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The Philippines is poised to achieve a high average rice yield of 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare as it collaborates with China on the development of a Super Hybrid Rice that can potentially push cost down to a cheap P5 per kilo.
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The target is possible as the
Super Hybrid Rice that the
China National Hybrid Rice R&D Center (CNHR-RDC) is developing has already hit a milestone when it reached in 2011 a goal to yield 13.5
MT.
Local
rice experts are also ready to demonstrate the real potential of hybrid
rice to raise yield when a Harvest Festival by
SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) is conducted on April 15.
This is in a farm tilled in Tabacao, Talavera, Nueva Ecija by an outstanding farmer, Ricardo Buenaventura, who is believed to be capable of producing this “10-5” target.
Raising yield to lower the cost is the single biggest challenge faced by the
agriculture/" title="View all articles about Department of Agriculture here">Department of Agriculture (
DA) now. This will be the key to help farmers enjoy higher levels of living.
“The government’s program right now is to show farmers how to earn more because what’s important is how much is left in the pocket of farmers, not just how much income they make,” said
DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.
The country is already approaching rice self-sufficiency with only 187,000 metric tons (
MT) of imports this year.
“But after attaining self sufficiency, our next move is to help farmers lower production cost,” Alcala said.
Through the
Super Hybrid Rice and 10-5 Program (SHR-10-5), government is optimistic the goal to make Filipino farmers rich is achievable.
“We want to have a yield of 10 tons at a cost of P5 per kilo. That’s the dream. We have a long on-going cooperation with
China in
Philscat. We’re establishing more aggressive cooperation because China was the one that gave us initial programs on hybridization of rice,” Alcala said.
Yuan Long Ping, known as the Father of Hybrid Rice and CNHR-RDC director general, foresees the SHR will become a commercial success in the
Philippines in three years. Yuan was premiere guest at
Philippines’ First Hybrid Rice Congress held last week.
“We will send super hybrid varieties for testing here next year—in the dry season,” said Yuan. “Maybe after three years, our super hybrid rice will be commercialized in the Philippines through our joint efforts. We will strengthen the friendship between Philippines and China through it.”
The P5 per kilo production cost is possible if farmers will have an average of 10 MT yield at a P50,000 per hectare cost, according to Henry Lim Bon Liong, SLAC chairman.
SLAC has a long-standing collaboration with CNHR-RDC that has resulted in the development of SL-8H hybrid rice. This has enabled farmers to yield seven to 10 MT per hectare from their former three to five MT using inbreds.
“With a progressive farmer like Mr. Ric Buenaventura,10 tons per hectare is achievable. That’s why I’m inviting you on April 15 for everyone to see for themselves how Mr. Buenaventura does it. He is only an elementary graduate, but he had sent all his five children to college. He’s now rich. He owns 24 hectares almost 100 percent of is planted with SL-8H,” said Lim.
Yuan’s Super Hybrid Rice actually had in 1999 a record yield of 17.055 MT per hectare in Yongsheng County in Yunnan Province.
Mechanization will be an important component of the SHR-10-5 which will be provided through the
Philscat or the Philippine Sino Center for Agricultural Technology, a P69 million grant by China up to 2016.
“In China about 70 percent of our rice field is mechanized. That includes everything, not only hybrid rice,” said Yuan.
Another enabling environment to make rice farming prosperous, according to Yuan, is provision of seed and tax incentives.
“Our government has many good policies to encourage farmers. One is they provide free-of-charge
hybrid rice seeds. The seed company does not need to pay tax. It’s an efficient and economical way to increase
food production. Hybrid rice increases rice production very fast. Of course cost of seed is higher, but economic return is much higher than any seed cost,” said Yuan.
China’s SHR program consists of four phases. Phase 1 raised yield of 8.25 MT per hectare yield in the 1990s to 10.5 MT as of 2000. In Phase 2 from 2001 to 2005, it achieved 12 MT. The ongoing Phase 3 already reached its target of 13.5 MT in 2011.
Phase 4 has a target yield of 15 MT set to be achieved by 2020.
China presently has 17 million hectares of hybrid rice area, 58 percent of its 29.5 million hectare rice area, feeding some 70 million people. On the other hand, Philippines’ hybrid rice area is placed at just five percent at 146,000 hectares in 2012.
