work together with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Carabao Center on the so-called Unified Artificial Insemination Program spearheaded by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

So, are we well on our way to becoming self-sufficient in our dairy needs? The answer is still no, but the NDA is working on it. For now, they are realizing some progress in their goal of providing extra income to our dairy farmers, increasing the livestock in the countryside, presenting alternative livelihood for our rural folks, and maybe even providing the springboard for other rural industries to evolve. Some enterprising folks have made a modest business of milk delivery to milk processing plants using multicabs. Others have gone into micro financing to lend capital to small farmers.

There is a big Dairy Congress coming up which the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines is cooking up. This DairyCon is the umbrella organization of all dairy stakeholders in the country and they are open as well to primary dairy cooperatives where the individual farmers are members. These primary cooperatives which are usually clustered in provinces, have their own milk collection center managed by the cooperative, where the individual members bring their milk for testing and weighing. The good milk is pooled by the coop and brought to a milk processing plant which is managed by the confederation and is then marketed.

It is here in the Dairy Congress that all stakeholders congregate to share their accomplishments, concerns, best practices, etc., and participate in the expo where the latest equipment, technology, ingredients and supplies are showcased.

Kudos to the National Dairy Authority for keeping the fire burning. By providing the rural folks with alternative livelihood, these folks do not see the need to migrate to the urban centers where they have less chances of a decent life.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/09/917377/more-local-milk-filipinos

nayki

March 8th, 2013, 07:03 PM

P-Noy bent on reviving coco industry

By Edith R. Regalado
(The Philippine Star)
Updated March 8, 2013 - 12:00am

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/08/917003/p-noy-bent-reviving-coco-industry

:cheers::cheers::cheers:
Nice nice.. mukhang madaming good news na dumarating sa agri industry natin ah..

Monchhichi

March 10th, 2013, 01:41 PM

PHL coconut products featured in German world fair
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298601/economy/business/phl-coconut-products-featured-in-german-world-fair

PHL wades into Germany's fresh fruit market
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298602/economy/business/phl-wades-into-germany-s-fresh-fruit-market

nayki

March 10th, 2013, 08:20 PM

Unilever eyes tamarind cultivation areas

[QUOTE]MANILA, Philippines - Consumer goods manufacturer Unilever Philippines Inc. plans to establish 60 hectares of new tamarind cultivation areas to supply the vegetable requirements of its Knorr sour broth products.

The company is currently in talks with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the identification of possible sites for a proposed tamarind plantation.

Currently being considered by the DA are sites in Bulacan and Quezon which will still have to be approved by the company.

Tamarind, which is abundant in the country, needs to be cultivated systematically to satisfy the requirements of instant sour broth makers.

Unilever is also asking the DA for assistance on farm inputs such as seedlings, organic fertilizer, and small irrigation facilities.

DA will also provide training to farmers to optimize the yield in the identified areas.[/QUOTE
http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/11/918148/unilever-eyes-tamarind-cultivation-areas

dc88

March 12th, 2013, 10:22 AM

Govt should help effeciency in farmers in the rural provinces.

Monchhichi

March 12th, 2013, 02:17 PM

PNoy boosts agri sector to foreign investors

President Benigno Aquino III boosted the country's agricultural sector to foreign investors on Tuesday, inviting them to be part of its "rise" as it works towards the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in rice this year.

“If there is anyone interested out there in being a part of the rise of the Philippine agricultural sector, our Agribusiness Lands Investment Center will be more than happy to conduct briefings for you,” he told the attendees of the Euromoney Philippines Investment Forum in Makati City on Tuesday.

Aquino also said that the country hopes to “regain [its] footing in the export markets by exporting 100 metric tons [MT] of high-quality rice in 2013.”

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima earlier said that the Philippines plans to export 50 to 100 MT of premium rice—heirloom rice varieties from Benguet and colored rice varieties from Quezon and the Mindanao region—to Hong Kong, Macau, and Europe this year.

Aquino also emphasized that the agricultural sector, which employed 12.1 million as of 2012, is one of the government's priority areas. He noted that its budget has been increased by 22 percent to P75 billion this year from P61.4 billion last year.

“This will fund the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, enhance irrigation systems, and provide support services, among others,” he said.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298889/economy/agricultureandmining/pnoy-boosts-agri-sector-to-foreign-investors

jpdm

March 12th, 2013, 04:37 PM

nayki

March 13th, 2013, 03:49 AM

Nestle expands network of coffee bean buying stations in PH

MANILA, Philippines - Nestlé Philippines is expanding its network of satellite coffee bean buying stations in the Philippines.

Nestlé, the biggest buyer of coffee in the country, said it has opened a new station in Valencia, Bukidnon. The station allows hundreds of small farmers and intermediaries to directly sell their high-quality green coffee beans to Nestlé, which buys around 80% of the entire Philippine coffee produce.

"Since its inception in 1986, the Nestle Satellite Coffee Bean Buying Stations have become the visible expression of our commitment to help grow the country’s coffee industry. By opening satellite buying stations such as the one in Valencia, we are able to engage directly the coffee stakeholders and give assurance that even farmers from far-flung areas can still have direct access to Nestlé," said Edith de Leon, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of NPI in a statement.

Nestle has a direct buying policy, which allows coffee farmers to bring and sell their harvest directly to Nestlé. Coffee beans brought to the station undergo a fair grading and are offered a buying price aligned with the global market price for coffee. Farmers are then able to get payment within 8 banking hours.

De Leon said the annual local demand for coffee beans is currently pegged at 64,000 metric tons.

Nestlé is planning to establish more satellite coffee buying stations in key coffee-growing areas in the country, with another station expected to open this year in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/03/13/13/nestle-expands-network-coffee-bean-buying-stations-ph

jpdm

March 13th, 2013, 04:21 PM

Swiss Company Nestle is buying local coffee.:cheers:

Pinoy company San Miguel selling coffee in the Philippines made in Singapore.:ohno::ohno:

Lets do ala Singapore..boycott San Mig Coffee..toinks!:nuts::nuts::lol:

Monchhichi

March 14th, 2013, 09:14 PM

PHL no longer importing rice next year — DA's Alcala

The Philippines will no longer import rice next year, following an approved inbound shipment of 187,000 metric tons to secure the country's buffer stock of the grain this year, a Cabinet official said Thursday.

“Zero importation na tayo sa 2014,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala revealed in a forum in Ateneo de Manila University Thursday morning.

Alcala also said the National Food Authority council approved the importation of 187,000 metric tons (MT) of rice for 2013 to “cover buffer stock needs.”

The possible suppliers are Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, through bilateral trade deals. "We just need it for buffer stock so there is no need to engage the private sector," according to the Agriculture chief.

Bidding is set for April so the shipment can arrive in the Philippines by June—ahead of the lean season.

The Philippines estimates palay or paddy rice output to reach 20.4 million MT this year from 18.03 million produced in 2012.

Last year, the Philippines allowed the importation of some 500,000 MT of rice, around 120,000 MT of which was imported by the NFA for buffer stock.

Alcala also revealed the NFA council is deliberating on exporting yellow corn in 2014. "If it is determined that the local supply is enough, we might as well allow exportation so that storage will not be a problem," he said.

Local buyers will have the right of first refusal before foreign buyers are allowed to make their bids. Farm gate corn is now going at P11.50 per kilo.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/299233/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-no-longer-importing-rice-next-year-da-s-alcala

nayki

March 15th, 2013, 02:32 AM

Rice imports pegged at 187,000 MT

THE GOVERNMENT will import 187,000 metric tons of rice this year, down from last year’s 500,000 MT, for buffer stock purposes.

"The rice we will import will be used for our buffer stock so the transaction will only be handled by the NFA (National Food Authority)," Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala yesterday said.

The importation, approved by the NFA Council last week, will complement increased domestic procurement by the grains agency and an expanded early cropping scheme, Mr. Alcala added.

The NFA last month said it was targeting to buy 615,985 MT of rice locally, 72.71% more than last year.

The Agriculture department also expects to expand a cropping scheme that allows for three harvests per year.

"Last year, we had around 80,000 hectares of irrigated farms participate in our early cropping scheme. This year we are expecting it to be more than 100,000 hectares," Mr. Alcala said.

He also said the Philippines would no longer be importing rice next year under a self-sufficiency program.

The Agriculture department has set a rice production target of 20.04 million MT for this year, 11.15% higher than last year’s actual output of 18.03 million MT.
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=Rice-imports-pegged-at-187,000-MT&id=67308#sthash.PqbRxoGj.dpuf

Parchie

March 15th, 2013, 07:08 AM

:ohno::ohno:Previously:
FAO Cites Phl Rice Sufficiency Efforts
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) cited the efforts of the Aquino administration to boost palay (unmilled rice) production and achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2013 in its 8-page leaflet to promote this year’s celebration of World Food Day, with the theme, ‘Food Prices: From Crisis to Stability,’ the FAO said:

“…The Government of the Philippines, which used to be the world’s largest rice importer, is seeking to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2013 … cut imports from more than two million tonnes last year to less than one million this year, following the launch of an intensified production programme … and achieve self-sufficiency in two to three years time.

