NABUA, Camarines Sur—More than 300 provincial agriculturists, agricultural technicians, and municipal agriculturists participated in the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Regional Assessment Review and Planning Workshop for 2018-2019 held recently in Macagang, Nabua, Camarines Sur.
OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Rodel P. Tornilla commended the participants for their support to the DA-HVCDP which made DA-Bicol as one of the top performing regional offices in the Philippines in 2017.
According to HVCDP Regional Focal Person Rose Imperial, DA-Bicol placed second in the national level in terms of disbursements.
For 2017, DA-HVCDP distributed 430,000 Pili seedlings (ever bearing varieties) in an estimated area of 4,300 hectares; and established three techno demo farms on GAP-Pili and Pili-based intercropping technology, two Pili foundation scion groves with 150 pieces accredited grafted Pili as an additional source of quality planting materials.
Seven accredited varieties (mother trees) of 132 certified varieties and 74 promising selections are now planted at the DA Station’s scion groves.
The Bureau of Plant Industry also approved the accreditation of Villaminas Plant Nursery, Sipocot, Camarines Sur and Mayon Farmers Cooperative, Camalig, Albay.
For pineapple, DA Bicol distributed 1,250,000 pineapple suckers in six municipalities of Camarines Norte in 41.67 hectares as expansion area; trained on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 35 pineapple growers/farmers, and certified 10 hectares of GAP Farms in addition to the existing 10 hectares GAP Certified Farms by the Labo Multi-Purpose /Cooperative, and established three GAP techno- demo farms on pineapple.
For Gabi, the HVCDP distributed 625,000 gabi runners and planted to 41.66 hectares in Camarines Sur and Albay., conducted investment forum and market matching activity, established 30 techno demo sites following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and distributed six units of Multi-Commodity Solar Tunnel Dryer and a vacuum sealer.
The program also distributed 1,000 kgs of assorted lowland vegetables seeds that generated an estimated 2,000 mt volume of production. It also distributed and installed 30 Pump Irrigation System Open Source (PISOS) and five units of Spring Development in vegetable cluster areas benefitting 34 Organized Vegetables Association. Two spring development projects in Buhi and Busac in Libmanan were completed. Thirteen batches of trainings were conducted on GAP Vegetable Production and Bantay Peste on Vegetable. It also distributed tractors, knapsack sprayer, hand tractors and a vegetable semi-processing facility.
PhilGAP certified ten hectares planted with Moringa by Mauswag Agribusiness, Inc.
DA-HVCDP also launched the Albay Family-Based Food Production Project covering 720 barangays benefitting 72,000 families in the province of Albay in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay; the Gulayan Habang Buhay Project on Urban Container Agriculture for 186 barangays of 3rd District of Camarines Sur benefitting more than 6,000 families; and Taniman sa Barangay in the 3rd District of Albay in partnership with the Congressional Office of Congressman Gonzales.
The program also distributed 500,000 camote cuttings in Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon and a dehydrator was given to the Camote Creation Cooperative in Daraga, Albay.
Aside from the provincial presentation of highlights, guidelines on Planting Materials, Farm Machinery/Equipment, Processing Facilities, Small Scale Irrigation Projects and other forms were discussed during the two-day event. (jaysonmgonzales with photos by Hermito Privaldos)
