“Lingap Awards” – DA Via ACPC Thankfully Remembering Financial Institutions Willingly Extending Assistances To Small Farmers & Fishers

Seldom do financial institutions package assistances to small farmers and fishers, and when they do, more seldom do they receive recognition.

Rudy Bragado Contillohas good news in his Facebook post [03 May 2022: “DA-ACPC, Pinadayawanna Dagiti Pagwadan A Partner Lending Conduits (PLCs)].” If awkward, as I don’t have the original texts, I quote Mr Contillo’s deep Ilocano report via my free translation, in italics:

Recognized by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), at the 2^nd Gawad sa Paglingap sa Magsasaka at Mangingisda (Lingap Awards) on 28 April 2022 in Quezon City, 62 partner lending conduits (PLCs) received Lingap Awards.

The Lingap Awards are bestowed biannually to recognize financial institutions nationally with meritorious contributions to ACPC credit programs.

Under the theme “Cooperation and Collaboration with PLCs: Overcoming Challenges Amid and Beyond the Pandemic,” Lingap Awards 2022 gave recognition to government banks, rural banks, and cooperative banks extending loans to small farmers, fishers and agripreneurs in 2020.

“We would like you to know that we would not forget your sacrifices in helping greatly uphold the farm & fisheries sectors,” Secretary of Agriculture & ACPC Chair William Dar said in his message. “With your assistance and support of the DA, we were able to guarantee food security for all amidst the threat of the virus.”

ACPC Executive Director Jocelyn Alma Badiolasaid, “With you as PLCs, we delivered financial services to the sectors unserved by private banks. As of December 2021, we were able to serve 436 out of 496 unbanked municipalities.”

PH Monetary Board Member and ACPC Vice Chair Bruce Tolentino said, “It is necessary that government efforts be unified in advancing the rural sector. For your extending beautiful services as trusted PLCs despite many threats, I declare my gratitude.”

Through the PLCs, ACPC extended a total P5 Billion loan to 91,241 small farmers and fishers and 426 micro and small enterprises & organizations in 2020. Likewise, credit supports were extended to 96,000 individuals and 396 enterprises nationwide for a total P5.39 Billion.

Myrna Sescon, President of the Mindanao Consolidated Cooperative Bank, lauded the ACPC in promoting rural finance that helped improve the lives of citizens in the countryside.

President Abundio Quililan of the New Rural Bank of San Leonardo said the ACPC loans of low interests were highly helpful to the agri-fishery sector.

Mizpah Taala, Chief Operations Officer of the Metro Ormoc Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative said, “The honor extended to us proves our commitment to provide high-quality services. We are grateful for the opportunity given to serve famers and fishers.”

The ACPC also extended Lingap Awards to 2 partner government banks – Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

DBP Vice President Noli Cruz said, “We are happy to become part of the many credit programs of ACPC. We believe that progress is assured by mutual assistances in the agriculture sector.”

As an agriculturist and son of a farmer, I say farmers & fishers need all the assistances we can give, first of all financial!@517

Greens & Golds – You & I Gardening, Generating Good Foods And Happy Green Grounds

I have been dreaming of growing my own & family’s green & gold organic foods in the last 56 years! The problem is not the Materials & Method – it’s the plot of ground, as it cannot be imaginary.

The image above is my photo taken 16 July 2019. It’s the neighbor’s garden of ornamentals for sale. Me, I would grow food also in hanging baskets if I had my own garden. Organic garden – vegetables and fruits I would grow there. And I would be gardening all year-round.

I’m now reading Leigh Clapp’s article “Organic Gardening: How To Create A Successful Organic Garden” (08 July 2020, Real Homes, realhomes.com), where she says:

Organic gardening is both simple and rewarding. Plus, it will benefit wildlife, your own health and reduce your environmental impact too. Here's how to get started...

She is in the US of A and I am in the islands called Philippines thousands of miles away, but it doesn’t matter – food is food and gardening is gardening.

Organic gardening – and in particular, vegetable gardening and growing fruit organically – gives you the peace of mind of knowing exactly what has gone into producing your food. No man-made chemicals, fertilizers and nasties. It also results in the freshest and tastiest fruit and vegetables possible.