“…Successful implementation of irrigation system repairs, establishment of more post-harvest facilities, and construction of farm-to-market roads … are part of an intensification programme planned to take the Philippines’ rice production to17.46 million tonnes this year…”

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala informed President Aquino of said favorable acknowledgement, and thanked FAO director-general Jacques Diouf and FAO Representative in the Philippines, Kazuyuki Tsurumi.

He said: “On behalf of the Filipino people, particularly farmers and fisherfolk, and President Benigno S. Aquino III, we at the Department of Agriculture extend our sincerest gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization for recognizing our efforts to boost palay (unmilled rice) production and achieve self-sufficiency by 2013.”
Sec. Alcala said such initiatives form part of “our contributions to stabilize global food supply and prices this year and beyond.”

He also thanked the FAO for its valuable assistance through the years on implementing various joint projects and programs to improve the productivity and incomes of small Filipino farmers, fishers, ruralfolk and their respective families, and ultimately reduce hunger and malnutrition.
“Allow us therefore to continuously count on the FAO as one of our strong partners as we strive to make the Philippines sufficient in rice, staples, and other major farm and fishery products,” Sec. Alcala said."
Then:
Cases rise against Noy's rice sufficiency dream
By Camille Diola (philstar.com) | Updated January 4, 2013 - 2:30pm
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III declared 2013 the National Year of Rice to intensify the campaign to achieve rice self-sufficiency this year, despite warnings by international organizations and agriculture economists that the goal is unattainable and even imprudent.

The president even promised in his year-end speech on the last day of 2012 that Filipinos can expect enough locally produced rice to feed the population soon.

“Hindi na lamang rice self-sufficiency, kundi ang pag-eexport ng matataas na klase ng bigas ang habol natin pagdating ng 2013,” he said.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) senior fellow Roehlano Briones, however, assessed the country’s capability to halt rice imports and concluded that the administration’s expensive Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) is “too ambitious” to be realized.

“The rice self-sufficiency target is unlikely to be achieved, whether in 2013 or even over the course of the decade to 2020,” Briones said in PIDS study published late in 2012.

The Philippines, one of the world’s largest importers of rice, is set to end such imports altogether by producing 13.03 million tons of milled rice in 2013—a goal, which for Briones, is simply "unrealistic."

Veteran business journalist Rene Pastor of New Jersey-based Philippine Commodities Digest shared Briones’ insight, even suggesting that the move is more political than it seems.

“The (rice sufficiency) target is a nice sound-bite in the Philippines … especially with mid-term elections coming up in May of next year,” Pastor said in a December 2012 article.

Causing poverty
Economists from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Food and Agribusiness, meanwhile, partly blamed government’s popular campaign to become an autonomous rice producer for “persistent” poverty in rural areas.

Calling the high allocation on rice development “misguided,” the study by the think tank found that the poorest of the poor belongs to the fishing and coconut farming sectors that are barely reached by government support despite their productivity.

“The pursuit of the common good is hampered by the over-emphasis on the rice sector, which has led to lower incomes of non-rice farmers—(this is) one of the structural causes of food insecurity of the rural poor,” the research concludes.

However, agriculture economist Rolando Dy, the lead researcher of the UA&P study, refused to comment on whether the rice drive is advantageous to the country.

“The issue is a very sensitive one for Pnoy,” he said in an e-mail response.

Pricey fixation

The World Bank, moreover, released a study on the country’s agribusiness in 2011 saying that the Aquino administration’s commitment to self-sufficiency makes the staple food more expensive for consumers.

“The fixation on rice self-sufficiency results in relatively higher price of rice in the domestic market compared to the world market price,” says the World Bank September 2011 report jointly written by National Economic Development Authority chief Artemio Balisacan and five other researchers.

Department of Agriculture’s banner policy to mainly fund rice programs also makes farm lands costlier, the study notes.

Saying that local rice production is costlier, Briones similarly found that Filipinos will eventually find rice more expensive once government protects the country’s own outputs by barring cheaper imports.

“Sa madaling sabi: makakamit ang sariling kasapatan sa bigas, kapalit ng lalong pagmahal nito sa pamilihan,” he said.

International criticism

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) also recommended that the Philippines should lessen its investments in programs to boost rice production and to even export the grain by 2014.

ADB economist Bui Minh Giap said in a forum that the Aquino administration’s bid to meet the demand in rice, a staple food, by 2013 is not only unviable but also unwise.

“The target will not be accomplished,” Giap said, supporting claims that costs of rice production costs in the Philippines are much higher than large rice producing neighbors Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

Giap cited the country’s lack of agricultural infrastructure and the slow progress in land reform programs as bottlenecks for the goal.

The Department of Agriculture, however, forged a partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in December to attain and sustain the desired food security.

A top scientist from the same organization, however, earlier criticized government's 2013 projection.

IRRI Deputy Director General Achim Dobermann told reporters the year before that sustainable production would not be likely due to Filipinos' rice-based eating habits and lack of infrastructure.

"Self-sufficiency by 2013 is probably somewhat ambitious," said Dobermann.

Asked to react on such findings, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters that the government will still push for the self-sufficiency target amid criticisms.

“I don’t care what they think. We are Filipinos, we know our country (better). And when I say that we will attain self-sufficiency (in 2013) … we will do our best to make that happen,” Alcala said.

When will the DA sec know that we take every promise and write it down in order not to forget what he bragged about a year ago? Now, he moves it to 2014? Are we to expect another false claim next year?:ohno::ohno:

tita01

March 15th, 2013, 11:10 AM

PHL no longer importing rice next year — DA's Alcala

(Updated 2:02 p.m.) The Philippines will no longer import rice next year, following an approved inbound shipment of 187,000 metric tons to secure the country's buffer stock of the grain this year, a Cabinet official said Thursday.

“Zero importation na tayo sa 2014,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala revealed in a forum in Ateneo de Manila University Thursday morning.

Alcala also said the National Food Authority council approved the importation of 187,000 metric tons (MT) of rice for 2013 to “cover buffer stock needs.”

The possible suppliers are Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, through bilateral trade deals. "We just need it for buffer stock so there is no need to engage the private sector," according to the Agriculture chief.

Bidding is set for April so the shipment can arrive in the Philippines by June—ahead of the lean season.

The Philippines estimates palay or paddy rice output to reach 20.4 million MT this year from 18.03 million produced in 2012.

Last year, the Philippines allowed the importation of some 500,000 MT of rice, around 120,000 MT of which was imported by the NFA for buffer stock.

Alcala also revealed the NFA council is deliberating on exporting yellow corn in 2014. "If it is determined that the local supply is enough, we might as well allow exportation so that storage will not be a problem," he said.

Local buyers will have the right of first refusal before foreign buyers are allowed to make their bids. Farm gate corn is now going at P11.50 per kilo. — SOA/VS, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/299233/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-no-longer-importing-rice-next-year-da-s-alcala

manlajay

March 15th, 2013, 12:41 PM

Parchie

March 16th, 2013, 02:32 AM

kasi 2013 tayo nag import???
Good point!

nayki

March 16th, 2013, 03:00 AM

Parchie

March 16th, 2013, 03:59 AM

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Sige lang Sec. Alcala just aim high kung di mo man magawang zero imporatation sa 2014 sana sobrang liit na lang iniimport natin that. Good job ka sa akin! :cheers:
Yep! There's no fee incurred in entertaining dreams!:):)

nayki

March 16th, 2013, 04:42 AM

^^Yup, specially if i am seeing progress with the improvement of the numbers. :) :)

Parchie

March 16th, 2013, 05:00 AM

^^Yup, specially if i am seeing progress with the improvement of the numbers. :) :)
Paki post uli yung improving numbers na nakita mo?:D:D:D

nayki

March 16th, 2013, 06:42 AM

Do i really need to? :D :D

hakz2007

March 19th, 2013, 12:40 PM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/2527_443993865677124_1196999736_n.jpg

Monchhichi

March 19th, 2013, 01:16 PM

PH not likely to achieve rice self-sufficiency this year?

MANILA, Philippines - Will the government not be able to achieve President Aquino’s oft-repeated target to be self-sufficient in rice this year?

Last week, President Aquino trumpeted the agriculture department’s target for the country to become self-sufficient in rice while visiting Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala's home province Quezon.

"Baka naman po nakakampante si kasamang Procy (Alcala), hindi po natin kakaligtaan ang pangako niya. Huwag lamang pagsungitan ng panahon, at hindi lamang tayo magiging rice self-sufficient bago matapos ang 2013, malamang maging exporter na rin po tayo,” Aquino said in a speech in Gumaca, Quezon last March 11.

But the National Food Authority (NFA) is reportedly importing 187,000 MT of rice this year to serve as buffer stock.

Malacañang said that the country is still "on track" in meeting the “domestic requirements for rice” but the government wants to be prepared in case of weather disturbances, hence the decision to import rice as buffer stock.

Lacierda pointed out that the amount of rice imports for 2013 is “a far cry” from 2010 levels.

"According to Secretary Alcala, we are on track to meet our domestic requirements for rice. However, if there is a weather disturbance that will damage our crops, we want to be prepared. Therefore, what we imported is meant to serve as buffer against any force majeure. Please note that the 187 thousand metric tons is a far cry from the 2.4 million metric tons in 2010," Lacierda said in a text message.

Lacierda said that from 2.4 million metric tons, 2011 imports dropped to 860,000 metric tons, and 500,000 in 2012.

"Our commitment is that we will be self sufficient in rice by 2014. In 2013, we have an importation of 187,000 metric tons and it is only 8 percent of importation of 2010, which is 2.4 million," Lacierda said in a press briefing.

“This will form part of the buffer stock of our rice volume… Wala na tayong importation by next year. So ngayon, ang natitira na lang importation natin is 187,000 metric tons, which is a mark improvement from the time we came in in 2010, which was… 2.4 million metric tons.”

Quoting Alacala, Lacierda said that the Philippines is “exporting premium quality rice such as black rice, red rice, long grain aromatic rice while we are importing ordinary rice. We expect the export of premium quality rice to increase in the subsequent years as production of premium quality rice increases while we cease importing ordinary rice by 2014.”

"When the President speaks about rice sufficiency, he always qualifies with the words ‘weather permitting'," Lacierda added.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/03/19/13/ph-not-likely-achieve-rice-self-sufficiency-year

jpdm

March 20th, 2013, 04:04 AM

Lets always hope for the best.

If we become self-sufficient in rice, we should all celebrate.

We should also hope and work for our self-sufficiency in many agricultural products (food crops, fruits, meat and poultry, coffee, dairy etc) to minimize importation and bring more food, income and employment to millions of Pinoys in the countryside and save them from poverty and hopelessness and for the Philippines to attain inclusive growth.:cheers::cheers:

nayki

March 20th, 2013, 04:19 AM

^^Yup, i know the goal is so high but the effort is really progressing and generating results.

Monchhichi

March 20th, 2013, 10:41 PM

Hybrid rice producer eyes maiden share sale by yearend
By: Orti Despuez, InterAksyon.com

MANILA - The country’s biggest hybrid rice and seed producer on Wednesday said it aims to pursue its long-stalled initial public offering (IPO) by yearend.

Henry Lim Bon Liong, SL Agritech Corp president, said the company plans to raise P2-3 billion for expansion and corner 10-15 percent of the rice industry.

“We are trying to assess our fiscal position. We will decide after our fiscal calendar, which ends in May. If not, we may try to do it next year,” Lim said, adding that interested underwriters had approached the company.

"We are planning already. But at the same time, we are looking at our earnings to see if it can provide for us. But right now we have a very healthy stock market, so it okay," he told reporters.

SL Agritech grows and markets SL-8H Super Hybrid Rice seeds and Dona Maria brand premium rice. "With this additional funding, we may also move from our premium rice and grow lower-priced rice," Lim said.

SL Agritech has formed a joint venture with the group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan for a commercial rice production venture. Under the joint venture, First Pacific Co Ltd will provide the financial muscle for the venture while SL Agritech will supply hybrid seeds and the land for large-scale commercial farming.

Possible plantation areas are in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Davao del Sur, Campostella Valley, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. Lim said the company has identified 2,000-3,000 hectares in Iloilo alone.

"Iloilo rice lands ready for planting. In Mindanao it will take time and we are trying to fast-track it," he said, noting that production will be allocated for domestic consumption.

"This is to support our rice self-sufficiency goals," he added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/57558/hybrid-rice-producer-eyes-maiden-share-sale-by-yearend

nayki

March 22nd, 2013, 01:43 AM

Promise seen in PH dairy, milk industry

The Philippines will revise upward its dairy production target for the next four years as domestic milk production continued to surpass targets, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) said on Thursday.

NDA Administrator Grace Cenas said that the agency aims to acquire more than 50 percent of the total liquid milk or ready to drink (RTD) market by 2016, from the current target of 43-percent market share under the government’s medium-term dairy development plan.

“We are focusing on liquid milk supply since we still cannot compete for powdered milk from abroad. By 2016, we are hopeful that we can supply more than half of the country’s liquid milk requirement,” Cenas told reporters on the sidelines of the agency’s 18th anniversary celebration.

Under the National Dairy Roadmap, the country aims to gain significant sufficiency level in the ready to drink (RTD) milk market, from 19 percent in 2010 to more than double (43 percent) by 2016.

“In fact, last year, we were able to post significant improvements with the increasing productivity and the number of milking animals, “ Cenas said.

In 2012, the country’s liquid milk production increased by 12.16 percent to 18.45 million liters from 16.45 million in 2011. It was also higher by 33 percent of the total RTD milk output five years ago.

“This means that two out of every five glasses of milk is supplied locally,” she said.

For this year, the NDA aims to produce around 20 million liters of milk. The NDA chief also noted that the total number of dairy animals—including cattle, carabao and goat—has reached 40,696 heads in 2012 from 37,891 heads in 2011.

“We also now have 43 dairy multiplier farms operating nationwide with more than 3,000 dairy animals on the ground, which are expected to produce at least a boatload next year,” she said.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/top-business-news/43971-promise-seen-in-ph-dairy-milk-industry

jpdm

March 22nd, 2013, 03:09 AM

^^^^^^Love this news @nayki.

This sector is not given much attention by media, government, business and the public. Di alam ng tao kung gaano kaimportante ang impact into sa food self-sufficency, income and employment generation, import substitution and health issues.:cheers::cheers::cheers:

nayki

March 22nd, 2013, 03:43 AM

jpdm

March 24th, 2013, 02:29 AM

^^Sana nga we can also thrive in Soya Milk production, iyong Thailand meron silang soya milk na masarap yung Vitamilk brand. Meron naman tayong mga producers ng soya milk sa pinas pero yun nga maliliit lang, sana lumaki pa. Pero dapat matutu muna mga pinoy uminom ng soya milk, ako favorite ko yun :D

Pareho tayo. :cheers::cheers:

I drink vitasoy 1 liter pack a week plus taho everyday...:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Yup, everytime na magpunta ako ng mall or supermarket, always looking for soya drink made in the Philippines. Very rare e. Yung dating binibili ko sa Robinsons wala na. Made in Nueva Ecija ata.

jpdm

March 24th, 2013, 02:31 AM

Good news!:cheers::cheers::cheers:

NDA revises milk production targets

By Czeriza Valencia
(The Philippine Star)
| Updated March 24, 2013

MANILA, Philippines - The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is revising its projection for domestic milk production for the next four years as milk production outpaces original targets.

NDA administrator Grace Cenas said yesterday the agency now expects local producers to be able to provide for 50 percent of the country’s liquid milk requirements by 2016.

Under the National Dairy Roadmap, the country aims to enable dairy producers to produce 43 to 46 percent of the total domestic liquid milk requirement.

“By 2016, we are hopeful that we can supply more than half of the country’s liquid milk requirements,” Cenas told reporters on the sidelines of the NDA’s 18th anniversary celebration.

Raw milk production in 2012 rose 12 percent to 18.45 million liters from 16.45 million liters in 2011. Milk production has been growing at an average of seven percent annually in the last five years.

The growth in 2012 milk production exceeded the initial target of 10 percent. The NDA intends to keep the growth rate at 12 percent and above in the coming years.

Cenas said domestic producers currently satisfy 40 percent of the domestic liquid milk demand.

The milk production target this year is placed at 20 million liters. The agency intends to achieve full sufficiency by 2021.

To increase raw milk production, the government is importing more breeding dairy animals this year to improve local stock. More multiplier farms will also be established to increase the breeding stock.

The country has a current inventory of 40,696 dairy animals. To fully meet the country’s dairy demand and replace imports, one million dairy animals would be needed.

In 2012, the government imported 10 bulls and 2,100 female cows for breeding. The offspring of these breeding stocks are redistributed to capable dairy farms.

This year, the NDA intends to procure a 700 additional milking cattle.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/24/923268/nda-revises-milk-production-targets

april boy

March 24th, 2013, 08:35 AM

^^^^Encouraging news!:cheers:

Lets always hope for the best.

If we become self-sufficient in rice, we should all celebrate.

We should also hope and work for our self-sufficiency in many agricultural products (food crops, fruits, meat and poultry, coffee, dairy etc) to minimize importation and bring more food, income and employment to millions of Pinoys in the countryside and save them from poverty and hopelessness and for the Philippines to attain inclusive growth.:cheers::cheers:

^^Yup, i know the goal is so high but the effort is really progressing and generating results.

^^^^^^Love this news @nayki.

This sector is not given much attention by media, government, business and the public. Di alam ng tao kung gaano kaimportante ang impact into sa food self-sufficency, income and employment generation, import substitution and health issues.:cheers::cheers::cheers:

^^Sana nga we can also thrive in Soya Milk production, iyong Thailand meron silang soya milk na masarap yung Vitamilk brand. Meron naman tayong mga producers ng soya milk sa pinas pero yun nga maliliit lang, sana lumaki pa. Pero dapat matutu muna mga pinoy uminom ng soya milk, ako favorite ko yun :D

Pareho tayo. :cheers::cheers:

I drink vitasoy 1 liter pack a week plus taho everyday...:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Yup, everytime na magpunta ako ng mall or supermarket, always looking for soya drink made in the Philippines. Very rare e. Yung dating binibili ko sa Robinsons wala na. Made in Nueva Ecija ata.

Agree, agree and agree mga sirs!!!:):)

nayki

March 24th, 2013, 09:05 AM

NDA revises milk production targets

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/2940/bus3newy.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is revising its projection for domestic milk production for the next four years as milk production outpaces original targets.

NDA administrator Grace Cenas said yesterday the agency now expects local producers to be able to provide for 50 percent of the country’s liquid milk requirements by 2016.

Under the National Dairy Roadmap, the country aims to enable dairy producers to produce 43 to 46 percent of the total domestic liquid milk requirement.

“By 2016, we are hopeful that we can supply more than half of the country’s liquid milk requirements,” Cenas told reporters on the sidelines of the NDA’s 18th anniversary celebration.

Raw milk production in 2012 rose 12 percent to 18.45 million liters from 16.45 million liters in 2011. Milk production has been growing at an average of seven percent annually in the last five years.

The growth in 2012 milk production exceeded the initial target of 10 percent. The NDA intends to keep the growth rate at 12 percent and above in the coming years.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Cenas said domestic producers currently satisfy 40 percent of the domestic liquid milk demand.

The milk production target this year is placed at 20 million liters. The agency intends to achieve full sufficiency by 2021.

To increase raw milk production, the government is importing more breeding dairy animals this year to improve local stock. More multiplier farms will also be established to increase the breeding stock.

The country has a current inventory of 40,696 dairy animals. To fully meet the country’s dairy demand and replace imports, one million dairy animals would be needed.

In 2012, the government imported 10 bulls and 2,100 female cows for breeding. The offspring of these breeding stocks are redistributed to capable dairy farms.

This year, the NDA intends to procure a 700 additional milking cattle.
http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/03/24/923268/nda-revises-milk-production-targets

MatudNilaBaby

March 24th, 2013, 09:15 AM

milk it does the body good. got milk?:cheers:

jpdm

March 26th, 2013, 01:30 AM

More good news from our fast growing dairy industry--among the most important subsector of agriculture!:cheers::cheers:

NDA Importing 700 NZ Dairy Cows

By Melody M. Aguiba
Published: March 24, 2013

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is bringing in 700 more dairy cattle from New Zealand as it aims to eventually achieve a 50 percent share of the liquid milk market that assures fresh product and nutrition for more Filipino consumers

NDA Administrator Grace J. Cenas said the importation is part of a total of 2,100 dairy animal importation that started last year as financed by a P450 million PL 480 fund. At P140,000 per animal, this totals to P294 million. The target schedule for the shipment of the 700 animals is up to February, 2014.

“We’re importing under our multi-year dairy animal procurement program. Through it, we wanted to maintain the price. Every year, the price goes up, and bringing a smaller amount like 600 (will be more expensive),” said Cenas in a press briefing.

The Aquino administration has committed to support the development of the domestic dairy industry with increasing budget for NDA reaching to P262 million in 2013 from just P170 million in 2012.

“Before 2012 it was only P50 million yearly on the average,” she said.

The liquid milk production locally was at 18.45 million liters in 2012, up by 12 percent from 2008, and accounting for 46 percent of the country’s liquid milk market. NDA hopes to grow this by 10 percent in 2013.

“How I wish we’ll soon have 50 percent market share of liquid milk,” she said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=4766&sid=2&subid=80

nayki

March 26th, 2013, 05:02 AM

^^ Good news! Siguro naman pwede din i-breed mga yan dito :)

siopao.asado

March 26th, 2013, 10:51 AM

PHL no longer importing rice next year — DA's Alcala

(Updated 2:02 p.m.) The Philippines will no longer import rice next year, following an approved inbound shipment of 187,000 metric tons to secure the country's buffer stock of the grain this year, a Cabinet official said Thursday.

“Zero importation na tayo sa 2014,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala revealed in a forum in Ateneo de Manila University Thursday morning.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/299233/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-no-longer-importing-rice-next-year-da-s-alcala

weh... di nga...
seriously, i think for our rice self sufficiency targets to come into realization... we need more than kuligligs and patubig projects... we need to extend scientific farming knowledge to majority of our local farmers (or better yet, investors) when i see farmers from US, UK, Japan...I always see trucks and machines. These things make farming a lot easier and better. parang agriculture with industrialization. why not offer good loan deals for tractors, milling machines...ung malakihan hindi ung kuliglig level. this way, farmers can harvest their crops systematically and a lot easier maximizing the land. imagine if they can plant 2 to 3 type of crops in a year, this time rice, next is corn, then another one after, depending on the season... sana i have a wrong understanding of the current situation, pero it seems farming until now is the old time manual human farming. So if we have means for those people to access technology in agriculture in a larger scale, then not just self sufficiency in our agriculture products can be attained but also we can export these commodities to other countries as well. Inclusive growth yan.

Parchie

March 27th, 2013, 02:07 AM

weh... di nga...
seriously, i think for our rice self sufficiency targets to come into realization... we need more than kuligligs and patubig projects... we need to extend scientific farming knowledge to majority of our local farmers (or better yet, investors) when i see farmers from US, UK, Japan...I always see trucks and machines. These things make farming a lot easier and better. parang agriculture with industrialization. why not offer good loan deals for tractors, milling machines...ung malakihan hindi ung kuliglig level. this way, farmers can harvest their crops systematically and a lot easier maximizing the land. imagine if they can plant 2 to 3 type of crops in a year, this time rice, next is corn, then another one after, depending on the season... sana i have a wrong understanding of the current situation, pero it seems farming until now is the old time manual human farming. So if we have means for those people to access technology in agriculture in a larger scale, then not just self sufficiency in our agriculture products can be attained but also we can export these commodities to other countries as well. Inclusive growth yan.

What you're proposing is going contrary to the CARPER program, IMHO. Please take note that if properly implemented, the agrarian reform program will only allow a landholding (for rice and corn farms) of 7 hectares max. With that size of farm, you basically don't need mechanized farming and no amount of improvement on the farming efficiency will pay you back good.

Mr. Marcos thought that the problem with poverty is landholding. Sad to say, it was the earning capacity of the family bread winners and the availability of rewarding jobs that's missed.

Porknight

March 27th, 2013, 06:46 AM

weh... di nga...
seriously, i think for our rice self sufficiency targets to come into realization... we need more than kuligligs and patubig projects... we need to extend scientific farming knowledge to majority of our local farmers (or better yet, investors) when i see farmers from US, UK, Japan...I always see trucks and machines. These things make farming a lot easier and better. parang agriculture with industrialization. why not offer good loan deals for tractors, milling machines...ung malakihan hindi ung kuliglig level. this way, farmers can harvest their crops systematically and a lot easier maximizing the land. imagine if they can plant 2 to 3 type of crops in a year, this time rice, next is corn, then another one after, depending on the season... sana i have a wrong understanding of the current situation, pero it seems farming until now is the old time manual human farming. So if we have means for those people to access technology in agriculture in a larger scale, then not just self sufficiency in our agriculture products can be attained but also we can export these commodities to other countries as well. Inclusive growth yan.

The majority of the land owners in Nueva Ecija I guess have the money to buy harvesters and proper tractors . Buying these machines means being more productive and use less workers to do the same job .

But farming in the Philippines is complicated there are rules and regulations made by the farmers that leave little room for improvements .

Farmers feel that bringing machines would cut costs for the land owners and nothing else .
The farmers have a point but what they don't realize that many of the landlords earns almost nothing when they employ 60 people just to harvest 10 hectares .

A Harvester would cut 30 jobs during harvest time .

I own land myself and I informed my farmers that I would buy a harvester 2 years ago , they were really disappointed i guess some of them were mad , but i was tired to pay for food 5 times a day for 2 weeks for 21 people just to handle a tresher .

Well when i heard that 2 harvesters bought in the same area where i live were been burn "accidentally" i reconsider buying any machine .

siopao.asado

March 27th, 2013, 07:59 AM

The majority of the land owners in Nueva Ecija I guess have the money to buy harvesters and proper tractors . Buying these machines means being more productive and use less workers to do the same job .

But farming in the Philippines is complicated there are rules and regulations made by the farmers that leave little room for improvements .

Farmers feel that bringing machines would cut costs for the land owners and nothing else .
The farmers have a point but what they don't realize that many of the landlords earns almost nothing when they employ 60 people just to harvest 10 hectares .

A Harvester would cut 30 jobs during harvest time .

I own land myself and I informed my farmers that I would buy a harvester 2 years ago , they were really disappointed i guess some of them were mad , but i was tired to pay for food 5 times a day for 2 weeks for 21 people just to handle a tresher .

Well when i heard that 2 harvesters bought in the same area where i live were been burn "accidentally" i reconsider buying any machine .

My parents and my sister own a land for rice planting in Nueva Ecija too, Cabiao to be exact. Though they are not really into this, they just wanted to invest. But since we do not go there to properly manage the farming per se, we just let the people do the thing. I just hear from them about the binhi, pataba, and the kabans... well, if I have time, I want to help them to maximize the returns.

