Pre-departure orientation for 2012 YFFTPJ candidates commences

Thirteen young farmers from the different regions in the country, excluding Regions VIII, IV-A and ARMM, started the Pre-Departure Orientation Course (PDOC) under the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ) on January 23, 2012, as facilitated by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) through the auspices of the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) and the Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 


This 75-day orientation course, which will end on April 10, succeeded the 45-day Home Stay Module with YFFTPJ graduates that focused on farm activities, visits to other farms and agricultural institutions, conversational Nihongo and physical fitness.


The PDOC will include basic courses on rice, vegetable, swine and cattle production; farm business planning; farm mechanization; computer literacy; formal Nihongo language course, basic Japanese culture and tradition; values formation; and, leadership training.


This year’s YFFTPJ candidates are: June O. Bayeng of Itogon, Benguet; Mario S. Butin of Solsona, Ilocos Norte; Elias S. Calansi of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya; Edgell C. Del Fierro of Palauig, Zambales; Bryan B. Rosete of Magsaysay, Mindoro Occidental; Norman H. Samudio of Daet, Camarines Norte; Janvier H. Morales of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental; Dexter O. Lomocso of San Juan, Siquijor; Janyday M. Relampagos of Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur; Dennis A. Duna of Ipasug-ong, Bukidnon; Espederon G. Apog of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; Jomer C. Buenavista of Alamada, Cotabato; and Serapin M. Dacula, Jr. of Basag, Butuan City.


These trainees have been carefully selected by NAFC in partnership with local government units, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Units and Agricultural and Fishery Councils.


Trainees who pass the PDOC qualify for the 11-month training proper in Japan where they will have on-farm training with Japanese host farmers of the JAEC, further study of the Nihongo language, and attendance in institutional development trainings, community activities, farm and cultural visits and sports festival activities.

see also: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/predeparture.html

Aggie Sec keeps focus on food staple sufficiency

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala reiterated the importance of diversifying Filipino’s meal by having less rice and more of other food staples such as adlai (Job’s tears), corn, sweet potato and cassava during the First National Grains Postproduction Summit on November 22-23, 2011 at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall.


Sec. Alcala also said the cooperation of the private sector in the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) is important for the project to become successful.


Themed “Appropriate Grins Postproduction Technologies: Key to Food Staples Sufficiency” and organized by the Philippine Grains Postproduction Consortium (PGPC) under the National Agricultural and Fishery Council, the summit aimed to facilitate better communication of results and encourage more participation of technology end-users and conduct necessary research on rice postproduction.


PGPC was formerly called Philippine Rice Postproduction Consortium which was officially formed in June 1999 and was institutionalized under the DA in 2004 through the Executive Order (EO) 309. In September, 2011, EO 309 was amended through EO 59, and thereby PRPC was changed to PGPC, as endeavor to include other grains in the coverage of the consortium.


Other primary institutions associated with the consortium include the National Food Authority, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Philippine Rice Research Institute, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, International Rice Research Institute and Corn Development Fund (CORNDEV).
Topics discussed during the summit were FSSP of the DA, Status of the DA Corn Program, CORNDEV’s Programs and Projects, DA’s Agricultural Mechanization Roadmap, Status of BSWM’s Irrigation Program, and Impact of Climate Change on Food Self-sufficiency.


Traders, millers, consumers, manufacturers, consumers, grains retailers and other stakeholders in the grains industry attended the said summit. (Report and photos courtesy of the Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service)

NAFC participates in ASEAN meetings held in Indonesia

The delegates who represented the country during the ASEAN meetings pose for a group photo, from left to right: Ms. Ellie Causon of NFA, Mr. Lupino Lazaro and Ms. Leah Samson of DA-IRD; USec. Joel Rudinas of DA; Dir. Neria Andin of FMB-DENR; Ms. Kaixie Sawadjaan of DFA; Ms. Diana delos Santos and Ms. Susan Puentebella of NAFC; and, ASec. Romeo Recide of DA.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries jointly affirmed their commitment in the field of agriculture, food, forestry, and fisheries at a higher and more advanced level in different meetings held in Jakarta, Indonesia from October 3 to 8, 2011. 

