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Financial Viability of Medicinal Plant Farming
![philippine medicinal plants]()
The integration of medicinal plant as a crop in agroforestry is a relatively new approach that is beneficial to the local people, whether they are lowland or upland farmers or most especially, the indigenous people. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is publishing this issue on
medicinal plants as a profitable farming technology to serve as a guide in the development of
small backyard herbal gardens, community-based herbal plantation or urban herbal park. This can help boost the
Philippine herbal industry by providing adequate supply of raw materials for local as well as global needs.
Manufactured synthetic drugs command a high price which Filipino masses oftentimes cannot buy. The passage of
Republic Act No. 8423, otherwise known as “Traditional Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA)” in December 7, 1997 answers the people’s present needs on health care by providing and delivering Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PAHC) products, services and technologies that have been safe, effective, affordable and accessible for Filipinos.
As cited in the research and development work of the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP), the first medicinal plantations were established in Cavite and Davao in order to provide raw materials for the pilot plant of Bicutan in manufacturing of medicinal products. In the establishment of three herbal manufacturing plants of the Department of Health in 1985, pilot plantations of medicinal plants were also established in Cagayan, Leyte, and Cotabato.
With the growing interest on traditional herbal medicine in the country several private companies ventured into the production and manufacture of medicinal plants and products. One of the biggest in the country is the Pascual Laboratory, owner of 40 ha of medicinal plantation in Sta. Rosa,
Nueva Ecija.
However, the
Philippine Herbal Medicine Industry at this stage is not yet well-developed as compared with
China,
Japan,
Korea and Vietnam. To boost the country’s medicinal industry, there is a need for a holistic paradigm shift of a small- or large-scale farming since the country has sustainable indigenous medicinal plants like ampalaya (Makiling variety), sambong, lagundi, acapulco, and many others.
The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in collaboration with the Chamber of Herbal Industry of the
Philippines (CHIPI), PITAHC-DOH, other government agencies, and private sectors had shared their knowledge and workshops and exhibits on the
production and management of medicinal plants. These collaborative efforts are geared to develop community-based herbal plantation in public lands or private farm lots.
These endeavors provide solution to the problem of pharmaceutical companies on the limited supply of raw materials for herbal production. At the same time, it creates livelihood options for upland dwellers and indigenous people in the countryside. Likewise, it helps increase awareness and recognition of the value of medicinal plants in rehabilitating the upland forest ecosystems. It helps promote conservation of forest biodiversity aside from serving as a potential material source of alternative medicine for people on research areas.
Marketing Aspects of Medicinal Plants and Products
Medicinal plants and products now known and used as alternative medicines in the local
market are the following:
a. Commercial available drugs from medicinal plants
Lagundi (Vitex negundo L.) As-cof, Pascual Laboratory, for cough remedy.
Sambong (Blumea balsamifera (L) DC), for diuretic relief, Pascual Laboratory
Akapulco (Cassia/Senna alta L.) lotion, for anti-fungal and skin rushes
b. Plants being developed as drugs (but available in the market as food supplements)
Ampalaya (
Momordica charantia L. var. Makiling) – relief for diabetes mellitus
Ulasimang bato (Pepermia pellucida (L) HBK) – anti-hyperrurecemic
Tsaang gubat (Carmona refusa (Vahl) Masam) – anti-motility
Mutha (Cyperus pudica) – relief for malaria
Makahiya (Mimosa pudica) – relief of diarrhea
Yerba Buena (Mentha cordifolia Opoz.) – analgesic
Today many
business-oriented groups have ventured into the herbal market.
Appendix 1 shows the list of some producers engaged in the manufacturing of herbal and medicinal products in the
Philippines.
Financial Benefits From Medicinal Plants and Products
Herb farmers at San Jose, Dumaran, Palawan who participated in the pilot study of the Department of Health and the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCART) started to cultivate lagundi (Vitex negundo) and other
herbs in their small farm lot. The farmers were able to earn an
extra income of P30,000 a year in lagundi farming. On the first year of operation, they obtained a small financial return but apparently in the succeeding years, the financial return increased. The socioeconomic status of the herb farmers dramatically changed. They were able to support their children through school aside from having the means to provide the basic needs of their families.
The intervention showed that medicinal crops gave them
extra income rather than doing slash-and burn activities or over-
harvesting of forest products. The farmers are now active in
herbal farming with the goal of producing high-quality herbal raw materials on a large-scale production.
Herbal farming is a profitable business. The pharmaceutical industry demands tons of raw materials. Therefore, the
entrepreneur must know the requirements of
herbal farming taking into account the externalities, risks and difficulties of
growing and cultivating medicinal plants. The general considerations for herbal farming are: site profiling of the farm or plantation far from pollution, soil that is free from heavy metals, high quality planting stocks to produce high quality leaves, use for
organic fertilizer, and non use of insecticides, fungicides or pesticides, moisture content of dry leaves or
powdered materials below 5% among others.
A study conducted by one of the professors at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, revealed that
medicinal plant farming is profitable. A 1-ha area planted with lagundi or sambong produces 10,000 kg to 20,000 kg of fresh leaves at the price of P15.00/kg in 2 times harvest per year with the gross income worth P300,000 to P 600,000. Deducting the production cost, a farmer obtained a net income of about 106,000 per ha on the first year of operation. The harvest can be sold in dried and
powdered forms in order to obtain higher price and profit.
Table 1 shows the price of raw materials os some medicinal plants and other high value crops.