DA Asst. Sec. Dante S. Delima said the government is supporting the expansion of hybrid rice whose area is targeted to reach to 281,397 hectares in 2013. This will further be expanded to 350,000 hectares by 2014.
Government is also expanding the Sikat Saka program which now has a P500 million
loan facility through Land Bank of the Philippines and a supposedly more relaxed application procedure.
“Now the collateral not just land land title, but motor vehicle registrations, credentials of carabao (as plowing animal),” Delima said.
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ABOUT PROF. YUAN LONGPING
Prof. Yuan Longping, a Chinese farmer, agricultural scientist and educator, has been recognized as the Father of Hybrid Rice after many countries have benefitted from his idea to hybridize rice at a time when China was suffering in the 1960s from a severe famine that caused many deaths.
Today hybrid rice use has expanded all over
Asia, America, and Africa.
Yuan became successful in developing hybrid rice that had a yield advantage over common rice by crossbreeding rice with a distant relative, the wild rice that had superior planting durability.
With his efforts, China’s rice production ballooned from only 5.69 billion tons in 1950 to 19 billion ton-level at present.
Yuan also has an advocacy to reduce rice wastage, believing that wasting rice is a crime. Some P6.2 billion worth of rice is wasted in the Philippines yearly as each Filipino wastes about two tablespoons of rice daily, he estimates.
He is a laureate of the World Food Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2001), the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award of China, the Wolf Prize in Agriculture, and more than 10 others.
While being offered a position that is equivalent to a prime minister level, Yuan chooses to remain a simple farmer since a state position would take away his freedom to move around the farm and would require him to be surrounded by security officers.
China’s new leadership led by President Xi Jinping, now leading one of the world’s most powerful nations with a big 1.3 billion population, is set to visit him this April 2013 in recognition of what he can contribute to the food welfare of China, consequently, the world.
At 82, he still goes to the farm two times daily—at 5 a.m. and at 4 pm.
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ABOUT PHILSCAT
Philscat or the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology aims to promote high yield through
hybrid rice production and mechanization. Phase 1 was completed through a $5 million grant from the Chinese government with a Philippine government counterpart. The Yuan Long Ping High Tech Agriculture Co. also invested $1 million in the project. Phase 2 involves a P69 million grant from China that has been ongoing from 2011 and will last up to 2016. It will have a biogas component.
Its Phase 1, implemented from 2003 to 2008, tested 50 Chinese hybrid rice varieties.
These are other accomplishments of Philscat Phase 1:
1. Established technology demonstrations in 33 municipalities scattered in 22 major rice growing provinces in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13 and Cordillera Autonomous Region
2. Exceeded target yield by 18 percent in some demonstration areas particularly the demo site in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija which attained a yield of 16.02 MT per hectare
3. Bred seven new hybrid lines, initially named Philscat 1 to 7, using existing local rice genetic resources
4. Obtained accreditation process from the Philippine National Seed Industry Council for the now named as Mestizo 12 or NSIC RC174H (LP0331), Mestizo 13 or NSIC RC176H (LP0353) and Mestizo 14 or NSIC RC178H (LP0330)
Under the mechanization program, it tested the functions of 73 units of farm machines to suit the Philippine farming system. It had on-farm demonstration of agricultural machines in nine provinces including Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Albay and Isabela.
Using PhilSCAT demonstrated machines, the traditional labor input of at least 20 man-day per hectare for seedbed preparation, pulling of seeds, and transplanting have been reduced to only five man-days per hectare.
The total manual labor input of
harvesting with traditional mechanical threshing operations of about 25 man-day per hectare has been significantly reduced to two man-days per hectare. Postharvest losses was reduced by five to 10 percent using PhilSCAT’s rice combine harvester and thresher, mechanical dryer and rice mill.
