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12,823 kg per hectare, Agrisure is recognized 12 Low yields due to half of farms not using
for its big cobs, big kernels, and other enough fertilizers
desirable characteristics, including low 14 Energy company intensifies green charcoal
placement of the ears and high shelling production
recovery of 78 to 80 percent, hence giving 16 Look Ma! Big building, no posts!
farmers a better variety to plant. 18 The gift of growing
Two other Syngenta varieties planting or DAP), 100 kilos of organic fertilizer and 37.5 kilos of complete fertilizer were
bested the 12 other varieties applied separately on a 2,500 square meter (sq. m.) plot. That’s the basal application. The
entered by other seed companies first side dressing was done 15 DAP, consisting of a mixture of 37.5 kilos of 14-14-14 and 25
that included Monsanto, Bioseed, kilos urea per 2,500 sq. m. plot. The second side dressing was done at 25 DAP consisting of a
Pioneer, Cornworld, Evogene, mixture of 25 kilos 14-14-14, 12.5 kilos urea, and 12.5 kilos 0-0-60 per 2,500 sq. m.
and Asian Hybrid. Syngenta’s
NK6414 yielded 12,655.58 For weed control, the plots were sprayed with Atrazine and Herbadox on the day of planting.
kilos per hectare (kg/ha) while Alika, an insecticide, was sprayed on the plants 25 DAP. The second Alika application was
NK6410 yielded 12,580.23 kg/ha. done at 45 DAP. Armure, a fungicide, was applied 55 DAP.
In achieving Syngenta’s high The three Syngenta entries were planted on June 8, 2017 and harvested on September 26,
yields, the production team 2017 (110 days DAP).
followed the following nutrient
management schedule. Just before The second placer, NK6414, has its own strengths and weaknesses. Its strengths: Suitable for
planting the seeds (0 days after high density planting; responds to high inputs; easy to harvest because the ears are low; good
BY NOEL T. PROVIDO
BY P.J. RESTITUTO
AFC, which began operations in 1957, is company have been getting better,” Sumi
the country’s oldest fertilizer manufacturer. says. “It’s been stable for us, [operations-
Now a Japanese company, AFC marked wise], and we’re riding on the good
its 60th anniversary this year and has a economy.”
new admin building for 300 employees.
“Agriculture is not growing as fast as He says AFC needs to increase its capacity,
the gross domestic product (GDP); the so “…we need to rehabilitate the 60-year
country’s farmland area is decreasing; and old Toledo plant.” The company’s move
we need to increase yields by using hybrid to expand and rehabilitate its plant is
seeds and fertilizer,” says Takashi Sumi, welcome as domestic production, which
AFC president and chief executive officer. used to account for over 70 percent of net
supply, is now down. Imports are mostly
If the forecast growth of the industry sourced from Southeast Asian countries
continues over the next 10 years, “…we and other free trade partners such as China,
[will] have to cope with market needs,” he Japan, South Korea, and Australia, for
says, pointing out the country’s fertilizer which the import duty is zero, according
industry is growing at 1-1.5 percent each to the Philippine Institute for Development
year. AFC is so upbeat that it is expanding Studies (PIDS). AFC, which imports urea,
operations in its 60-year-old plant in gets 90 percent of its raw material from
Toledo, about three hours’ drive south of abroad.
Cebu City. Sumi expects the expanded
facility will increase production output AFC president and CEO Takashi Sumi For local distributors, China is the largest
by at least 25 percent, up to a high of 40 source of imported fertilizer. Free trade
percent. partners account for 89 percent of fertilizer
imports by value, according to the PIDS.
The production target this year is 300,000 metric tons, Sumi Together with the tariff exemption of agricultural enterprises,
says, adding that AFC accounts for nearly half or 43 percent imports of fertilizers into the Philippines are effectively duty-
of the local nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) free. About 60 percent of local fertilizer consumption goes to
or NPK fertilizer market. About a fourth or 23.7 percent of food crops, mainly rice and corn. According to the PIDS, rice
the country’s total fertilizer business is commanded by AFC. accounts for nearly 40 percent of fertilizer use, followed by
He estimates that volume-wise, the country’s fertilizer market corn, fruits and vegetables, then sugar.
is about 1.9 million metric tons annually, with about 650,000
metric tons of that NPK fertilizer. The PIDS, citing a 2009 study, says that farmers apply sub-
optimal amounts of fertilizer, whether for the main nutrients
“For the past five years, the industry, the economy, and the (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) or for micronutrients. O
Because of overuse in many locations, soils have been depleted of “We owe it to our farmers as agriculture is the backbone of this
proper nutrients. “One [of the] objectives of Atlas…is to replenish nation,” Ganga added. “AFC is just not selling fertilizers, it is
these nutrients for our crops to survive,” he said. selling efficient technology, teaching farmers how to use fertilizers
judiciously. This advocacy is aligned with global trends. One
Location-based crop management; the administration of the of our obligations is how to educate farmers to maximize yields
right amount of fertilizer at the right time; the proper amount of through the proper use of fertilizers. We don’t just produce and
irrigation; the best management of weeds, pests, and diseases—all distribute fertilizers, we also concentrate on disseminating farming
these are a part of Integrated Nutrient Management, which AFC technology.” – BY P.J. RESTITUTO
NO POSTS! agricultural
products like rice,
corn, and many
other kinds of
farm produce. The
building can also
be used as a barn
for livestock like
cattle, goats, and
sheep.
The Steel Arch Building, which has no posts, can resist strong winds (top photo). It can be used as a barn for cattle and goats, and can also be a
garage for farm equipment.