Table 1. Prices of raw materials of some medicinal plants and other high value crops (Source: Information gathered from the Manager of Altermed as per consultative meeting last May 3, 2002)
![medicinal plants 1]()
Based on the information generated by ERDB from the pilot project on the integration of medicinal plants as agroforestry crops, the following are the projected income return per hectare of four scientifically validated medicinal plants
1. Ampalaya (Makiling variety): leaves – Year 1
No. of harvests: 48 (twice/week x 4 weeks x 3 mo. X 2 crop season) – Amount (Php) 48,000.00
Total fresh weight (kg per year): (1,000 kg/harvest)
Weight after drying (kg per year): P7,200.00 (48,000 kg x 15% recovery)
Estimated cost of production:
Cost of materials (seeds, organic Fertilizer, and pesticides, etc.): P106,200.00
Cost of labor (
land preparation, clearing, Harvesting, air drying, etc.): P792,000
For drying of materials with additional cost of Oven type dryer & maintenance: P120,000.00
Gross income on fresh leaves at Php30.00/kg: P1,440,000.00
Gross income on dried leaves at Php300.00/kg: P2,160,000.00
Estimated net income on fresh leaves: P421,800.00
Estimated net income on dried leaves: P1,141,800.00
2. Sambong: leaves – Year 1
No. of harvests: 2 (six months after planting & 3 months thereafter Harvest done twice a year). Estimated cost of production Amount in (Php):
Cost of planting materials for 1 ha With spacing of 0.5 x 1.0 meters (20,000 plants/ha x Php10.00/plant): P200,000.00
Cost of labor (clearing, planting, maintenance, Harvesting 10 persons at Php250.00/day for 48 hours): P120,000.00
Cost of soil management: P5,000.00
Cost of
pest management (non-use of pesticides) 10,000.00
Cost of water management: P2,000.00
Total cost of production for fresh materials: P337,000.00
Gross income for fresh leaves (Estimated harvest: 60% yield 12,000 kg/ha x Php20.00/kg of fresh leaves x 2 harvest): P480,000.00
Net income of fresh leaves: P143,000.00
In dried leaves
Additional cost of oven drying operation and management: P110,000.00
Gross income for dried leaves (Basis: yield 24,000 kg/ha/yr of fresh leaves x 15% recovery x Php300.00/kg delivered): P1,080,000.00, Less: Total cost of production for dried leaves: 447,000.00
Estimated net income on dried leaves: P633,000.00
3. Lagundi: leaves – Year 1
No. of harvests 2 (six months after planting & 3 months thereafter Harvest done twice in a year). Estimated cost of production: Amount (Php):
Cost of planting materials for one hectare with Spacing of 1.0 x 1.0 meter (10,000 plants/ha x Php10.00/plant): P100,000.00
Cost of labor (clearing, weeding, planting, maintenance and
harvesting): 10 persons at Php250.00/day for 48 days): P120,000.00
Cost of soil management: P5,000.00
Cost of
pest management (non-use of pesticides): P10,000.00
Cost of water management: P2,000.00
Total cost of production for fresh materials: P237,000.00
Gross income for fresh leaves (Estimated harvest: yield 10,000 kg/ha x Php20.00/kg of fresh leaves x 2 times harvest): P400,000.00
Estimated net income on fresh leaves: P163,000.00
In dried leaves
Additional cost of oven drying operation and management: P110,000.00
Gross income for dried leaves (Basis: yield 20,000 kg/ha of fresh leaves/yr x 15% recovery x Php300.00/kg delivered): P900,000.00, Less: Total cost of production for dried materials: P347,000.00
Estimated net income on dried leaves: P553,000.00
4. Acapulco: leaves – Year 1
No. of harvests 4 (four months after planting & 2 months thereafter Harvest done four x in a year) Estimated cost of production: Amount (Php):
Cost of planting materials (Php10.00/plant), Population density 3,000 plants/ha with spacing of 1.5 m x 1.0 m: P30,000.00
Cost of labor (clearing, planting, maintenance, and harvesting: 10 persons at Php250.00/day for 48 days): P120,000.00
Cost of soil management: P5,000.00
Cost of pest management: P 10,000.00
Cost of water management: P2,000.00
Total cost of production of fresh materials: P167,000.00
Additional cost if dried
Air drying + oven drying: P20,000.00
Cost of oven type dryer + maintenance: P90,000.00
Total cost of production for dried materials: P277,000.00
Gross income for fresh leaves: P400,000.00
Gross income for dried leaves (Basis: yield 40,000/kg/ha/yr fresh leaves x 15% recovery x Php100.00/kg):
Estimated net income on fresh leaves 233,000.00
Estimated net income on dried leaves 323,000.00
To summarize the production process, Figure 1 below shows the different stages of activities in the production of medicinal plants before the delivery of raw materials to the manufacturing plant. (Source: Data gathered from the interviewed done with Mr. Alex Parducho, Farm Manager, Altermed Corporation)
Using the basic information, any individual, cooperative, or corporation could venture into the herbal and medicinal products enterprise. There is a market for raw materials produced
Figure 1. Stages of activities in the production of medicinal plants
![processing of medicinal plants]()
List of some producers of herbal and medicinal product in the Philippines
CHAMBER OF HERBAL INDUSTRIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (CHIPI)
LIST OF MEMBERS
As of January 2012
REGULAR MEMBERS
1 ABS GEN HERBS
2 AKITA HERBAL PRODUCTS
3 ALDRTZ CORPORATION
4 ALLIED EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT INC.
5 AMCHEM
6 AZTEC FOODGROWERS CORPORATION
7 BEAULIFE ENTERPRISE
8 BETTERHERBS CORPORATION
9 BIO ESSENCE FACIAL SLIMMING CENTER
10 BIOLOGICAL HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL CORP. - CEBU
11 BIOMART ASIA
12 CAPSUGEL
13 CHEMWORLD MARKETING CORP.
14 CONNEL BROS. CO. PILIPINAS, INC.
15 CRD HERBAL PRODUCTS INCORPORATED
16 DAILA HERBAL COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE INC.
17 DAVENBEN ENTERPRISES CORPORATION
18 DKSH PHILIPPINES, INC.
19 DMI MEDICAL SUPPLY CO., INC.
20 DON ANDREYS HERBAL MARKETING
21 ECARMA HEALTH OPTIONS
22 E. L LABORATORIES, INC.
23 EMPOWER MARKETING, INC.
24 ESSENTIAL
INGREDIENTS SPECIALIST PROVIDER, INC.