Representatives from the Philippines in this international gathering were the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Food Authority (NFA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials.

DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, Dir. Leandro Gazmin of DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service, DA’s World Trade Organization Desk Officer Ms. Maribel Marges, Ms. Susana Puentebella of NAFC, together with NFA Administrator Angelito Banayo, his assistant Atty. Gilbert Lauengco and NFA Deputy Administrator Ludovico Jarina, joined members of groups such as farmers’ associations, private agrifood companies, small business exporters, consultants, producers, academe, entrepreneurs, and representatives of the Ministries/Departments of Agriculture from the ASEAN Member States for the ASEAN Food Security Conference: Facilitating Food Trade & Investment, Advancing Food Security from October 3 to 5, 2011 at the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The conference, sponsored by the ASEAN-US Technical Assistance and Training Facility and the US Agency for International Development and US State Department, aimed at developing ways to make ASEAN food trade more efficient through better regulations and transparency, and possible improvements to food safety and standards.

The conference focused on the topics of food prices and strategies for price stabilization, food trade regulations and standards, trade facilitation, food safety and conformity assessment, agri-food trade intellectual property, and promoting food trade through quality ASEAN Good Agricultural Practice standards.

Speakers at the conference included leaders from ASEAN member states' food security planning organizations, leading international food security experts, representatives of agribusiness and food companies based in the ASEAN region, civil society organizations, the United Nations, and international and governmental organizations.

Among them was Dr. Ramon Clarete from the University of the Philippines who gave a presentation on Agrifood Sector Diagnostics, Measuring Food Security Progress.

The recommendations from the workshops and sessions in the conference were presented during the Private Sector Dialogue with the AMAF on October 6 to help shape up the ASEAN agenda towards food security in the region.

Meanwhile, DA Undersecretary Joel Rudinas,  DA Assistant Secretary Romeo Recide, Mr. Lupino Lazaro and Ms. Leah Samson of DA-International Relations Division, Ms. Diana delos Santos of NAFC, alongside DENR Forest Management Bureau Director Neria Andin, Ms. Ellie Causon of NFA and  Ms. Kaixie Sawadjaan of DFA, attended the Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting of the Thirty Third Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (PRESOM-33rd AMAF) on October 3-4; Senior Officials Meeting of the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three (SOM-11th AMAF Plus 3) on October 5; the Thirty Third Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (33rd AMAF) last October 6; the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three on October 7; and, the 1st ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture on October 8.

DA USec. Rudinas signs the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement in behalf of the Philippine government.

The PRESOM-33rd AMAF tackled several issues including the need to expedite harmonization standards, SPS measure and accreditation mechanisms to facilitate trade intra and extra-ASEAN of agro-products; mitigation and adaptation to climate change by mobilizing resources to implement activities developed under the ASEAN initiatives such as the Agriculture and Forestry towards Food Security, ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement (APTERR) and ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS); and, the need for joint effort to mobilize cooperation and resources from the development and dialogue partners to enhance implementation of projects and activities.

At the SOM-11th AMAF Plus 3 forum, the ministers and delegation from the ASEAN member states and three partner countries namely Japan, China and Korea (ASEAN Plus 3) agreed to the Post-2012 AFSIS proposal which aims to establish “AFSIS Network Centers” as a self-sustaining mechanism and welcomed Japan’s new project proposal titled “Project for Strengthening Capacity Building in Agriculture in ASEAN Countries”.

Meanwhile, among the highlights of the 33rd AMAF and the 11th AMAF Plus 3 forums, both held under the Chairmanship of Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture H.E. Dr. Suswono, was the signing of the APTERR where ASEAN countries together with China, Japan, and South Korea agreed to set aside rice reserve of 787,000 tons to emancipate food emergency any time.