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About SL AGritech Corp. (SLAC)
SLAC is the Philippines’ biggest producer of
hybrid rice seeds and is the country’s pioneer in hybrid rice research and development (R&D). At a time when businesses veer away from
agriculture owing to its inherent risks brought about by weather, nature-related, and calamity-related uncertainties, SLAC’s parent firm Sterling Group of Companies, stuck its neck out, took the risk, and invested capital in hybrid rice R&D. Today, SLAC produces popular hybrid rice seed SL-8H which has helped uplift the lives of many Filipino farmers through higher rice yield. By empowering them through training by SLAC technicians in precision farming skills and the pride to sell good-quality rice, hundreds of farmers are now able to educate their children, become farm
entrepreneurs, and enjoy a higher standard of living. Farmers are able to access otherwise hard-to-reach financing facilities through the company’s “
Plant Now Pay Later” program. This contract growing which is under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility program also gives farmers the assurance of a market which is one of the most difficult tasks in the rice farming value chain whose absence can bring untold miseries to many farmers. SLAC buys their produce 100 percent at higher price compared to market From this contract growing program, SLAC produces the Dona Maria premium rice Miponica and Jasponica, the “best tasting rice in the Philippines, probably the whole world.” The company has international partnerships for
hybrid rice seed production in
Asia (Vietnam,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia) and Africa in a humanitarian aim to help solve food security threats and global hunger.
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For any questions, please call Ms. Joh Dungca, SLAC, 0917-558-6508; for interview requests, 0923-436-3177
This applies for farmers too. Quality is an important measure in selling vegetable produce. Even if a farmer is selling organically-grown vegetables, if it’s not in good quality, he won’t be able to command a high price leading to more losses.
A major constraint to growing organically-produced salad vegetables is insect pest infestation resulting to major reduction both in yield and quality of the crops.
In organic farming, a widely accepted method to control pest infestation is through botanical spraying. But this was proven to be lacking as well, if not ineffective in some cases. Various approaches and techniques are being tried in combination with the spraying of botanicals and plant concoctions to make it more potent against pests without compromising its effect on the environment.
One technique that is currently being tried by a group of researchers from the Cebu Technological Univeristy (CTU)Barili Campus is the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) to control pest infestation in organically-produced salad vegetables. The project, “Identification of Indigenous Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Effective Biological Control Agent Against Common Insect Pests of Selected Organically-Grown Salad Vegetables in Cebu,” was led by Maria Lima Pascual of CTU-Barili Campus and was funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) through the National Organic Agriculture Program.
What are entomopathogenic nematodes?
According to Dr. Pet Roey Pascual, co-project leader, EPNs are soil-borne microorganisms that feed on their host. They are microscopic and they look like threadlike worms that invade in the host insects through natural body openings (i.e. anus, mouth, etc.). Once inside the host, they release a symbiotic bacterium, which is held in the nematode’s intestine, killing the host within 24-48 hours. These EPNs rapidly feed on the host cadaver disintegrating its tissues until it is totally dispersed and gone. This particular characteristic make them an excellent potential biocontrol agent against vegetable insect pests.
Since EPNs are found in soil, they serve as good indicator that the soil is in good condition. “Naturally, if the soil is in good condition, it is less exposed to inorganic chemicals, then there is a bigger chance that we can get EPN,” Dr. Pascual explained. He added that, EPNs possess a unique combination of attributes such as broad host range, high virulence, long term efficacy, easy application, easy mass production, compatibility with most chemicals, and are environmentally safe which make them ideal components of insect pest management system.
EPN is one technology that has been available for some time. In fact, advance countries like the United States and Europe have already been using it for quite awhile. “Even in Asian countries like Korea and Thailand, they are also using EPN to control insect pests in vegetables. In the Philippines however, this method has not been fully tapped and optimally tried by our farmers. And this is mainly due to lack of awareness of the farmers on the technology. If we can bring this technology to the knowledge of the public, particularly those who are into organic farming, then more people will benefit from it,” Dr. Pascual said.
Results of the project
Essentially, the CTU-BAR project has two components: 1) studying the ecology, biology, and pathogenicity of EPNs; and 2) determining the compatibility of EPN with different organic management practices like wood vinegar under greenhouse condition, use of microbial inoculants, application of organic fertilizer, and mulching.
Since the project specifically studied on EPNs that are indigenous in the area, the group collected samples from various farms in Cebu. Based on the result of morphometrics, from the 17 samples collected, there were four species of nematodes (Heterorhabditis) identified: Heterorhabditis indica, Heterorhabditis taysearae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and Heterorhabditis marelatus. From the four species, H. bacteriophora and H. taysearae are widely distributed in Cebu province. “Having this information, we thought of how we can use this at the farmer’s field,” said Dr. Pascual.
“What we really want is to promote EPN in combination or in complementation with other existing technologies such as the use of IMO, wood vinegar, organic mulching, vermicomposting, etc. Most farmers are already practicing either one or two of these organic pest management systems, but if partnered with EPN, which they can just apply once or twice a month, then it will be less laborious but more effective,” he explained.
Results of the study showed that when tested under greenhouse condition, 2-4 cadavers are effective in controlling insect pests but if combined with wood vinegar, two cadavers will be enough and effective. Meanwhile, when tested in the field, results found that EPN is effective if partnered with kakawate wood vinegar. For organic fertilization, EPN is effective if combined with composted cow manure. It was also found effective in combination with microbial inoculants. However, using mulching in combination with EPN was not found as effective because the population of the nematodes declined due to their immobility in the covered soil.
Impact of the EPN technology
In general, if EPN is used in combination with other existing cultural management practices, results of the leaf damage using VQR (visual quality rating) showed that there will be less 50 percent leaf damage in the plant. This means, it is 50 percent better if farmers use EPN rather than no management practice is applied.
“The leaves are cleaner, with fewer holes so farmers can market their produce at a relatively higher price. At the same time, consumers are assured since the produce are organically-grown therefore free from any harmful chemicals and are safe to eat,” said Dr. Pascual.
Abeth Lawat, one of the project adopters, has attested to the benefit of using EPN. She is already using IMO and kakawate wood vinegar. She tried applying EPN to eggplant as a trial and then went on to other leafy salads like lettuce and kale and found that there was less infestation and the leaves were clean. “Before I don’t know anything about EPN but when I learned about it, I was encouraged to use it because it’s easier and simple to do,” said Lawat.
When asked on what’s next for EPN, Dr. Pascual said that “the technology is relatively new to Filipino farmers so now that the project has been completed, we want to train more farmers on the EPN technology, and at the same time, disseminate this technology through conferences and seminars not only here in Cebu but the whole region. We want more farmers to be aware of this technologyand use it to profit them.” ### by Rita T. dela Cruz http://www.bar.gov.ph
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Contact details: Dr. Pet Roey L. Pascual Director, College of Agriculture CTU-Barili, Cebu phone: (032) 470-9298 mobile: 0915-5245217 email: petroey262301@yahoo.com
“Fruit production is presently one of the major sources of income in the Cordillera and strawberry and citrus are among the high-value fruit crops in the region,” affirmed Maritess A. Alimurung, researcher and project leader from the Bureau of Plant Industry-Baguio National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center (BPIBNCRDPSC).
Strawberries are mostly grown in Benguet and part of Baguio City and some farmers are now starting to grow in other municipalities of Benguet (Atok, Buguias, Kibungan, and Mankayan) and Mountain Province (Bauko and Sagada). Meanwhile, citrus with its wider cultivation, can be seen in the Cordillera and other regions in the country.
“Varieties which are mostly National Seed Industry Council (NSIC)-registered are being mass propagated at BPI-BNCRDPSC and different growers are getting planting materials for rehabilitation and establishment of new citrus orchards both under backyard and commercial scale,” Alimurung said.
Farmers are reaping the fruits of good income because of the favorable climate and established good cultural management practices but due to pest infestation coming, quality and volume of produced fruits are being compromised.
“Infestation of different pests like mites, whiteflies, thrips, aphids, fruitflies and fruit bugs is presently a major problem on both strawberries and citrus. High infestation occurs during the dry months which are also the period of flowering and fruit development of both fruit crops,” Alimurung explained.
Thus farmers resort to the use of synthetic pesticides because of high pest infestation especially during the flowering and fruit development stage. “With the present pest problem affecting strawberry and citrus production and the different factors contributing to the continuous or permanent infestation and severe damage of the pests, different strategies are needed for better management of the different pests. At present organic crop production is being promoted and practices to promote organic fruit production must be evaluated,” she added.
With this premise, a team of researchers from BPI- BNCRDPSC conducted a project to identify effective pest management strategies for organic production of strawberry and citrus in the Cordillera. The initiative was funded and supported by the Bureau of Agricultural Research.
Four studies were conducted to manage population and damage of white grubs of snoutbeetle (Metapocyrtus (Trachycyrtus) spp.) attacking both strawberry and citrus, two spotted mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on strawberry and citrus red mites (Panonychus citri). Effect of fungal biological control agents Metarrhizium anisopliae and Beauvaria bassiana, agricultural oil sprays, wood vinegar and botanical extracts were evaluated on mites. Beauveria and Metarrhizium isolates MA-RB and MA-RBB were found more effective among the isolates tested.
