National Banner Program Council (NBPC) on Poultry, Livestock, and Corn conducted a virtual special meeting on January 13, 2021, to discuss the issues on pork supply and prices as well as other concerns in the swine industry.
It was raised during the meeting that the African Swine Fever (ASF) has affected the supply of pork in the country leading to its upward price trend as the private sector reduced their investment in the pork industry due to the fear of losses brought about by the said virus affecting swine production.
The island of Luzon is badly hit by ASF which resulted in a shortage in supply. As a strategy to address the situation, both government and private sector key players co-implemented a scheme for Visayas and Mindanao swine raisers to transport pork and pork products to augment the pork requirement of Luzon.
This is coupled with the consistent effort of the DA to strictly monitor the compliance of swine raisers to the existing guidelines to contain and control ASF (e.g. ASF Zoning Guidelines) and practicing proper production management and biosecurity measures in their production areas.
To contain the spread of ASF in the country, it was agreed during the said meeting to institutionalize and intensify the implementation of the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” (BABay ASF) which is the National ASF Prevention and Control Program of the Department of Agriculture.
Industry experts shared during the meeting that it took approximately 35 years for countries like Spain and Portugal to eradicate ASF. “We need to closely monitor inter-border movements of meat products to contain the spread of ASF in our country,” DA-BAI Director Dr. Ronnie Domingo said.
PCAF Acting Executive Director Liza Battad called for the institutionalization of the identified strategies as well as the unified support and commitment of the stakeholders to eliminate ASF.
“More passion and more energy will be poured into this battle against ASF. Let’s do this as a nation,” DA Secretary William Dar said during the said meeting. # # # (Text and photo by Carlos Cezar Baldosa / DA-PCAF)
DA 4A sets action plans for smallholder farms and agri enterprises
DA CALABARZON Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Bayanihan Agricultural Cluster (BAC) Program sets out its action plans to make more smallholder farms, and small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in the region more competitive when organized as clusters and to help them connect to national and international markets, held at LARES Training Hall in Lipa City, Batangas, on January 19, 2021.
The TWG action plans include coordination meetings with local government units (LGUs), identification and validation of priority cluster areas; profiling and needs assessment activities; training of enumerators and surveyors; presentation of results and consultation meetings with project implementation stakeholders; preparation of memoranda of understanding with LGUs and other partners; capacity building and the formation of organizational cluster values; cluster georeferencing; and the package of technology training.
The BAC Program aims to achieve economies of scale, allowing more farmers, fishers, and agri-preneurs to produce and earn more.
The meeting was attended by OIC-ARD for Operations Mr. Dennis R. Arpia, OIC-Field Operations Division Chief Engr. Redelliza A. Gruezo, banner program coordinators and representatives, agricultural program coordinating officers and staff, and division chiefs and representatives who make up the TWG. # # # (DA-RFO IVA, RAFIS)
ATI attends 27th AWGATE Meeting, Highlights “Green Technologies and SMEs Assistance
Quezon City — The ASEAN Member States (AMS) successfully wrapped its 2021-2025 activities for the Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Cooperation in Agricultural Training and Extension during the virtual meeting of the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Agricultural Training and Extension (AWGATE).
The AWGATE Meeting is an annual event that serves as a platform for exchange of information on the progress of the agricultural training and extension activities being implemented by the AMS. It was attended by AMS-Focal Points from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Director Alfredo S. Aton of the Department of Agriculture 0 Agricultural Training Institute represented the Philippines during the meeting.
Dr. Mao Minea, incoming Chair from Cambodia, emphasized in his opening remarks, the progress to be made to achieve the Priority Economic Deliverables for Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship under the two strategic thrusts. These are: (1) enhancing quantity and quality of production with sustainable, ‘green’ technologies, resource management systems, and minimize pre- and post-harvest losses and waste, and (2) assist small scale producers and Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
This year, the AMS are expected to achieve significant outputs and fruitful contributions in building the link between ASEAN countries and extension experts, and transfer of competitive agricultural technologies.
The 27th AWGATE virtual meeting was hosted by Cambodia last January 14, 2021. # # # (Bryll Christian S. Mendoza / DA-ATI)
