Feature: There is gold in calamansi growing

By Freddie G. Lazaro
Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (20 April) -- Former Fe Villanueva of Narangay Pudoc
West, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur found that there is a sustainable income in
planting calamansi. "I'd seen sustainable income in calamansi because while
the plant grows, it bears more fruits that assure bigger earnings from it
sales," this was proven by calamansi farmer Fe Villanueva of Barangay
Pudoc West, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
Manang Fe, as fondly called by his neighbor, is one of the 254 farmers from
the 11 barangays in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur that is presently engaged in
calamansi growing.
She started planting calamansi in 1993 in a 800 square meters lot owned by
her parents with 200 seedlings. Two years after caring and managing her
calamansi plant through the application of appropriate cultural practices and
fertilizers both organic and inorganic, she started to harvest its fruit.
"In my first year of harvest, I'd got more or less 2 bags per month at 30
kilograms at an average cost of P115 per bag during the months of June,
July and August but during the peak harvesting season of November,
December and January, I'd got a maximum of 5 bags per month or with a
total of more or less 20 bags with an estimated cost of P2,300," she said.
The estimated total amount she spent that year to include the fertilizers,
insecticides, irrigation and labor was not more than P1,000.
According to Manang Fe, the peak of the gains of her enceavor was felt
during the 3rd years, with the use of "complete inorganic fertilizer" (14-14-
14 fertilizer) with every six months interval.
"The older the calamansi plant, the lesser its fruits to produce," she noted.
Despite being a "bread winner" of the family, her net income in calamansi
farming during that time had helped him to continue and finished a degree
of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEED) in a reputable
college institution in Ilocos region. Also her income had been the source of
their daily household needs.
"When I arrived home after my class, I went directly to my calamansi
plantation to do other appropriate cultural practices necessary for the growth
of the crop such as pruning, irrigation, weeding and cultivation," she said.
Inspired by her increasing income she opted not to practice her profession,
rather she expanded her farm in the following years: 1997, 1998, 2003 and
2006 and now her farm had an approximate total land area of 4,140 square
meters planted with more or less 1,140 calamansi.
Now, Manang Fely is earning an average of P30,000 annual net income as
she harvests around 86 bags per year with an average cost of P600 per bag.
Total annual gross income of P51,600 and with estimated total annual
expenses of not more than P21,200.
With increased earnings, she was able to purchased a tricycle, a 4-wheel
power cab vehicle, farm equipment like generator and hand tractor; their
semi concrete dwelling was renovated into 2-storey concrete house; and
she was able to send her 6 siblings into college in which 3 of them had
already finished degree courses.
However, she owed her success in calamansi farming to the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Tagudin headed by Mayor Roque "Jun" Versoza.
"Due to the unstable price of our calamansi, our income was affected
because we even sold a bag of calamansi as low as P50. But, Mayor Versoza
came to the rescue and spearheaded the forming of the ASAP-Tagudin
Samahan ng Magkakalamansi Development Cooperative (AT-SMDC) to
stabilize the selling price of calamansi ranging from P500 to P700 per bag,"
she said.
In December 19, 2007, the AT-SMDC with the all-out support of Mayor
Versoza and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had formally
opened a Processing Plant for the making of Calamansi Concentrate and
Ready-to-drink at the ASAP Tagudin Pasarabo Center and Rest Area in
Bitalag, Tagudin town.
The processing plant is producing hundreds of bottles of calamansi
concentrate and ready-to-drink daily in its peak season in the months of
November, December and January. Also, it generates additional job to the
members of the cooperative.
This prompted the DTI to recognize the calamansi juice drink product as the
One Town One Product (OTOP) of Tagudin.
Today the calamansi juice drink became prominent as and being sold in the
local and international markets.
The calamansi products had also been recipient of numerous awards in
several trade fairs and expositions held in Ilocos Sur, Manila and even
overseas like China.
Meanwhile, nutritionists said calamansi is a rich source of vitamin C; and is a
highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidative stress, a substrate for
ascorbate peroxidase, as well as an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of
many important biochemicals.
Recent breakthroughs showed that discarded parts of calamansi fruits had
been developed as best alternative dietary fiber.
Researchers from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST)
reported that unedible parts of the common kitchen citrus fruit like
calamansi can be processed through cold treatment, washing, drying and
grinding to develop a calamansi dietary fiber powder.
According to researchers, this calamansi dietary fiber powder is a good
substitute for wheat bean and uncooked oats in high fiber cookies. It was
developed specifically for food preparation and could not be used to prepare
calamansi juice. (PIA Ilocos Sur) [top]