Agriculture Business Week

There’s a growing interest in growing high-value finfishes like seabass, pompano, mangrove snapper and lapu-lapu or grouper. These can be grown in seacages or in ponds. And the good news is that fingerlings are now available not from the wild but from the hatchery. Therefore, the fingerlings are available throughout the year.

Fingerlings can now be sourced from Finfish Hatcheries, Inc., a member of the Alcantara Group of Companies, based in Alabel, Sarangani province. The company also provides useful pointers in growing these high-priced species.

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Posted on September 29th, 2008 under Agri Tips, Aquaculture. Tags: Finfishes, Fish. Comments: None

ClingWrap, the transparent plastic film used to cover leftovers, can be used to extend the shelf life of mangosteen fruits.

In a study titled Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Mangosteen by Dr. Miguella Anabesa of the Department of Agriculture-Southern Mindanao Integrated Research Center, it was found that by wrapping mangosteen fruits with ClingWrap and then placing these in either cartons or crates or bamboo baskets (kaings), its 3- to 5day shelf life would be prolonged to 14 days.

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Posted on August 8th, 2008 under Agri Tips, Fruits. Tags: Mangosteen. Comments: None

Lanzones farms in Mindanao are infested again by scale insects. With this, the Department of Agriculture-High Value Commercial Crops (DAHVCC) program in Davao Region intensifies its information campaign on practical measures in preventing, further infestation.

According to reports, scale insects, particularly muscle insect (Lepidospahes ulmi) are damaging lanzones farms in Southern and Central Mindanao. Last year, Lanzones farms in North Cotabato, mostly in Kidapawan City, Makilala, President Roxas and Magpet areas, and in Davao City, particularly in Calinan, Toril and Manambulan, had been damaged also by scale insects.

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Posted on August 8th, 2008 under Agri Tips, Fruits. Tags: Disease, Lanzones. Comments: None

This new modified hydroponics system is user-friendly, cheap and assures farmers of complete nutrients for the plants.

You only need styrofoam boxes and cups, vegetable seeds, coco coir or saw dust, water and a liquid complete fertilizer and voila!-you can have your own vegetable garden in your own houses. This is the idea behind SNAP-an acronym for Simple Nutrient Addition Program, the latest hydroponics system developed at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos’ (UPLB) Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB). SNAP also connotes the literal meaning of the word-easy job, breeze, smooth-sailing, cinch, quick.

In 1999, scientists Primitivo Jose Santos and Eureka Teresa Ocampo, both university researchers, started to develop a low-cost hydroponics system. “That was our objective,” Santos explained. “If we use the imported hydroponics system, farmers really cannot afford it. A small greenhouse can cost you around Php1.4 million. So we tried to explore other possibilities and we were lucky because the DABAR funded this project.”

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Posted on August 3rd, 2008 under Agri Tips, Technology, Vegetables. Tags: Veggies. Comments: 1

First part of a complete guide to growing citrus and calamondin.

Citrus thrives well in tropical and subtropical climates. Some of the best quality oranges are grown in the non-humid, irrigated, sub-tropical areas such as the Mountain Province. It can be grown in our four types of climate but areas with well-distributed rainfall throughout the year are best. Those with distinct and long dry periods should bank heavily on irrigation to raise high quality citrus fruits.

Fields of citrus in the country are generally low. Citrus plantations are run on modern and intensive technology to allow their produce to compare favorably with those of developed countries.

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Posted on August 2nd, 2008 under Agri Tips, Fruits. Tags: Calamansi, Calamondin, Citrus. Comments: None

Bring nature inside your homes by creating your own dish garden. It’s a great gift and a great source additional income.

0ne of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors during this rainy season is by bringing nature inside. And the simplest, easiest way to achieve this, even in a small apartment or office is by making your own dish garden.

Dish gardens can also be great living gifts that can truly make a loved one feel special. It can be made in a few easy steps, and both parents and kids will surely enjoy making. It’s an art that can be accomplished in as little as two hours, and can be a perfect relaxing activity for busy people. Since there are so many plants and pots to choose from, selecting what to use for your garden is already in itself fun to do. Just remember to choose plants with shallow roots that can thrive in your chosen dish or pot.

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Posted on July 24th, 2008 under Agri Tips, Ornamental. Tags: Garden, Landscape, Plants. Comments: None

No matter how many times the government assures that the country has enough rice, the rice crisis seems to be the buzzword these days. But whether this is true or not, saving rice is something we should always keep in mind.

According to studies by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), some 25,000 sacks of rice are wasted every day. If saved, this volume is enough to feed nearly 4 million starving Filipinos. Here are simple ways to save rice.

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Posted on June 27th, 2008 under Agri Tips, Rice. Tags: Rice. Comments: None