25 EUNICE INCORPORATED
26 EUROCHEMICALS INC.
27 FIRST VITA PLUS MARKETING CORP.
28 GLOBAL HABITZ CO., LTD
29 GLOBAL PARTNERS, INC
30 GLORIOUS INDUSTRIAL AND DEV’T. CORP.
31 GOLDLOOK EGP MANUFACTURING, INC.
32 GOLDSHINE PHARMACEUTICALS
33 GOLDWARE ESSENTIALS PRODUCTS CORPORATION
34 HERBANEXT INCORPORATED
35 HERBCARE CORPORATION
36 HERBS AND NATURE CORPORATION
37 HOTEL AND SPA ESSENTIALS, INC.
38 INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
39 LIFE PURE WELLNESS CENTER
40 MACROPHARMA CORPORATION
41
MANILA NATURES LINK CORP.
42 MIYO PRODUCTS RESOURCES INC.
43 MLGS HERBAL PRODUCTS
44 MOORINGA
GREEN GOLD CORPORATION
45 NATTURAL QUALITY CORPORATION
46 NEGROS ISLAND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NISARD)
47 NEW MARKETLINK PHARMACEUTICAL CORP.
48 NORTHFIELD LABORATORIES, INC
49 NUTRAMEDICA, INC.
50 OKALA QUALITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENT. (SUSIES NATURAL)
51 ORGANICA NUTRACEUTICALS, INC
52 P. SUZARA HERBAL PRODUCTS
53 PALAWAN CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE RURAL
TECHNOLOGY
54 PASCUAL LABORATORIES
55 PERVIL COSMETICS PHILS., INC.
56 PHILIPPINE MORINDA CITRIFOLIA INC.
57 PRIMERA GLOBAL, INC.
58 PROSOURCE INTERNATIONAL INC.
59 PSALMSTRE ENTERPRISES
60 RAINIERS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
INSTITUTE, INC
61 RCC AMAZING TOUCH INTERNATIONAL INC.
62 REFINETTE COSMETIC INDUSTRY
63 RITA RITZ BAKEHOUSE
64 RLN MALUNGGAY HERB TEA MANUFACTURING
65 SCORT PHARMACEUTICALS
66 SENTRO SA PAGSUSURI, PAGSASANAY AT PANGASIWANG PANG-AGHAM AT TEKNOLOHIYA CORP.
67 SK LABORATORIES, INC.
68 SNI PHILIPPINES, INC.
69 SOL Y VIENTO PHYTO THERAPY
70 SPEM HEALTH CARE CENTER
71 SPLASH CORPORATION
72 STO. NIÑO BOTANICALS
73 TOTAL NUTRITION CORP.
74 UNIHERB CORPORATION
75 WAGEMARK CORPORATION
76 WHEALTH, INC.
77 YSA
ASSOCIATE MEMBER:
1 GDL CAPSULE PHILS., INC.
INDUSTRIAL MEMBERS:
1 ARNICHEM CORPORATION
2 IQ PACKAGING SYSTEMS, INC.
Contact Information
Address:
Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Phlippines Secretariat:
Mezzanine Flr., Strata 300 Bldg. P. Guevarra Street San Juan 1500 Philippines
Landlines:
(63 2) 907-8536 LLM/ (02) 584-6241
FAX:
(63 2) 725-6470
Email: sec@chipi.org.ph
Source: RESEARCH INFORMATION SERIES ON ECOSYSTEMS
Volume 15 No. 1
January – April 2003
Financial Viability of Medicinal Plant Farming
Compiled by Aurora S. Jose
What do I need to prepare to go into 'Sinta' papaya production?
The following are the recommended production management:
Land Preparation: Cultivate the soil and make sure that clumps are broken up.
Sowing: Soak seeds in clean water for 2-3 days. Change the water daily. Prepare the growing medium by mixing one part coir dust and one part rice hull. Place the medium in a polybag and sow one seed/bag. Water daily but do not oversoak.
Transplanting: Transplant one seedling per hill after 4 weeks from germination or when seedlings are about 20 cm high. Plant the seedlings 2 m apart within rows and the rows should be 3-3.5 apart. It is best to plant on the onset of the dry season.
Irrigation: Water the newly transplanted seedlings daily until they are well established in the field. After which, water the plants at least twice a week to sustain flowering and fruiting. During the rainy season, hill up the soil around the base of the plant to improve drainage.
Fertilizer application: The following is the general fertilizer recommendation for papaya:
Weeding: Remove weeds around the plant. During the dry season, apply mulch around the base of the plant. A mulch is a protective covering usually of leaves or straw placed around the plants to prevent loss of moisture and growth of weeds.
Harvesting: Do not allow the fruits to ripen on the plant. Promptly harvest the fruits that are yellow near the tip. This will prevent fruitfly damage. To harvest, twist the fruit until the stalk snaps or cut the stalk with a sharp knife.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Patricio S. Faylon
Executive Director
PCARRD, Los Banos, Laguna
Tel. Nos.: (049) 536-0014 to 20; 536-5907
Fax Nos.: (049) 536-0016/ 536-7922
Email: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Website: pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Dona Maria rice has become Philippines’ first only Halal-certified rice. It’s opening up markets in Persian Gulf countries as Kuwait and is fast expanding distribution in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.[/caption]
The premium rice varieties just received a Halal certification from the Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines Inc (IDCP). The IDCP certification made the Dona Maria rice the first and so far the only Halal rice in the country.
Sample volume of the Dona Maria rice will be shipped out by producer SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) within the first half of the year to Jordan and Kuwait, according to SLAC Chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong.
“Halal is a certification of food safety production and is also a requirement of importing countries. So we’re looking forward to exporting a bigger volume to GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries,” said Lim.
The aromatic Jasponica, a mix of Thailand’s special Jasmine rice and Japan’s premium Japonica and Miponica, a sticky type of rice ideal for the Japanese sushi, will be positioned as among world’s best rice varieties.
SLAC has just taken a strategic step to put up an export division.
“Our new export division has appointed two export managers—one handling the United States and Middle East, another one handling Europe, South East Asia, and other countries,” said Liza P. Guinto, SLAC vice president for export.
This is to take advantage of opportunities in the global market that has been growing since the Philippines started exporting premium quality rice in 2013 when government through Department of Agriculture (DA) lifted the export ban on specialty fancy rice.
The country retains the ban on regular milled rice.
“It is in Jasponica and Miponica Dona Maria rice that we have the competitive edge in the global market. Otherwise, we’ll find it hard to compete with low-priced rice of Thailand, Vietnam, and India,” said Guinto.
GCC states, some of world’s fastest growing economies due to oil’s presence, formulate similar regulation on various sectors including agriculture and have plans to form a single market. GCC states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. There are discussions on GCC membership of Jordan.
Already, even without the Halal certification yet, Dona Maria premium rice has already doubled its export volume to other GCC territories Dubai and Saudi Arabia in the last two years.
“We just shipped out three containers per year before. Now, as of just this March, we already exported seven containers to Dubai. We so far exported already two containers this year to Saudi. We had zero export to Saudi before,” said Guinto.
The importers are native businesses to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states. Thus, the market will come from a combination of Muslim communities and OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).
Domestically, the Halal rice varieties are also being more intensively distributed to Muslim communities in the Philippines.
The Muslim community constitutes among world’s biggest population at 1.7 billion or 22 percent, making it second largest religious group. The community often requires the Halal food safety and religious rites certification.
From OFWs, the rice brands have been receiving warm acceptance.
“Even if it’s a little higher in price, our OFWs are very patriotic in patronizing our rice products once they get to know it’s a product of the Philippines and once they get to taste the product,” said Guinto.
SLAC is strengthening participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions through which it has been able to tap export markets. It does receive assistance from government through subsidy in such trade fairs. The company continues to anticipate aid from government’s agricultural and trade attaché offices globally in this effort which will advance welfare of farmers planting rice.
###
For any questions or interview requests, please text or call Ms. Maricar Bou 0910-706-1782, 0999-573-7077, 0917-671-1596.
Photo by 
The integration of medicinal plant as a crop in agroforestry is a relatively new approach that is beneficial to the local people, whether they are lowland or upland farmers or most especially, the indigenous people. The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is publishing this issue on 
Based on the information generated by ERDB from the pilot project on the integration of medicinal plants as agroforestry crops, the following are the projected income return per hectare of four scientifically validated medicinal plants
1. Ampalaya (Makiling variety): leaves – Year 1
No. of harvests: 48 (twice/week x 4 weeks x 3 mo. X 2 crop season) – Amount (Php) 48,000.00
Total fresh weight (kg per year): (1,000 kg/harvest)
Weight after drying (kg per year): P7,200.00 (48,000 kg x 15% recovery)
Estimated cost of production:
Cost of materials (seeds, organic Fertilizer, and pesticides, etc.): P106,200.00
Cost of labor (
List of some producers of herbal and medicinal product in the Philippines
CHAMBER OF HERBAL INDUSTRIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (CHIPI)
LIST OF MEMBERS
As of January 2012
REGULAR MEMBERS
1 ABS GEN HERBS
2 AKITA HERBAL PRODUCTS
3 ALDRTZ CORPORATION
4 ALLIED EXPRESS INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT INC.
5 AMCHEM
6 AZTEC FOODGROWERS CORPORATION
7 BEAULIFE ENTERPRISE
8 BETTERHERBS CORPORATION
9 BIO ESSENCE FACIAL SLIMMING CENTER
10 BIOLOGICAL HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL CORP. - CEBU
11 BIOMART ASIA
12 CAPSUGEL
13 CHEMWORLD MARKETING CORP.
14 CONNEL BROS. CO. PILIPINAS, INC.
15 CRD HERBAL PRODUCTS INCORPORATED
16 DAILA HERBAL COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE INC.
17 DAVENBEN ENTERPRISES CORPORATION
18 DKSH PHILIPPINES, INC.
19 DMI MEDICAL SUPPLY CO., INC.
20 DON ANDREYS HERBAL MARKETING
21 ECARMA HEALTH OPTIONS
22 E. L LABORATORIES, INC.
23 EMPOWER MARKETING, INC.
24 ESSENTIAL 
Today, defatted soybean meal is the most common, low-cost food for fish. However, soybean meal is not the natural diet of fish because it lacks in key compounds required for proper fish nutrition. Thus, the use of soybean meal presents a major limitation in providing healthy growth conditions in Philippine aquaculture. The challenge, therefore, is to provide the ideal natural foods for fish such as microalgae at a competitive price, high quality, and adequate quantity.
To address this, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), funded a project titled, “Development of Technology for Efficient Microalgae Production: Photobioreactor Design, Feed and High-value Metabolites” that aimed to provide superior fish food through the development of local microalgae. Under the leadership of phycologist and chemist professor, Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit of the Ateneo de Manila (ADMU), he developed a technology that is simple, reliable and efficient photobioreactor (PBR) design system to maximize the yield and optimized culture conditions for microalgae production of Spirulina.
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) or the blue-green photosynthetic microalgae, known as the highest natural protein source, contains about 55-70 percent essential protein profile with a complete set of key compounds such as amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty-acids (PUFA’s), carotenoids, and vitamins A, C, D, E, B12 or cobalamin that boost the required nutritional diet of fish. One of the characteristics of this quality feed is the presence of natural constituents that has high value of nutraceuticals. These compounds include omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, dietary minerals, and phycobiliproteins.
Due to its boundless nutrient contents, Dr. Dayrit highlighted the main benefits of feeding Spirulina for aquaculture purposes. Among the benefits include: 1) increase and give a more uniform growth rate for fish; 2) improve the digestion; as a result of more nutrition are extracted from the food and there are no indigestible components; 3.) boost the immune system and aid prevention of swollen abdomens due to blocked intestinal passages; and 4) enhance production of special enzymes that break down digested fats into energy rather than letting them build up in the fishes body.
Seeing its importance, Dr. Dayrit and his team fabricated an optimized PBR system and culture condition for the production of Spirulina. Unlike other PBR designs for algae growth, the features of developed enhance PBR are inexpensive, easy to clean, and re-use, subject in efficient illumination, and the materials are readily available so that the fabrication is easy and scalable.
Using the transparent polyethylene bag with cut-out plastic jug for its support are the inventive technology developed by the team as the PBR housing or the culturarium for algae. Part of their worked on photobioreactor systems is the involvement of prototypes designed to probe the effects of various parameters on microalgae growth in terms of the modification of culture media, light configuration and its culture process. As a result, the alpha PBR prototype showed a significant increase in growth rates in terms of cell count and cell size of Spirulina. The cost of power used for lighting system was low; the culture time was decreased and created as highest biomass yield improvement with approximately 70 percent increase in microalgae production.
The developed PBR system is now being undertaken by the Alsons Aquaculture Corporation, an industry partner based in Sarangani, Province, and one of the major aquaculture companies in the Philippines. The optimized PBR system and culture condition of Spirulina are transferred to Alsons where it will be scaled-up, further optimized and pilot tested to make the product market-ready. ### (Leoveliza C. Fontanil)
Source: bar.gov.ph
Photo by 
Photo by 
Sapinit or the Philippine wild raspberry has many health benefits. According to a phytochemical analysis of Sapinit done by the Industrial Technology Development Institute and the University of the Philippines Los Banos-Biotech funded by BAR program, sapinit is rich in anti-cancer phytochemicals including leucoanthocyanins, anthraquinones, saponins, deoxysugars, free fatty acids, hydrolysable tannins (inhibitors of HIV duplication), unsaturated steroids, and benzopyrone nucleus.
An important function of anthraquinones is it inhibits formation of Tau aggregates and dissolve paired helical filaments thought to be critical to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
With anthraquinones, Sapinit also gets an industrial use potential. Anthraquinones is a precursor to synthetic dyes, an additive in paper pulp making, and is a material for hydrogen peroxide.
Leucoanthocyanin is a flavonoid found in many plants including berries which are potential modifiers of carcinogens. Moreover, some saponins have been shown to very significantly augment the cytotoxicity of immunotoxins and other targeted toxins directed against human cancer cells.
Sapinit is considered a plant useful for environmental sustainability as it does not need continuous cultivation, and it can live for many years. This way, it retains soil fertility. Sapinit is propagated both through suckers and cuttings.
The Philippine wild raspberry "Sapinit" can be processed into juice, jam, and wine. Sapinit is also processed into vinaigrette for salad dressing, tea from its leaves and as food flavoring. One kilo of raw Sapinit may be turned into four bottles of jam or four bottles of juice. The same one kilo may also be processed into five 350 ml wine. Sapinit has a bright potential as a specialty product as its price in the market is high. However, shelf life of fresh fruits is only three-four days.
"Sapinit has a very important role in uplifting the livelihood of communities because without it, they just depend on cash crops," said Dennis Bihis, QAES researcher.
Sapinit: Philippine Wild Raspberry
Source: afmis.da.gov.ph
Image: richfarmerpoorfarmer.blogspot.com/[/caption]
Balimbing is the local name of Averrhoa carambola which belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that the fruit crop is known to have originated in Ceylon and in the Moluccas, but has been grown mostly in Asia because of the advantageous tropical climate suitable to the growing of the plant. Having reached a number of countries, this gave rise to the fruit’s different names. In English, it is known as starfruit, carambola, and five corners. The Indonesians and Malay call it belimbing manis, while it is referred to as ma fueang among the Thais and khe among the Vietnamese.
Balimbing is an edible fruit which, though known to many, has not been fully utilized despite its good economic potentials. In fact, it has been included in the book of Dr. Roberto E. Coronel entitled “Important and Underutilized Edible Fruits of the Philippines”. In the book, balimbing is described as a small tree reaching up to 6-9 meters in height. It is characterized by its dark-green colored leaflets and reddish purple flowers clustered in leaf axils. The fruit turns greenish yellow to yellow when ripe and has a sweet to sour taste. It has an oblong to ellipsoidal shape with a translucent, soft, and waxy skin. About 6-9 centimeters long, it presents itself as a five-cornered fruit with its five prominent longitudinal, angular wings. When cut across, it resembles a star hence the name starfruit.
Plant management involves the propagation of balimbing from seeds, which may take 20-25 days to germinate, and growing it preferably in a rich loam soil. Meanwhile, it takes about 4-6 years for a seedling tree to fully blossom and bear fruits. If grafted, it may only take 2-3 years. Varieties such as Fwantung, Arkin, Kembangan, and B11 are among the superior cultivars selected for growing in the country.