Monchhichi

April 1st, 2013, 08:45 PM

Govt to set up 28 rice processing centers this year

The government will establish 28 rice processing centers (RPC) this year to lessen the dependence of small farmers to rice millers and bring down post-harvest losses.

Dubbed as RPC 1-2-3, the project aims to establish small, medium and large milling facilities in farm clusters devoted to palay cultivation, according to Rex Bingabing, executive director of Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) of the Department of Agriculture.

He said the centers would be established “so that farmers would not have to transport theproduce over long distances for milling.” Funds of P431 million will be sourced from the National Rice Program.

Agriculture regional offices will implement the project at the field while PhilMech will provide technical assistance and training for farmer organizations that will operate, manage and maintain the rice centers.

“The project aims to establish rice milling centers of which the size will be determined by DA regional offices and PhilMech field personnel,” Bingabing said.

Small scale rice centers (RPC-1) will cost P6 million each; medium-sized rice centers (RPC-2) will cost P15 million each; and rice centers (RPC-3) will cost P31 million each.

The DA will establish 13 RPC-1 units costing P78 million; seven RPC-2 units costing P105 million; and eight RPC-3 units costing P248 million, for a total cost of P431 million.

In 2012, the DA established three RPC-2 units.

Distribution

Based on the field surveys of PhilMech, the 13 RPC-1 units will be distributed as follows: one for Region 4A (Calabarzon); two for Region 4B (Mimaropa); four for Region 8 (Eastern Visayas); two for Region 10 (Northern Mindanao); two Region 13 (Caraga); and two for Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

For the RPC-2, the distribution will be one for Region 4A;t hree for Region 5 (Bicol); one for Region 10 (Northern Mindanao); and two for Region 13 (Caraga).

For the RPC-3, the distribution is as follows: one for Region 1 (Ilocos Region); two for Region 3 (Central Luzon); two for Region 6 (Western Visayas); and one for Region 12 (SOCCKSARGEN). Locations for the other two are still undidentified.

The government will shoulder 85 percent of the cost of an RPC, and the recipients will shoulder the remaining 15 percent. Only qualified farmer associations or irrigation associations can qualify to become recipients of the RPC and other farm machinery distributed by the government.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/301907/economy/agricultureandmining/govt-to-set-up-28-rice-processing-centers-this-year

nayki

April 3rd, 2013, 12:54 AM

'PPPs key to agriculture growth'
MANILA, Philippines – The government should tap private sector funding for much-needed facilities and services in the agriculture sector.

In a speech delivered at the Asia-Pacific Agriculture Policy Roundtable on Tuesday, April 2, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects would help grow farmers’ incomes without placing burden on government finances.

Balisacan said the government should find ways to make agriculture projects commercially viable like providing “subsidies, incentives, or availability payments to attract private sector participation.”

“This is either through an optimal sharing of risks or through a transaction structure that would strike a balance between safeguarding public interest by ensuring that a project has a net economic benefit and making the project attractive to the private sector,” he said.

snipped...
http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/25300-ppps-agriculture-growth

siopao.asado

April 3rd, 2013, 07:03 AM

'PPPs key to agriculture growth'

http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/25300-ppps-agriculture-growth

another case subject for studying...PPP :ohno:

amigo32

April 3rd, 2013, 12:33 PM

PPP
Pinag-aaralan Pinaplano Pa lang

nayki

April 6th, 2013, 03:39 AM

US Agriseeds to expand corn breeding facility in Phl

http://imageshack.us/a/img547/6739/bus5.jpg
MANILA, Philippines - California-based agrotechnology firm US Agriseeds intends to expand its operations in the Philippines by putting up a breeding facility for hybrid yellow corn seeds in Mindanao.

US Agriseeds operates in the country through its local arm SeedWorks.

Carlos Saplala, US Agriseeds general manager for Southeast Asia, said the prospective five to 10 hectares corn breeding facility in South Cotabato may be put up this year or next years.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/04/06/927395/us-agriseeds-expand-corn-breeding-facility-phl

amigo32

April 6th, 2013, 04:38 AM

ang mais
bow
http://distantmirror.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/corn-evolution-truth-saves-com.jpg

Parchie

April 6th, 2013, 06:56 AM

US Agriseeds to expand corn breeding facility in Phl

http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/04/06/927395/us-agriseeds-expand-corn-breeding-facility-phl

Once they start their yellow corn fields, every corn field in the area gets to be contaminated with the yellow corn genes! Then we'll miss the native varieties that are proven resistant to native pests. And beneficial pests could be impacted unknowingly.

Been there, seen how it is. Hope I'm wrong here.

nayki

April 6th, 2013, 09:23 AM

Kakamiss...masarap yung native white corn pag nilaga :)

nayki

April 7th, 2013, 03:29 AM

Philippines inks rice trade deal with Cambodia

THE PHILIPPINES has inked a rice trade agreement with Cambodia which will allow Manila to import the staple from its Southeast Asian neighbor.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed on April 4 by Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Noe A. Wong and Cambodian Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce Cham Presidh, according to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday.

“The MoA opens the way for the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice from Cambodia for the next two years through Green Trade [a Cambodian public enterprise],” the statement said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the NFA, imports rice to ensure sufficient supply of the staple, especially for the lean months of July to September.

For this year, the country is importing a total of 187,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.
- See more at: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Philippines-inks-rice-trade-deal-with-Cambodia&id=68245#sthash.1HTJMvpN.dpuf

amigo32

April 7th, 2013, 03:46 AM

Sorry Cambodia but we will be rice sufficient by 2014:D
We will be exporting rice to Thailand Vietnam Cambodia by then:D

3cr

April 7th, 2013, 03:58 AM

What do you know... nagkatotoo nga ang pangakong maging rice exporter tayo by 2013! Hehehe... :lol: :okay: :okay: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Philippines starts exporting fancy rice to Hong Kong, United States, Dubai
Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6474&sid=2&subid=80

The Philippines is exporting this year 100 metric tons (MT) of high-value rice to Hong Kong, Dubai, and the United States. The first 50 MT is set to be shipped out to Hong Kong and Dubai within the month. It consists of a combination of 30 MT of long grain aromatic rice from Region 12, black rice from Tiaong, Quezon, and 20 MT of brown and white SL-7, SL- 9 (Jasponica, Miponica) premium hybrid rice of SL AGritech Corp. The next 50 MT will be shipped out to the United States by the third quarter of the year consisting mainly of the annual harvest of heirloom rice from the Mountain Province, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Dante Delima.

It is in fancy rice that the Philippines can compete with the world’s best and biggest rice producers, mainly Thailand and Vietnam. “It will be progressive program to export fancy rice where we can be competitive. We’re going to export some locally-grown upland varieties, heirloom rice that will be harvested by September or October from the Mt. Province. SL Agritech will also join us in our program to export Jasponica variety of rice,” said DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Snipped... to read on click the link: http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6474&sid=2&subid=80

wolfram74

April 7th, 2013, 04:02 AM

^^ hmmm....so, in 2013, PHL will import 187,000 tons and will export 100 tons?

:coffee:

3cr

April 7th, 2013, 04:19 AM

^^ Gov't/Country's rice self sufficiency target/goal eh end of 2013 pa naman tsong kanya sa 2014 malalaman natin niyan if the gov't will actually meet its rice self sufficiency goal or not. Atleast yung rice export goal/target nila na 2013 eh na sapul despite many who doubted so I'm willing to give them a benefit of the doubt. Who knows baka naman gaya ng ating GDP No#'s eh marami rin ang masupresa sa huli di ba! Hehehe... :lol: :lol: :lol: :banana: :banana: :banana:

What do you know... nagkatotoo nga ang pangakong maging rice exporter tayo by 2013! Hehehe... :lol: :okay: :okay: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

Philippines starts exporting fancy rice to Hong Kong, United States, Dubai
Manila Bulletin
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6474&sid=2&subid=80

The Philippines is exporting this year 100 metric tons (MT) of high-value rice to Hong Kong, Dubai, and the United States. The first 50 MT is set to be shipped out to Hong Kong and Dubai within the month. It consists of a combination of 30 MT of long grain aromatic rice from Region 12, black rice from Tiaong, Quezon, and 20 MT of brown and white SL-7, SL- 9 (Jasponica, Miponica) premium hybrid rice of SL AGritech Corp. The next 50 MT will be shipped out to the United States by the third quarter of the year consisting mainly of the annual harvest of heirloom rice from the Mountain Province, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Dante Delima.

It is in fancy rice that the Philippines can compete with the world’s best and biggest rice producers, mainly Thailand and Vietnam. “It will be progressive program to export fancy rice where we can be competitive. We’re going to export some locally-grown upland varieties, heirloom rice that will be harvested by September or October from the Mt. Province. SL Agritech will also join us in our program to export Jasponica variety of rice,” said DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Snipped... to read on click the link: http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6474&sid=2&subid=80

nayki

April 7th, 2013, 04:50 AM

Sorry Cambodia but we will be rice sufficient by 2014:D
We will be exporting rice to Thailand Vietnam Cambodia by then:D
Sorry to those rice exporting country we import much less now.

nayki

April 7th, 2013, 04:54 AM

^^ hmmm....so, in 2013, PHL will import 187,000 tons and will export 100 tons?

