PART II: PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH

     Chapter 9. Agriculture

I. Summary

 

   The region’s economy is highly dependent on agriculture.  The objectives towards development of the agriculture sector are:  (1) to increase production and productivity of food crops, feed grains, livestock and poultry; (2) to rehabilitate perennial crop (coconut, abaca and pili) areas that were destroyed by calamities; and (3) to generate jobs and increase farmers’ income. 

 

   The agriculture sector was faced with challenges while pursuing its objectives.  Floods brought by continuous heavy rains damaged agricultural crops and facilities especially in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Albay.  The Department of Agriculture and  LGUs advocated the use of hybrid seeds to improve productivity. Many farmers however did not use hybrid seeds due to their low financial capacity, the poor performance of some hybrid seed brands, the high cost of inputs, the lack of post harvest facilities in corn production areas, and inadequate farm mechanization and processing equipment/facilities.

 

   Production of rice and corn increased at a slower rate than the growth in area harvested thus producing lower yields or productivity.  This condition has implications on food sufficiency with production growing at a slower rate vis-à-vis population growth rate. 

 

   The abaca industry showed signs of recovery from the damage brought by typhoons Milenyo and Reming with a 31 percent increase in production.

II. Assessment

 Grains Production

   Rice and corn are the major grain crops of the Bicol region.  In 2008, 1.2 million metric tons (MT) of grains were produced from 390,992 hectares. This was only 1.09 percent growth compared to the 4.02 percent increase in area harvested. As a consequence, productivity in terms of yield was reduced by 2.81 percent--from 3.16 to 3.07 metric tons per hectare. If this trend continues, food sufficiency would be at risk assuming that population growth rate will be the same as that in 2007 which is 1.23 percent (Table 9.1).     

 

   The provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate achieved positive growth in yields. Catanduanes registered an 8.33 percent growth in production despite a 5.34 percent reduction in area harvested. Masbate had a higher growth in production than in the growth in area harvested. 

 

   Although Camarines Sur recorded a negative growth, it remained as the highest grains producer in the region with more than the combined output of the 5 other provinces.

Table 9.1 Grains Production, Bicol Region, CY 2007-2008

   Source: BAS

 High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC)

 

   High value commercial crops consisting of pineapple, mango, coffee, banana and vegetables showed increases in production. A total of 1,668 hectares of new lands were developed for pili, pineapple, mango and coffee.  There were 6,856 new jobs generated under the HVCC.  The region maintained fifteen foundation scion groves for pili, mango and assorted fruit trees that served as source of quality planting materials.  Likewise, six nurseries and three greenhouses at research outreach stations were maintained.  DA RFU 5 distributed 5,530 kilograms of vegetable seeds for backyard and commercial farms and 30,800 assorted planting materials of coffee, pineapple and mango. For Gulayan ng Masa, 3,507 kilograms of vegetable seeds were distributed, 115,948 school gardens were established, and 1,997 garden tools were distributed.

 

   In support to bio-fuel production, a total of 50 hectares were developed for white corn, cassava and soybeans. Promotion activities for the use of organic fertilizer conducted with 11,069 packets of Bio-N distributed to 869 farmers covering 3,869 hectares in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.

 Abaca

   The abaca industry recovered in fiber production from the negative performance in 2007 due to the damaged brought by typhoons Milenyo and Reming.  Abaca fiber production significantly increased by 31 percent from 125,664 bales in 2007 to 164,659 bales in 2008. This was about 30 thousand bales more than the production in 2006 before the two strong typhoons. 

 

   Seven hectares of abaca nurseries were established and 49.5 hectares maintained through the collaboration of FIDA, LGUs and NGOs. A total of 853.08 hectares were developed as new abaca farms and 5,711.5 hectares of abaca farms were rehabilitated in 134 barangays involving 2,150 farmers. The treatment of abaca diseases were also undertaken through the rouging in 2,724.2 hectares involving 867 farmers. About 32 thousand plantlets from the three tissue culture laboratories being maintained by FIDA 5 were produced and distributed to 49 farmer recipients. The abaca farming sector generated 1,706 new jobs.

 

   FIDA issued 34 new licenses for buying stations, local traders, processors and classifiers.  This implied that there was a growing number of players in the industry. 

 

   FIDA conducted 12 abaca-based livelihood trainings in close collaboration with the LGUs, PNOC and CSCDI. It strengthened 17 abaca buyer-seller marketing agreements. Post harvest facilities and abaca twining and weaving devices funded by the Spanish government were likewise provided to four LGUs in Catanduanes.

