The Research Centers and Experiment Stations of Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA RFO 2) continue to extend services to farmers in Region 02 amidst Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Nine (9) research centers/experiment stations located in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Batanes, which operate as little DA RFO 2 office bringing the department’s services closer to clients in their respective provinces.
In Cagayan, three (3) satellite stations operate, namely, Southern Cagayan Research Center (SCRC) in Iguig; SCRC-Cagayan Breeding Station (CBS) in Solana; and Northern Cagayan Experiment Station (NCES) in Abulug.
Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC), CVRC-Annex, and Isabela Experiment Station (IES) cater to the province of Isabela.
While, Nueva Vizcaya Experiment Station (NVES) and Quirino Experiment Station (QES) cater to the needs of farmers and other stakeholders in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, respectively.
In Basco, Batanes, the Batanes Experiment Station (BES) brings farmers’ produce to the different barangays through the KADIWA on Wheels.
The skeletal workforce who operated these satellite stations was instrumental in the success of rolling-out the KADIWA ni Ani at KITA Market Outlets (on-station and on-wheels), which helps farmers sell their produce.
The issuance of food pass to different food suppliers and truckers to ensure food availability within and outside the region during the quarantine period.
As per data (as of April 1, 2020) of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the total sales generated from KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Market Outlets and On-Wheels, reached P468,318.00.
Meanwhile, 4,273 food passes were issued to farmers and truckers of agricultural products.
In a meeting, Rose Mary G. Aquino, OIC-RTD for Research and Regulatory, commended the DA RFO 2 R&D front liners for continuously extending assistance to farmers around the region despite COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Narciso A. Edillo, DA RFO 2 Regional Executive Director, these satellite stations are now distributing vegetable seeds and seedlings to different Local Government Units (LGUs), which will be given to different households.
“The Research Centers and Experiment Stations are now distributing vegetable seeds and seedlings to LGUs to be given to their respective barangay households. I also asked our R&D front liners to take extra care while fulfilling their duties and to observe protocols set by the Department of Health,” he said.
While everyone is still staying at home, DA RFO 2 through Research Division & the Research Centers/Experiment Stations concerned had launched video series for urban gardening using leafy vegetables, mushroom production & processing, silage production, hydrophonics, laying chicken with feed mixture preparation, & vermicompost production using kitchen wastes, featuring technologies generated/verified/adapted by the centers/experiment stations through R&D.
Support to Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s directives to Plant, Plant, and Plant.
For more information on KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Market Outlets and On-Wheels & Food Pass concerns, please contact the following:
Dr. Marliou Agaid : 0917-779-5022,
Engr. Monico Castro : 0977-8040-968
Mr. Demetrio Tan : 0917-599-7922
Engr. Rolando Pedro : 0916-212-0822
Dr. Jacqueline Gumiran : 0915-667-6060
Engr. Fidelino Cabantac : 095-770-2070
Mr. Arsenio Apostol : 0926-646-8783
Dr. Freddie Corsino : 0905-424-1439
Contributors/Writers: Ms. Jonabel Infante (Office of RTD for Research and Regulatory and Ms. Chonalyn Pascua (Research Division)
Advisers: Ms. Lovelyn Gaspar and RTD Rose Mary Aquino