Though growers can expect fruiting all year round, recommended harvesting time is from May to August when the heaviest crop comes in. There are no known serious diseases for the plant, but oriental fruitfly is considered as its most mortal enemy. Wrapping and bagging the fruits are done to address this issue.
Maximizing the uses of the underutilized
Whether ripe or unripe, this wondrous crop is used in many different aspects. Filipinos mainly use balimbing for its culinary and food value. Usually eaten fresh and raw, this fruit may also be sliced and served in salads and dishes. It can also be processed and made into jam, jelly, or preserve or even as a simple carambola juice. Consumption may provide the body some of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs including calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid.
Additionally, its wood can be used for firewood, timber and construction purposes. Due to the potassium oxalate it contains when unripe, balimbing may also substitute for dyes. Its juice extract can remove stains in cloth or polish metal as well. It also becomes an ornamental plant in gardens and parks because of the complementing colors of its leaves, flowers, and fruits.
In traditional medicine, the fruit has been utilized for its therapeutic potentials to ease and treat many illnesses and diseases. In India, a ripe fruit is used to staunch hemorrhages while the dried ones are taken to provide relief for fever and eye afflictions. The oxalic acid it contains makes it a useful laxative. Apart from its fruit, other parts of the plant are also found to be of medicinal value such as the leaves to lighten headache.
It is also administered to treat skin impurities. In some Southeast Asian countries for example, its flowers are rubbed on the skin affected with dermatitis, while its inner bark is used together with other materials to soothe prickly heat.
Investigative studies are also being done in other countries to further explore the potentials of this crop. In Bangladesh, a study was conducted to explore the crop’s antibacterial activities while another study in India sought to determine the possibility of the fruit as a raw material for wine production.
With the saying “too much of anything is bad”, too much consumption of this fruit may upset a balanced diet, or worse pose threats to human health. There are documented cases in some parts of the world where the consumption of the fruit by individuals suffering from kidney-related illnesses resulted to discomforts such as nausea and vomiting, among others. Hence, extra precautions are needed if consuming the fruit as its oxalic acid may prove harmful. Further studies are needed to establish its nutritional limits. .
There are indeed true potentials awaiting this fruit with myriad uses. What today is an unnoticed fruit may become a promising commodity in the future. Extensive research and development efforts not only for balimbing but also for other underutilized crops in the country should be pushed as their enhanced use can contribute towards achieving food security and improving the well-being of the people.
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DA-PhilMech impeller-type ricemill (Photo from DA-PhilMech)[/caption]
However, this is no longer the case for the research team from the Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC) of the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 2 in Ilagan, Isabela, as they continuously diversify the many uses of corn, this time, focusing on the silk.
The Cagayan Valley region is dubbed as the Philippines’ corn capital being the country’s top producer of corn. Together with other agricultural crops in the region such as rice, farmers rely heavily on corn for livelihood. With investments on research and development (R&D), CVRC, led by its Station Manager Rose Mary Aquino, explored the potentials of the maize silk in the hopes of adding more product value and at the same time increasing the income of corn farmers in the province.
“So far, ang dine-develop namin ay coming from the grains of corn such as noodles and coffee, among others. Then we came to ask ourselves, ano ang pwede nating gawin sa waste?” Aquino shared. Such idea inspired her and her team to come up with a project to develop a product using silk.
Traditionally, maize silk is used for its diuretic properties, among others. Indigenous Western communities were known to have been using maize silk as remedy for urinary tract infections (UTI), kidney and bladder infections.
In the medical world, diuretics are medications designed to increase the amount of water and salt expelled from the body in the form of urine. These medicines are often prescribed to help treat high blood pressure, as it reduces the amount of fluid in the blood vessels. Additionally, diuretics can aid in weight loss, too.
Other health claims of corn silk according to some studies include its ability to regulate blood sugar levels; a good source of Vitamin C; has anti-inflammatory properties; and facilitates blood clotting. In fact, a study on the phytochemical components and antioxidant activity of various extracts of corn silk demonstrated that it is rich in phytochemicals such as alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, steroids, proteins and tannins, and has also exhibited high antioxidant properties.
Focusing on these health benefits, Aquino’s team looked into utilizing the silk as a healthy juice drink, adding to the existing product line of corn called the Mangi Maxi. Derived from the words Mangi, an Ibanag term for corn, and Maxi, which means to maximize, Mangi Maxi offers a wide array of corn products such as coffee, noodles, and pastries to name a few.
With a brand name Maize Silky Sip, this newest addition to the Mangi Maxi product line is a healthy juice drink made out of corn silk. Processed through boiling and fermentation, it is blended with lemon grass using honey as sweetener to make the taste more appealing especially to the health-conscious market.
The Maize Silky Sip is currently packaged in a 350-ml glass bottle and priced at Php 25. It was given third prize for “Best Product” category from the recently held 13th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition organized by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) on 8-10 August 2017.
However, to further improve the packaging without compromising market competitiveness, the research team is now collaborating with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to analyze and establish its nutritional value and especially to determine appropriate natural preservatives that can prolong the shelf life of the product. Presently, a bottle of the Maize Silky Sip can last for up to five days.
Also, in collaboration with the National Nutrition Council of the Philippines, the research team is looking into the possibility of promoting the Maize Silky Sip safe for infant use, targeting those who suffer from pediatric UTI.
With funding support from BAR, under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP), this product development project takes off from the existing projects on white and purple corn implemented by DA-RFO 2.
“For now, we are undergoing field trials to establish when is the best stage to gather the silk of the maize plant, without affecting the grains,” said Aquino. Her team is also set to establish data on the silk’s storability, and to determine the best corn variety to use for the Maize Silky Sip.
“We are hoping that one day, this product can compete with the highly commercialized natural fruit juices available in the market. Not only does the Maize Silky Sip juice promote our local corn industry, but more importantly, it will help uplift the lives of our corn farmers,” Aquino added. ### (Daryl Lou A. Battad)
Source: http://www.bar.gov.ph/
The mushroom center will enable manufacturing of value-added processed foods including mushroom tocino and longganiza and mushroom meals like siomai, burger, bola bola and sisig. Bidding process for the project is on-going.
DA Sec. Proceso J. Alcala is allotting P3 million for the MTC, while Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is funding the bulk of the project at P5 million.
There are other highly prospective processed goods for mushrooms, according to DA-Regional Field Unit 3 Project Leader Emily A. Soriano.
These are pickled mushroom, mushroom jam, mushroom candies, crackers, cookies, polvoron, wine, pandesal with malunggay, barquillos, muffins, and powder.
“We import 90 percent of our mushrooms. But we want Central Luzon including Tarlac to be known as a major producer of mushroom. This can generate income of P180 per kilo at farmgate and P300 per kilo at retail. When processed, they can give higher additional income to our farmers,” said Soriano.
DA is also targeting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to become beneficiaries of the mushroom center, according to BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.
“Secretary Alcala wants our OFWs in Hongkong and Singapore to get oriented on business opportunities when they go back to the country. So we decided we should improve our facilities since this is a good employment program for them,” said Eleazar.
Through processing, shelf life of mushroom fruits last to 14 months, depending on packaging and storage.
Without processing, farmers suffer from spoilage since fresh mushrooms can just last in three days as its substantial water content causes fast staleness. Profitability also increases by 30 to 70 percent when fresh mushrooms are turned into value added products.
“The estimated value-added income for producers range from P40 to P239 per kilo of mushroom fruits,” according to a DA-Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CLIARC) report.
The country is estimated to import around 150 metric tons (MT) of mushrooms yearly largely from South East Asia—Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Japan.
At the prevailing retail price of P300 per kilo, farmers can earn some P45 million yearly just by substituting imports.
Mushroom cooperative
Soriano said RFU3 has already helped establish the Mushroom Producers Cooperative in Anao, Tarlac. Just organized last February, it now has 23 members. From their mushroom production, each member is presently receiving P700 to P3,500 per month from the cooperative.
The cooperative is producing less than 10 kilos per day. DA-CLIARC aims to raise this volume depending on demand of mushroom in the market.
Even before the technology center’s completion, DA has already been receiving inquiries from interested entrepreneurs on the mushroom products.
“Many private individuals have been inquiring from us. But we’re still on the product development stage. We’re also sending our products for nutrition analysis through our partners at BAR,” she said.
Nutrient-rich
Mushroom goods are ideal food supplement products since mushrooms can retain their vitamins and minerals even after various processing methods, according to Soriano.
Known mostly for its rich protein, mushrooms also have Vitamin D, B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Pantothenic Acid), B9 (Folate), and H (Biotin). Minerals contained are sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and ergothioneine.
RFU3 is also collaborating with the chemical laboratory of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) as well as the Department of Science on Technology on the same effort on nutrient analysis for mushroom products. The Department of Trade and Industry is also extending assistance in product label design.
Most mushrooms can be grown in the Philippines. DA is also engaged in tissue culture of mushroom which can maximize mushroom seed production in order to meet demand.
DA is continuously developing technologies in raising yield of mushroom.
Materials for growing mushroom are readily available in the environment and are usually considered waste, making growing mushrooms a profitable venture. It is grown on materials like rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, tobacco midribs, water lilies, sawdust, corn cobs, corn leaves, grass, banana bark, and similar materials.
Mushroom grows over 1.5 months from spawn production (mushroom seed) to harvest.
For tissue culture, DA can also train more technicians in its four stages. These are pure culture fresh mushroom; rapid multiplication (subcultures); spawn preparation; and planting for fruit production.
Food safety
In order to ensure food safety, CLIARC is likewise promoting sanitation and safety processes under its own study “Sanitation and Hygiene in the Production of Mushroom Food Products.”
Food hazards associated with mushroom production are biological including bacteria, yeast, molds, viruses, insects, and parasites; chemical—pesticides and toxic elements; and physical—plastic, wood chips, paper, hair, and sand.
However, harmful microorganisms are among the most critical hazards being commonly found in nature.
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a manufacturing practice strictly observed in developed countries like the United States particularly mandated in the pharmaceutical and medical industries. GMP should be put in place.
The technology center will have a laboratory for mushroom tissue culture, a gene bank that will keep mushroom species for research on their traits and study of commercial potential; and a product display area.
Central Luzon
Central Luzon provinces—Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Aurora—have the potential to become big mushroom producers.
The technology center can reach out to farmers and entrepreneurs for product development and training in these provinces.
“Monthly Income of assisted farmer beneficiaries will have increased by 50 percent as of November 2013,” said Soriano.
In the MTC, the local government units in Tarlac—the towns of Anao, Camiling, and Victoria—are partners in developing and commercializing new mushroom products.
Soriano is concerned that not many state universities and colleges and government support institutions are engaged in product development for mushroom. This is one of the problems she identified in her masteral study “State of Mushroom Industry in Central Luzon.”
“We’re developing products for different segments of the market,” she said. “We’re also looking at products for public schools.”
DA is specifically using mushroom genus called pleurotus and volvariella which grow well under Philippine environment.
Product testing
The BAR-funded project has so far trained around 400 participants for mushroom processing in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, while technical assistance was given to four communities in order to set up mushroom production and processing for livelihood.
In order to capture high-end markets, product testing is being conducted particularly on sensory evaluation (taste and appearance). A Food and Drug Administration registration will be obtained to ensure food safety, consequently better marketing of the products in supermarkets.
Innovative goods
Industrial scale processing can also be achieved with new product lines such as seasoning, nuggets, noodles and mixture for soup. The project has tapped certified food technologies for these innovative products.
“Elemental analysis as well as microbial load for food safety will also be tested for finished products,” said Soriano.
For new farmers’ and entrepreneurial organizations, the project will assist groups in cooperative formation, business registration, organizational policy formulation, business plan preparation, basic financial management training, marketing strategies, values formation, and conflict resolution.
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For any questions, please call Dr. Emily Soriano, 0916-279-1956; for interview requests, Ms. Analiza C. Mendoza, 0923-436-3177
Farmers have this notion that organic farming is not as profitable compared to traditional farming. “Mahal, matagal ang kita,” would be their usual response when asked about organic farming. But Ifugao farmers proved this wrong as they many of them have thrived going into organic farming.
It all started with CPAR
When the Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) on organic vegetable production project was introduced, through the efforts of Dr. Catherine Buenaventura of the Provincial Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources Office (PAENRO), farmers from Kiangan, Ifugao, conceived a whole new perspective of organic agriculture.
The Ifugao province is known for its favorable microclimate parameters conducive to farming vegetables. In fact, Ifugao is among Cordillera Administrative Region’s (CAR) provinces — along with Benguet and the Mountain Province — tagged as the “Salad Bowl” of the Philippines, supplying about 80 percent of the vegetable market in the country. In the case of Ifugao province, the most common vegetables grown are snap beans, string beans, pechay, Chinese cabbage, eggplant, and tomato.
However farmers were accustomed to the traditional way of farming, which makes use of chemicals inputs as means to manage weeds and pests. This practice led to different issues such as high cost of inputs, and depleting soil health. It is the very same reason why the CPAR team thought of introducing organic agriculture in the province.
Specifically, the project aims to increase the income of selected farmers through the adoption of organic vegetable production techniques, reduce cost of farm inputs, improve farmers’ capability in organic farming, and improve the resource management capacities of rural communities within the province.
Forty farmers from barangays Banguine and Tuplac were chosen to participate in the project. To fully prepare them, two organizational development workshops were provided which resulted to the organization of the Baguinge Organic Farmers’ Association (BOFA) and the Good Shepherd Organic Farmers Association (GOFA) in 2012. Further, cross farm visits to organic farms of the La Trinidad Organic Producers (LaTOP) in Benguet were conducted so that the CPAR cooperators will experience firsthand exposure to organic agriculture practices.
Following the various trainings and farm visits, the 40 farmer cooperators established their greenhouses in a 100 m2 area. Each was provided inputs, including vinyl plastics and various vegetable seeds. Two shredders were given to each of the association in support to the production of organic fertilizers.
Interventions learned and adopted eagerly by the farmers included land preparation activities which consist of decomposing indigenous microorganisms, application of organic fertilizers into the soil prior to planting, and basal application of organic fertilizers.
During the cropping cycles, certain practices were employed to improve soil fertility especially for farms worn-out of soil nutrients as a result of mono-cropping and excessive application of inorganic fertilizers. Farmers were introduced to crop rotation practices. The cropping pattern includes the rotation of leafy vegetables, ampalaya, eggplant, and crucifers with legumes like snap beans and string beans.
Also introduced during the project was the use of fermented plant juice (extracted from locally available plants like sweet potato, malunggay, and kangkong), fermented fruit juice (extracted from fruits in season like avocado, banana, papaya, and guava), and indigenous microorganisms to improve soil fertility. Mulching was also encouraged especially during the dry season. It was done by spreading over the roots of plants a layer of straw, grass cuttings, leaves, or compost to conserve soil moisture.
On pest control and management, various techniques were used to prevent and control the attack of insect pests and diseases on their plants. They used odorous and bitter materials as repellants. They were taught to formulate botanical pesticides and fungicides using the available indigenous plants in the area.
Such practices reaped good results for the farmers, from the shelf life, to taste and size, they have noticed significant differences. Ernesto Dulnuan, BOFA president, noticed a difference in his organic pechay. “The shelf life of pechay grown the organic way is two days while that grown conventionally is only a day,” he shared. Another farmer cooperator Agapita Kimayong, observed a change in her produce as well in terms of size. “Pechay grown under the vinyl cellophane shed is bigger and grows faster compared to that exposed or without a vinyl cellophane shed,” she said.
The quest for healthier, safer food set this project in motion. Market was never a problem for the farmers’ produce. In fact, Ms. Nene Pahiwon, shared how her organic lettuce is sold fast within her community alone. “I don’t need to go to the market to sell my vegetables. Dito pa lang sa amin, ubos na agad,” she said. But for a sustainable market mechanism, a display center for organic vegetables was put up at the area near the Provincial Capitol of Lagawe. A regular market day is set every Wednesday.
Going beyond CPAR
Farmer cooperator, Aquilina Saguilot used to be a fulltime employee. She was the university librarian at the Ifugao State University. Farming served as a hobby for her until she got involved in the CPAR project on organic vegetable production. The knowledge that she acquired through various trainings she attended enabled her to seek opportunities beyond farming. She put up her own organic farm which she turned into a learning site for farmers and students as well.
Now, the Aquilina Saguilot Farm welcomes farmers, researchers, students, and other private individuals who might be interested to learn and venture into organic farming. Her farm stations included various vegetables such as tomato, mustard, pechay, and bell pepper. Whenever visitors come, she would gladly share all of her learnings she gained from the CPAR project.
The CPAR in Ifugao, particularly in Kiangan and Lamut, has been expanding through the increase in the number of farmer adopters. Apparently, Ms. Saguilot is not the only one who converted her farm into organic farming and learning site. Organic integrated farming is slowly gaining ground in other municipalities. ### (Daryl Lou A. Battad)
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