What’s there not to like?!

Here, Leigh is telling me about companion planting, which is something I have yet to hear or read in the Philippines:

An organic garden does not fend for itself. If you want to try organic gardening, you need to know how you can strengthen plants’ health naturally and learn how to use alternative ways of warding off pests. Growing your own organic vegetables and fruit[s] does not mean you can't enjoy flowers, too – much to the contrary. Fruit and vegetable crops will benefit from the pollinators that come to enjoy your flowers – the brighter the better.

You will enjoy the flowers – and so will the pollinators & other organisms who will help control the population of would-be pests as they become food for the birds!

Leigh says:

There are five main principles to bear in mind as you learn how to garden organically: a good site, healthy soil, biodiversity, sustainable resources, and avoidance of chemicals.

Me, give me any site and I will make it good, organically! I will practice what is known as trash farming (or trash gardening, if small scale), using a rotavator to create an organic layer of plant materials and soil cut & mixed together and automatically laid all over the site. This is an original organic farming/gardening process that I now call “Rotavator Organic WEALth – Weeds-Enriched Automatic Layer of Trash Triggering Terrestrial Health.” Whatever it was before, the soil now becomes healthy for vegetables and flowers. (For more and freedetails, you can PM me on Facebook anytime.)

It’s called “organic gardening” as it avoids all those inorganic or chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, weedicides. Happy, healthy foods I will raise in my own green & gold garden – and so can you!@517

How Can The Indigenous People Organizations (IPOs) Help Themselves? The Department Of Agriculture (DA) Has To Be There Also To Assist!

I am glad to note that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is actively helping the indigenous peoples such as those in the Cordilleras. With the 4K Program in Benguet.

I am reading this Facebook sharing of Aida Page of 26 April 2022; the introduction of Katutubo ProgCordillera says (edited):

Tightening the Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPO) of the Domolpos-Ansipsip Ancestral Domain [DAAD] in the sustainability of the given interventions, the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program [strengthened the resolve] of the organization [at] the inauguration, turn-over, and acceptance ceremony of the Spring Development Projects (SDPs) and Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement (MPDP).

All that in further support of coffee production. Last year, the DA Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) had distributed 3,000 Arabica coffee seedlings to the DAAD IPO on 18 June 2021.

Through the 4K Program (“Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo” – Livelihood & Advancement of Fellow Native Citizens Program), the equivalent amount of P1.8 million was handed over by the DA-CAR through the Regional Field Office (RFO) Cordillera, consisting of SDPs and an MPDP on 21 April 2022. The “spring development project” I understand to mean the tapping of water from mountain springs for irrigating vegetable farms, watering gardens, and home use.

ANN says the turn-overs of the SDPs and MPDP to the DAAD IPO were done at the Domolpos Community School on 21 April 2022.

This was a follow-up of the 4K. ANN says the previous year, the above folks had received Arabica coffee seedlings (Author Not Named, 23 June 2021, “Domolpos, Itogon, Benguet Folks Receive 3,000 Arabica Coffee Seedlings From DA-4K Program,” car.da.gov.ph).

As an Ilocano and an agriculturist, I am glad the DA is actively supporting the people we not-so-simply refer to as the Igorots. In Asingan, my native town, when I was young we had this unkind joke: “Utang ti Igorot, bayadan no makabirok.” (Free translation: “If an Igorot owes you, you might as well forget it.”) I laughed with the Asinganians, because I did not think about how rare were opportunities for earning in the mountains. Now I do see that the 4K Program is “heaven-sent.”

I see the 4K Program as the DA’s way to help the Cordillera people help themselves by growing their farm produce with government assistances: financial, technological, and physical.

ANN says:

The SDPs and MPDP will serve the different [sites] of the ancestral domain for [their] coffee and rice production. As such, even when the assistance of the program ends, the community will still be [much involved] in the usage and preservation of these projects with the help of the LGU and DA.

Yes, the local government unit (LGU) must assist its own people. And 4K Coordinator Jennilyn M Dawayan tells them: “The Council of Elders has a big responsibility to make the project work, especially since your culture has been your entry point for this project.”

