Agriculture

By Rose de la Cruz The Sugar Regulatory Administration plans to expand sugar plantations in Mindanao — where the soil is rich, the weather is suitable and stable and land is aplenty. At the 23rd Joint Annual General Assembly of Sugarcane Growers Association of Bukidnon Inc. and the Sugarcane Farmers of Bukidnon Multi-Purpose Cooperative recently, SRA Administrator Pabo Luis Azcona …

The  Department of Agriculture (DA) released guidelines for the implementation of the 25,000 metric tons (MT) of imported frozen fish and aquatic products. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed  the Certificate of Necessity to Import (CNI) to curb inflation, ensure food security, and diversify food choices, Business Mirror reported. Under the Memorandum Order (MO) 51, the maximum importable volume …

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) asked the national government to review the agricultural production system amid the country’s growing dependence on imports, which risks food security and climate change and geopolitical tensions. “Given the increasing dependence on imports to meet local food requirements, it is important to review and revisit the agricultural production system particularly in light …

The  spate of typhoons in October and November  that crossed wide swaths of areas in Northern and Central Luzon, including Visayas and some parts of Mindanao, had forced farmers to rethink their planting strategies to quick-maturing crops so they increase the likelihood of harvesting before storm signals are raised. Nilor S. Go, an  Isabela farmer planting  rice and yellow corn, …

The country would have imported meat imports exceeding the volume and value achieved in 2023 because of animal diseases and bad weather that crimped domestic output. The Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) cited import figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)  as of September 30 where imported meat rose by 12.65 percent to 1.04 million metric tons (MMT) …

By Rose de la Cruz Properly frozen and stored confiscated fishery and meat products imported from abroad must be declared as such and put in reserve stockpile for use in emergencies. This was the advice of the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) even as the Department of Agriculture is asking the Bureau of Customs to release such confiscated items …

By Rose de la Cruz Ever since the devolution of agriculture extension workers to the local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991, these civil servants— who have been much help to the farmers in previous years– have not learned much, or were barely used by the LGUs to further agricultural development in their jurisdictions. More often than …

By Rose de la Cruz The reduced import tariff on rice —  which government hoped would redound to lower retail prices —  was only benefitting rice traders. Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers,  claimed  importers are cornering much of the value from the lowering of tariffs with prices not falling as much as they should. “Right …

There is no question that using aerial sprays through drones in applying fertilizers and pesticides in expansive areas could cut costs and would be more efficient. However, it would  spread the toxic substances  much faster than the traditional manual spraying and scattering of these chemicals. Hence,more farm families would be  reporting respiratory illnesses and other health issues in the coming …

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, whose province was hardest hit by severe Tropical Storm Kristine, is pushing the country’s bid to access financing from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FrLD) of the United Nations after the country was hit by a six-cyclone series in October and November.  He said the fund, created by the UN Framework Convention …