INNOVATIONS AND DIGITIZATION IN PRODUCTION AND MARKETING LINKAGES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

MINA MAIS FARMS: Mina- Municipal Agriculture Information System-Farmers Agriculture Resource Management System- an application to support production and marketing of raw and processed agricultural products of farmers.  

 

An innovation making use of the technology available. We devised a system and established a Local Access Networking or LAN-based user friendly application entitled MINA MAIS OR MINA -MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE INFORMATION SYSTEM, a stand-alone system which was eventually upgraded into MINA MAIS-FARMS or MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURE INFORMATION SYSTEM-FARMERS AGRICULTURE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, the latter is a web-based version to track down the real-time agricultural production and marketing data in the Municipality to help farmers in linking directly the agricultural products to the prime and direct buyers. This project aims to help farmers increase their income and help them decide on what crop to grow based on the demand of the prime and direct buyers at any given period of the year. This could also aid the LGU when submitting real-time and accurate data or reports to the provincial and regional offices of agriculture. 

The present dilemma of farmers of matching production with the demand of all kinds of agricultural products, of avoiding wastage due to overproduction, of how to survive in this industry, where most of the farmers are struggling to survive can he helped by MAIS-FARMS application.

 

WHAT IS  MINA MAIS-FARMS?  It is a  tool using computer technology for storing, managing and processing information that can be used to create marketing linkages between and among farmers and  buyers of raw or processed agri-products. This is an “out of the box” solution that can be regarded as the missing link to address the gap and problems in production and marketing of agricultural products that could ascertain the success of our country’s agriculture program goals. This system was developed by the LGU of Mina to help address the problems of farmers, for them to produce  products on demand with market linkages. This application can pave the way in making our country  become a major producer of high value agricultural products. It can also support our farmers to respond to the world demand for food supplies when scarcity of sustaining the supplies is on set due to climate change and population growth.

 

MAIS-FARMS is designed to suit with different agronomic variabilities such as crop variety, potential yield of the crop, type of ecosystem and type of cropping method (organic, inorganic, good agricultural practice (GAP) and natural farming system or NFS). The system has also a feature to cope with climate variabilities such as flooding, drought, typhoon, pest infestation and pest damage and major plant diseases. The data in the system are kept updated according to the agronomic characteristics and species and whenever the crops and animals are affected by climate related events. There are also unique products available in every LGU. In case of a new product, this product whether it’s raw product or processed product can be added easily to products menu of the system by just clicking add product.

With this system, data management and processing can be made easier for the local Agriculture Offices. All reports can be easily generated accurately in an instant, reports can be submitted on-time. Statistical and historical information of agricultural production can be easily generated.

MAIS-FARMS modernizes farming, agribusiness, rural development and management and it helps ensure food availability and sustainability. It does many things and for all sectors: farmers, LGU managers, traders, large supermarket chains and  the consumers. It makes food and crop production systematic and produced on demand. It will also do away with surpluses and deficits. Above all, it will ensure food sufficiency and availability for the local people and maybe for the rest of the world.

 

INTRODUCTION 

Mayor Lydia E. Grabato of the Municipality of Mina is the prime mover or author of the  creation of the Integrated Central Iloilo Alliance for Economic Development (ICIA-ED) composed of the Municipalities of Mina, Badiangan, Janiuay, Pototan, Maasin, Calinog, Lambunao, Bingawan and Cabatuan.

 

Founding Officers:

President:                      Mayor Suzette A. Mamon     – Badiangan, Iloilo

Vice President:               Mayor Lydia E.Grabato        – Mina, Ioilo

Secretary:                      Mayor Mat Palabrica           – Bingawan, Iloilo

Treasurer:                      Mayor Pablo Perez              – Pototan, Iloilo

Business Manager:          Mayor Mariano Malones       –  Maasin, Iloilo

 

The 3^rd  District of Iloilo as the take off point of economic growth center, however, cannot come to realize the goals and objectives without opening itself as a partner resulting in the  forming of alliances with other municipalities; the Provincial Government of Iloilo; and national agencies which could provide a venue for linkages, partnership, and networking with other civil society organizations, Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and Private Organizations (Pos) and potential investors.

The objectives set was the result of participative process of consultations between and among the Local Chief Executives  in the Third District of  the Province of Iloilo thus a convergence was created with a common goal and vision to boost  development within the area,  that would eventually  make the 3^rd District  a hub for trade and economic investment in the Province of Iloilo. Likewise this convergence would hasten and strengthen the Alliance paving the way the establishment of an Economic Zone within the area.

 

OBJECTIVES

1. To put into effect collaborative efforts among Local Government Units of the 3rd District of Iloilo Province to create, poster and enhance economic  growth within the area and adjacent communities;
2. To formalize the convergence among themselves which could provide an enabling venues for alliances linkages, partnerships and networking with  government and private organizations, the business community and potential economic investors;
3. To generate and expand economic activities by bringing in investment, trade and industry;
4. To promote and create alliances or linkages with domestic and foreign economies, fostering socio-economic growth through partnership with local and foreign investors;
5. To promote local sources, high quality goods, products and  worthy services for domestic and international exports;
6. To gain diversified access on digital and technology transfer;
7. To promote better relationships among the LGUs by respecting the autonomy & operation of each member- municipality’s political & economic environment thus making this convergence a separate entity for interactions of the business of ICIA-ED;
8. To be advocates of sustainable development and as much as practicable, adopt and support environmental friendly and clean technologies and to consider issues and concerns affecting global warming and adverse climatic change in planning, implementing and approval of each partner LGU’s policies, plans and programs; and
9. To ensure enhancement and hastening of economic growth of partner LGUs and making 3rd District a hub for trade and economic investment center of  the Province of Iloilo and eventually throughout Panay. The partner LGUs will adopt policies, making ICIA-ED a venue or forum in assisting in the preparation, revision and/or updating of Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of member LGUs. As a result the partner LGU’s plans and programs would  complement each other and attuned to the alliance plans, objectives and policies.

 

Towards this end, our ICIA-ED INC. managed to reach a level where unity, unanimity and sustainability have become our guarding forces in the implementation of this program. We believe  that  through this alliance, we will be able to address the major concerns of our locality in socio-economic development programs, today and in the future. Once stable and well-established, hunger and poverty will be gradually  reversed into economic prosperity with food  security, and eventual positive  upliftment in the lives of the people.

This program has a clear and achievable vision. This will also help decongest  highly-urbanized and over-populated  localities by encouraging people to consider  the provincial life with decent and sustainable income opportunities, especially in agriculture.  This alliance would also assure that national government assistance designed for poverty alleviation through agriculture programs, would reach the grassroots level and thus strengthen the  core of  its foundation.

Nevertheless,  we believe that we cannot achieve all of these alone, we need all the support that we can  get from various national agencies and private partners, so we may be able to fully iplement this program which will truly benefit all.

 

INTEGRATED   CENTRAL    ILOILO    ALLIANCE   FOR  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  INCORPORATED

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