This is the 9th State of Agriculture Report since I assumed office as City Agriculturist of Dumaguete City on July 16, 2008. This yearly record is an essential document which will serve as an archive and a basis of information that must be communicated to the public as this contains the city’s planning endeavors and resource allocation initiatives in the years to come.
Sustainable agriculture signifies sustainable food security. The Office of the City Agriculturist has always highlighted its vital role in the provision and distribution of rudimentary agricultural services and in guaranteeing the stream of viable food security measures in order to assure the city’s residents of sufficient food.
OCA has unswervingly embarked on the planting of climate-change resistant crops to guarantee constituents of sufficient food even in the midst of inimical impacts and destructive effects of climate change. More significantly, it has incessantly worked on getting the best out of the remaining hectares of land that are used for agriculture in order to increase production.
In 2016, the Office of the City Agriculturist focused on sustaining agriculture improvement efforts in strategic production areas and revitalizing alliances between and among the barangay councils, farmers and fishermen’s associations and other rural-based organizations, Provincial Agriculture Office, Department of Agriculture, other line agencies and different private institutions in producing revenue and livelihood prospects in order to curtail poverty and do away with hunger.
The city’s vision, mission, objectives and goals serve as a structure for executing different projects and programs grounded not just in accomplishing food security and local development but also in progressing sustainable agriculture developments and environmental sustainability.
Research and Development. The City’s R&D facility at the City Farmstead has provided new and improved findings regarding organic inputs and production methods that would increase farmer’s agricultural products and family income. For 2016, we have successfully conducted research studies on the effects of Indigenous Productivity Enhancers (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.
Farmer Field School. Under the Farmer Field School concept, two season-long trainings on Herbs and Spices and Organic Vegetable Production were conducted in Barangays Bajumpandan and Banilad, respectively. A total of 60 farmers completed the training courses. This was supported by the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Agriculture Office.
Organic Crop Production. Through its farmer’s field school approach, field visits, and provision of market outlet, planting materials, seeds, microbial inoculants and supplements, the Internal Guarantee System, an organic agriculture certifying body from the Regional Organic Agriculture Confederation, OCA was able to produce five certified farmers who are 100% organic farming practitioners and have converted a total of 3.3 hectares of land into chemical-free organic farms broken down as follows: rice, 2.0 hectares; banana (cardava), 3,000 sqm; sweet corn, 1,000 sqm; lettuce, 1,000 sqm; eggplant, 1,000 sqm; string beans, 1,000 sqm; okra, 1,000 sqm; singkamas, 1,000 sqm; sweet potato, 3,000 sqm; and squash, 1,000 sqm.
IPE Organic Fertilizer Production. In vigorous pursuit of re-using solid waste as organic fertilizers with the participation of scavengers through its Waste-to-Food Program, OCA was able to produce 5,400 bags or 216,000 kilos of IPE organic fertilizers that were being distributed to farmers and to various public schools, an endeavor that provides subsidy for the cost of crop production.
Plow-Now Pay-Later Program. The City’s Food Production thrust, through its Plow Now-Pay Later program, has maximized agricultural area development, and has ensured the realization of the food security agenda. Some 37 hectares of agricultural lands, including about five hectares of idle lots have so far been made productive in terms of rice, corn, and vegetable production.
High-Value Crops Development Program. This is one of the banner programs of the City Agriculturist’s Office to help address food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth. For rice, 30 hectares have been developed involving 31 rice farmers covering six barangays. For corn, 275 hectares have been developed with 107 farmers involved in 10 barangays. For vegetable growing, 244 farmers have been served with a total area of 18 has. covering 24 barangays. For mango production, the City monitored and provided technical assistance to 146 farmers having 4,551 fruit-bearing mango trees and 39 newly planted mango trees. Also, banana has been planted on a 9.08 hectare land area with 100 farmers served.
Livestock Breeding and Dispersal. OCA has provided artificial insemination and healthcare services to 703 livestock animals (swine, goats, cattle, carabao) benefiting 680 livestock farmers. It has also conducted 170 natural breeding services at the City Farmstead Livestock Breeding Station. Furthermore, it has re-dispersed 11 livestock animals and continued its monitoring of 65 heads of dispersed livestock animals.
Coastal and Fisheries Management. To sustain livelihood and ensure the continued productivity of fishery resources, the City dispersed and monitored the production of 5,660 tilapia fingerlings in four public schools and nine barangays, benefiting 20 fish-farmers. We also provided technical assistance to 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 Resources for 29 fishermen’s associations: 15 fish traps, 35 drift gillnets, 10 pumpboats, and 10 fiberglass fishing boats.
Gulayan at Palaisdaan alay sa Kabataan (GPAK). This undertaking involves young students 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. In 2016, the City Agriculturist’s Office provided technical and input assistance to GPAK projects in 18 public schools involving 980 students, and developed some 4,000 sqm. of agricultural land into a GPAK community project (organic vegetables, organic fertilizer production through vermi worms and biodegradable materials, tilapia farming)
Gawad Saka Awards. Three farmers from Dumaguete who were recipients of OCA’s technical, training, and input assistance received awards by the Department of Agriculture as the Region’s top agricultural achievers.
In the field of organic farming, Jessie Ogahayon of Bgy.Camanjac garnered the spot for Outstanding Organic Farmer; Kremlind Catan of Bgy. Batinguel won the Outstanding Coconut Farmer; and the Healthy 4-H Club of Bgy. Cantil-e was adjudged Outstanding Young Farmers Organization.
Each year, we look ahead to foresee what may happen and what should be finished. What is the fundamental bearing for 2017?
The farm sector in Dumaguete in 2017 will surely be more dynamic as more effort will be exerted in maximizing food production in rural barangays, developing Poblacion barangays to grow agricultural crops through urban farming technologies, strengthening measures of expanding outputs, enhancing the execution of inland and marine fisheries, livestock, rice, corn, and high value commercial crops, and intensifying utilization of the “Plow Now Pay Later” and “Waste-to-Food” program.
To arrest the City’s amplified food shortage and achieve food sustainability, efforts shall also be made to work closely with concerned government and non-government agencies for the establishment of “Bagsakan” Center and the Livestock Auction Market.
The City Agriculturist’s Office is committed to delivering and building continued transparency and responsibility in arranging and implementing projects and activities that could secure Dumaguete’s future as a vibrant city that values agriculture and considers it indispensable to our identities as Dumagueteños, to the city’s economy, and city residents’ quality of life.
From working on environment change adjustment practices to guaranteeing family sustenance security, it will conclusively react to these difficulties, reliably trying to convey high quality service to the community, trusting that change in agriculture-fisheries landscape and guaranteeing household nourishment security are requirements for economic improvement.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