THE GIFT OF
GROWING
IF IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS have you
stumped, why not give the gift of gardening? It’s
literally the gift that keeps giving—to you and your
recipient. There’s something special about growing
your own vegetables at home. From planting the
seeds and seeing the sprouts appear, there’s nothing
more satisfying than watching your plants grow
then harvesting and eating the fruits and vegetables
of your labor.
Seed Raising Mix to ensure the plant’s growth, development, and eventual
harvest.
Ramon Joseph Arcenas, a garden lover from Las Piñas City, finds the
Ramgo GrowKit a unique Christmas gift for family and friends. He has tried
the Pechay, Arugula, and Mongo GrowKits. He shared that the attractive
packaging makes it more appealing, and the kit complements his hobby,
which is gardening.
His first purchase of a GrowKit came about as he passed by the Ramgo Seeds
shelf, something he did every time he was at the supermarket. He says the
GrowKit has been an amazing father and son bonding experience for him and
his 3-year old son. Arcenas was also impressed by the germination rate of the
seeds and the helpful planting guide that comes with the kit.
The Ramgo Growkit comes in Basil, Chives, Parsley Italian, Pechay, Rocket
Arugula, Stevia, and Mongo variants and is available at almost 900 outlets in
the most popular local department stores, hardware stores, and supermarkets
RJ Arcenas holding a Ramgo Growkit Mongo. nationwide. (BY ARIELINA P. AREVALO)
PCAARRD ACD director Marita A. Carlos (left) and PCAARRD deputy executive director
for R&D Dr. Edwin C. Villar (right), together with VICAARP director Othello B. Capuno, VSU DA RFO-8 Field Operations Division officer-in-charge
president Edgardo E. Tulin, DOST Region-8 director John Glen Ocaña, and other officials Francisco T. Dayap presents the situation report on
during the opening rites of the FIESTA program on ‘Jackfruit at Iba Pa’ at the VSU Campus the Eastern Visayas Jackfruit Industry and Support
in Baybay, Leyte. Programs during the event.
jackfruit variety. On the other hand, chempedak (Artocarpus generation, and development of crop load and nutrient
lacootcha) is more susceptible to the disease than EVIARC management techniques.
Sweet.
An improved canopy of trees was observed after the
A trial on scion-rootstock combinations is also being done for application of phosphonate and recommended fertilizer,
disease resistance. The highest rate of survival among grafts which are complete (14-14-14), muriate of potash (0-0-60),
was observed in the chempedak-jackfruit combination. and organic. It also enhanced flower emergence and produced
heavier fruits.
Other ongoing experiments include evaluation of the effect
of scion-rootstock combinations on canopy growth and FOOD PROCESSING
productivity, development of tools to manipulate flowering The “FIESTA on Jackfruit at Iba Pa” also helped in
patterns in jackfruit to spread crop production and income identifying the various jackfruit
recipes which can be developed with
jackfruit as the main ingredient.
BY ZAC B. SARIAN
Like what is happening in Region 2, which boasts of having the most number of rice harvesters The same problem is happening
in the country. The region—which consists of Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino— with the corn harvest. There
has no less than 584,119 hectares planted to rice and 425,965 hectares to corn. aren’t enough mechanical dryers
and warehousing available to the
Today, according to Eugene Gabriel of Agri Component Manufacturing Corp., the whole rice small farmers.
crop in the region can be harvested in a matter of 30 days, thanks to mechanical harvesters.
Previously, before the advent of the mechanical harvesters, harvesting of the rice crop took 40 What the government should
to 45 days. do is to help make the dryers
available to rice and corn
These days, rice farmers have to harvest their crops at the same time so as not to be overtaken farmers. After all, the DA has
by rainy weather and typhoons. The result is that there are not enough mechanical dryers a lot of funds for subsidizing
available to take care of the big volume of mechanically harvested rice. The trouble is that the the farmers. There are locally
palay, which is threshed right at harvest time, contains a lot of moisture and has to be dried manufactured mobile and
within two days; otherwise, it will get spoiled. And if the days are rainy, the poor farmers will recirculating dryers by Agricomp
not know what to do with their harvest. They cannot dry their palay on the road as is the usual using the LSU (Louisiana State
The combine harvester harvests palay fast. The recirculating mobile dryer can dry palay faster than the flatbed type.
For lack of access to mechanical dryers, farmers make do by drying their palay on the
road.
University) model, according to Gabriel. The locally manufactured dryers can The LeeWha compact rice mill from Korea,
dry, within a few hours, batches of four, six, and 20 tons. These are much more for instance, can do sophisticated milling that
economical than the imported ones from China, the United States, and Europe, the so-called rice processing complex (RPC)
he adds. can achieve. It has a high recovery rate and is
affordable at a little over R230,000 per unit.
Another way the Department of Agriculture can help rice farmers is to make
available the compact rice mill that has been proven to be an important factor It occupies just a small space and can run on
in giving access to efficient rice milling in different communities. electricity or be attached to a tractor. O
Turnover of DOST check to CIAMC; from left are DOST Asst. Regional Director Mary
Ann Maglasin, Asst. Regional Director Virginia Bilgera, CIAMC’s Oscar Maninantan,
Robert Tomas, and Eugene Gabriel, DOST Regional Director, Sancho Mabborang,
and DOST Provincial Director Engr. Marcelo G. Miguel. Signing of documents by DOST and CIAMC officials.
Among the equipment that will be acquired are a plasma cutter that is
used for precise and quality cutting of metals; a hydraulic bender for
multiple bending of metals; a Mig welding machine for quality welding;
a lathe machine; and other tools and equipment.
CIAMC is currently producing various machines and equipment to Fabrication of the cassava uprooter will be intensified with the
DOST loan assistance.
mechanize farming operations; this mechanization will result included Gabriel, VP for finance Oscar Maninantan, and board
in higher productivity, enhanced competitiveness in the market, member Robert Tomas.
and increased profits for farmers. The company will intensify
its production of mounted harrow, disc plow, and cage roller for CIAMC was formed through the initiative of Agri Components
leveling rice fields at planting time; seed cleaners for those in Corporation (Agricomp), a major distributor of imported
seed production; cassava uprooter, chipper and tiller; corn direct tractors, postharvest equipment, and various farm implements.
seeder; boom sprayer; and more. The idea, according to Gabriel, is to produce as many farm
implements that are appropriate for use by local farmers. He
The financial assistance was released through the Region 2 office pointed out that the Philippines cannot yet manufacture its own
of the DOST in Tuguegarao City headed by Regional Director brand of tractor but at least the implements that are attached to
Sancho Mabborang. CIAMC officials who received the check the imported tractors could be fabricated locally.–ZBS
BY ROLANDO T. DY
TWO GLUTINOUS
LITTLE PUMPKINS
AT THE RECENT Agrilink trade show, Renita U. Beronilla, who
breeds pumpkins at East-West Seed, gave us two little pumpkins
to try so we could give her feedback.
The small Waltham pumpkin (left) and the still unnamed flat, almost black pumpkin. Sliced Wlatham Butternut showing a small cavity.
One is the Waltham butternut pumpkin which weighs only 300 to 400 grams class glutinous camote.
and has been released for planting by farmers. It is now being sold in some
supermarkets in Metro Manila, commanding a high price of as much as R216 Of course, Waltham can be used in vegetable
per kilo compared to the R50 per kilo of the ordinary varieties available in the dishes like bulanglang, dinengdeng, inabraw,
market. and other preparations that make use of squash.
The plant can be grown in the ground but it can
Although Waltham is very small, it is fleshy because it has a small cavity. What also be planted in containers that are provided
is most important is its superior eating quality. It is very glutinous and can be with a stake or trellis for the vines to climb on. It
prepared as a snack food. The fruit can be peeled and sliced into one’s desired is perfect for growing in home gardens in urban
sizes for steaming. The steamed slices are sweet with the consistency of a first areas.
cooperative is a major producer of fingerlings for cage and pond Pampanga contributes 36% of the total tilapia production
growers in Region 2 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region in the country and is considered the “Tilapia Capital of the
(CAR). Philippines.” In 2016, our country ranked sixth in the world in
farmed tilapia production with 259,000 metric tons having a
It has donated fingerlings for the dispersal programs of local value of R18.32 billion. O
government unit of San Mateo, Isabela for small pond growers
and stocking in communal water bodies, and provided free
advisory services on the design, layout and management of
pond, cage, and hatchery operations.
BY ANGIE M. VENERACION
De Guzman (left) fabricated his own mushroom fruiting bag filling machine; with him is Art His engineering skills are harnessed to
Veneracion. improve his farm facilities; he fabricated
greenhouses using recycled iron bars sourced from junk shops. To provide a source of protein for the farm, the rabbit is the
Even his trellises are fabricated using recycled materials. He animal of choice at AngelTolits Farm. De Guzman is aware
is also developing a sprinkler system to be installed in his that rabbits are the best source of healthy meat that is high in
greenhouses and used as cooling system for the farm during the
summer. He wants to show that a working farm system can be
made available to farmers with minimal investment.
The author with the fully colonized fruiting bags showing initial stages
of fruiting.
For continuous availability of planting materials, seedlings and companion plants are propagated inside greenhouses which were fabricated using
recycled iron bars as frames which were sourced from junk shops.
protein while being low fat, low cholesterol, and low calorie.
He attended the Rabbit Farming Seminar conducted by Art
Veneracion at AVEN Nature’s Farm, where he learned that
rabbits multiply fast and could very easily be integrated with
his farm since they only required a small space and could be
fed grass and greens that were already available on his farm.
Also, rabbit manure is good fertilizer and can be used fresh
with his planting medium.
Formerly called “Makina Saka,” this year’s edition of Makina “…[We] started late in our mechanization efforts, only
Expo with the theme “Aangat ang Pagsasaka sa Paggamit ng about five years ago, while our Asian neighbors started
Tamang Makinarya” assembled a number of participating mechanizing their farms over three decades ago (in the
companies and thousands of agricultural technicians, farmer- 1970s),” she said. “So we have a lot of catching up to do.
leaders, and farmers from different parts of the country. They Data [shows] that the Philippines lags behind its regional
were introduced to an array of modern farm equipment and neighbors in farm mechanization.
machinery which could assist them in improving productivity
while helping uplift the lives of Filipino farmers. Sen. Villar emphasized that local industry players can now
produce or manufacture equipment and machinery that are
Activities such as this could ensure that farmers will have more adaptable to the local setting or terrain. “We hope, with
access to, and attain knowledge regarding, appropriate our concerted efforts, we can improve our standing because it
machinery and equipment that can help improve their farming will be very beneficial to all of us.”
practices, which is crucial to attaining agricultural sustainability.
Promotion, development, and adoption of modern,
Importance of farm mechanization: During the event, Senator appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe
Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee for Food and agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment will
Agriculture, underscored the importance of farm mechanization. enhance farm productivity and efficiency, and can help
“I am a staunch supporter of agricultural mechanization. I have Filipinos achieve food security in the country and increase
time and again cited that based on studies, two of the barriers farmers’ incomes.
confronting farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers are
lack of technical expertise and mechanization…Together with Maintenance: Sen. Villar likewise emphasized that
the various government departments/agencies and organizations farm schools in the country should also include repair
such as those behind this event, we should focus on working and maintenance of farm machinery in their curricula.
together towards breaking down those barriers.” Mechanization can significantly bring down the cost of
labor, particularly for labor-intensive crops like rice, sugar,
Sen. Villar pointed out that we need to enhance awareness and corn. “We must also emphasize that in realizing our
and access to agri-mechanization technologies available in mechanization goals, we are not only lowering production
the country as well as from other countries. Agricultural and and postharvest losses among others. It also aid in achieving
fisheries mechanization refers to the development, adoption, our self-sufficiency and food security goals.”
It was learned that the AFMech Law is now in place; the law and equipment, and;
acts as a safety net measure for Philippine agriculture to help • Incentives to local manufacturers and assemblers of agri-
it remain competitive and enhance its productivity. It is aimed fisheries machinery.
at cushioning the agricultural industries from the effects of an
intensified regional competition. Competitiveness: Sen. Villar said that another important goal
is to improve the global competitiveness of our agriculture
Under the ASEAN Economic Community or AEC, there is sector, particularly with economic reintegration under the AEC
now a free flow of goods among ASEAN countries, including in 2015 that brought about cutthroat competition. “We need to
agri-fishery machinery and equipment. To protect the local continuously dialogue, discuss, and discover ways and means to
agriculture sector, the AFMech Law has safety net policies on support the Philippine agriculture sector.”
the entry of imported agri-fishery machinery and equipment.
These policies include: Even the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the
United Nations has emphasized that mechanization is a crucial
• Mandatory testing and evaluation by AMTEC of agri-fishery input for agricultural crop production and one that historically
machinery sold in the market; has been neglected in the context of developing countries.
• Registration of agri-fishery machinery and equipment Factors that reduce the availability of farm power compromise
manufacturers, fabricators, and importers; the ability to cultivate sufficient land and have long been
• Development and enforcement of the Philippine Agricultural recognized as a source of poverty.
Engineering Standards;
• Local assembling and manufacturing of agri-fishery machinery Sustainable agricultural mechanization can also contribute
significantly to the development of value chains and food
systems as it has the potential to render postharvest, processing,
and marketing activities and functions more efficient, effective,
and environmentally friendly.
development of coconut.
OIL PALM: COCONUT’S I found in my research that many
strategies which made oil palm
Over two decades ago, scientists in a huge oil palm plantation OIL PALM DEMONSTRATES HOW COCONUT CAN BECOME
of 60,000 ha in United Plantation Berhad (UPB), Malaysia, A WAY TO OVERCOME POVERTY
experimented by applying adequate weeding and fertilization Many oil palm farmers in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand earn
to coconut hybrids, similar to their practice with oil palm. The incomes above the poverty threshold level with areas of three ha
result amazed them! The two coconut hybrids, “Matag” of the or less. In the Philippines, many coconut farmers earn incomes
Philippines and “Mawa” of Indonesia, delivered yields in as early far below the poverty threshold level. A study of the situation
as three years. By the fifth year, Matag was yielding 5 to 7 tons of shows that it is not the crop which makes one farmer rich and
copra/ha per year (Table 1). the other poor, but the extent of government policy and support.
Both crops can liberate farmers from poverty with areas of less
However, they found this technique not as applicable to a than three hectares using the right policy and strategy. The model
traditional Malaysian variety, Malayan Tall, which produced only for the right policy and strategy is widely used in oil palm; it’s
a maximum yield of 2.4 tons (t)/ha per year despite adequate applicable to coconut to help overcome widespread poverty.
weeding and fertilization. The small plot experiment was
expanded to over 5,000 ha of coconut, from which they obtained In Malaysia, it is the policy and strategy of the government to
similar high yield results. ensure that the small landholders produce high oil palm yields
Table 1. Yield profile of Mawa and Matag hybrids compared with the local variety, Malayan Tall under optimal
management at UPB in Malaysia1/.
A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION
TO PARTIALLY REPLACE VITAMIN E
OXIDATIVE IMBALANCE can reduce animal productivity. If severe, it can lead to inflammation, reduced immune
function, and increased susceptibility to disease. Livestock producers typically use vitamin E to increase the
antioxidant capacity of animals and minimize economic losses.
Recently, the price of vitamin E has risen significantly and might It belongs to a family of antioxidant compounds called
increase further, giving livestock producers a good reason to polyphenols. Within this very diverse family, there are molecules
review their antioxidant sources. This article considers cost- that have a greater antioxidant capacity per gram than vitamin E.
effective alternative antioxidants to partially replace vitamin E.
Furthermore, some polyphenols have improved bioavailability.
OXIDATIVE IMBALANCE CAN REDUCE ANIMAL Thus, the improved activity and availability of some polyphenols
result in a more effective antioxidant supply in livestock than
PRODUCTIVITY vitamin E alone.
The oxidative status of animals is affected by many factors,
including diet quality, health status, and growth rate. These and
other factors contribute to free radical formation. Excessive STUDIES SHOW THAT FEED ADDITIVES CAN SAFELY
levels of free radicals can result in oxidative imbalance and REPLACE PART OF THE VITAMIN E REQUIREMENTS OF
stress. This imbalance can cause damage to DNA, proteins, and LIVESTOCK
unsaturated fatty acids, leading to a decrease in productivity. Trouw Nutrition proved the efficacy of specifically selected
polyphenols in both swine and poultry using a heat challenge
Animals living close to ideal conditions (i.e. high quality diet model. Animals were fed either a negative control diet containing
and adequate environments) are expected to require a vitamin NRC-recommended levels of vitamin E, a positive control diet
E intake as indicated by National Research Council (NRC) containing industry-standard levels of supplementation (above
recommendations. However, if any of these conditions are not NRC), or a test diet in which the vitamin E above NRC was
met, as in the case of animals raised in intensive production replaced by the polyphenol blend SelkoAOmix.
systems, then the antioxidant requirements are estimated to
increase above NRC recommendations. The results indicated that animals under a heat challenge, when
fed vitamin E at NRC recommendations, presented signs of
The most used strategy to avoid the consequences of oxidative oxidative imbalance, showing a lower performance. This increase
imbalance is feeding vitamin E to animals as an antioxidant. of oxidative imbalance was ameliorated by both the higher
Vitamin E serves two main functions as is described in literature. level of vitamin E treatment and the treatment containing NRC
The first is the minimum requirement for gene expression, levels of vitamin E plus SelkoAOmix. There were no significant
enzymatic activity regulation, and neurological functions; the differences in terms of performance and antioxidant status
second is as an antioxidant. The first is specific for vitamin E and between the higher level vitamin E treatment and that containing
cannot be replaced by other compounds. The second, however, SelkoAOmix.
can be satisfied by other antioxidants.
Properly selected polyphenols, with a good bio-availability and
POLYPHENOLS CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT THAN VITAMIN a good in vivo antioxidant action, such as SelkoAOmix, can
E IN REDUCING OXIDATIVE PRESSURE provide antioxidant protection, helping animals perform well
Vitamin E is not unique in its ability to neutralize free radicals. under challenging conditions. O
complement the other. The Philippines is among the few countries the Philippines imported 485,000 MT of palm oil. This increased
blessed with the natural resources highly suitable not just for one to 956,000 MT in 2016 and is projected to increase to 1,500,000
but for both crops. The country should take advantage of this MT in 2020 with an estimated value of US$ 1.5 billion. This
situation to benefit the environment and its people. is such a big drain on our foreign reserves which should be
overcome by the large-scale planting of oil palm.
Successful oil palm strategies relevant to coconut should be used
to boost the yield and productivity of coconut to help farmers Let’s employ science and the correct mindset to develop both oil
growing the crop to overcome poverty. The oil palm industry palm and coconut to boost the agricultural development of this
should be expanded rapidly from the current 89,000 ha to over country and help our farmers overcome poverty so that they will
400,000 ha to overcome the rapidly expanding importation caused be at par with or better than their counterparts in our neighboring
about by the booming domestic consumption of oil palm. In 2012, countries. O
BY ROLANDO T. DY
Its small size makes it an ideal novelty gift item, especially since
it has a longer shelf life. The fruits can easily be placed in any
creative arrangement.
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST
FIRST COMMERCIAL Joni and Susan Sanchez of San Pablo City
in Laguna have successfully cultivated the
variety in commercial quantities. From a
CULTIVATION OF one-hectare farm, they were able to harvest a
considerable number of corn ears which they
sold at a very profitable price through their
INSTANT POPULARITY
The Purple Magic variety, which is under
the Condor Seeds brand, can be cultivated
just like ordinary sweet corn and white
corn varieties. During last year’s edition of
Agrilink, the purple corn variety introduced
by ABC attracted the interest of many event
visitors.
RISK-FREE
The Sanchez couple says that the partnership is virtually
“risk-free” since the investment is covered by an in-house
insurance scheme. “During cases of unforeseen events,
such as natural disasters or human activities that may
cause inevitable damage to the crop, through our in-house
insurance, we will replace and replant the seedlings,” Joni
says.
Joni and Susan are not setting any limits regarding the
partnership fee. It is based upon the agreement between
both parties, they explained. It was learned that the couple
is now cultivating several farmlands which are located in
the provinces of Pangasinan, Zambales, and Laguna. “We
allow our partners or prospective investors to visit the
farms and interact with the farmers for them to appreciate The couple’s corn plantation partnership program also provides livelihood
the salient features of the agreement,” they said. O opportunities for the local residents.
Sanchez explains the salient features of their corn plantation Alan Cledera of ABC helps a farm worker who is sorting the freshly harvested
partnership program to a prospective investor. purple corn.
When losses due to pests are combined with postharvest A report from the International Service for the Acquisition
losses, worldwide food losses amount to 45%. “This is almost of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) said farmers who
one half of the world’s potential food supply,” the FAO planted biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying. There
pointed out. This is the reason why most farmers around the was a “decreased [environmental] impact from herbicide and
world use pesticides to control these pests. insecticide use by 19%,” the report stated. From 1996 to 2015,
there was a reduction of pesticide applications by 8.1%. In
2015 alone, a reduction of 6.1% was noted.
THE DANGERS OF PESTICIDE USE
For a long time, no one seemed to question the safety of
pesticides, not until 1962, when marine biologist and writer The reduction was made possible through the use of
Rachel Carson wrote the now classic “Silent Spring.” In her biopesticides. For years, many organic farmers have used a
book, she described how pesticides cause long-term hazards to bacterial pesticide called Bt to control a variety of pests that
birds, fish, other wildlife, and humans, though these provide attack agricultural crops.
only short-term gains to controlling the pests.
Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a common soil bacterium
Despite her findings, pesticide use continues to soar. “Farmers so called because it was first isolated in the Thuringia region
now apply about one pound of pesticides per year for every of Germany. It produces a protein that paralyzes the larvae of
person on the planet, 75% of it in industrial countries,” Peter some harmful insects.
Weber, a researcher with the Washington-based Worldwatch
Institute, reported some years back. Scientists, through genetic engineering, have taken the Bt gene
responsible for the production of the insecticidal protein from
In the Philippines, most farmers use chemicals to control the bacterium and incorporated it into the genome of plants.
pests that attack rice. “Pesticides are like bombs being As such, the plants have a built-in mechanism of protection
dropped in the food web, creating enormous destruction,” against targeted pests.
said entomologist Dr. K.L. Heong, who once worked with the
International Rice Research Institute. Aside from corn, Bt has also been introduced in cotton,
poplar, potato, rice, soybean, tomato, and more recently,
Pesticides are killing more than just the pests. “Some eggplant. “The protein produced by the plants does not get
pesticides harm…living organisms other than the targeted washed away, nor is it destroyed by sunlight,” stated a briefing
pest,” observed the Davao-based Technical Assistance Center paper published by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop
for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor. “Some travel to Biotechnology. “The plants are protected from the insects
the food chain to bioaccumulate in higher organisms.” round the clock regardless of the situation.”
