Agriculture Business Week

The lowly saluyot will debut on the fashion ramp last December as a premium, earth-friendly fabric.

The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) will unveil the new fabric during a national conference in celebration of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) International Year of Natural Fibers.

“We have weaved 80 percent polyester with 20 percent spinned saluyot fibers to make smooth fabrics; the mix can go as high as 40 percent saluyot that has been treated to make fiber,” says PTRI Director Carlos C. Tomboc. “To make an all-natural blend, saluyot may also be weaved with cotton and is ideal for curtains and drapes, beddings, table runners and linens as well as burlaps for nets, ropes and geotextiles against soil erosion.”

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Researchers at the Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte have unveiled what could become the next potential biological control for anthracnose in ubi and other plant diseases.

Julie D. Tan, Evelyn B. Taboada, May V. Tampus, Jilly B. Regis and Rodney H. Perez have isolated and tested the endophytic microorganisms found in sweetpotato, which are recognized as source of secondary metabolites useful in biotechnology and agriculture. Initial results have confirmed that these endophytes produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms in plants.

In their study titled “Antimicrobial evaluation and effects of fermentation process conditions of bioactive compounds produced by endophytic Bacillus sp. against some selected food and plant pathogens”, the researchers screened isolates of endophytes from rootcrop-based products and other related fermented food products for their abilities to inhibit the growth of some selected food pathogens. They also determined the effects of fermentation on the productivity and activity of the biocontrol compound.

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Following a successful tie-up with a businessman in the commercialization of bamboo charcoal briquettes, the Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) has now started to promote its bamboo technologies in the local government level to further boost bamboo production and utilization in Region I.

ILARRDEC director Dr. Stanley Malab said during PCARRD’s 37th anniversary last November that the City of Alaminos in Pangasinan is now advocating the production and utilization of bamboo in its local industries, ranging from food establishments to the tourism sector.

The project is called “Science and Technology Intervention for the Promotion and Commercialization of Engineered Bamboo: Academe, LGU Partnership Model.”

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The introduction of a high-yielding, bunchy top virus-resistant variety is expected to boost the country’s abaca industry, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Undersecretary for policy and planning Segfredo Serrano said the new hybrid abaca variety is resistant to the dreaded bunchy top virus, a major disease that infects abaca, a source of fiber internationally known as Manila hemp. The bunchy top virus can cause three percent up to 77 percent loss in yield.

According to Serrano, the hybrid abaca variety assures farmers of increased yield by as much as 300 percent, and an even better quality fiber.

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Rose (Rosa sp) is described as the queen of all flowers because of its beauty and form. In the Philippines, it is one of the favorite flowers because of its varied colors, fragrance, and long lasting quality. It is considered one of the world’s oldest and decorative horticultural plants. This is evident from the widespread interest in it as a home garden flower and from the national popularity as a cut-flower for all occasions.

Types of roses:

1. Floribunda – about 1.5 to 2.0 feet high, prolific, either single of cluster in one stem.
2. Hybrid tea – about 3 to 6 feet tall that produce large flowers.
3. Grandiflora – resembles tall floribunda with flowers as big as hybrid tea but much larger than floribunda.
4. Miniatures – sometimes called pitiminies, which are very short, bushy and profusely producing tiny button sized flowers.

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Anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Lind.) belongs to the family Araceae. There are two types of anthurium under cultivation: the foliage and the flowering types. The foliage is grown for their velvety leaves while the flowering type is for their showy flowers, which consists of spadix and spathe. The true flowers are borne on a spike called spadix protruding from the base of the spathe.

The spathe is a modified leaf typically heart shape. It comes in different colors – pink, white, green white and red.

Recommended Varieties

Cultivars grown locally are the following:

1. Nitta (orange)
2. Kaumana (red)
3. Ozaki (dark pink)
4. Kaonaiwan (white)
5. Pink Exotica (light pink)

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Catarman, Northern Samar – Unknown to many, the abaca produced by the small farmers in Northern Samar and Leyte provinces are the best abaca fiber in the world and it has a good market, said a prominent businessman here.

Alex Tan, president of the Philippine Abaca Fiber Exporters Association, said the abaca fibers produced by the small farmers from the remote towns of Northern Samar and Leyte provinces have the best quality of abaca and it is known worldwide as the best abaca in the world.

The Bicol region is second only in terms of abaca production and quality of abaca fiber, Tan said.

Tan said he will be presenting the quality of the best abaca of Eastern Visayas during the international convention on fibers at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila come October 22 which will be attended by international businessmen.

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Once considered a nuisance, the once lowly water lily is creating ripples in the agribusiness word because of its various economics possibilities.

