Agriculture and Aquaculture Industry

[hakz2007]

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

[JoelVasquez]

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...20922_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]

Improving Soil Fertility without chemicals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...585F_cY#t=163s

[Manila-X]

Health advocates slam int’l 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]

Perversion of creation,..

Keep off GMO from filipino staple,..

[David Hernandez]

“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.

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

[Monchhichi]

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...jects-in-bicol

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by David Hernandez

“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]

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...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...for-asean-2015

[watcher09]

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....adied&id=61530

[Sleepwalker]

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..

Good work, Sec. Alacala.

[Monchhichi]

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/...mango-industry

[MatudNilaBaby]

Originally Posted by Sleepwalker

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..

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]

Dried Young Coconut from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.


100% Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.


sorry for the huge size.
Coconut water and Coconut juice from the Philippines in U.S. Stores.

[salamangkero]

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

[David Hernandez]

"National Year of Rice 2013 campaign launched in Visayas"
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"?


-----

Originally Posted by Parchie

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]

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...ct-in-december

[Monchhichi]

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/...ient-rice-2013

[amigo32]

hindi totoo yan
mag eexport pa nga tayo eh

[b_9904]

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.