Harvesting of palay and corn was in full swing over the region.
In Isabela and Cagayan, harvesting of watermelon was in progress.
2. FISHERIES
In Cabarroguis, Quirino, the newly-constructed 1.70-hectare tilapia hatchery was already operational.
In Isabela, peak harvesting in freshwater cages and fishponds coincided with Holy Week.
In Cagayan, abundant catch of anchovies, hairtail and frigate tuna in commercial and municipal marine fishing was noted.
3. PRICES AND MARKET SUPPLY
In Quirino, retail prices of some vegetables increased as supply of locally produced vegetables was scarce due to lack of rains.
In Nueva Vizcaya, farmgate prices of habitchuelas and tomato decreased by 40-60 percent compared with last month's records owing to abundant supply.
4. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
In Roxas and Quirino, Isabela, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) started releasing water on 2,200 hectares of palay areas covered under the "Five in Two" Program. Likewise, the Magat River Irrigation System is expected to release water on 50,000 hectares of palay areas.
In Nueva Vizcaya, 13 contract growers under the Universal Leaf Philippines, Incorporated who were provided with full financial and technical supports harvested their burley tobacco with a given price of P115.00-P130.00 per kilogram (including incentives) for class A leaves.
In Nueva Vizcaya, vaccination, castration and deworming of large animals were on-going.
In Aglipay, Quirino, a poultry farm for broiler production with a capacity of 10,000 birds was constructed.
In Cagayan, construction of bridge and concreting of farm to market road in Sicalao, Lasam which connects the municipalities of Rizal and Lasam were in progress.
In Isabela, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its Livestock Experiment Station undertook the Breeder Loan Program for the production of sheep in different municipalities.
The DA-RFU II and the NIA carried out massive campaigns through seminars, trainings and broadcast media for its "Five in Two" Program (five harvests within two (2) years).
The local government unit (LGU) of Cauayan City, Isabela, distributed 10 units of SMOKE House for tilapia to identified barangays with fishponds. The same city received a four-wheel tractor and harvester under the Counter Parting Program of the DA-RFU II.
In La Paz, Saguday, Quirino, deep well development and construction of concrete reservoir, pipe laying and faucet installation with an estimated cost of P2 million were carried out with funding from the governments of Japan and the Philippines through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
5. TRAINING, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
The provincial government of Isabela through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) conducted the Farmers' Congress in seven (7) municipalities and will continue until all municipalities are covered.
In Diffun, Quirino, Technical Briefing on Smoke Fish Production was conducted by the local government, BFAR Region II and the provincial government.
6. WEATHER SITUATION
Sunny weather and very warm temperature during daytime with scattered rains and rainshowers in the late afternoon and at night prevailed.