It is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical South America. With broad, thick, glossy, ovate leaves, it may rise above the surface of the water as much as one meter in height. The leaves are 10-20 centimeters across, and float above the water surface. It has long, spongy and bulbous stalks. The feathery, freely hanging roots are purple-black. An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8-15 conspicuously attractive flowers, mostly lavender to pink in color with six petals.

Experts call it water hyacinth but to most Filipinos it is known as “water lily.” Water hyacinth (scientific name: Eichornia crassipes) is considered the most productive plant on earth as it yields more than 200 tons of dry matter per hectare per year under normal conditions. On water containing high concentrations of sewage, it yields up to 657 tons of dry matter per hectare.

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UNAHCO (Univet Nutrition & Animal Healthcare Company), one of the country’s leading poultry and livestock feeds supplier, led by its General Manager Ricardo Alba, recently signed with Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD) President Antonio Roces for their participation to this year’s biggest integrated international trade show on agribusiness, food and aquaculture, Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink.

“This year will be the largest assembly of the world’s latest technologies, products, services and systems on agribusiness,” continued FRLD president Antonio V. Roces.

Through seminars, live animal and plant displays and other special activities, Agrilink aims to tap Filipino markets and enhance sustainable local food production and overall agricultural growth. For its part, UNAHCO is launching a couple of innovative products that will help both commercial and backyard raisers.

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Organic farming is a vibrant commercial agricultural system practiced in 120 countries, covering 31 million hectares of cultivated lands and an additional 62 million hectares of certified, wild harvested areas. In 2006, the organic market was worth US$40 billion and it is expected to reach US$70 million by 2012.

Professor Ivette Perfecto, a researcher from the University of Michigan, believes that organic farming can feed the world’s growing population. She said the idea that people would go hungry if farming went organic is “ridiculous.”

She pointed out: “Corporate interest in agriculture and the way agriculture research has been conducted in land grant institutions, with a lot of influence by the chemical companies and pesticide companies as well as fertilizer companies – all have been playing an important role in convincing the public that you need to have these inputs to produce food.”

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Whether you are a hobby farmer or one who is into farming for money, growing unusual plants is always a rewarding experience.

If you are into livestock raising, for instance, you will be glad to know that there is a new Napier grass that could assure you of abundant supply of forage grass for your farm animals, even during the dry months of the year.

The new forage grass is the Guatemalan Napier which is claimed to be an improved version of the two previous varieties introduced in the country. Napier has long been introduced in the country. It is often considered the most productive forage crop grown by ranchers as well as backyard livestock raisers. However, one has to harvest the grass every 45 days otherwise it will become too tough for the animals.

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The stalks of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) are a viable natural source of alternative textile material, according to the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI).

Researchers at PTRI are studying water hyacinth fibers as raw material for the manufacture of clothing and home fabrics. Processing the fibers with polyester staples initially produced blended yarns with 20–35 percent water hyacinth component. The stalks went through a series of chemical and mechanical treatment to achieve the crimp property of wool for better processing, reduce the plant’s glue-like or gum content, and soften the fibers to make them fine and fit for knitting and weaving into apparel and other home textiles.

For a yarn count of 15 Ne suitable for apparels, blends of 80/20 and 65/35 of polyester/water hyacinth fibers were used. The same blends of polyester/water hyacinth fibers were used to get a yarn count of 10–12 Ne ideal for home textiles such as curtains, upholstery, table runners, napkins, bed cover, pillow case, and other items found at home.

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Bamboo is known as the world’s tallest grass. But recently, it has received a new name, “the grass of hope.” More and more people around the world are now beginning to see bamboo in a different perspective. Although bamboo has been part of their art and culture, it was only recently that Chinese leaders took the plant seriously and are now building a massive bamboo industry.

The Philippines is following suit. “Bamboo has proven to be vital resources in terms of their contribution to the national economy and ecological stability of the country,” Environment Secretary Lito Atienza was quoted as saying.

A master plan for the development of bamboo as a renewable and sustainable resource showed that there are 39,000 hectares to 52,000 hectares of bamboo stands in forest lands, government plantation, privately-owned plantations, and natural stands all over the country. “I think during the 1930s, we have around 200,000 hectares of bamboo plantations,” revealed Romualdo Sta. Ana, president of the Philippine Bamboo Foundation.

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While the global crisis is reducing consumption across nations and social classes, causing massive unemployment and constricting the world economy to a precarious extent, other sectors are cashing in on some of its unexpected beneficial effects.

Among them is the herbs and other plants sector, which is experiencing immense growth, -according to Edsa Garden House consultant Pearl Banaag.

“Coupled with the thriving niche markets that promote and encourage healthy living for cosmopolitan lifestyles, herbs and other plants are now slowly taking centerstage,” Banaag said.

The need for healthy living seems to conspire with the current need to cut cost in every possible aspect of today’s life, especially with the soaring prices of medicine and healthcare.

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