:coffee:
Mukhang ganon na nga. Much way better than the last decade in which we imported so much, in 2010 we imported 2.4 Million metric tons of rice and now the target import is only 187 thousand metric tons. Sana tuloy tuloy na to and hopefully we can increase high quality rice exports year by year :cheers:

amigo32

April 7th, 2013, 05:05 AM

Mukhang ganon na nga. Much way better than the last decade in which we imported so much, in 2010 we imported 2.4 Million metric tons of rice and now the target import is only 187 thousand metric tons. Sana tuloy tuloy na to and hopefully we can increase high quality rice exports year by year :cheers:

Salamat PGMA sa farm to market road at yung rice programs na inumpisahan mo
ikaw nagluto si Nuy ang kumakain:lol:

nayki

April 7th, 2013, 05:07 AM

Nagluto agad? diba pwedeng nagtanim, nagbayo at nagsaing? tapos iba ang kumain :lol:

amigo32

April 7th, 2013, 05:09 AM

puede yan sa detalye:D
summary lang kasi:D

3cr

April 7th, 2013, 05:20 AM

Parchie

April 7th, 2013, 03:42 PM

Monchhichi

April 7th, 2013, 11:06 PM

PH to import rice from Cambodia

MANILA, Philippines --- The country’s bid to become rice self-sufficient may not be realized yet.

Just recently, the Philippines government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on rice trade with the Kingdom of Cambodia to pave the way for the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice from that country for the next two years.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed that the MOA between the two governments was signed last April 4 by Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Noe Wong and Cambodian Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh.

Ambassador Wong, in a brief speech at the signing ceremony, described the MOA as another step forward in efforts to further increase economic activity between the Philippines and Cambodia, which has emerged as a major regional producer of rice.

Minister Cham, for his part, expressed the hope that the MOA would help encourage broader trade between the two countries. He said that improvements of milling and storage facilities in Cambodia should help facilitate Cambodian rice exports to the Philippines.

The MOA opens the way for the NFA to import rice from Cambodia through Green Trade, a Cambodian public enterprise.

Rice is a staple food in the Philippines, and the same is true with its Asian neighbors.

Cambodia’s success in rice farming can be attributed in large part to the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), founded by Yang Saing Koma in 1997.

A key aspect of CEDAC’s success is the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which Koma introduced to just a handful of farmers in 2000. Simply put, SRI is effective plant-water-soil management that combines all farming good practices.

Over 100,000 Cambodian rice farmers now use SRI, which dramatically cuts down on the use of chemical fertilizers. Between 2002 and 2010, Cambodia’s rice production ballooned from 3.82 million tons to 7.97 million tons.

Incidentally, Koma was given the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award last year for his contributions to farming technology in Cambodia.
http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6537&sid=1&subid=1#.UWHhJaJmiSo

3cr

April 7th, 2013, 11:18 PM

From 2.4M to 187T metric tonnes Nice! Yup it's looking like our rice self sufficiency goal is not that far fetch anymore as once thought. Hopefully there will not be any major destructive storms to ruin our rice harvest this year so we can finally close the gap. Can't have any major setbacks if we are to meet our rice self sufficiency goal by the end of 2013. Hopefully by next year we'll be self sufficient na. :cheers:

^^ Yup bad for them but good for us! :cheers:

Did it ever enter your mind that there is this thing called "rampant rice smuggling" in the country? It is possible that a decrease in the inventoried rice numbers didn't mean it's an improvement. It could be that some "un-monitored" volume of rice from abroad just seeped inside without our agencies knowing/ accounting for those smuggled rice!

Unless, of course, our farmers did miracles and that the rice production rose from previous year's level to fill in the gap left by the lesser imports. Or people found other staples to eat other than rice! (It's impossible for people to just do away with eating:nuts:)

^^ Ngek? Terms like "Possible", "Coul be" etc. can go both ways so unless you have proof that it was indeed actually the amount of smuggled rice due to rampant smuggling is the main/real culprit here that actually decreased the gap and not really any improvement in rice production, then the same can be said about your statement/theory. Nothing but speculation. Baka naman kasi masyadong "Exag" yang rampant smuggling na sinasabi mo. Hehehe... :lol: :lol: :lol: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:

O ayan found this article... sabi estimated as much as 600T metric tonnes of smuggled rice in 2012 (maybe less).
Making up around 787T (600T + 187T) metric tonnes still doable and not impossible!

P32-billion farm products smuggled in 2012–farmers
Business Mirror
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/11697-p32-billion-farm-products-smuggled-in-2012-farmers

THE amount of farm products, including rice, pork and chicken products, that entered the country illegally reached an estimated P32 billion in 2012, making the Philippines the “smuggling capital of Asia,” agriculture stakeholders said over the weekend.

Swine raiser Rosendo So said this failure of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to curb the smuggling of farm products should prompt Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon to resign.

“If has an iota of delicadeza, he should not wait for President Aquino to ask him to step down, said So, a director of the Swine Development Council.

Comparing the volume of trade export of other countries to the Philippines to the import volume based on BOC records, So said [B]as much as 600,000 metric tons (MT) of rice valued at P10 billion were smuggled into the country in 2012.

3cr

April 8th, 2013, 01:26 AM

^^ Grabe bakit ba di mabuwal-buwal yang smuggling na yan? Kailangan talaga sibakin ang smuggling na yan para mag-improve ang tax collection ng Customs. Got to put an end to this Mr. Biazon. Either Smuggling or Biazon has got to go - Magkasubukan na at matira matibay. :bash: :bash: :bash:

Parchie

April 8th, 2013, 03:28 AM

^^ Ngek? Terms like "Possible", "Coul be" etc. can go both ways so unless you have proof that it was indeed actually the amount of smuggled rice due to rampant smuggling is the main/real culprit here that actually decreased the gap and not really any improvement in rice production, then the same can be said about your statement/theory. Nothing but speculation. Baka naman kasi masyadong "Exag" yang rampant smuggling na sinasabi mo. Hehehe... :lol: :lol: :lol: :nuts: :nuts: :nuts:

O ayan found this article... sabi estimated as much as 600T metric tonnes of smuggled rice in 2012 (maybe less).
Making up around 787T (600T + 187T) metric tonnes still doable and not impossible!

P32-billion farm products smuggled in 2012–farmers
Business Mirror
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/11697-p32-billion-farm-products-smuggled-in-2012-farmers

THE amount of farm products, including rice, pork and chicken products, that entered the country illegally reached an estimated P32 billion in 2012, making the Philippines the “smuggling capital of Asia,” agriculture stakeholders said over the weekend.

Swine raiser Rosendo So said this failure of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to curb the smuggling of farm products should prompt Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon to resign.

“If has an iota of delicadeza, he should not wait for President Aquino to ask him to step down, said So, a director of the Swine Development Council.

Comparing the volume of trade export of other countries to the Philippines to the import volume based on BOC records, So said [B]as much as 600,000 metric tons (MT) of rice valued at P10 billion were smuggled into the country in 2012.

You just answered your own comment!:lol::lol::lol::lol: You are looking at those which got apprehended. What about data from consumption? Are you not worried why we didn't import much and the prices of rice just about level?

3cr

April 8th, 2013, 07:50 AM

^^ Did it ever cross your mind that when GMA was buying rice left and right to stock our rice reserves unnecessarily only to leave it to rot that it's actually part of the reason why the original rice import numbers were initially inflated to begin with? We were buying so much rice to be brought into the country we didn't really need. Not really what I'd classify as "Real Demand" due to consumption requirements/needs does it? That's simply waste rooted in corruption (kickback).

Since then the PNoy gov't has tried to curb the wasteful ways of the past aministration and been more diligent and careful with their rice import number requirements in conjunction with the rising amount of rice production/harvest to the point that the gov't was confident enough to set a goal of rice self sufficiency for the Philippines by the end of 2013. You then pointed out that there was rampant rice smuggling that skews the actual number (It's not really 187T metric tonnes) and that is why I already did some research on the supposed amount of smuggled rice brought into the country in 2012 which was estimated as high as 600 metric tonnes, a fourth (25%) based on the 2.4M metric tonnes. Even at the adjusted number of 787T metric tonnes (600T + 187T), I am of the opinion this is still a very doable number and not impossible to hit to achieve the rice self sufficiency goal set by the gov't given how much we've has already gone down (from 2.4M to 787T metric tonnes) in our rice import requirement. Don't know about you but I for one am looking forward to 2014 and will be one happy camper if at that time the gov't can finally say we don't have to import rice anymore. Other than that, not as concerned with conspiracy theories and speculations as maybe you are unless you have actual proof to back up such insinuations. Sige kaw naman ang magresearch and enlighten us! Hehehe... :lol: :lol: :lol:

3cr

April 8th, 2013, 11:24 PM

Sana Totoo! :banana: :banana: :banana:

PHL is merely a sack of palay from rice self-sufficiency — Agri official
GMA News
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/300165/economy/agricultureandmining/phl-is-merely-a-sack-of-palay-from-rice-self-sufficiency-agri-official

Just how close is the Philippines to achieving its goal of becoming self-sufficient in rice?