“Researchers on Bt eggplant
from the University
of the Philippines
at Los Baños have
Since Bt crops are able to defend themselves against pests, the experimentally demonstrated that it is effective, and the use
use of chemical insecticides is significantly reduced. A study of this technology can dramatically reduce the current use of
conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture showed toxic chemical insecticides,” pointed out Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco,
that 8.2 million pounds of pesticide active ingredients were Jr., an academician at the National Academy of Science and
eliminated by the farmers who planted Bt crops in 1998. Technology.
Currently, there are more than 200 types of Bt proteins identified A field trial was conducted in two barangays in Pangasinan, the
with varying degrees of toxicity to some insects. country’s biggest eggplant producer. According to the report,
“All throughout [the] three trials, the superior efficacy of Bt
eggplant in stopping by virtually 100% infestation of FSB was
HOW THE PHILIPPINES CAN LEAD THE WAY IN observed in the three eggplant varieties tested: Dumaguete Long
EGGPLANT Purple, Mara, and Mamburao. All three varieties—unsprayed
A recent report said that the Philippines has the potential to be [with] insecticides—were planted both for Bt eggplant and non-
a global forerunner in the healthful, pesticide-free growing of Bt eggplant.”
traditionally intensively-sprayed eggplant. The country is among
the world’s top 10 eggplant producers, with a production of Dr. Desiree M. Hautea, who led the study, concluded:
around 200,000 metric tons annually. “Commercial production of Bt eggplant has great potential to
reduce yield losses to FSB while dramatically reducing the
In the past, Filipino farmers sprayed the crop with pesticides every reliance of growers on synthetic insecticides, reducing risks
to the environment, to
worker’s health, and to the
consumer.”
NEGROS AGRIPRENEUR
NOW AN ASEAN AWARDEE
AN AGRIPRENEUR from Bacolod City became an
awardee of this year’s Association of Southeast
Asian Nations or ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs
Network (AWEN) due to her relentless and
unselfish efforts in promoting organic agriculture
and leading humanitarian missions that are aimed
at helping the most vulnerable sector of society.
Uy was among those cited for the quality and breadth of their
engagements, which greatly benefited the grassroots level of
society. Among the many initiatives that won Uy the AWEN The feeding program is being implemented during each school
award was the feeding program which continues to benefit at least day, and after each school year, an evaluation is done to make
60 pupils at the M.G. Medalla Integrated School in Barangay sure that the pupils benefited from the initiative.
Pahanocoy. Providing organic food to the malnourished elementary
pupils has been the advocacy of May and her husband Ramon Uy Aside from the feeding project, Uy has created livelihood
Sr. for almost three years now. opportunities that benefited those in their community, established
a public library for the use of poor students and out-of-school
The couple believes that organic agriculture should not be youth, and conducted humanitarian efforts.
practiced by farmers alone, but also by the children of the farmers.
“Our advocacy is to help the farmers and their children by sharing A showcase garden: In 2010, together with her husband, Uy
the importance of organic agriculture, which will greatly benefit established May’s Organic Garden at Sitio Aning in Barangay
not only our health but [also] the environment,” says Uy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, with the primary aim of contributing
BY MADELAINE B. MIRAFLOR
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that The PSA noted that despite the growth in output, the prices of chicken had gone
the agriculture sector grew by 2.32 percent in the third quarter of down significantly, or 10.84 percent, during the period which could be explained
2017, which was slower than its 2.98 percent growth in the same by the prevalence of AI that caused fear of buying among consumers.
period last year.
At current prices, the gross value of poultry production amounted to
From January to September, agriculture recorded a 4.64 percent R47.1 billion or 4.32 percent lower than the previous year’s record.
growth in output, coming from a decline of 1.53 percent in the
same period in 2016. The subsector recorded a 4.56 percent growth in output for the period
January to September 2017.
“[Contributing to the sector’s growth were] the production gains in
the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors,” the PSA said. Meanwhile, production in the livestock subsector slowly grew by 0.91
percent, accounting for 18.37 percent of the total agricultural output
In the third quarter of 2017, the gross value of agricultural during the third quarter of 2017, from a growth of 4.03 percent in the
production amounted to R382.5 billion at current prices. This was same period last year.
6.27 percent higher than the gross earnings recorded last year.
“All components of the subsector recorded output increments. The subsector’s
On the average, prices received by farmers across the country went gross earnings amounted to R68.9 billion and registered an increase of 14.88
up by 3.86 percent in the third quarter of 2017, while it went up by percent from last year’s record. The subsector’s gross output in the first nine
an average of 4.19 percent in the first nine months. months of the year grew by 0.87 percent,” the PSA said.
PSA noted that price increments were higher in the livestock and Accounting for the 17.40 percent of the total agricultural output in the
fisheries subsectors at 13.84 percent and 7.64 percent, respectively, third quarter, the fisheries subsector registered a 4.27 percent decline
while prices grew by 1.92 percent in the crops subsector. in output from a decline of 2.58 percent last year.
But as the country was pestered by its first case of Avian Influenza (AI) in From January to September 2017, the subsector’s output went down
August, poultry subsector recorded an average price drop of 7.47 percent. by 1.97 percent.
The crops subsector, which shared 46.89 percent in the total The subsector grossed R56.7 billion at current prices. This was 3.05
agricultural production, particularly expanded by 5.18 percent, a percent higher than last year’s record.
little bit slower than the 5.22 percent growth seen last year.
PSA said that the country’s milkfish production contracted by 0.73 percent
During this period, production of palay improved by 14.17 percent, due to heavy siltation in the marine cages in Davao del Sur which prompted
while that of corn went down by 2.74 percent. the local government unit (LGU) to issue an advisory to limit fishing
activities because of water pollution brought about by too much feeds.
“Output gains were also noted among the major crops such as
coconut, sugarcane, banana, pineapple, tobacco, peanut, mongo, “In Bulacan, the harvesting of smaller sizes of milkfish from
cassava, sweet potato, tomato and rubber,” the PSA said. brackishwater fishponds was the result of sudden rains from hot weather
in July locally known as ‘nagitawan.’ The use of poor quality fingerlings
For the third quarter of 2017, the subsector grossed R209.8 billion, and the effects of changes in weather conditions also negatively affected
up by 7.20 percent from last year’s gross receipts. production of milkfish in Zambales,” the PSA noted.
For the poultry, which registered 17.34 percent contribution to the In CALABARZON, there was temporary stoppage of some farming
total agricultural output, the sector grew by 3.41 percent in the third operations due to possible dismantling of fishpens by the Laguna Lake
quarter of this year from only a growth of 2.52 percent in 2016. Development Authority (LLDA).
This, as chicken and chicken eggs recorded output gains of 2.52 Production of “other” fish species also declined by 9.29 percent due to
percent and 7.67 percent, respectively. different factors, PSA said. (MANILA BULLETIN, 16 NOV 2017)
Addressing these
The market for corn silage is huge, says Cajucom. In the Not all farmers have access to open pastures where they can
Philippines alone, according to the Philippine Statistics let their carabaos graze; hence, the potential of corn silage
Authority, there are 2.86 million carabao heads as of July production. Currently, aside from Nueva Ecija, Cajucom sees a
2014. In a day, a farmer engaged in dairy carabao production demand from Quezon, Batangas, and Pangasinan.
Agriculture
An Invitation To Contributors
The Editor
Agriculture Magazine
Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.
Muralla corner Recoletos St.
Intramuros, Manila
or at agriculture@mb.com.ph
ADAPTATION
Highland Agriculture, Aquatic
and Resources Research and
Development Consortium, and
the six participating state colleges
and universities (SUCs).
INTRODUCING A SIMPLE,
INEXPENSIVE, YET ACCURATE
COFFEE MOISTURE METER
THERE IS NOW a
simple, inexpensive,
yet accurate
coffee moisture
meter for green
coffee beans and
coffee parchment,
thanks to a project
funded by the
Philippine Council
for Agriculture,
Aquatic, and Natural
Resources Research
and Development
of the Department
of Science and
Technology (DOST-
PCAARRD).
Local coffee farmers, buyers, and processors need not varieties: Coffee Arabica, Coffee Liberica, and Coffee
employ the traditional, subjective, slow, destructive, and Canephora for both green coffee beans and coffee parchment.
costly way of moisture content measurement. Researchers This was the result of calibration experiments and validation
from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and tests conducted at PhilMech, Nueva Ecija.
Mechanization (PhilMech) have developed a better alternative
through the PCAARRD-funded project “Development of It is important to know the amount of moisture content in coffee
non-destructive moisture meter for green coffee beans and parchment and beans to maintain high cupping quality. Green
parchment coffee.” coffee beans with high moisture content (greater than 12 percent
wet basis) can deteriorate due to bacteria, mold, and yeast.
The research team, led by Engr. Arlene C. Joaquin of
PhilMech, in partnership with a local electronic company, On the other hand, coffee beans with less than 9 percent
made a prototype unit coffee moisture meter using a capacitive moisture will shrink and become distorted, making them appear
sensor oscillator circuit for both green coffee beans and coffee to be low quality beans. To ensure the best quality in coffee,
parchment. monitoring the beans’ moisture content at all times after it is
dried is necessary for it to command a better price at the time of
Joaquin, in a project report, indicated that the prototype sale. (BY OFELIA F. DOMINGO, DOST-PCAARRD S&T MEDIA
moisture meter is sufficiently accurate for three coffee SERVICE)
ELECTRONIC-BASED SENSOR
DEVICE MEASURES QUALITY
OF CACAO BEANS INSTANTLY
A NEW DEVICE that instantly measures the quality of freshness of cacao beans has been developed by the
Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) through a project funded by
the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), based in Los Baños, Laguna.
The sensor The sensor device can also tell if the bean is adulterated
device is by assessing its water content and salinity. Programmable
portable and software does the measurement and shows the results in
easy to use. By a liquid crystal display similar to the kind used for laptop
just placing monitors.
a few drops
of the bean’s The cacao quality sensor and software were developed by the
watery mucilage research team led by Engineer Reynaldo P. Gregorio through
into the sensor the PCAARRD-funded project “Development of Sensor
receptacle, one Devices for Cacao Quality Measurement.”
can immediately
assess the This technology will be useful to suppliers, buyers of freshly
freshness of harvested cacao beans, and processors of chocolates. High
the harvested quality and good tasting chocolates come from quality, freshly
cacao bean harvested cacao beans. It is important that the raw materials
by measuring be assessed prior to processing. Cacao beans with high sugar
its sugar and content which have not exhibited the onset of fermentation
alcohol content. are regarded as high quality.
Danny says that this native chestnut was first Talakatak, the Philippine chestnut, is somewhat like the Chinese castañas in taste
and texture. (Photo source: www.rarepalmseeds.com)
mentioned by Fr. Francisco Manuel Blanco (1778-
1845) in his “Flora de Filipinas” (1845) edition 2,
as Fagus philipensis of a specimen from Angat,
Bulacan. He noted that the natives sold the nuts as
far as Pasig then.