Ms Dawayan is bold enough to exhort the group “to become a leader to other IPOs.” I hope so!@517

William Dar -- Regenerating Farmers’ Hopes Regenerating Philippine Agriculture Into Agribiz Winners!

On Monday, 09 May 2022, Filipinos elect a new PH President and, soon s/he will appoint a new Secretary of Agriculture. My singular candidate for the next Secretary is? William Dollente Dar!

Because, in 7 words, he is: Regenerative of Policy & Science in Agriculture. We see that in following his professional story:
(“Regenerative” image from letsbekarmic.com)

Unifying Research Activities (1987-1994)
He was the first Director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), BAR being an agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA). This is how he regenerated BAR from the bureaucratic operations of a DA agency (from my 09 April 2014 essay, “William Dar At 61. From Poor To Poor To Poor, Some Rich Lessons,” Creative Thinkering, Blogspot.com):

With his direction, BAR set out to rationalize – that is, unify, integrate, and centralize the funding, monitoring & evaluation of research projects under the jurisdiction of the DA.

Originating Extension Units (1994-1998)
As Director General (DG), he regenerated the Philippine Council for Agriculture & Aquatic Resources Research & Development(PCARRD), creating 2 extension arms of PCARRD – Farmer-Scientist Program and Farmers' Information & Technology Services – and both became popular.

“Defeating” El Niño (1998-1999)
He regenerated PH Agriculture as Secretary of Agriculture under President Joseph Estrada. He implemented the provisions of the Agriculture & Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), and despite the destructive El Niño episode, with AFMA, PH agriculture grew an unprecedented 9.6% in 1999.

Playing To Win With ICRISAT (2000-2014)
He regenerated the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in India as its DG. I now rewrite part of my 2014 essay:

He came up with the concept of “Team ICRISAT.” They were all in this together to win. And they did – they brought ICRISAT from dead last to #1 among 15 international agricultural research agencies of the CGIAR, which included IRRI.

Above, ICRISAT honored him by regenerating the “Innovation Platform” building into the “William D Dar Agribusiness Centre,” 24 Feb 2017.
(image from ICRISAT, icrisat.org, wife Betty witnessing)

Visioning PH Agriculture (2019-ongoing)
He regenerated the concept of serving as Secretary of Agriculture. Even before being formally appointed, he already had his Vision, Mission & Strategy for Philippine Agriculture – “The New Thinking For Agriculture” with 8 fountains of wisdom he called “Paradigms” (see my essay, “Revolutionizing PH Agriculture And How We Think About It – Manong Willie & Frank H,” 06 June 2020, Towards A New Eden, Blogspot.com).

Missioning Climate Change Agriculture (since 2000)

Mr Dar is the only Secretary of Agriculture who is into Climate Change. When ICRISAT DG, he wrote (17 April 2012, “A Hypothesis Of Hope For The Developing World,” UN-iLibrary, un-ilibrary.org):

About 99% of climate change casualties take place in the developing world… The poor in these countries are at a higher risk to future climate change, given their heavy dependence on agriculture… insufficient capacity to adapt to climate change… meagre household income and savings…

Amid the physical climate change, we need a Secretary of Agriculture who would continue regenerating PH Agriculture & farmers from agribiz losers into agribiz winners!@517

If You Have An Oversupply Of Onions, Then You Have An Undersupply Of Brains Thinking How To Turn “Extra” Bulbs Into “Extra” Cash! Learn From Rod Agas (Mindoro) And Amy Cabrera (Batangas City)

Agriculture is not all about primary produce; it is also about by-products. Throwing away produce that you cannot sell is a failure in market-ability, not farm productivity!

Dennis Datutells us that oversupply of onions is a major headache of growers elsewhere, but not in Occidental Mindoro and Batangas City [01 May 2022, “Mga Taga-Mindoro Dumiskarte Para Magamit Ang Oversupply Ng Sibuyas,” ABS-CBN News, abs-cbn.com. (From hereon, I will quote Mr Datu, translating his 100% Tagalog news freely into English, into this: “Mindoro People Strategize To Use Oversupply Of Onions.”)]
(image from rainwaterrunoff.com)

I see that as a major lesson for all Filipino farmers: “If you have an oversupply of produce, then you have an undersupply of brains to turn produce into product/s!”

Mr Datu says:

Last month, farmers of Occidental Mindoro had the problem of falling onion prices because of oversupply. Much of the onion harvest rotted after being thrown away. To prevent the spoilage of the onions disposed of, one resident thought of a way to benefit from the bulbs. Since he was already concocting herbal products, Rod Agas thought of turning the bulbs into onion flakes and powder. Using a dehydrator and powdering machine, he began processing the bulbs.

The report says:

Agas says the natural flavor of the onions is not lost even after food processing. In the flakes, once fried with oil, the onion smell returns; the onion smell really comes out. When you sprinkle the flakes on ramen, the taste is stronger.

Agas says many people order for his flakes. He is selling the onion flakes at P600/kilo and powder at P90/gram.

Celso Olido, head of the Agri-Marketing Assistance Division of the Department of Agriculture-Mimaropa, says they have been studying if there are wider markets for the flakes and powder.

He says:

We are going to bring this to the company that imports onion powder. Once they give the signal that the powder passes their quality standards, we will find a way to put up a village-type processing plant.

That’s the Department of Agriculture working extra for the farmers!

Mr Datu says, “Elsewhere, in Batangas City, pickled onion is popular.” This is how it’s done:

Amy Cabrera peels and cuts the bulbs. She soaks them in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, salt and black pepper that is boiled, and afterwards poured into the jar containing the bulb cuts. She adds whole peppers and chili.

Ms Amy says her recipe came from her grandmother. “It’s perfect for barbecue, roast chicken, sausage. You know it’s onion, but the taste is no longer that of onion.”

Meanwhile, the price of onion in Occidental Mindoro has gone up.

Turned into onion flakes, onion powder, and/or onion pickles – no longer will onion bulbs be wasted and thrown as oversupply.

I say: “Innovation is producing cold cash out of hot onion bulbs thrown away. Onion innovators are  turning a problem into many an opportunity!”@517

UP System Is NOT Contributing To The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) According To 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) World Ranking – As An Alumnus, I Ask, “Is UPLB Concerned?”

What’s happening to the University of the Philippines System (UP System), of which my alma mater UP Los Baños is a part? It is not contributing to the attainment of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!?

I am reading Christia Marie Ramos’ Inquirerreport of 29 April 2022 – “CHEd: 15 PH Universities Among Top Institutions In UN SDGs Global Ranking” (newsinfo.inquirer.net). The list is found in the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) World Ranking.

Ateneo University(top image) is PH’s #1 – and the UP System is not in the top list! Is that a reporter’s mistake? I checked. No, it’s a university’s mistake – the UP System is not paying much attention as to how it can contribute much to attain the UN’s SDGs!

Ms Christia says:

CHEd noted that the THE Impact Rankings is “one of the most influential rankings” and is the “only global performance table that assesses universities’ contributions and initiatives to realize” the UN SDGs.

“The assessment uses calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across four broad areas: research, teaching, outreach, and stewardship,” it said.

Implying that the UP System is average in research, teaching, outreach and stewardship when it comes to the attainment of the UN’s SDGs! That surprises this alumnus because UP Los Baños is now digital, as at the gate this is proudly proclaimed.
(my photograph, 05 March 2019)

Is this alumnus ashamed? No. Because unlike the UN experts, I have graduated from the “University of Sustainable Development” to the “University of Regenerative Development.”

I now believe the world should be pursuing Regenerative Agriculture (RAg) instead of Sustainable Agriculture (SAg).

The Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program of the University of California Davis says (sarep.ucdavis.edu):

The goal of sustainable agriculture is to meet society’s food and textile needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

I now say from where I stand – on healthy grounds renewed with richness by regenerative organic agriculture since 1966 when I discovered American gentleman farmer Edward H Faulkner’s “Minimum Tillage” that he called “Trash Farming,” and considering Climate Change among others:

Beyond food & textile, the most pressing need of the world right now is to combat Climate Change, and SAg is sagging there. In contrast, RAg can rage against the Climate Crisis!

How? RAg does all these:

1.     zeroes (stops) generation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the field (organic fertilizers do not generate GHGs); and simultaneously

2.     increases (maximizes) generation of healthy soils, healthy fields, healthy foods, healthy pockets, and healthy climates (back to 1. above).