In fact, very close, according to a senior official of the Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante S. Delima, who is also the National Rice Program coordinator, noted on Wednesday that three million rice farmers need only produce one extra sack of palay this year to meet their 20-million metric ton (MT) target.

This would be enough to cover not just the rice consumption of Filipinos for a year but also enough grains for export above the 30 days' worth of buffer stock in case of calamities.

Delima revealed the numbers during the Region 11 launch of the Year of Rice, the Agriculture Department's rice advocacy program, at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

In 2010, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala first announced the goal of making the Philippines self-sufficient in rice by 2013—a target that was moved to 2014.

Since then, output from the 4.5 million hectares of rice paddies in the country has steadily increased. From the usual 3 percent yearly growth, the agriculture sector saw a 6.5 increase in production by the end of 2010 and 8 percent in 2011-2012.

The production growth translated into a total harvest of 16.5 million MT in 2011. By 2012, production rose to 18 million MT or just enough to feed the 95 million or so Filipinos for a year.

Even if the numbers did not translate to self-sufficiency in rice, the dramatic increase in output reduced the need to import the commodity from 500,000 MT in 2011 to 187,000 MT last year.

“What we're importing now is just for our buffer stores,” Delima noted, saying 187,000 MT would cover six days of domestic consumption of the staple food. “Most of the rice we consume right now basically come from our local farmers,” the Agriculture official added.

To increase paddy rice output and diversify consumption habits of Filipinos, the Agriculture Department and its partner agencies launched information campaigns on corn, banana, and kamote or sweet potatoes as alternatives to rice while encouraging ways to reduce wastage.

Access to farm support and information were being improved through the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank, Farmers' Contact Center, e-Extension Program for Agriculture and Fisheries, and subsidies for irrigation, tractors, fertilizer and seedlings.

Challenges and Skepticism

Despite the good news, Filipino farmers still face a lot of challenges that could affect the goal of rice self-sufficiency, said Delima.

“Rice smuggling is still a big problem, as well as the lack of funding for irrigation and farm to market roads and bridges,” he said.

He also agreed with the farmers that the National Food Authority should buy rice at higher farm gate prices as motivation to continue planting rice.

Delima assured the farmers they will get support from the local government, like bringing irrigation to far-flung areas and working on getting more tractors for the region.

However, Giap Minh Bui, an economist with the Asian Development Bank's Southeast Asia Department of Natural Resources and Agriculture, mentioned in an ADB live chat event that what's hindering the Philippines from truly reaching its target is the high cost of farming.

The ADB also expressed its concern that the government's rice self-sufficiency program might do more harm than good in the long run, especially in the international market. In its working paper "Enhancing ASEAN's Resiliency to Extreme Rice Price Volatility," the think tank explains how rice self sufficiency could send price shocks in the international rice market and raise the cost of rice of Filipinos.

ADB Practical Leader in Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development Lourdes Adriano was quoted in an Aug. 30 report as saying, “There is no historical data that will support this claim. It is not possible to attain sufficiency next year, not even in the near future. Not in your or my lifetime.”

siopao.asado

April 10th, 2013, 08:18 AM

Just went from Ilocos this weekend, and I still see farmers doing the same old way of harvesting. If there is a demand for let us say, rice, will there be a way for some investors to improve the harvesting process of our farmers? Probably, land owners would not choose to bear the extra cost as an investment and IMO because of the land ownership in PH. Why would others think it as a long term investment if we can only buy land rights for several years instead of owning it? Is the CARP related to this?

scamingue

April 10th, 2013, 11:05 AM

Did it ever enter your mind that there is this thing called "rampant rice smuggling" in the country? It is possible that a decrease in the inventoried rice numbers didn't mean it's an improvement. It could be that some "un-monitored" volume of rice from abroad just seeped inside without our agencies knowing/ accounting for those smuggled rice!

Unless, of course, our farmers did miracles and that the rice production rose from previous year's level to fill in the gap left by the lesser imports. Or people found other staples to eat other than rice! (It's impossible for people to just do away with eating:nuts:)

Smuggling has been there like since probably when the Bureau of Customs was created. I have a friend from NEDA and they told me, it really sounds unbelievable that we can attain rice self sufficiency but that's because we don't see what's going on at the grassroots.

nayki

April 10th, 2013, 05:44 PM

Hanjin proposes 30-year PPP project to grow rice, corn for export
MANILA - (UPDATED 8:01 p.m.) South Korea's Hanjin has proposed a P11-billion 30-year rice and corn production project in Misamis Oriental, according to the National Food Authority (NFA).

Based on its development plan, Hanjin Heavy Industry and Construction Co Ltd-Mindanao Inc will build a multi-industry cluster (MIC) under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme for rice, corn cultivation and other rotational crops.

The project would cover 3,000 hectares in Claveria, Misamis Oriental at a cost of P10.942 billion for a 30-year period, with the initial phase of development estimated at P55.8 million. Hanjin expects to start the initial phase of the project this year upon securing government clearance.

The Korean company will tap the Korean National Institute of Crop Science, the leading agricultural research center in that country, where technology transfer arrangement is “assured and guaranteed.” Upon the start of operations, Hanjin intends to network with prominent government or private research centers for crops in the Philippines and Korea

snipped..
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/59096/hanjin-proposes-30-year-ppp-project-to-grow-rice-corn-for-export

nayki

April 10th, 2013, 05:46 PM

NFA palay procurement goes 38 pct over 1Q target

MANILA - (UPDATED 10:35 p.m.) The National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday said it has exceeded its first-quarter palay procurement target by more than a third.

In a statement, NFA Administrator Orlan Calayag said the agency bought 2.24 million bags of palay, 38.22 percent more the 1.7 million target for the January-March harvest. This translated to an average of 56,281 bags a day.

Calayag said the agency introduced procurement strategies to encourage more farmers to sell their harvest directly to NFA instead of going through private traders. These strategies include lending empty sacks to farmer cooperatives using their Cooperative Development Incentive Fund (CDIF) and setting up buying stations in far-flung areas.

NFA also coordinated with municipal agriculture offices and fielded mobile procurement teams in areas where ex-farm prices were low. The agency put up 435 buying stations and mobile procurement teams nationwide

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/59101/nfa-palay-procurement-goes-38-pct-over-1q-target

3cr

April 10th, 2013, 09:50 PM

BoC to auction P135M worth of smuggled rice
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=771364363911

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) Legazpi will auction next month the seized 94,000 bags of imported rice from Vietnam worth approximately P135 million. BoC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Danilo Lim has already directed the BoC office here to start the auction of the seized imported rice now kept in a warehouse in this city.

Lawyer Leovigildo Dayoja, BoC collector here, said the bureau will immediately act on to dispose the seized imported rice through public auction to interested qualified rice traders. Dayoja said the auction will give additional revenue to the government yet such cannot assure a 100-percent return due to depreciation value of the commodity, while the bureau has also already spent some P3 million to date on expenses for pilotage, wharfage, arrastre service, warehouse lease, fumigation, labor, supplies and trucking services.

Snipped... to read on click the link: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=771364363911

3cr

April 11th, 2013, 02:18 AM

Philippines teams up with China in super hybrid rice development
InterAksyon.com
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59158/philippines-teams-up-with-china-in-super-hybrid-rice-development

LEGAZPI CITY - The Philippines is poised to achieve a high average rice yield of 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare as it collaborates with China on the development of a "Super Hybrid Rice" that can potentially push production cost to P5 per kilo.

The target is possible as the "Super Hybrid Rice" that the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center (CNHR-RDC) is developing has already hit a milestone when it reached in 2011 a goal to yield 13.5 MT. Local rice experts are also ready to demonstrate the real potential of hybrid rice to raise yield when a Harvest Festival by SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) is conducted on April 15. “The government’s program right now is to show farmers how to earn more because what’s important is how much is left in the pocket of farmers, not just how much income they make,” DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said in a statement reaching here Wednesday.

The country is already approaching rice self-sufficiency with only 187,000 MT of imports this year “but after attaining self-sufficiency, our next move is to help farmers lower production cost,” Alcala said.

Snipped... to read on click the link: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59158/philippines-teams-up-with-china-in-super-hybrid-rice-development

Wendellexpress

April 11th, 2013, 08:53 AM

Rice OP its the only thing asians can relate to

Monchhichi

April 11th, 2013, 01:46 PM

Strawberry production high despite effects of summer

http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1358216205.jpg
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Municipal agriculturists Felicidad Ticbaen on Wednesday said that strawberry production here and other parts of the province remains high despite dwindling irrigation water in several areas due to the prevailing dry season.

The assurance came after her office was asked about the sharp increase of retail prices of fresh strawberries from an average of P90 to Pl00 per kilo to Pl50.

She explained that after the strawberry festival in March, "more tourists have arrived here buying strawberries that there is now a high demand of strawberry...more than what we can produce at this period."