Danny writes that a vintage picture taken by David Fairchild during the
The plant was again mentioned by Sebastian Vidal Cheng Ho Expedition (1939-1940) showing the towering trunk of a tree
y Soler (1842-1889) in his “Revision de Plantas with a man standing below its base gave him an “awesome feeling” so he
Vasculares Filipinas” (1886) as Castanopsis had to get to see the plant to know it. He was brought there by Gerardo
philippinensis. He reassigned the plant to the Sales, a plant trader from Lucban, Quezon. Luckily, Danny says, some
Castanopsis genus and corrected or modified the Lucbanin and their foresters have found reasons to protect, conserve, and
spelling of the specific name from philipensis to maintain the climax species now in their municipality.
philippinensis, presumably in consonance with the
country name “Philippines.” Vidal was a Spanish In the course of his research for information about Talakatak, Danny says
forester and botanist with a particular interest in that it is widespread but never abundant. It is found in Malinao, Albay;
woody plants. different towns of Bulacan; Camarines in Bicol; Siniloan in Laguna;
Visiting the site, one can learn the stories of ARS’s role in mass-
producing penicillin; in developing new crops like seedless grapes,
carrots, watermelon, and tomatoes; in preventing foodborne pathogens;
in developing low-fat cheese; and about countless other ARS
discoveries.
Notable new features added to the site include “I Want To,” “Trending
Topics,” and “ARS Research in Your State.” ARS has nearly 4,000
active research projects and more than 77,000 publications on its
website. The first two features make it easier to quickly find hot topics
from ARS’s vast research portfolio.
The new format also allows ARS to spotlight the Agency’s extensive
Image Gallery. These images document ARS scientists and research in
action and are available for download free to the public. O
Montalban and Antipolo in Rizal; Lucban, Quezon; Oriental We can now say that Talakatak is one plant that is
Mindoro; Nueva Vizcaya; Puerto Princesa in Palawan; awaiting serious study (research) by our agricultural
Buenavista near Jaro, Leyte; Samar; Agusan del Norte; North scientists and development for commercial production
Cotabato and Basilan. by farmers. Danny has a few plants but he observes that
they are very slow-growing. Well, one of the studies by
Danny reports that Talakatak is also known by many local names our researchers could focus on how to accelerate the
like Bating and Bayoktuan in Rizal; Takatak and Talakatak in growth of Talakatak plants. Aside from propagating by
Camarines and Quezon; Bayente Nueve in Tagbanua; Ulayan in seed, Danny has not read anything about multiplying by
Samar and Leyte; Lobian, paun-ngagan, tulakatak in Tagalog; asexual means.
and Philippine chestnut in English.
By the way, Danilo Tiu is an experienced researcher.
In his research, Danny observes that other than the identity and He was the assistant of Dr. Helen V. Valmayor in
descriptions, almost nothing is written about the plant. Which researching about Philippine orchids which were
leads him to ask: If the taste and texture is similar to the Chinese published in “Philippiniana Orchidiana.” This is an
castañas, why does it remain an unrecognized crop in the exhaustive volume on Philippine orchids which was
country? Why is the plant itself not known to many? published by the Eugenio Lopez Foundation. O
For two years, researchers assessed plant stands of emerging “Based on initial results, the aerial imagery provided by either
cotton through manual counting and through images obtained RGB or multi-spectral sensors may be a sufficient tool to
from both digital and multi-spectral cameras mounted beneath improve accuracy and efficiency of plant stand assessment,”
a quad-copter. The quad-copter was flown at varying altitudes says Butler. “The most impactful difference to the end user
ranging from 30 to 120 meters. in deciding a method to use will be the cost between the two
camera systems.”
Of the two camera systems analyzed, the images produced
from the multi-spectral camera proved to be more accurate in “Crop monitoring is a big obstacle for many producers,” says
estimating plant populations, with a greater than 93 percent Tyson Raper, project leader and assistant professor with the UT
accuracy. However, researchers say the red, green, blue (RGB) Department of Plant Sciences. “We want to continue to evaluate
images produced by the less-expensive digital camera still tools and methodologies that have the potential to help farmers
looked promising, with a greater than 85 percent accuracy using overcome monitoring challenges, improve response time and
current methods and scripted programming. increase profitability.” (SCIENCEDAILY, 17 NOVEMBER 2017)
The test identifies roosters whose blood contains naturally high levels
of two key chemicals: cytokines and chemokines. These chemicals
mobilize the birds’ innate immune response, according to ARS
microbiologist Christi Swaggerty, in ARS’s Food and Feed Safety
Research Unit.
Using the new test, commercial poultry breeders can single out roosters
that have a strong immune response and use them to selectively breed
a more robust flock. Such resistance, especially during the birds’ first
week of life, may lower costs related to animal well-being and food
safety.
The researchers used the test to select roosters for breeding a line of
resistant broilers. They then exposed the resistant broilers to several
pathogens. They compared the resistant group to a group of susceptible It’s not a simple process to map and sequence the genome
broilers bred from roosters with low cytokine and chemokine levels. of an animal. Geneticist Hans Cheng and collegues at the
ARS Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory used the DNA
of the Red Jungle Fowl line combined with that of a White
The published results showed that the susceptible broilers had more Leghorn chicken, similar to the one shown here, to create a
pathogens and signs of infection than the resistant group. Ultimately, genetic map of the chicken. ARS scientists are also mapping
such resistance could mean fewer pathogens remaining on birds at the the genomes of the pig, cow, and honey bee. (Photo by
processing plant and improved consumer safety, Swaggerty notes. Stephen Ausmus)
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