News & Opinion Archives - Sustainable Agriculture

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Animal Insurance Urged for Romblon Town

News & Opinion

Odiongan, a picturesque town in the heart of Romblon, is an area deeply intertwined with agriculture and farming traditions. Here, the land yields abundant harvests, and its people have long depended on livestock and crops for sustenance. However, life in the countryside can be unpredictable, with natural disasters, diseases, and other unforeseen circumstances putting the livelihoods of farmers and animal raisers at risk. In light of these challenges, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Odiongan has been making an earnest appeal to the livestock raisers and farmers in the area. The message is clear: it's time to insure your animals and crops, ensuring your livelihoods' safety and security. Rexfort Famisaran, Odiongan's dedicated municipal agriculturist, stressed the importance ...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Czech Republic Explores Defense and Agriculture Ties with Trade Missions to the Philippines

News & Opinion

In a bid to foster international partnerships in the realms of defense and agriculture, the Czech Republic is contemplating dispatching trade missions to the Philippines next year. This prospect was officially unveiled during a pivotal meeting at the Malacañan Palace in Manila, where Czech Ambassador to the Philippines, Karel Hejč, presented his credentials to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The conversation between the two envoys centered on expanding collaboration in areas of mutual interest and mutual benefit, encompassing the exchange of goods and services and forging deeper ties between their nations. "The opportunities are here. We need to grab them," emphasized Ambassador Hejč as he outlined the plans for the forthcoming year. He hinted at the visit of the foreign committee...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Red Tide Prompts Shellfish Warning in Madridejos Island, Cebu

News & Opinion

Cebu City - The picturesque island town of Madridejos in northern Cebu grapples with an ominous threat as the red tide contamination has reared its dangerous head in its municipal waters. Local officials, led by Mayor Romeo Villaceran, have warned their fishermen and the community about the potentially life-threatening presence of red tide in their waters. Red tide, a harmful algal bloom, has plagued coastal communities for years, causing the accumulation of toxins in various shellfish. On October 21, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed the presence of red tide in Madridejos, prompting immediate action by local authorities. Mayor Villaceran took to the municipality's official social media page to communicate the gravity of the situation. He cautioned fi...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Negros Occidental Partners with Korean AI Firm to Enhance Dairy Production Efficiency

News & Opinion

BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with Korea-based software engineering and service firm, ThinkforBL, to conduct a research and demonstration trial on dairy production using the innovative Milk-T Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology. The four-month trial, scheduled to commence at the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm (PLBCDF) in Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, seeks to ascertain the adaptability of AI technology to Philippine farming conditions and management practices in dairy production. Additionally, the trial aims to assess the dairy farm's production efficiency and identify areas where improvements can be made by utilizing Milk-T AI technology. The official memorandum of agreement (MOA) ...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Davao Durian Growers Plan Expansion to Meet Rising Demand

News & Opinion

MANILA – The Durian Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC) is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to expand durian farming operations in response to the burgeoning demand in the Chinese market. This decision to tap into the vast Chinese market for durian represents a significant opportunity for both the agricultural sector and the local economy. In an interview with China Media Group Serbisyo Filipino on October 17, DIADC President Emmanuel Belviz articulated their expansion plans. Belviz underscored the importance of continuous export efforts and the thriving market for durian in China as key factors motivating their expansion strategy. "So hopefully, due to our continuous exports and market growth in China, we plan to expand more durian farms and teach other farmers how to produce ...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

India’s Generous Grain Gesture: 295,000 MT of Non-Basmati Rice Bound for the Philippines

News & Opinion

Manila - In a significant development, India has decided to export a substantial quantity of non-basmati white rice to the Philippines, marking the highest allocation of rice exports to a foreign nation after removing export restrictions. This move comes after a notable shift in India's export policy, driven by the need to stabilize domestic rice prices. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India issued a notification on October 18, signaling the opening of rice exports to several countries, including the Philippines. This decision is a testament to the growing bilateral relationship between the two nations and highlights the positive impact of the request at the leadership level. The Indian Embassy in Manila expressed immense pleasure in allocating this significant amount of...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Negros Oriental Welcomes Harvest Season, Expecting Reduced Rice Prices

News & Opinion

DUMAGUETE CITY - As the harvest season kicks off in Negros Oriental, the local Department of Agriculture (DA) office anticipates a further decrease in retail rice prices. Alejandro Rafal, the provincial officer of the DA-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO), expressed this outlook during a recent conversation with the Philippine News Agency (PNA). He explained that although Negros Oriental isn't self-sufficient in rice production, the commencement of the harvest season holds the potential to reduce the cost of this dietary staple, even after the recent lifting of the price cap mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Executive Order 39. Mr. Rafal believes that this potential reduction in rice prices could help stabilize the province's rice supply w...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Hagonoy, Davao del Sur: The Rising Star in the Philippines’ Poultry Industry

News & Opinion

HAGONOY, Davao del Sur – Hagonoy Mayor Jesus Dureza Jr. radiates optimism as he envisions his town becoming a prominent player in the poultry industry, projecting it will emerge as the top chicken producer in the Philippines by the following year. A momentous event fueled this ambitious vision – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presiding over the inauguration of the World-Class Controlled-Climate Magnolia Poultry Farm, marking the completion of the first of 12 colossal poultry megafarm projects set to redefine the poultry landscape across the nation. Mayor Dureza enthusiastically stated, “Once it is fully operational by next year, Hagonoy will be the biggest chicken producer in the entire Philippines.” His enthusiasm stems from realizing a substantial project initiated by San Miguel Foods...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Calabarzon Farmers Receive DA Support to Satisfy Christmas Pork Demand

News & Opinion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a compelling call to hog raisers in the Calabarzon region to persevere and continue raising pigs despite the persistent threat of African swine fever (ASF). This initiative aims to ensure an ample pork supply during the extended Christmas season in the Philippines. Dr. Jerome Cuasay, the focal person for the livestock program, underlines the importance of supporting hog raisers and livestock production, emphasizing that the DA is ready to offer assistance through the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) of the Livestock Program. The assistance provided by the DA encompasses a variety of measures designed to bolster the hog-raising sector. These measures include establishing state-of-the-art fa...

Apr142024 by Lauro BraganzaNo Comments

Plant-Based Meat Substitutes: A Promising Pathway to Enhance Food Security

News & Opinion

The Marcos administration faces a significant decision concerning the future of food security in the Philippines. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has unveiled a plan to increase domestic meat production by a staggering 500 percent before the current administration’s term ends. However, Roberto Galang, the dean of Ateneo de Manila’s John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), believes there is an alternative path to ensuring food security while addressing some pressing environmental concerns. In an interview, he passionately argued that cultivating the plant-based meat substitute industry would be a part of a broader strategy for enhancing food security. Galang’s perspective is based not merely on conjecture but on a well-founded understanding of economic and environmental factors. O...