In Davao del Sur, harvesting of 90 percent or 8,645.06 hectares of sugarcane areas was completed.
2. PRICES AND MARKET SUPPLY
In Davao Oriental, prevailing retail prices per kilogram decreased from last month’s record: for ampalaya of P50.00-P60.00 to P40.00-P50.00; for carrots, P70.00 to P60.00; for okra, P40.00-P50.00 to P30.00-P40.00; and for onion spring, P50.00 to P40.00.
3. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
The Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao opened a development center to help farmers increase their yield and market demand both in domestic and international markets. The Cacao Development Center was being established at the Amiya Building, Corner Quimpo Boulevard and Tulip Drive in Davao City. The establishment of the center was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Cooperative Development International / Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance, a private non-profit organization, with an initial funding of P600,000.00. The center will hold training on cacao production for the farmers to increase their yield and produce quality beans. At present, the region produces about 4,000 tons of cocoa beans per year. The local demand alone, however, is 55,000 tons annually. The association was also eyeing to have post-harvest processing facility in the Cacao Development Center. Both the Office and Cocoa Foundation Philippines Inc. (CocoaPhil) were working on partnership effort for a sustainable cacao production strategy for the farmers involving massive planting of cacao trees in the forest- based and logged areas. Farmers can also consult at the Cacao Agribusiness Zone Center Facility at Barangay Talandang, Tugbok District, which is a project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) with CocoaPhil. It offers access to technical capability enhancements, farm inputs and market-price and supply-demand information.
In Davao del Norte, the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) under the Agricultural Livestock Development Division-Livestock Section implemented its Minimum Basic Needs Livestock Dispersal Program by re-dispersing 6 head of goats in Ising, Carmen and 1 head of goat in Tanglaw, Dujali given to MBN recipients of the aforesaid barangays. The PAGRO- ALDD-Fisheries Section dispersed 5,000 pieces of tilapia fingerling to Esperanza-Magupising Multipurpose Cooperative (ESMACO) from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) RFTC New Visayas, Panabo under its Aquaculture for Development Project. The office locally purchased 5 bundles of barrier nets, 50 rolls of pamo twine and 20 rolls of polyethylene rope (PE) size no. 12. The materials were purchased using the P512,000.00 provincial funding for Aquaculture For Rural Development Project. Part of the total amount includes Fisheries Training, Celebration of Fish Conservation Week and Quarterly Meetings of LGU Fisheries Technicians and Coordinators.
In San Isidro, Davao Oriental, a 40-hectare demo farm which fully planted to cassava was on growing stage. The project was under the High Value Commercial Crop (HVCC) Program of the DA-LGU. The BFAR XI-Provincial Resource Management Office distributed 600 kilograms of seaweed to seaweed growers of Barangay Badas, Mati last April 13, 2012. Likewise, 50,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings were handed out to the City Agriculture Office (CAO) of Mati on April 25, 2012.
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Davao del Sur successfully dewormed 1,009 head of cattle, 252 head of carabaos, 149 head of horses, 560 head of swine, 1,009 head of poultry, and 1,390 head of goats. Vitamins were given to 765 head of cattle, 195 head of carabaos, 24 head of horses, 640 head of swine, 260 head of poultry, and 756 head of goats. The PVO also treated 97 head of cattle, 13 head of carabaos, 117 head of horses, 340 head of swine, 53 head of poultry and 93 head of goats. The Provincial BFAR dispersed 40,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings to Magsaysay, 19,000 pieces to Matanao and 10,000 pieces to OPAG for fishponds and municipal inland.
4. TRAINING, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
Training on the Management of Sigatoka and Panama Wilt was conducted last April 21, 2012 at the GSP Building Compound, Tagum City, Davao del Norte and was attended by 120 banana growers province-wide. The event was facilitated by the PAO-Crop Division and funded by the DA-RFU XI. The training aimed to disseminate information concerning sigatoka and panama wilt for its cause, symptoms and how to control such banana diseases to all banana growers. A two-day Training on the Management of Fusarium Wilt Disease was conducted on April 26-27, 2012 in Poblacion, Dujali with 40 banana growers as participants. The training was done to have an information drive about how to manage and control fusarium wilt. It was funded by the Agricultural Training Institute of Panabo (ATI).
On April 17, 2012, the Livestock Production and Health Management Seminar was held in Capungagan, Kapalong which was participated in by 25 MBN recipients from Capungagan, Florida, and Mabantao, Kapalong. The seminar was facilitated by the PAO-ALDD Livestock Section. The training aimed for continuing education on livestock production and health management for re-dispersal recipients and orientation of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Minimum Basic Needs Livestock Dispersal Program.
5. WEATHER SITUATION
Fair weather with sunny to cloudy skies and scattered light to heavy rainshowers during early morning and late in the afternoon prevailed. The weather condition was favorable to the growth and development of agricultural crops.
Note: This report covers Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur.