The agricultural sector playing a vital role in the economic growth of rural-urban barangays is an irrefutable fact. Such function is manifested in its efforts to increase agricultural and fisheries production and in reinforcing initiatives to provide adequate food supply to the City’s expanding population.
Mayor Remollo’s marching order on “abundance in food” (from A of LUPAD) serves as the framework for implementing various programs and projects premised not only on achieving food security and local development, but also in promoting sustainable agricultural development and environmental sustainability.
With this marching order, Dumaguete’s chief executive underscored the crucial role that the Office of the City Agriculturist plays in the effective delivery of basic agricultural services, especially those necessary for the survival of the City’s populace, and on achieving the objectives of sustainable food security.
Through the Office of the City Agriculturist and under the leadership of Mayor Felipe Remollo, the city accomplished the following targets within the July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 period:
Indigenous Productivity Enhancer
A carry-over of the Waste-to-Food Program, IPE or the Indigenous Productivity Enhancers (formerly referred to as the Microbial Treatment Supplement) is a state-of-the art green economy initiative of the City. It facilitates the transformation of biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizers.
With the IPE program, the City’s waste management has been enhanced with the use and conversion of biodegradable trash into plant nutrients, strengthened the processes of organic farming which resulted to various positive impacts not only to solid waste management but also to organically-grown agricultural products. It likewise increased crop production of local farmers, decongested the dumpsite that turned farm soil fertile thus, producing carcinogenic-free farm products.
In 12 months, the program was able to produce 1,784 bags or 71,360 kilos of IPE organic fertilizers that were being distributed to farmers and to various public schools, an endeavor that provided subsidy for the cost of crop production.
Plow Now-Pay-Later
The Plow Now-Pay Later program maximized agricultural area development and ensured the realization of the food security agenda. Some 73.0 hectares of agricultural lands, including about 10 hectares of idle lots have become productive.
High-Value Crops Development Program
One of the banner programs of the City Agriculturist’s Office, this program helped address the issue on food security, alleviated poverty, provided sustainable growth and assisted in the production and marketing of high value crops. Strategically, the program helped to increase income, create livelihood opportunities, and contribute to agricultural development of the city.
For rice, 28 hectares have been developed and engaged 37 rice farmers. These covered 6 barangays and gave out a total production of 93 metric tons. For corn, 447.5 hectares have been developed with a total production of 663 MT involving 460 farmers in 10 barangays.
For vegetable planting, 257 farmers have been served with a total production of 49 MT in an area of 36.05 has. covering 13 barangays. For mango production, the City monitored and provided technical assistance to 529 mango growers having 861 fruit-bearing mango trees with a total production of 229 MT. Also, banana has been planted on a 9.04 hectare land area with 100 farmers served in 13 barangays and a total production of 14.5MT.
Breeding and Dispersal
The City conducted 536 artificial insemination activities and inducing services to cattle, carabaos, goats, and swine in 26 barangays. The services produced 4,212 offsprings. The City also dispersed 58 heads of cattle, carabaos, and goats benefiting 58 farmers in 18 barangays. A total of 480 livestock farmers have benefited from the AI, breeding, dispersal, and livestock management services extended by the City.
Inland, Marine Fisheries Management
The City Tilapia Breeding Station produced 15,700 pieces of tilapia fingerlings and dispersed 9,690 fingerlings to 48 fish farmers covering 3.82 hectares. These production and dispersal activities sustained livelihood of fish farmers and ensured the continued productivity of fishery resources.
The city also provided technical assistance that sustained 1.6 hectares of milkfish production in Bgy. Banilad with 35 fishermen-beneficiaries.
For marine fisheries, the City extended technical assistance and monitoring activities to the following livelihood projects funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic for 29 fishermen’s associations: 15 fish traps, 35 drift gillnets, 10 pumpboats, and 10 fiberglass fishing boats. During the period, with the financial and technical assistance of BFAR, the city turned over 10 units of fiber glass boats to 10 fishers after their 5-day skills training in fiber glass boat making.
Based on the monthly community-based fishcatch monitoring report, our fisherfolks had a total catch of 61.5 MT of different fish species which are being sold locally and likewise used for household consumption.
