Despite the reimplementation and extension of GCQ in the city, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority – Zamboanga Fish Port Complex (PFDA-ZFPC) has recorded its highest fish unloading volume for the year 2021 this month of August.
According to the agency’s Modified Integrated Corporate Reporting System (MICRS), PFDA-ZFPC delivered 933.07 metric tons (MT) of fish, equivalent to a 12.77% increase compared to the unloaded fish from the previous month.
Aside from being the highest volume of the year, this month’s log is also the port’s highest unloading record since February 2019.
Based on the data, big-eyed scad, popularly known as matambaka, significantly outranked all the other fish species in terms of volume.
PFDA-ZFPC stands as one of the sturdiest economic pillars in Mindanao despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the fish port will continue to work round-the-clock to maintain a high volume of quality and affordable fish supply to all its clients and stakeholders in the months to come. # # #(Mark Angelo N. Perez – Public Information Division, photo from PFDA-ZFPC)
Azolla lessens fertilizer cost in rice production – study
Intercropping Azolla with rice can help lessen farmers’ fertilizer expenses in rice production in irrigated areas, a research by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed.
Azolla, a fern that thrives in freshwater, maintains a symbiotic relationship with the blue-green algae, Anabaena azollae. The algae provide nitrogen (N) to the fern and the fern provides a habitat for the algae. This symbiosis allows the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia, which can be used by rice plants when incorporated into the soil.
“Our computation shows that farmers can save P17,500/year if they use Azolla as biofertilizer for rice. It can also increase their rice yield to 1t/ha,” Cielo Luz C. Mondejar, DA-PhilRice researcher, said.
She said that if Azolla covers the floodwaters of 1-ha rice paddy, it can supply 30kg N, which can replace at least 50% of the inorganic N requirement of rice without lowering the yield.
“The azolla-anabaena association can fix about 1.2kg N/ha daily or about 864kg N/ha annually, which is equivalent to about 34 bags of urea,” she explained.
Mondejar and her team put up a demonstration farm at DA-PhilRice in Negros to show the benefits of Azolla in rice production.
She said that many studies have been done on the effectiveness of Azolla as an alternative or supplementary fertilizer in flooded rice cropping system. One of these studies revealed that it increases humus content, which ultimately improves the physical, chemical, and biological soil conditions. Another study showed that Azolla intercropped with rice also reduces weed population.
A DA-PhilRice study also proved that growing of Azolla in the rice field is an alternative way to minimize golden apple snail damages in transplanted rice.
“We’re putting up this demonstration farm for more farmers to know about the benefits of Azolla in rice production,” she said.
Mondejar said that the demo farm, which was put up in January 2021, also shows the use of Azolla in fertilizing vegetables and feed to animals such as ducks, chickens, and tilapia.
“With 22-37% crude protein content of Azolla, farmers could raise livestock and poultry without the need for high protein commercial feeds,” she added.
Farmers are allowed to visit the organic demonstration farm at DA-PhilRice, Marañon, Cansilayan, Murcia, Negros Occidental. For information on Azolla production in rice paddies, visit https://bit.ly/3iSR2o4. # # # (Mervalyn Tomas / DA-PhilRice)
DA provides Php7.68 M worth of livelihood enterprise to CAR
The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera through the Livestock program provided a poultry project as a livelihood enterprise module worth Php7.68M to farmers in the Cordillera.
This is under the Livestock-based Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program (LLEDP) where 1,200 heads of chicken, 216 bags of feeds, 6 rolls of range net, and 20 feeders and drinkers were distributed.
Each poultry project set worth Php1.097 M was distributed to one farmers association in the provinces of Apayao, Abra, Ifugao, and Benguet. This was done simultaneously last August 31, 2021. Likewise, the provincial Province of Benguet distributed 46 gilts and feeds to farmers in Kabayan, Benguet as part of the ASF restocking program.
Agricultural Provincial Coordinating Officer (APCO) of Benguet Lito Mocati said that this intervention serves as an alternative source of livelihood to the farmers.
He said this poultry program is very adaptable to climate change and other natural disasters.
Governor’s Office Executive Assistant Nardo Cayat representing Gov. Melchor Diclas applauded the project as many farmers will be benefitting especially during this pandemic.
He said that despite the limited movement due tothe pandemic, the DA has double its efforts to deliver its interventions.
Likewise, Elpedia Alos, President of Naguey Organic Livestock and Poultry Producer Association of Atok, Benguet lauded the DA as 55 farmer members will benefiting from the project.
“ We are blessed and happy for being chosen as one of the beneficiaries and for the approval of the resolution that we submitted last year”, she added.
Earlier this August, the poultry has been distributed in Mt. Province and this September 01, 2021, the intervention will shared to the province of Kalinga. # # # (DA-RFO CAR, RAFIS)