It was found that soil application of these fungi, one week before transplanting and followup application one month after transplanting, significantly reduced population and damage of white grubs that were feeding on the roots. Spraying of the fungus late in the afternoon using 300 to 400 g fungus grown in cracked corn mixed in 16 li water also reduced population of mites and application at early pest population are more effective.
Spray oils, wood vinegar and plant extracts evaluated against two spotted mites on strawberry and red mites on citrus significantly reduced population and damage. Mineral oil at 1-1.5 percent rate of application, hot pepper and ginger extract at 30 to 40 ml per li water applied every 1-2 weeks were more effective. Application during late afternoon controlled build-up of mite’s population and resulted to lower degree of damage and higher marketable yield on strawberry and better growth of citrus seedlings.
Evaluated products/practices that were considered compatible with organic production are now being promoted through developed IEC, during trainings on organic production in the region and also to individuals or groups who are availing of fruit planting materials at BPI-BNCRDPSC. Results of the project were also presented in different scientific conferences for wider technology dissemination and promotion. ### by Ma. Eloisa H. Aquino http://www.bar.gov.ph
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Contact details Maritess Alimurung Agriculturist/Project Leader BPI-BNCRDPSC, Guisad, Baguio City phone: (074) 445-9084, 445-9085 or 300-3584 email: tessamoy@yahoo.com
Limitations of organic produce
Just like how pesticide residue or contamination threatens the safety of conventionally-grown produce, microbial contamination is the threat to the safety of organically-grown produce. This is primarily due to the use of animal manure in organic production. More so, microbial contamination cannot just occur during the production stage but in every stage of the handling-distribution chain.
Organic produce has shorter shelf life as opposed to its conventionally-produced counterpart. Reduced shelf life negatively affects its marketability which could mean loss of income for farmers and traders of organic produce.
Therefore, the challenge of the newly developing organic industry in the country is to deliver “organically-grown fruits and vegetables that have same safety, quality and shelf-life as their conventionally-grown counterpart,” said Dr. Dormita R. Del Carmen, university researcher, Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center-University of the Philippines Los Baños (PHTRCUPLB).
Efforts to improve organic produce
Dr. Del Carmen and funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the research project aimed to develop technologies for maintaining the quality and ensuring safety of organically-grown fruits and vegetables during harvesting, postharvest handling, storage and marketing.
To do this, the research team of Dr. Del Carmen gathered baseline information on the supply chain, and on the consumer preferences and buying habits for organically-grown fruits and vegetables. They also identified critical points where quality is lost and microbial contamination occurs in harvest and postharvest handling chain, tested the efficacy of different sanitizers, and optimized other postharvest treatments for organically-grown produce. Using these information, they identified postharvest interventions and treatments to enhance the quality, ensure safety, and extend the shelf life of organic produce. These were then translated to information education and communication (IEC) materials (i.e. technical papers, posters, technical bulletin, extension flyers, and training manual). Training on proper postharvest handling was conducted and IEC materials were disseminated and shared with the organic practitioners, agricultural technicians, other researchers, and industry stakeholders.
In the same study, Dr. Del Carmen said that microbial contamination can be prevented by following the Sanitation and Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the Code of Practice for Organic Produce set by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards.
What’s in store for us?
Although organic farming has been institutionalized through the Republic Act No. 10068 (otherwise known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010), the industry still faces many challenges (e.g. consumers’ preference for lower priced conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables, uncertainty of the supply and demand, etc.) according to Dr. Del Carmen.
Despite these challenges, organic farming has a lot of potential and benefits. Aside from the health and nutritional benefits of organic produce to the consumers, it also “benefits small and marginal farmers because the processes involved require external inputs,” as said by Senator Loren Legarda in the explanatory note for the then senate bill of Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. She also said that it could also support rural employment because it may be labor-intensive.
More so, she also mentioned that by adopting the then proposed measure, “the government adopts organic agriculture as a sustainable program that will redound to the economic benefits of farmers while ensuring the health of our people and sustainability of natural resources in our country.” ### by Rena S. Hermoso http://www.bar.gov.ph
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Contact details: Dr. Dormita R. del Carmen University Researcher PHTRC-UPLB College, Los Baños, Laguna phone: (049) 536 3138 email: drdcarmen@yahoo.com or drdelcarmen2@up.edu.ph
Cognizant of their capabilities and expertise especially in the field of agriculture and fisheries, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has established linkages and supported the R&D endeavors of various SUCs in different parts of the country.
