Agriculture
Researchers step up heat-resistant carabao breed amid El Niño threat
The Philippine Carabao Center-National Institute for Animal Sciences is moving forward with the second phase of its heat-tolerant carabao development project, funded by the Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Program, as the country braces for a strong El Niño expected to worsen by late 2026. The initiative builds on the existing Genetic Improvement Program, now adding thermotolerance as a key trait in selecting breeding stock to identify males and females that can pass on heat-resilient characteristics to their offspring.
Marcos hikes corn import quota amid projected supply shortfall
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has more than doubled the Philippines’ minimum access volume (MAV) for corn to 500,000 metric tons (MT) in 2026, allowing additional imports in a bid to ease feed costs and limit potential increases in pork and poultry prices.
DA allocates P97.91M to boost Bukidnon indigenous coffee sector
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out P97.91 million in projects to support coffee growers in the Daraghuyan Ancestral Domain, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, under the World Bank-funded Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP).
DA turns over farming gear across Zamboanga Peninsula
The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has distributed P34.66 million worth of specialized deep-sea seaweed farming equipment across the Zamboanga Peninsula, stepping up efforts to raise grower incomes and rebuild the country’s standing in the global seaweed industry.
Nestlé, DA push climate-resilient coffee farming to curb imports
Nestlé Philippines and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are expanding efforts to strengthen climate-resilient coffee production in Northern Mindanao, seeking to protect farmers from El Niño while reducing the country’s reliance on imported beans.
