Agriculture Business Week

What started as a seed company focused on breeding sorghum some 25 years ago has now become a major player in the seed industry as it has diversified into many other high-value crops, especially tropical vegetables.

This is the Allied Botanical Corporation organized by a then youthful business-minded guy named Willy Co who believed in the usefulness of sorghum, a hardy grain crop that could take the place of corn in livestock and poultry feeds.

While sorghum remains as a major interest to this day, the company has gone a long way in producing its own hybrids as well as selections of open-pollinated varieties. It is conducting its research and development activities in a 23-hectare experimental farm in Tayug, Pangasinan.

(more…)

If you have some money to invest this new year, better get hold of the latest two publications from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARD).

One is “Invest in Malapapaya Production” while the other one is “Invest in Slaughter Native Chicken Production.”

The Malapapaya is a fast-growing tree that can be a very good investment. The wood is made into food trays, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, ice cream spoons and the like. These articles are not only in demand in the local market but also abroad. Those interested should get in touch with the experts from PCARRD.

(more…)

0ne of Asia’s most influential agriculture and dairy trade fairs, the International Livestock and Dairy Exposition (ILDEX), is bringing its global expertise to Philippine shores by launching an ILDEX Pavilion at this year’s 16th Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink.

“Our ILDEX Pavilion is an interesting concept that we developed especially for the Filipino livestock market. It is a good strategic move for both Agrilink’s organizer, Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD), and ILDEX’s coordinator, NEO,” said Mr. Suhbpong Smithtun, NEO’s International Project Manager.

He continued, “FRLD had established itself over the years through strong relationships with the local agri community; while NEO, for lo years now, has had good connection with renowned technology leaders in livestock and event management. This is why the ILDEX Pavilion will be a perfect marketplace for both buyers and sellers in the livestock, dairy, meat-processing, and aquaculture industry. This is perfect timing too, as Filipino producers are in urgent need to improve their productivity and competitiveness to stay ahead of competition, especially after the full implementation of ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), which will happen next year.”

(more…)

Agrilink, on its 16th year, underscores the leeway of sustainable food production for all Filipinos around the world through micro enterprising.

In times of economic crunch, British economist Ernst Friedrich Schumacher’s saying “Small is Beautiful” rings true. Effects of’ the latest financial meltdown are experienced across the globe, the Philippines included. Agrienterprises-big or small, from corporate to backyard raisers-are suffering from major changes in costs, input availability and consumer purchasing power.

Reduced prices and demand, multiplied with increased costs in advertising, production, marketing, transportation expenses and changing consumer attitudes, significantly affect producers and manufacturers and their mass-produced products. Indeed, humongous undertakings have to take a backseat for now. Teenyweenie efforts are therefore most welcome and even encouraged.

(more…)

Le Club, the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, led by its Vice President Michel Hermelin, organized fifteen agribusiness firms to join this year’s biggest integrated international trade show on agribusiness, food and aquaculture, Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink.

On its sixth consecutive year of participation in the annual event, Le Club’s famous French Pavilion will feature diverse agricultural and food innovators, which include: Bayle SA, Bretagne International, Actemium, Island Rose, Labaronne Citaf, Le Cellier, Pamora Farms, PT Jetec, Richel Group, Rustan’s Marketing Corporation, Space, Stolz, ‘fefal, Vergnet Ilydro, and Vitalac.

Bayle SA has been a leading manufacturer of poultry processing equipment since 1931 and their range of machines goes from bird handling to cut-up equipment.

Bretagne International, which has had constant and powerful support from the Regional Council Network of 60 representatives in over 45 countries, contributes to the development of Brittany, France’s regional economy. Actemium is the brand developed by the VINCI Energies Group to support its range of services to the industrial, engineering and construction sectors. Actemium’s expertise include creation, maintenance and integration of software packages; integration of industrial information technology ; and analysis, development and deployment of the automation processes that could be vital to any business.

(more…)

The country’s wooden pallet industry is booming and the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) is in the thick of the action giving technical help to industry players.

A platform device that holds one or more cargo packages in a group, a pallet allows a load to be transferred and stored as a unit.Along with forklift trucks, pallets make it so much easier to move and store all sorts of commodities around the world, helping tens of thousands of companies save time, labor, space, and money.

In the Philippines, the surge in pallet trade began with the onset of global industrialization in the late 90s. Today, Region IV-A alone has 30 pallet makers producing 2,000 pallets a day. To help sustain the sector’s growth, FPRDI along with other agencies are pitching in their support for wooden pallet producers. Says FPRDI’s Ms. Lolita Villavelez, “The Institute helps the sector in varied ways.

(more…)

The Ilang-ilang Livehood Program has made life better for residents of this once sleepy town.

The scent of ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata) has made life sweeter – literally and figuratively – for the townspeople of Anao in Tarlac. And the fragrance of their success can diffuse and be enjoyed by many other municipalities across the country.

According to Pedrito Q. Lontok, a researcher of DOST’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) and a new graduate in MS Community Development from UP Los Banos, the residents of Anao themselves say their lives have made a turn for the better – thanks to the town’s Ilang-ilang Livelihood Program.

(more…)

Four years after its introduction into the country by an India-based research center and jumpstarting R&D initiatives on the crop, sweet sorghum holds true to its promise as the best source of feedstock for ethanol production. And such claim will be further reinforced as project leaders, designated focal persons for sweet sorghum, experts, technical coordinators and evaluators and members of the stakeholders gather for the “First National Review of BAR-Funded Projects on Sweet Sorghum” on 6-7 October 2009 at the Fernando H. Lopez Hall, BSWM.

“Sweet sorghum is a promising feedstock for bio-ethanol production in the Philippines that answers both for the country’s food and energy security. Not mainly for ethanol production, its grains can also be used as food, beverage, and feed, whereas the leaves can be used for fodder. Its stem contains high amount of sugar which can be extracted by simple milling and fermented to bioethanol,” explained Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

BAR is conducting the national review to consolidate current efforts and activities on sweet sorghum in the Philippines, particularly R&D, as well as provide relevant information on the adaptability of the crops in the regions and its other prospects as a multi-purpose crop. On the policy side, BAR hopes that with this activity, the sector is able to develop a framework for RDE on sweet sorghum and formulate plans for immediate and long-term activities to hasten its full utilization in the country.

(more…)

A wine producer in Candelaria, Quezon has come up with premium quality fruit flavored lambanog to enhance the local wine’s market potential here and abroad.

Dory’s Distillery, Inc. takes pride in its newest creations called “Lambalites.” These fruity lambanog that look like imported fruit juices at first glance contain 22 percent alcohol and come in strawberry, blackberry, melon, and bubblegum flavors.

Contained in attractive bottles designed by Design Center of the Philippines, these fermented saps of unopened coconut flowers have attracted local and foreign drinkers of alcoholic beverages. The distillery’s earlier products Organic Lamba (45 percent alcohol). Vicente Uno (45 percent alcohol), LambaJack (40 percent alcohol), Varique raisin flavor (40 percent alcohol) have also won the interests of drinkers.

(more…)

While many have done a good talk on how agriculture can contribute to peace and development in Mindanao, a couple in the island has done a very good work – they have made rebels and their families farm.

They are Drs. Edwin and Rosafe Hondrade. They started the Pagkain Para sa Masu (PPSM), a long-time government project that aims to help the poor in Mindanao, particularly ex-rebels Survive the war by teaching them backyard gardening and other farm ventures.

It is maintained by the Technical Cooperation Project 4, or the Rice-based Farming Systems and Training Support Program for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is a collaborative project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries ARMM, and PhilRice.

(more…)

As more volunteers help in nation building, I see an opportunity during this financial crisis. This means the upside of the downturn is also an opening for hope.

I attended the Agrilink co-organizers meeting recently and I was enthused by the big turnout of the fisheries industry group. The Chair of Agrilink this year is Philip Ong of Santeh Feeds. He is able to galvanize the fisheries group to participate in the coming Agrilink with more exhibitors. More live fish viewed in a series of, aquaria is a least to the eves. In view of this development, I foresee a bigger, more interesting Agrilink come October 2009. As early as now, attendance is assured. it has truly become a reunion of all agriculture and fisheries stakeholders.

Fruits and vegetables
In a recent meeting of’ the NAFC fruits and vegetables sub-committee, it was interesting to note tile change of focus of the core group of indigenous vegetables. Started tell years ago, its first locus was malunggay. The success of the malunggay as a food supplement and its other uses surpassed all expectations. Ill view of this development, the core group decided now to focus on saluyot. Mr. Antonio Rola of the core group discussed the merits of the saluyot A lot of interest was again generated by his power point well researched presentation. For example, did you know that the nutrient value of l00 gills of edible saluyot contain 7325 mg of beta carotene, 1221 mg of Vitamin A and 488 mg of calcium? It is the food for the royalty in olden days.

(more…)

Once again, the Pilmican’s spirit of volunteerism was evident on its first ever Brigada Eskwela 2009 held last May 30 at AD Jimenez Elementary School. The said school was chosen as, beneficiary for it belongs at the same community with Pilmico Animal Nutrition. This Education Community Relationship initiative aims to provide our little brothers and sisters in the community with a good learning environment through clean and furnished classrooms. Through this, learning is made more easy and fun for the schoolchildren. At the same time, it also aims for Pilmicans to be able to live the brand as the school beneficiary’s “Partners for Growth.”

Brigada Eskwela 2009 had a total of 32 volunteers from both Plant and Farm employees of Pilmico headed by its Admin. Officer and ComRel Coordinator Ms. Gammycel Sarausad.

The activity started at 8:30am with an opening prayer followed by a welcome remark both facilitated by the warm faculty of AD Jimenez.

To end the ceremony, Capas East District Supervisor Rustico G. Castro relayed his gratitude to Pilmico for again bringing the school to another step towards betterment. In his speech lie said that such program of Pilmico is indeed appreciated by everyone from the faculty to the students.

(more…)

After more than 30 years in the industry, Agrispecialist, Inc. has moved to a new home to best service the needs its customers. Its new address is American Road, Greenfield Autopark, Greenfield City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, telephone numbers 02-5844202 to 04, 02-5844250 to 51 & fax number 02-584420.

Agrispecialist, Inc. is engaged in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of animal health and nutritional products for poultry, livestock & aquaculture industries. It has exclusive distribution rights in the Philippines for animal health and nutritional products of major American and European firms such as ADM BioProducts; Agtech Products Inc., Cenzone Tech., Oshawa Specialty Products, Trouw Nutrition, Micronutrients Inc., Owensboro Grain Company, JBS United Inc., Midwest Ag Enterprises,    Delst Inc., Dyadic International, Hills Pet Nutrition and others.

As a testament to its trailblazing tradition Agrispecialist, Inc. has embarked to being an ISO certified company and was granted the ISO:9002 certification on August 13, 1997 which later was upgraded to ISO 9001:2000 in 2001 until 2007. Furthermore, Agrispecialist, Inc. in its commitment to the industry to improve product quality & service, is now certified to operate a Food Safety Management System conforming to ISO 22000:2005 for the “production and distribution of animal health and nutritional products.” And aside from being an ISO certified company, Agrispecialist, Inc. was awarded the Proudly Philippine Made Global Seal of Excellence.

Nueva Ecija – For many years, the Kalahans earn a living only by producing fruit preserves. These native forest dwellers of the province sell their jams and jellies in supermarkets in Metro Manila. Sadly, their income hardly make ends meet, especially these hard times.

For this reason, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) of the Department of Science and Technology thought of teaching these folk to make handmade paper as an added source of income. FPRDI conducted a three-day training course for this purpose and mostly housewives and students attended it.

“We taught [them] how to make handmade paper from salago bark, cogon leaves, and wild banana leave sheaths. They were surprised to learn that these raw materials that thrive in their land and have little use to them can easily be transformed into beautiful handmade paper,” said Cesar O. Austria of FPRDI.

(more…)