AGRICULTURE

Shortly after I made a report to Cabinet this afternoon about the success of the task to contain the Bird Flu in Central Luzon, President Rody Duterte generously praised me and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and joked that I was ripe for a Senate run.The Cabinet members let out a big laugh but as soon as the laughter died down, I immediately switched on my microphone to issue a clarification. Mr. President, I would like to publicly declare to you and the Cabinet that I have no intention to run for the Senate, I told the President.

TUPI, South Cotabato --The Department of Agriculture (DA) today aims to address the three major problems of farmers and fisherfolks.In a farmers’ forum held here, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that the DA is trying to solve the three huge problems of the agri-fishery sector.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) today lifted the ban on the transport of poultry and poultry products from Luzon to other parts of the country following a report from its bio-security experts that the Avian Influenza cases in San Luis, Pampanga and in San Isidro and Jaen towns in Nueva Ecija have been contained in a seven-kilometer radius.Earlier today, I signed an Administrative Circular which allowed among others the shipment of dressed chicken, fresh table eggs, cooked duck eggs (balut), day-old chicks, game fowls and others provided these are covered by veterinary cer

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A member of the provincial council in North Cotabato has strongly recommended the setting up of animal quarantine checkpoints in at least seven entry points of the province to prevent the spread of avian influenza virus.Cotabato 3rddistrict board member Socrates Pinol said the quarantine stations will ensure the growing poultry industry in the province won’t be affected by the virus, which first hit Pampanga, months ago.Checkpoints would be set up along Tulunan, Cotabato to Datu Paglas, Maguindanao road Makilala, Cotabato and Barangay Kinuskusan, Bansalan in Davao del Sur

The dreaded Avian Influenza, Type A Sub-Type H5, is now confirmed to be the cause of the deaths of about 37,000 fowls, mostly layer chicken, in San Luis, Pampanga.The AI that hit the country for the first time has been reported to be the strain that is not transmitted from chicken to humans.Although samples for confirmatory tests were sent to Australia, none of the farm workers and residents of San Luis living near the area where the outbreak was recorded since April of this year have not shown any signs of illness.The Bureau of Animal Industry has declared a quarantine zone within a one ki

COTABATO CITY– The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is the top fish-producing region in the country in 2016, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.Based on the 2016 Fisheries Situationer released by the PSA, the region produced 824,314.52 metric tons of fisheries products in 2016. The region’s production accounts for 18.93% of the country’s total production at 4,354,472.61 metric tons in 2016.

TUPI, South Cotabato -- Agriculture Sec. Emmanuel Piñoltoday awarded more thanP215.5-M worth of farm equipment and facilities to farmer groups and local governments of SOCCSKSARGEN region.Piñolwas accompanied by DA-12 Regional Executive Director Mila Casis and other regional agriculture officials in the distribution of pre and post harvest facilities to farmers groups and fisher folks. Photo below shows local official receiving certificate of donations from DA Sec. Manny Pinol.

Following the enthusiastic response of farmers and ordinary housewives to the training on Onion and Garlic farming conducted by the Agriculture Department in Davao City Friday, I have directed all Agriculture and Fisheries Regional Offices to regularly conduct trainings in all provinces.The trainings, lectures and actual demonstration must be conducted in all provinces all over the country.These would include the followingand- Garlic and Onion Farming in areas where these products as suitable- Coffee and Cacao Growing, Harvesting and Processing- Vegetable and Mushroom Farming and Marketing-

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi– Residents of this southernmost province depend largely on fishing and seaweed farming as sources of livelihood. These fishermen and farmers from Tausug and Sama tribes rely daily on the blessings of the sea. Tawi-Tawi is one of the five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).The vast area of water within the jurisdiction of the ARMM is home to many high-value species of aquatic flora and fauna such as grouper, tuna, various types of seaweeds, and many other marine products.

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato --The
Department of Agriculture (DA) is bringing the government closer to farming and
fishing communities in the countryside as the agency awarded P25.9-million
worth of interventions to farmers and fisherfolks here.Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol led the distribution, together with top DA officials,
to the local government unit of Midsayap, farmers’ associations, and fishing
communities in the town.