Importantly, will UP Los Baños now upscale its institutional RAg-oriented
Research
Teaching
Outreach and
Stewardship?

Pursuing new knowledge & innovation, educating the aggie students on those needs, getting such knowledge out into the awareness of citizens, and managing what it can, are what UPLB should be doing for Regenerative Agriculture.

It is the least UPLB can do for our country!@517

Fiestas Filipino! Celebrating The Month Of May, Celebrating Family Life, Virgin Mary, Farming & Farmers

I did not realize it, but in the Philippines the month of May is more celebrated than the birth month of Jesus the Redeemer, December –every single day in May, there is a fiesta in the islands!

This list I selected from Jojo Vito’s “Festivals In The Philippines For The Month Of May” (thehappytrip.com):

1.     May 01 “Pista’y Dayat” (Sea Festival) – Lingayen, Pangasinan

2.     May 01-03 “Bawang Festival” (Sinait, Ilocos Sur competitions & exhibits featuring the Biggest, Longest and Most Creatively Twined Garlic Bulbs)

3.     May 01-04 “Davao Gulf Regatta” (float parade competition of decorated bancas and vintas)

4.     May 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 “Santacruzan” (nationwide; a procession commemorating St. Helena’s finding the “True Cross”)

5.     May 01-31 “Magayon Festival” [celebrating the origins of Mt Mayon from the legend “Daragang Magayon” (Beautiful Maiden); also showcasing Albay’s history, arts, culture, trade, travel & tourism.]

6.     May 03 “Carabao-Carroza Festival” (Iloilo: parade of 18 gaily decorated bamboo sleds and racing among carroza (float)-pulling carabaos.

7.     May 04 “Pasalamat Festival” (La Carlota City: homage to the God of Agriculture living inside Kanlaon Volcano)

8.     May 14 “Carabao Festival” (procession of carabao carts with farm produce, prizes for the “strongest and most beautifully decorated carabaos.”

9.     May 14 “Pulilan Carabao Festival” (Bulacan)

10. May 15 “Pahiyas Sa Quezon” (Sariaya, Lucban, Tayabas, Quezon: Homes decorated with kiping – multi-colored paper-thin, leaf-shaped rice kropeck – and vegetables; trade fair; civic parades; procession)

11. May 17-19 “Obando Fertility Rites” (celebrating Saints Pascual, Baylon, Santa Clara & Nuestra Sra De Salambao; childless couples dancing along streets praying for pregnancy, colorfully costumed women praying for good harvests)

12. May 15-22 “Manggahan Sa Guimaras” (Mangoes of Guimaras)

13. May 22 “Lubi-Lubi Festival” (“Coconut Dance,” with indigenous materials as props & costumes)

14. May 25 “Pahoy-Pahoy Festival” (grand parade with scarecrow street dancers, to scare the pesty maya birds)

Out of 24 Philippine May fiestas I counted, those Agriculture-related total 14, or 58%. Meaning, we Filipinos are very religious, and surprisingly farm-oriented, this son of a Grade 3, full-blooded Ilocano farmer must say!

Question: “Why is it that millions of Filipino farmers and fishers are industrious and yet poor?”

Nationally, we have to do something positive about something negative! Fiesta Filipino is a Facebook page by group of Filipino-Canadian citizens based in Alberta, Canada. I just love their logo (above) because it contains a challenge: “Level up.”
(“Fiesta” image from Fiesta Filipino, Facebook.com

We Filipinos must level up! I will now give you my very personal answer: “Filipino farmers are poor because they are not business-minded, and they insist on expensive chemical farming methods that also generate greenhouse gases that produce Climate Change. Their agriculture must be Mother Nature-friendly!

How is Chemical Agriculture (CA) expensive? It is expensive of:

Lost natural richness of soils
Lost biodiversity
Lost naturally healthy foods
Lost farmers’ income
Lost pleasant climates!

If I were the new President, I will declare that henceforth, Philippine agriculture will be nature-based and nature-safe Regenerative Agriculture. Then we can celebrate with a fiesta everyday!@517