INCREASING FERTILIZER PRICE. Department of Agriculture-Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Deputy Executive Director Myer Mula (left) joins Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes (right) in a virtual presser on Tuesday (May 24, 2022). The officials promoted the utilization of the Balanced Fertilization Strategy to ease the pressures of the increasing fertilizer prices. (Screengrab) MANILA - Amid the worsening limitation of fertilizer supply worldwide, the Department of Agriculture- Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (DA-FPA) on Tuesday said Russia has vowed to supply traditional fertilizer urea to the Philippines. "We are really lacking, but we are looking at how to solve these things. We have meetings with Russia, they have responded, I just received a call, that they are willing to supply us the fertilizer," FPA Deputy Executive Director Myer Mula in a virtual presser. DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the volume of importation is yet to be determined. "We alr
GOLDEN RICE. Agriculture Secretary William Dar leads the turnover of golden rice seeds to farmers in Nueva Ecija on Friday (May 6, 2022). Dar said the Philippines is leading the development and commercialization of golden rice. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/William Dar) MANILA - The deployment of the first engineered and nutrition-rich golden rice is seen as one of the last legacies of the Duterte administration before it ends in less than two months' time. In a virtual presser, Agriculture Secretary William Dar noted the positive development on Tuesday, as the agency is eying its commercialization following its kickoff in Nueva Ecija, on May 6. "Pilipinas (The Philippines) is leading the way in terms of development, commercialization of golden rice. This is one legacy that we can say, be very important in terms of, again, ensuring food and nutrition in the country," he said. Likewise, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes added some countries have expressed interest
INDEMNIFICATION. Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes (left) gives updates on the bird flu with Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Reildrin Morales on Thursday (April 7, 2022). They said 67 out of 70 reported cases in the country have been resolved. (Screengrab) MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed a total of PHP3.6 million to indemnify poultry farms affected by the avian influenza virus or bird flu in the country, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said Thursday. In a virtual briefing, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the PHP3,608,630 indemnification serves as compensation in exchange for culled animals, particularly ducks, quails, and native chickens in 49 barangays in five regions in the country. The indemnification particularly corresponds to PHP100 per duck or native chicken, and PHP15 per quail culled. BAI Director Reildrin Morales said the DA has allotted an initial amount of PHP25 million from their quick respons
STABLE PRICE. Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes says the prices of locally-produced rice remain stable, in an interview during a Laging Handa Public Briefing on Thursday (March 24, 2022). The DA said prices of seasonal vegetables and onions are also stable. (Screengrab) MANILA - Prices of locally-produced rice, seasonal vegetables including those used as pinakbet (mixed vegetables) ingredients, and onion remained stable. In the Laging Handa public briefing aired Thursday, Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said stable prices appear to give consumers a little leeway amid the mounting crude prices for some time. "Panahon po ngayon ng anihan, ang presyo po ng palay ay maganda naman po, nasa disisyete hanggang disi-nuwebe, ang disinuwebe naman po, iyan ang buying price ng National Food Authority at maganda naman po sa karamihan sa atin ang palay (It's harvest season, the prices of rice are good, ranging from PHP17 to PHP19; PH
Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said on Sunday that they were seeking a P8-10 billion increase in the agency’s P91-billion 2022 budget.