Regional Agricultural Situation Report: March 2015

I. CROPS

  • In Abra, still in progress was transplanting of irrigated palay particularly in the municipality of Bangued. Average yield per hectare of palay and corn was observed to be lower than last year which was attributed to inadequate water supply during the reproductive stage of both crops. Trading of mangoes and Virginia tobacco was also noted.
  • In Apayao, most palay and corn areas were on the maturing stage while some were already harvested. The continuous good warm weather experienced during the reference period helped hasten the ripening of grains.
  • In Ifugao, leafy and fruit vegetable production slightly increased in most municipalities. There was no reported significant pest infestation in the province.
  • In Kalinga, harvesting of palay was already on-going in the municipalities of Pinukpuk and Rizal while in in other municipalities like Pasil, Balbalan and Tabuk City, palay was noted still on the reproductive stage. Meanwhile, harvesting of corn was at its peak
  • In Mt. Province, there was delayed threshing and drying of yellow corn due to occurrence of rainfall on the last week of the month particularly in Paracelis where harvest was at its peak. Planting of palay was on-going in all municipalities except Paracelis.         

II. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY

  • In Abra, trading of large animals in LOM Dolores and small animals in LOM Bangued was observed to be in normal situation.
  • In Ifugao, a total of 192,900 marketable broilers and 7,000 culled layers was shipped out of the province. There was no reported disease outbreak in the province for the period covered.
  • In Mt. Province, a total of thirty-two female heads of cattle aging 18 months were dispersed during the month to selected raisers in Bauko, Tadian, Sagada, Bontoc, and Besao by the Department of Agriculture through the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.           

III. FISHERIES 

  • In Apayao some fishpond operators temporarily stopped their operation due to drying up of ponds and lack of capital. This was verified by the AT/Municipal Fishery Coordinator of MAO Conner.
  • In Ifugao, fishpond and fish cage production increased. There was no reported fish kill during the period. Water level at Magat dam was beginning to recede below normal range. On the other hand, there was adequate supply of irrigation water from the NIA Hapid Irrigation Canal in the municipality of Lamut and Mariss dam in Alfonso Lista.
  • In Kalinga, tilapia fingerlings were distributed to fishpond operators of barangays Tanglag, Antonio Canao, Dangoy, Mabilong and Poblacion, all in the municipality of Lubuagan. Some fishponds dried up due to scarcity of water supply in the municipality of Rizal. Meanwhile, more catch was noted on municipal waters due to low water level.

IV. PRICES AND MARKET SITUATION

  • In Abra, normal supply of locally produced vegetables was observed. Declining prices were noted particularly for eggplant, tomato, upo and squash due to peak harvest
  • In Apayao, prices of agricultural commodities were mostly the same as last month. Minimal trading of cereal commodities was observed with prices lower than last quarter due to absence of transient traders. Dried palay was registered at P16-17/kg while corn was P 11.50-12/kg.
  • In Benguet, supply of agricultural commodities particularly highland vegetables was deficit that caused the prices to escalate by 20% - 50%.  In Ifugao, prices of vegetables, fruits, fish, livestock and poultry were within the normal level for the period covered.
  • In Mt. Province, normal supply of agricultural commodities was observed at Bontoc Public Market.        

V. SIGNIFICANT AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT/ PROGRAMS/ POLICIES/ GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

  • In Abra, construction of Ikmin Bridge and approaches in Sallapadan was going on. Moreover, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has turned over a farm-to-market road (FMR) to the community of Brgy. Benben, municipality of La Paz. This would benefit 135 households in the area whose major source of income mostly comes from crops production and handicrafts. With this FMR, transport of goods to Poblacion and Bangued would be easier. The community-built 100 linear meter road was implemented under the Kalahi-CIDSS.
  • In Apayao, two newly constructed MPDPs in the municipality of Conner, particularly, in barangays Ili and Cupis were turned over to the care of farmer beneficiaries. Each MPDP cost P 150,000.00 which was funded by DA CAR.
  • In Benguet, the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) through its High Value Crops Development Program turned over a coffee processing center to the Atok Arabica coffee growers and Marketing Cooperative (ACOGMAC) in Caliking, Atok on March 6, 2015. Aside from the processing center, the DA-CAR-HVCDP and the CHARMP2 also provided other facilities such as coffee pulper, roasting machines, dehuller, bagger, seedlings, moisture meter and others, including capital. PRDP is now working on coffee as the first priority commodity of the Cordillera Region
  • In Ifugao, rehabilitation of Anao-Burnay irrigation system was fully completed benefiting 30 palay farming households.
  • In Kalinga, there was an on-going construction of one (1) multi-purpose pavement at barangay Poblacion, Lubuagan funded by DA CAR.

VI. SEMINARS/ TRAININGS/ WORKSHOPS/ MEETINGS

  • In Apayao, a Farmers Field School (FFS) with about 25 participants was goingon in Caglayan, Conner wherein High Yield Technology Adaptation (HYTA) was introduced to farmers.

VII. WEATHER/ CLIMATIC CONDITION/ OUTLOOK

  • Hot sunny atmosphere with partly cloudy skies and intermittent rain showers was experienced in most parts of the region. Said weather aided in maturing and ripening of grain crops.