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)