Gulayan at Palaisdaan alay sa Kabataan
This undertaking involves young people with the objective of promoting vegetable production and inland fishery development aiming to provide additional food supply to the City’s nutrition feeding programs, thereby reducing the incidence rates of malnutrition in public schools. During the period, the City Agriculturist’s Office provided technical and input assistance to GPAK projects in 18 public schools that involved 1,080 students, and developed some 4.035 hectares of agricultural land into a GPAK community project.
R & D
Within the period, the City Farmstead conducted research studies on the effects of IPE organic fertilizers to the growth and yield of okra, upland kangkong, eggplant, cassava, carnabal, gabi, and sweet potato in the 4,200 square meters of R & D area. The study is ongoing.
Gawad Saka and GPAK Awards
Under the 12-month leadership of Mayor Remollo, Dumaguete became one of the top achievers in the annual conduct of the Regional Gawad Saka search for outstanding farmers. In the field of organic farming, Jessie Ogahayon of Bgy. Camanjac garnered the Outstanding Organic Farmer award; Kremlind Catan of Bgy. Batinguel was adjudged the Outstanding Coconut Farmer; and the Healthy 4-H Club of Bgy. Cantil-e was declared an Outstanding Young Farmers Organization. These agricultural achievers received honors for their exceptional contributions not only in the agriculture sector but more for their continued effort to provide food to our tables.
During the period, the Gulayan at Palaisdaan alay sa Kabataan in 18 public schools financially and technically assisted by the City Agriculturist’s Office also excelled during the 2016 Search for Outstanding GPAK Implementers.
The Balugo Elementary School, Batinguel Elementary School and the Junob High School were awarded first, second, and fourth, respectively, as Outstanding GPAK implementers.
Barangay Agri Devt Center
The Barangay Agricultural Development Center in Bgy. Cantil-e was completed and turned-over to the barangay farmers last June 16, 2017 with a total cost of P900,000. The city provided most of the funds to construct the building (P610,000). Thanks to the Province of Negros Oriental for contributing P290,000 to build this farmers’ center. Thanks also to the donor of the 300 sqm lot, Bgy. Kagawad and Mrs. Danny Inquig.
BADC is a community-based approach to development. It serves as a training center for agriculture and fishery development, as well as a venue for convergence of government and non-government services.
Fish Landing Center
We thank the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources for providing P3 million for the construction of the Community Fish Landing Center in Canday-ong, Calindagan. The City, through Mayor Remollo, also allocated P3.8 million as additional funds to establish the said center. Preparations for the construction of the center is now ongoing.
Private-Public Partnership
Urged and driven by Mayor Remollo’s brand of leadership, the City Agriculturist’s Office has vigorously pursued concentrated and sustainable agricultural development efforts in tactical production areas, and in reinforcing alliances and joint ventures through various Barangay Councils, Barangay Agricultural Development Centers, rural—based agricultural and fisheries organizations, provincial and national government agencies, and the private entities geared towards the production of revenue-generating crops and livelihood initiatives that mitigate poverty.
During the period, Mayor Remollo installed into office the newly-elected officers of the City Agriculture & Fishery Council who will serve a three-year term of office until 2019. Headed by its chairperson Eduardo Lecciones (private sector) and myself as co-chairperson (government sector), the other officers inducted were: Vice-President Engr. John Wesley Gayo, Secretary Edwin Maquiling, Treasurer Rogelia Alderite, Auditor Teodoro Albina, and PRO Jovencio Albina.
CAFC will serve as the focal organization in PPP, and as the consultative body and feedback mechanism in the implementation of policies, plans and programs of the City government of Dumaguete and the DA.
As can be seen, the Office of City Agriculturist moves on against all odds. Despite several weather-related disasters that have taken their toll on agricultural production, the City’s agriculture sector continues to survive. This segment of the economy can only continue to confront the challenges if the City’s constituency as a people are fully-geared towards extensive cooperation through the cultivation of a shift in values within society, grounded on a more profound appreciation of the repercussions of City-wide interdependence for the achievement of its objectives.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
