Locally manufactured milk processing equipment

DTI holds Trade Fair during Araw ng Davao del Sur - Agri-sense Enterprises joins

Digos City - Davao del Sur celebrated its 41st anniversary. As part of their celebration the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) conducted a Trade Fair. It showcased the One Town One Products (OTOP) and other products found in the province.

According to the Arnulfo Ganaan, DTI OIC director, the trade fair were attended by LGU and private companies who showcased their product. Various products and commodities were seen.




Agri-Sense Enterprises displayed the Iron Fortified Rice Premix. Iron fortified rice (IFR) premix is used in to answer the micronutrient malnutrition in the country particularly Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). According to FNRI, 4 out of 10 pregnant women in Philippines have IDA.



The IFR premix is manufactured by CLG Health Foods and distrbuted by Grains Fortificant Marketing Inc. Its product surpassed the standards set by BFAD and got the required License To Operate from BFAD. Agri-Sense Enterprises on the other hand is the exclusive sub-distributor of GF Marketing Inc. in Digos City and municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Bansalan, Matanao, and Magsaysay.

The IFR program is spearheaded by the Department of Health with National Nutrition Council and supported by the National Food Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior Local and Government, and Local Government Units.

BANSALAN IMPOSES RA8976

The municipality of Bansalan officially implements the RA8976 on rice. The program was formally launched on July 7, 2008 at Municipal Hall, Bansalan, Davao del Sur in celebration of the nutrition month with the theme "Sa wastong nutrisyon ni Mommy, siguradong healthy si baby!". The activity attended by mothers with their children, traders, unit heads, officials, food handlers, law enforcer, and non-government organizations.

Bansalan is the first municipality of Davao del Sur that implements Food Fortification Program specifically the Iron Fortified Rice. According to the Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Capacio, the implementation of the said program is backed up with the national law, Republic Act 8976, otherwise known as Food Fortification Law of 2000 and Municipal Ordinance No. 350 and Resolution No. 305, S2004. Further she stressed, that almost "3% of pregnant women visiting the Municipal Health Center have Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)". It would be wise to ensure that pregnant mothers are healthy, iron supplement could be used to decrease IDA.

During the activity, the children were fed with vegetables and fortified rice. According to Ms. Arlene Bangahon, the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) the feeding was sponsored by the Holy Cross of Bansalan College Alumni Higschool batch 1983 while the Agri-Sense Enterprises represented by Ellen S. Laquihon distributed Iron Fortified Rice Premix to mothers. They were also educated on the benefits of using the Iron Fortified Premix especially the pregnant and lactating women.

Municipal Ordinance No. 350 Article 8 States "MANDATORY PRODUCTION, SALE AND USE OF FORTIFIED RICE, SUGAR, OIL, AND FLOUR IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANSALAN. It is hereby required of all manufacturers, importers, repackers, traders, and suppliers to manufacture, import, repack, and sell only fortified rice, sugar, oil and flour in the municipality of Bansalan."

The Local Government of Bansalan based on the said Ordinance section 6, appropriates one million (P1,000,000.00) pesos from the IRA of the municipal office to be used for the development and implementation of the local government food fortification program.

A municipal task force on food fortification program, will be monitoring all traders, millers, and food handlers. Section 7 of thesame article states that any violators of the ordinance maybe penalized "in the amount of not less than P2,000 but not more than P100,000.00 and revocation of Business Permit by the Local Chief Executive, without prejudice to other penalties, after due notice and hearing."

Among the first trader and millers who followed the ordinance were B&B Grains corner owned by Mr. Edgar Balunan and Arches Rice Mill. Other food establishments followed too.

If you drop bye and eat in restaurants in Bansalan, you are assured that the rice is Iron-fortified. You can see posters in these food stablishments with captions of "LIKAYI and ANEMIA! PAG IRON FORTIFIED RICE NA!"

Bansalan will soon decrease it Iron Deficiency Anemia prevalence rate with the strict implementation of Municipal Ordinance 305 and with the help of all leaders, NGOs like HCBC Alumni, Cooperatives, Rural Improvement Club, Bansalan Cable TV, and Business Sector.

Cheers Bansalan Health Office and all stake holders.

Hidden Hunger in Philippines

The Problem
Micronutrient malnutrition otherwise known as hidden hunger occurs specially the case of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). According to the study conducted by Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in 2003, there is an increasing incidence of IDA in infants at 66% from 56%, likewise it was found out that 50.3% of pregnant women and 42% of lactating women were anemic. IDA causes Fatigue, low productivity and apathy among adults and poor school performance among children.

The Answer: RA 8976
The RA 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act 2000 is a government program through the Department of Health (DOH) as one of the strategies to fight and eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in the country. The Food Fortification Program aims to increase dietary intake of Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine equivalent to 50% of recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) contributed by fortified food.
This mandates the fortification of staple food to include Rice with Iron, flour with Vitamin A and Iron, Edible Oil with Vitamin A, and Sugar with Vitamin A.

The Question
Hows the implementation of the program? What are the problem encountered? Where are we now?

WELCOME TO AGRI-SENSE

WHAT IS OUR VISION?
Agri-Sense envisions itself as a partner in development for a better community by promoting healthy lifestyle through sustainable agriculture.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?
Agri-Sense has pool of experts in agriculture, health & nutrition, and community development workers whose mission is to promote sustainable agriculture and health for a better community and supplying natural agriculture inputs and agricultural products to the rural areas.

WHY AGRI-SENSE?
The name connotes practical agriculture, sensible agriculture, and or wise agriculture. It serves its client sensibly and gives wise and practical advice. It's purely common-sense backed up with theory and experience. Agri-Sense says “Be sensible... be wise!”

AGRI-SENSE AS PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT?
Agri-Sense believes that partnership brings unity, peace, and harmony. Further we believe that working together as one will have a lasting impact in changing our community to a better one. We work together with the government, non-government organizations, business institutions, and other sectors in the community who have common understanding in development.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?
Agri-sense believes that sustainable agriculture is achieved not only by profits but also conservation of soils. We advocate farming systems to conserve soil erosion and natural or organic farming system for a better life.

WHY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?
A major problem of the Philippines is malnutrition. These are Iron-Deficiency Anemia (IDA), Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM), Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), and Obesity. AGRI-SENSE felt the need to help combat these problems in partnership with the government agencies like DOH, NNC, DILG, LGU among others. We give advocacy, trainings, EIC materials, and helps in the distribution of iron-fortified rice premixes.

For further information contact us at:agrisense.min@gmail.com