During the first ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture, co-chaired by H.E Dr. Suswono and India’s Minister of Agriculture H.E Mr. Sharad Pawar, the Ministers reaffirmed their strong support in advancing cooperation under the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2010-2015) as well as their welcome and support to the entry into force of the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement and its early implementation, and looked forward to the completion of the negotiations on Trade-in-Services and Investments Agreement under the ASEAN India Free Trade Area Framework.

See NAFC participates in ASEAN meetings held in Indonesia photo gallery
See also: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/ASEANIndonesia.html

Nueva Vizcaya MAFC, PAFC reap 2011 Gawad Saka national awards

Members of the MAFC of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya pose with President Aquino and Secretary Alcala (second from left) for a souvenir shot after receiving their award.

In simple ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace last December 13, 2011, Honorable President Benigno S. Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala honored this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka search for out standing achievers in agriculture and fisheries.

The 2011 Gawad Saka national winners, composed of 14 individuals and nine groups, each re-ceived a Presidential citation, trophy and corresponding cash incentives for individual winners and project grants for group winners, totaling to PhP4.25 million.

The adjudged Outstanding Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) was the MAFC of Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya which started in the 1980’s with only 16 barangay members and was later on joined by the 14 remaining barangays in their locality.

It worked on strengthening and nourishing partnership among all the members by conducting regular meetings and dialogues to settle issues and other matters of the council’s concerns.

Because of this, the council soon gained the trust of the Local Government Unit and the Liga ng mga Barangay and was given fund allocations for their activities.

The Kayapa MAFC introduced livelihood programs such as mushroom production and processing of high value crops. It also distributes fruit-bearing trees, coffee seedlings and vegeta-ble seeds to qualified farmers.

The council currently maintains a revolving fund from repayments of dispersal projects which is used for petty cash loans to members with a minimal interest.

The council, currently headed by Mr. Pio Sinacay as the chairperson, is an active partner of the Municipal Nutrition Committee in the implementation of projects and has continuously supported the passage and implementation of municipal ordinances including the control and prevention of Avian Influenza Virus, prohibition of electro-fishing, explosive fishing and use of poisonous substances, implementation of the New Solid Waste Management and recycling activities of the municipality.

Mr. Arthur Baybayan leads the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya in accepting their award from President Aquino and Secretary Alcala.  

On the other hand, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya was recognized as this year’s National Outstanding Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council (PAFC). In spite of being awarded such recognition for the third time now, the Nueva Vizcaya PAFC vows not to remain complacent and instead work harder to maintain and even surpass its outstanding achievements.

Composed of 30 private and eight public sector-members, with Mr. Arthur Baybayan as its current chairperson, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya strongly supports the province’s vision for its people: to enjoy good quality life in an ecologically balanced and sustainable environment.

Because of the strong linkages it has maintained with national and local agencies, the PAFC of Nueva Vizcaya was able to successfully implement various projects such as construction and rehabilitation of irrigation canals, farm-to-market roads, mechanical and flatbed dryers, tramlines, multi-purpose drying pavements, and irrigation systems.

It is also instrumental in the successful organization and operation of the KINGBIKS Vegetable Growers’ Association, a federation of five vegetable growing barangays of the town of Dupax del Sur.

As a member of the Provincial Development Council, it regularly monitors the implementation of agricultural and fishery programs and projects funded by the Department of Agriculture, LGUs and other agencies and takes part in the passage and implementation of various municipal and provincial ordinances on agriculture, fisheries and environment.

The council’s commitment to service goes beyond the agriculture sector as it is active in many community activities. Aside from monitoring damages during calamities, the members also ex-tend material and financial resources to typhoon victims.

Their capable members sometimes serve as resource speakers during trainings to complement the efforts of agricultural extensionists.

With the leadership of the Nueva Vizcaya PAFC, the agri and fishery sectors of the province are off to greater heights. (Reports and Photos courtesy of Aggie Trends and Agriculture and Fisheries Information Service).

See also: http://nafc.da.gov.ph/NAFCNEWs/nuevaVizcaya.html