Phl onions to re-enter Japanese market

NAFC execs join send-off of initial 20 MT

DA, NOGROCOMA, VIEVA Phils. Inc. and NAFC officials pose for a photo with the 20MT yellow granex onions in the background before the container van is sealed for shipment.

DA, NOGROCOMA, VIEVA Phils. Inc. and NAFC officials pose for a photo with the 20MT yellow granex onions in the background before the container van is sealed for shipment.

Philippine onions are set to re-enter the Japanese market after 13 years of dormancy as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Onion Growers Cooperative Marketing Association (NOGROCOMA) send off a trial shipment of 20 metric tons (MT) of yellow granex onions on March 15 at the Golden Shineyard in the Manila Harbor Centre.

The initial volume of the yellow granex onions is packed in 1,000 bagsat 20 kilograms each and loaded in a40feet container van which had been transported from the NOGROCOMA farm site in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. It wasshipped from the country on March 17 andis expected to arrive at Osaka, Japan after three days.

The shipment comes after Japanese company,Hannan Seika Co. Ltd., agreed to purchase three vans or 60 tons of yellow granexonionsthat are at least 7cm diameter in size. This takes place 13 years after the country stopped exporting the said commoditydue to production and marketing concerns and stiff competition in the global market.

“On behalf of the entire DA family, we are happy that this has already started. It’s been a dream of the private sector headed by (NOGROCOMA Chairperson and CEO) DulceGozon that we revive the export of yellow onions. During the 1970s, the Philippines wasexporting onions but then it stopped in 2000. Now we hope that this will be a good start,” DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said in an interview.

The shipment is also the result of the visit made by Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)Technology Commercialization Division Assistant Head Digna Sandoval, NOGROCOMA Secretary-Treasurer Fe Amor Ilagan and Japanese partner Dr. TehukoHaga to Osaka, Japan on February 3 to explore the possibility of re-opening the Japanese market for yellow granex.

“Secretary Alcala is very happy with this as he is very keen on the export market. He envisions a better export performance for Philippine agriculture and fishery products,” Asst. Sec. Salacup stated, adding that there is also hope of exporting rice and mangosteen.

This venture is funded under the DA-assisted project “Enhancing the Productivity of Yellow Onion (Allium cepa L.) towards Commercialization for the Export Market” being implemented by NOGROCOMA, in collaboration with the DA High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) and BAR.This project aims to enhance the efficiency of onion production through appropriate technologies in coming up with higher yield and quality produce for the export market.Under the project, 60 farmers were selected as farmer-cooperators in project sites in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija and Bayambang,Pangasinan.

“After many years of looking for a market, I am happy that we’re finally able to haveone. I firmly believe that the Philippine onion is the sweetest onion in the world. Hopefully, this shipment to Japan will revive the export of onions,” NOGROCOMA Chairperson and CEO Gozon said.

Yellow granex onions makeup 15% of the total production of the three types of onions produced in the country. The other two varieties are the shallots, which account for 15%, and the remaining 70% is of the red creole variety.

NAFC Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan, DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup and NOGROCOMA Chairperson and CEO Dulce Gozon look on as Bureau of Plant Industry Director Clarito Barron officially seals the 40 feet container van carrying the 20MT or 1,000 bags of yellow granex onions to be shipped to Osaka, Japan.

Gozon added that more farmers will benefit from this export tie-up with Japan should it push through, as they plan to expand their supply base by includingfarmers in Occidental Mindoro and San Jose, Nueva Ecija.

“We’ve only just begunand yet the farm price (for this commodity) has already increased, so this will help farmers greatly. I hadn’t expected that this would happen, but it did and I feel really glad about it,” Gozon said.

Gozon is also the former Chairperson and now the adviser of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) Committee on Food Crops and Sub-Committee on Fruits and Vegetables.

Also making this undertaking possible are the members of the National Onion Action Team (NOAT) headed by its Chairperson, Leah Cruz of the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association or VIEVA (Phils.) Inc.NAFC and DA-HVCDP serve as the secretariat of the NOAT.

NAFC Executive Director Ariel Cayanan and newly installed Acting Deputy Executive Director FlorabelleUy-Yap also graced the send-off ceremony, together with Agricultural Support and Coordination Assistant Division Chief JulietaOpulencia.

Other officials present in the ceremony were DAAgribusiness, Marketing and Assistance Services Director LeandroGazmin, Bureau of Plant Industry Director Clarito Barron, HVCDP Project Development Officer Mariflor Aquino and VIEVA Phils. Inc Consultant LambertoPunsalan.

NAFC welcomes new deputy head

Newly appointed Acting Deputy Executive Director FlorabelleUy-Yap thanks Executive Director Ariel Cayanan and the entire NAFC for their warm reception.

A 12-year practicing lawyer takes the post as the acting deputy executive director of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), poised to aid Executive Director Ariel T. Cayanan in steering the agency to perform to its fullest.

Atty. Florabelle U.Uy-Yap, 37, fills in the second highest seat in the agency after her March 5 appointment by President Benigno S. Aquino III through the auspices of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.

On March 14, 2013, the entire NAFC family welcomed their new leader, two days after she took her oath of office with Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

In his message, Exec. Dir. Cayananassured Atty. Uy-Yap that they can rely on the capabilities of the NAFC workforce in fulfilling the mandates of the agency.

He also looked forward to working hand in hand with Atty. Uy-Yap in addressing the challenges the agency is and will be facing.

“Among the major challenges that I want both of us to focus on right now is transparency. We should be able to address the issues on our liquidation. Also, I hope that we will be able to really focus on our specific mandates and deliver the service that is expected of us. Anyway, this is just the beginning. We are expecting a longer functional relationship with Dir. Yap,” Exec. Dir. Cayanan said after formally welcoming his deputy.

Atty. Uy-Yap is the daughter of the former mayor of San Narciso, Quezon, the late Juanito K. Uy, and Eleanor U. Uy, who now serves as the mayor of the said town.

At present, Atty. Uy-Yap serves as the director of the Quezon Electric Cooperative 1 representing District 12, which is comprised of Buenavista and San Narciso municipalities. When she started her career as a lawyer in 2000, she worked with the Privatization and Management Office of the Department of Finance as one of its litigators.

She also served as the division chief of the Legal Department of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) from October 2005 to April 2006. Even as she decided to become a private practice lawyer, Atty. Uy-Yap continued to work with the PCGG asa special legal counsel.

When she’s not busy fulfilling her professional duties, Atty. Uy-Yap is giving her full attention and energy in taking care of her son and two daughters. 

NAFC employees gather at the Apacible Conference Room to welcome the agency’s new Deputy Executive Director.

“Upon arriving here, I immediately felt the very warm welcome and for that, I’m so glad to be here. My being appointed as the Acting Deputy Executive Director of NAFC is an opportunity and a privilege for me. I thank the President and the Secretary for the trust and confidence they’ve bestowed in me. But, of course, we cannot do any changes, improvements or developments and (achieve our) goals without your support and cooperation, especially that you’ve been here and you have the expertise and know-how,” she told the assembly of NAFC employees.

“I really look forward to your cooperation and support and I can see that we’re going to have a harmonious relationship. The feeling that I’ve gotten here so far is that this agency is one big family. With the help of God Almighty, we’ll be able to help make things better and maybe improve, if there’s still room for improvement, for us to be able to help the President and the Secretary in implementing their goals and aspirations for our country and our countrymen. Hopefully, I can be of service to you, to everyone of you and to the agency,” she concluded.

Atty. Uy-Yap succeeds former Deputy Executive Director Noel A.Juliano who served the agency for over two years.

NAFC ensures stronger linkage among AFCs, NSCs

NAFC convenes AFC chairpersons and coordinators and NSC chairpersons and members to harmonize plans and have a shared direction for 2013 and 2014.

A more effective partnership between and among the Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs) and the National Sectoral Committees (NSCs), the private-led consultative bodies of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), is seen as the agency continues to strengthen the linkage and cooperation between and among its members.

To boost this effort, NAFC held a Joint Performance Review and Planning Workshop on February 27 and 28 at the Hotel Rembrandt in Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City.

AFC chairpersons and coordinators from the 16 regions across the country and chairpersons and some members of the seven NSCs, joined by NAFC unit heads and staff led by Executive Director Ariel Cayanan, attended the two-day workshop.

AFC and NSC representatives tackled issues and concerns affecting their performance and their best practices in accomplishing their mandates, reviewed the targets of their 2014 Plan and Budget and identified their respective priority policy agenda for this year.

Issues and concerns that emerged during the workshop involved finance and delivery access, reportorial requirements, communication and information dissemination, capability enhancement, coordination, linkaging and feedback, transparency and accountability, recognition, advocacy and lobbying, monitoring and evaluation, and structure and systems.

Prior to the workshop, AFC, NSC and NAFC 2012 accomplishments were presented, as well as NAFC’s thrusts and directions for 2013 and the proposed 2014 Plan and Budget.