Among these SUCs is the Central Mindanao University (CMU), one of the premier universities in the southern part of country and is located in Bukidnon. According to the 2011 list of top performing universities released by the Commission on Higher Education, CMU was in the 8th spot. CMU offers a broad range of academic programs and excels in the fields of veterinary medicine, engineering, forestry, agriculture, nutrition and dietetics, and teacher education.
Re-discovering ferns
With the desire to promote the indigenous ferns in the country as a safe and healthy food, Dr. Victor B. Amoroso and Prof. Annabelle P. Villalobos of CMU proposed a project to BAR titled, “Establishment of pteridogarden and utilization of indigenous Mindanao edible ferns as an alternative food source.” This two-year project aims to mass propagate 10 ferns indigenous to Mindanao and promote their health and wellness properties to the public.
Thinking about it, fern is an unconventional food choice for most Filipinos. The economic value of this plant is usually associated with its use as a softscape in indoor and outdoor garden landscaping.
Fern is a pteridophyte; meaning it is a vascular plant that produces neither flower nor seeds and propagates through spores found in its fronds (leaves). It is said to be the earliest plant in the world as it its population can be traced back to over 300 million years ago. Today, there are an estimated 12, 000 fern species scattered throughout the world.
Aside from its aesthetic value, some fern species are known for their healing properties. One example is the rattlesnake fern used by Indians to treat dysentery. It is applied to snakebites, bruises, cuts and sores in the Himalayas.
The Adiantum capillus veneris is used for cough, and throat and bronchial disorder in India. The male fern root is known as a purgative aid for tapeworms and other parasites.
There are species of fern that help in agricultural productivity like the case of the mosquito fern (Azolla). It was found out that blue-green algae, which has nitrogen-fixing capability, are present in Azolla in pockets in its leaves. .
For food, ferns such as edible fern crosier, ostrich fern, lady fern, etc. can be eaten as a salad, pickled, or even cooked as leafy vegetables. In the Philippines, Diplazium esculentum, commonly known as pako, is a popular ingredient for salads and stews.
Promoting indigenous ferns of Mindanao
The CMU proponents identified 10 indigenous edible ferns of Mindanao that as the focus of the BAR-funded study. These are: Marsilea crenata (apat-apat), Pteris ensiformis (pakong-parang), Acrostichum aureum (lagolo/mangrove fern), Stenochlaena melnei (hagnaya), Diplazium esculentum (pako), Angiopteris palmiformis (pakong kalabaw/giant fern), Pteridium aquilinum (sigpang/bracken fern), Cyathea contaminans (anonotong/tree fern), Aspleniumm nidus (pugad lawin /bird’s nest), and Ceratopteris thalictroides (pakong-sungay). These identified ferns are found abundantly in Mindanao and are still used by the local people as food and medicine, yet no comprehensive data on these plants exists.
The project is composed of four components. The first component is the establishment of pteridogarden in CMU. Pteridogarden comes from two combined words pteridophyte and garden, in essence, it is both an edible and medicinal fern garden. Aside from collecting and propagating the 10 indigenous edible and medicinal species of Mindanao, theCMU researchers will develop protocols for cultivating these edible and medicinal ferns.
The second component is the determination of bioactive components such as anti-oxidants and proteins of the 10 indigenous ferns. The third component is the development of protocols on harvesting, processing and food preparation of indigenous ferns. The last component is the development of an educational program for the public on the health and wellness benefits of eating fern. This includes the production of brochures and other IEC materials for information dissemination and the conduct of seminars and training to create public awareness on utilizing fern as an alternative food source aside from its health and wellness benefits.
The proponents said that they have already built concrete structure for pteridogarden within the CMU. The garden has five rectangular boxes and one circular pond for the two aquatic species. Another pteridogarden was established in the Mt. Musuan Botanical garden for the mass propagation of the 10 indigenous ferns.
All the 10 indigenous ferns have been subjected to laboratory examination. Once results are obtained, the researchers will proceed to mass propagating and developing food processing techniques for eventual distribution to the stakeholders.