 

 Coconut

 

   The continuing campaign for coconut planting and replanting, farm diversification through inter-cropping, livestock integration as well as intensified rehabilitation of coconut lands through fertilization were undertaken to sustain farm production and productivity. A total of 296,890 seedlings were planted covering 2,968.9 hectares and benefiting 2,017 farmers. About 4,346 hectares were also rehabilitated through fertilization wherein almost half a million trees were fertilized.  On the other hand, 5,859 farmers were assisted on farm diversification involving 4,627 hectares. The maintenance and rehabilitation of 113.50 hectares were also carried out. Overall, the agribusiness development program of PCA generated 11,623 jobs.

 

   Research, development and extension activities on seednut/seedling production, macapuno commercialization, integrated pest management, and disease control were undertaken. These included the establishment of five coco-based livelihood projects such as intercropping, swine raising, virgin coconut oil processing and community nursery. The cadang-cadang and brontispa were also controlled by establishing checkpoints and buffer zones.

 

   PCA 5 intensified its campaign on coir production to increase income and productivity. Four project sites were provided with coco-coir/geotextile equipment where 92 farmers were trained. There are seven active coir processors in the region: 3 in Albay, 3 in Sorsogon and one in Camarines Sur.

 

   The PCA registered 313 copra buyers/traders, 52 nut buyers/traders, 2 charcoal buyer/trader, 1 virgin coconut oil producer, and 356 lumber dealers/processors. Copra quality improvement, investment and trade promotions, and farmers organizing and strengthening were also undertaken.

 

 Livestock

 

   The Bicol region maintained its status as free from foot and mouth disease (FMD).  The Department of Agriculture was persistent in preventing the entry of diseases of livestock with its strict enforcement of checkpoint and quarantine measures in ports and airports. About 123 thousand heads of animals shipped out of the region were inspected and recorded.

 

   LGU Masbate continued to monitor and conduct sero-surveillance by collecting serum samples from swine, cattle, carabao and goat.  Disease control program was also continuously conducted.  A total of 6,353 heads of cattle, 5,775 carabao, 2,541 goat/sheep, 6,464 swine, and 137,130 birds were given hemosep vaccination.  Likewise, 46,520 heads of dogs were given rabies vaccination, 10,031 heads for hog cholera, 131,000 for Newcastle disease, and 3,412 animals dewormed.

 

 Other Programs

 

   The Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) supported seven projects in the region with a total cost of P75.05 million. These projects included the Ragay Prawn Hatchery, Tunnel Vent Broiler Production, Integrated Formosa Pineapple Processing, Improvement/ Expansion of Swine Production, Improvement of Facilities for Palay Production, Expansion of Broiler Production and Naga City Bagsakan Center.

 

   The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) pursued its programs to reduce hunger and improve nutrition in targeted provinces and urban areas with a total budget of P45,217,354.  The projects implemented were Programang Gulayan sa Masa, Programang Gulayan sa Bawat Paaralan, Palay Seeds Subsidy, Corn Seed subsidy, Manukan ng Bayan, Kambingan ng Bayan and Milk Production and Feeding Program.

 

 Agricultural Support Services

 

   The Department of Agriculture provided agribusiness and marketing assistance (AMADA) to 555 farmers/entrepreneurs.  The DA, in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and Agricul;tural Training Institute (ATI), conducted fifteen packages of technology trainings and seventeen Farmers Field School. 

III. Prospects and Trends for 2009 

   The agriculture sector should be resilient with the unusual agro-climatic conditions.

 

   Research and development activities should be pursued to develop farming systems technologies for climate change adaptation. 

 

   Idle lands could be used as expansion areas for the production of palay, corn and high value commercial crops depending on land suitability and in consideration of improvement in yields.

 

   Sustainable soil fertility and pest management practices for crops should be promoted and adopted.  Assistance to farmers in the areas of crop protection services, marketing, credit and education and trainings should be provided.  Infrastructure support facilities such as irrigation, roads and post harvest facilities should be provided. The campaign on the use of organic fertilizers should be sustained. Crop insurance should be provided to strengthen the level of confidence of farmers to increase their farm inputs thus increase productivity.

 

   Reducing risk of incidence of diseases in livestock and poultry should be pursued to maintain a disease free region. Likewise, productivity improvement in terms of livestock and poultry management practices and marketing strategies should be adopted. 

 

   The recycling of agricultural waste products into briquettes should be promoted as an alternative to fossil fuel to contribute to the reduction in carbon gas emission.