To set 2013 in motion, the AFC and NSC leaders also charted their common agenda for the year which include the restructuring of the agriculture marketing system, advocating for the allocation of 5% of the DA banner programs budget for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as an effort to help facilitate inclusive growth, and re-charging of aquifer and rainwater harvesting to address the depletion of groundwater in light of the climate change phenomenon.

Aside from firming up sectoral linkages with the AFCs, NAFC conducted the said workshop to further instill the planning culture between and among its consultative bodies especially as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has become persistent in generating more meaningful partnership with Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders in budget planning and execution for greater transparency.

DA Undersecretary for Field Operations Joel Rudinas graced the last day of the workshop and expressed his gladness that the AFCs and NSCs continue to look for the best approach in addressing their issues and concerns.

NAFC, AFC and NSC leaders thresh out issues and concerns that affect their operations during the workshop.

He also looked forward to having local government units recognize all the AFCs and also be allowed to have membership in the local development councils.

He also hoped that more investments will pour in for agricultural infrastructure in the countryside.

In light of the climate change issues tackled in the joint agenda-setting, Undersecretary Rudinas disclosed that the Department is addressing the need to strengthen its database of planning tools to come out with more specific types of intervention and courses of action in order to create a climate-resilient agriculture and fishery sector.

By enhancing farmer’s participation in value chains, Undersecretary Rudinas also hoped that more flow of income would be possible in the rural areas.

“Maybe this time, the brains in the rural areas will stop going to the cities and become call center agents. Maybe this time, we get to retain the brainpower which will help drive our agriculture forward. Maybe this time, we will have the necessary opportunities for other investors and processors to start thinking of perhaps locating production areas that will help in screening our deficiencies,” he said.

In his closing message, Exec. Dir. Cayanan assured leaders and members of the AFCs and the NSCs that the agency will refine its plans to be responsive to their needs.

He also said that the agency will work more closely with them in putting their plans into action.

Young rice farmers set to join 2013 ASEAN training program

NAFC welcomes back batch ’12 trainees

The 13 graduates of last year’s batch of the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan in a group photo with NAFC officials led by Exec. Dir. Ariel Cayanan.

As the country aims to achieve rice self-sufficiency this year, the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) has enlisted 14 young farmers from all over the country with knowledge and skills on rice production and rice farming to participate in the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ) this year.

In line with this, the Department of Agriculture (DA) National Rice Program, through the commitment of National Rice Program Coordinator and DA Assistant Secretary Dante Delima, will be shouldering each trainee’s counterpart fund of P15,000 and their round trip airfare from Manila to Japan.

Prior to the 11-month training with Japanese farmer hosts under the ASEAN Young Farm Leaders Training, the trainees will undergo a 75-day pre-departure orientation course, which started on February 26.

The said training course will equip them with technical knowledge and skills in agricultural and cooperative management and a chance to imbibe Japanese work values and attitude.

On May 11, trainees who passed the pre-departure orientation course will be heading to Japan for the 11-month training proper.

Before the pre-departure course, participants of the program underwent a Homestay Module with YFFTPJ graduates in their respective regions from January 27 to February 20. The module focused on farm activities, visits to other farms and agricultural institutions, conversational Nihongo and physical fitness.

Meanwhile, NAFC officials welcomed the 2012 batch of YFFTPJ participants back in the country last February 28.

On March 1, the 13 graduates made a courtesy call to NAFC Executive Director Ariel Cayanan and shared their experiences during their training with their Japanese hosts.

“They (Japanese host family) took really good care of me while I was staying with them. They were very hospitable and accommodating to my needs. It’s an experience I will never forget,” batch president Jomer Buenavista shared.

Aside from the technical knowledge they gained from their Japanese mentors, the graduates also learned a lot from the good values and work ethics of the Japanese farmers.

In his message, Dir. Cayanan congratulated the graduates on the success of their trainings and wished them well on pursuing whatever venture they will choose.

“They (Japanese hosts) have placed a great deal of trust and confidence in you and I know you’ve worked hard not to break that trust and confidence. With all the hard work you gave, you have indeed set another yardstick, another standard for the program. The real challenge now is how you’ll apply everything you’ve learned as you pursue your chosen enterprise,” he told the graduates.

YFFTPJ is implemented by NAFC, in collaboration with the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council and the Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

As of 2012, a total of 362 young farmers have participated in the program.

The program has produced farmer-leader extensionists, cooperators, provincial or national Gawad Saka Awardees for Outstanding Young Farmers, resource persons in the field of their specialization, agri-business entrepreneurs, and local chief executives such as barangay captains, barangay councilors, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan in the Committee of Agriculture in local government units.

Some have also been employed in the local government offices who take care of the agricultural research activities of the municipality in partnership with the municipal agriculturists and agriculture technicians.