CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) 10 (Northern Mindanao) sees the cultivation and production of coffee and cacao as an emerging contributor to boosting the region's agriculture sector. During the Network Briefing News on Friday, DA-10 Director Carlene Collado said after some farmers groups received support and recognition, they can expand supply in the country and to international markets. "Hopefully, with our assistance, they will be known internationally, and supply for export their products. This would also mean larger income for them," Collado said, referring to the PHP8 million worth of assistance to farmers through the Cacao Community-Based Development Enterprise project. One of the beneficiaries was the Toburan-Mapulog-Maputi Arc Marketing Cooperative, covering 67 hectares in Naawan, Misamis Oriental. Some members are already growing cacao and producing tablea (pure chocolate usually in tablet shape) and selling them to agri-development cente
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has urged the public to report incidents of bird flu in the region. In a memorandum posted on Facebook on Friday, DA-10 Director Carlene Collado said the public should stay vigilant as avian influenza has already affected quail and duck farms in Bulacan and Pampanga (Region 3), Laguna (Region 4A), and Camarines Sur (Region 5). "Occasionally mammals, including humans, may contract avian influenza. The disease detected is a variant of H5N1, which can trigger illness in humans," Collado said. Collado, however, noted the absence of reports so far indicating that bird flu has affected humans across the country. DA issued Memorandum Circular No. 06, dated March 8, 2022, signed by DA Secretary William D. Dar on the "Guidelines on Movement of Domestic and Captured Wild (ornamental) Birds and Poultry Products and By-products during the Avian Influenza Outbreak." Following this, Collado asked the