During the past three weeks, despite some isolated rainshowers in the area, the water level of the Balili River, which is the chief source of irrigation water in the area, has considerably gone down.

The local strawberry farmers have, as a result, reduced the daily watering frequency from four to two.

With temperatures reaching above the normal 24 degrees Celsius, some unshaded strawberry plants exhibited "premature riping" of fruits exposed to the sunlight.

Ticbaen, however, assured that the perceived rise in the price of fresh strawberries will be short-lived, as many farmers are about to harvest their crops prior to the start of the rainy season in May.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59164/strawberry-production-high-despite-effects-of-summer

Monchhichi

April 11th, 2013, 01:50 PM

Can one of the world's most endangered freshwater fishes be found in Isabela?

http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1365666762.jpg

That's what authorities in the region are trying to find out, according to a story on the website of government-run Philippines News Agency (PNA).

The Ilagan City, Isabela datelined story said that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 2 is looking at the possibility that "ludong" fish can be found in the upstream of Abuan River, located in the city's eastern portion.

Ludong, which sells for at least P5,000 per kilogram, is listed as one of the world’s most endangered fresh water fish, the PNA story said. Known for its delicious taste, the ludong fish is also called the President’s Fish or Northwest Pacific Salmon.

A team has already been set up to catch a pair of ludong, bring it to the BFAR breeding station in Aparri, Cagayan for study and possible breeding, Roderick Revillosa, BFAR employee in charge of the ludong breeding project said.

The team is composed of employees from the Ilagan City agriculture office, provincial fishery office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Philippine Information Agency-Isabela, and Barangay Cabisera 10 leaders
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59211/can-one-of-the-worlds-most-endangered-freshwater-fishes-be-found-in-isabela

nayki

April 11th, 2013, 11:41 PM

Sugar already 92% of target

Sugar production as of March 31 reached 2.17 million metric tons (MT), 92% of the government’s 2.356-million MT target. This was also 14% higher than the 1.9 million MT recorded in the same period in the previous crop year.

The sugar crop year starts in September and ends in August.

SRA attributed the record crop to early milling and favorable weather.

“We have almost reached our target and that is because we started milling early,” said SRA Administrator Regina Bautista-Martin in a phone interview yesterday.

Nine sugar millers started milling in September 2012, the first month of the crop year, compared to just three in the same month in the previous crop year.

“Usually, millers will start their operations in October but this year, they started early,” Ms. Martin said, “and we might finish milling in June.”

She said milling usually ends in July.

“In fact three millers are already finished milling,” Ms. Martin said, adding that two are located in Negros and one in Pampanga.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Sugar-already-92%-of-target&id=68577

Wavemaker

April 12th, 2013, 02:39 AM

3cr

April 12th, 2013, 06:08 AM

^^ There were reports as well saying rice reserves are at a low. Why not just add it to our rice reserve para makamura ang gobyerno if need to replenish(libre/confiscated naman eh). Oh speaking of rice smuggling and the BOC, here's some related news...

BOC files smuggling raps vs rice trader, broker
by Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/26023-boc-files-smuggling-raps-vs-rice-trader-broker

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) sued a Cebu-based rice trader for smuggling, bringing the total number of smuggling cases filed by the agency to 127 over a period of 17 months. In a statement Thursday, April 11, BOC said JBD Trading owner Cecilio Durano and broker Joevel Delda were charged before the Department of Justice under the Run-After-The-Smugglers or RATS program.

The latest filing came after Abono Partylist group accused Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon of "single-handedly making the country the smuggling capital of Asia." The group alleged there was rampant smuggling of rice and other agricultural goods in the past year. Biazon dismissed the claim, saying it was politically motivated.

Following the latest case filing, Biazon said, "We are committed to protect the interest of our local farmers and no one can stop the Bureau of Customs from doing its job, no matter who gets the axe for doing illegal deals in the BOC. We shall aggressively pursue this case today, as well as all the other cases we have already filed, to protect the interest of the government and the economy."

Snipped... to read on click the link: http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/26023-boc-files-smuggling-raps-vs-rice-trader-broker

Bureau of Customs abolition planned
Complete overhaul seen as only solution
Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/390089/bureau-of-customs-abolition-planned#ixzz2QIIj4Hic

Believing that any less stringent measure will not suffice to stamp out smuggling, the Aquino administration is considering abolishing the Bureau of Customs and replacing it with a professional institution run by private officials and employees.

Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon said he had an initial discussion with President Benigno Aquino III about a top-down cleansing at the customs bureau that would once and for all end smuggling and corruption in the agency.

“One concept done by other countries is a complete overhaul [of their customs departments] through abolition. We might have to do that,” Biazon said in a roundtable discussion with Inquirer editors and reporters on Thursday night.

The Bureau of Customs has been under fire in recent days, with reports about the rampant smuggling of oil through special economic zones and agricultural products that is costing the government billions of pesos in lost revenues every year.

Critics have demanded the resignation of Biazon for allegedly failing to stamp out smuggling despite the Aquino administration’s emphasis on transparency and good government.

Get rid of them all

Unknown to them, Biazon himself has proposed scrapping the entire customs bureau to get rid of all the corrupt officials and employees in the agency.

Biazon cited the example of Peru, which, to defeat corruption and smuggling, abolished its custom department, put up a new one, adopted strict qualifications for hiring, and paid higher salaries to the new officers and employees running the new agency.

In the case of the Philippines, Biazon said, corruption is deeply entrenched in the customs bureau’s culture and system so firing a few people or catching some smugglers will not solve the problem.

Biazon explained that face-to-face transactions between front-line customs personnel and importers open up opportunities for corruption.

Resistance to reforms

The solution, he said, is to have a completely automated system that will do away with direct dealings between customs employees and importers.

On his watch, he said, the customs employees’ strong opposition to reform makes it difficult for him to clean up the bureau.

Biazon cited an administrative order he issued last year for the automation of one customs procedure. “Concerned customs employees,” citing a threat to their job security, went to court and obtained a restraining order to block the reform.

“Customs reform is not just about chopping off heads. The guys down there in the front lines are the ones who have the power to perpetuate these things (corruption),” Biazon said.

He said the Philippines has been left behind by many countries in customs improvement. In those countries, he said, systems eliminating discretions of customs officers have been implemented to avoid corruption.

Self-financing

Biazon also said that under the proposal being considered by the Aquino administration, the replacement of the customs bureau will not be dependent on the national government for its budget. Instead, it will retain 3 percent of its tax and duty collections to finance its own operations.

That way, Biazon said, the new institution will not have to go to Congress every year to ask for budget approval, thus keeping itself free from the influence of politicians.

“We must insulate customs from politics,” Biazon said.

Moreover, the proposal states that, if possible, the employees of the new organization will be exempted from the Salary Standardization Law. With the exemption, it can pay its employees relatively higher salaries than what regular government agencies pay their staffs.

Giving high salaries is one way of shielding customs officers and employees from temptation, Biazon said.

Private auctions

He said that if he had his way, the customs bureau would no longer hold auctions to dispose of forfeited goods. Having a private group do that job is a prudent idea, he said. It will also defeat the “auction syndicates,” dummies of smugglers who forfeited the goods. With the syndicates being allowed to top the auctions by corrupt customs officers, the smuggled goods go back to the smugglers.

“One of the benefits of this proposal is the expedited disposal of forfeited cargos. Another is the process of auction becomes transparent,” Biazon said.

“If the function is delegated to the private sector, customs would be able to concentrate more on its other vital functions,” he said.

amigo32

April 12th, 2013, 03:41 PM

Monchhichi

April 12th, 2013, 07:54 PM

Farmers, fishermen still PH's lowest paid, says study

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/KlUpjSDEM2hpSL5T8MJ3fQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MjE2Nztjcj0xO2N3PTM1MDA7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTM5MTtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2013-04-03T061824Z_938405242_GM1E94313K401_RTRMADP_3_PHILIPPINES.JPG

Even if they produce the food we eat, agriculture workers remain the poorest in the Philippines, the Statistics chief said, as he noted the need for improved policy support and investments in the sector.

Poverty incidence is highest among fishermen and farmers at 41.4 percent and 36.7 percent respectively in 2009, National Statistical Coordination Board Secretary-General Jose Ramon Albert said Friday.

This is "way above" the poverty incidence for the entire Philippines pegged at 26.5 percent in the same year, Albert said in his "Beyond the Numbers" post in the NSCB website.

This is not surprising, Albert said, as he noted that farmers and fishermen are among the economy's least paid workers and also post the lowest labor productivity rate.

Farmers were only paid an average of P156.8 a day in 2011 while fishermen took home P178.43 daily, rates the statistics chief compared to those of Pinoy "kasambahays."

The entire agriculture sector, meanwhile, posted the lowest labor productivity rate of only P56,728 in 2012, way below the industry and services sectors' rates of P351,024 and P181,850 respectively.

Labor productivity is measured as the ratio of the sector's gross value added--or its contribution to the national economy--to the total number of employed persons.

Agriculture's importance to the economy has dwindled over the years to only 11.1 percent in 2012 from 29.7 percent in 1946, Albert said.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/farmers--fishermen-still-ph-s-lowest-paid--says-study-081227172.html