A lot more need to be done in selling to the public the goodness of ferns. BAR and CMU both hope that with this project the value of ferns will be recognized, and Filipinos will start appreciating and incorporating these indigenous ferns into their cuisine. ###
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The sap contains 12–18% sugar in its natural form with important vitamins and amino acids. Coco sugar is also rich in nutrients and high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and vitamin C.
With its health benefits, the Philippine coconut sap sugar is gaining popularity here and abroad. Consider its glycemic index (GI) at 35. This is much lower than the 54 GI, the level which nutritionists consider as safe for people who have to watch out their glucose level.
A natural sweetener and functional food, coco sugar is a much welcome development for diabetics and hypoglycemics.
The inflorescence of the coconut tree provides the sap that is made into sugar. Each tree in good stand can yield an average of 2 liters of sap daily. At least four coconut trees are needed to produce one kilo of sugar per day. The production and the sugar content of the sap, however, are also determined by the location and the tree variety, as well as other factors such as the season, nutrition provided for the tree, the time and the way tapping is done.
A simple farm-level technology, the production of coco sugar is a natural process of heat evaporation to convert liquid sap to solid form of sugar granules. It requires no complicated and high-cost machineries or equipment nor a huge capital.
Source: Ricardo R. Argana, S&T Media Services- PCARRD Farmnews, DOST, January–March 2011.
Photo by 
Kamias grows in clusters and the tree is often found in backyards. It is commonly eaten raw or dipped in rock salt or dried to be used as souring ingredient in cooking traditional Filipino dishes like paksiw or sinigang. They are also processed into pickled, dried candies, and juice.
Beyond its uses as food, kamias is also believed to have medicinal properties and is used as treatment on itches or skin eruptions, rheumatism, swelling, or mumps. Not to forget the common rural use in whitening fingernails, bleaching or removing stains in clothes or rust and tarnish from brass.
With more than 2, 000 active members in the municipalities of Real, Infanta, General Nakar, and Polilio, KUMARE members are active participants in various community projects and programs. Furthermore, they are willing to participate in livelihood and income-generating activities especially those on processing and product commercialization.
KUMARE stands based on the principle of “empowering women to live their lives as fully as possible”. This can be achieved by helping them improve their economic situations, achieving a higher education for their children, having adequate health education and assistance and caring for the environment.
Seeing the potential of kamias, the Department of Agriculture-Quezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station (DA-QARES) packaged a proposal titled, “Commercializing Kamias (Averrhoa balimbi Linn) Production and Utilization for the Women Group KUMARE of Real, Quezon.” The project was funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP).
“Research progression on how to reduce the over utilization of primary crops by looking into the use of underutilized crops can be a good alternative and additional source of income. One promising crop, which is locally abundant and can offer lot of benefit, is kamias,” Dennis Bihis, project leader, explained.
He shared that trials on propagation by seeds and trials using asexual propagation are being conducted. Trials were done since kamias is relatively harder to propagate and seeds do not readily germinate. To date, 5,000 seedlings were produced where 2,500 seedlings were distributed to members of the beneficiary group and other interested clients for establishment of groves. “Based on initial results, 90 percent success rate in propagating kamias through seeds (soaked in water for 15 minutes at room temperature) has been noted,” Bihis said.
Members of the KUMARE group already attended training on kamias production, field management, and product development spearheaded by DA-QARES. Existing products developed from kamias include soap, prunes, and candy. Trials are currently being conducted to assess the oxalic acid content of the fruits to be used as bleach or anti-browning agent.
Kamias soap and sinigang powder are now available in local markets and KUMARE’s business outlet in Real, Quezon. Market linkage has been made for the two products and will be done also for other products once these have been analyzed and packaged.
The group is looking into tapping the bustling tourist industry of the province and arrangements are being made to supply products to beach resorts, hotels, and other establishments.
Venturing into the production of soap, candy, and prunes proved profitable with a return on investment of 161 percent with a payback period of one year and seven months. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted and production of the three products will still be viable given the 10 percent increase in gross cost or 10 percent decrease in gross profit scenarios.
Bihis added that beneficiaries will be given additional training on the package of technology of the crop and on value-adding technologies; and equipment for product development have been provided that they may continue implementing the project even after project completion and after funding support. ### (Ma. Eloisa H. Aquino)- bar.gov.ph
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