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Powdered Rock Lime Controls Giant Earthworms

Like Marigold, powdered rock lime could be used to control giant earthworms (Pheretima elongate), the ruinous pest that has been damaging the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

Since powdered rock lime is used in Brazil as a source of phosphate fertilizer when mixed with manure to revitalize the soil, this author and Dr. Nancy Ann P. Gonzales thought of testing if it could be used as a control agent for giant earthworms. They also thought of testing powdered shell lime because it is also good for the soil as it is used to neutralize soil acidity.

To test the effectiveness of the materials, the researchers conducted ‘a laboratory study in the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry. They collected moist soil “and giant earthworms from an infested paddy in Banaue. And since giant earthworms are aerobic and stay favorably in moist soil approximately 1-3 feet below the paddy, during their experiment, they placed five worms in each of the 1.4 feet high plastic pails filled with moist soil.

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Posted on November 19th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: , . Comments: None

Food Stalls : BFAD Sets the Rules on Food Stalls

Setting up a food establishment can be a good investment for venture seekers indirectly because, as Filipinos, we have a particular penchant for food-from fine dining to on-the-go chow, or even the simple turo-turo. The relatively steady rise in the food manufacturing and establishment can also indicate many things. For one thing, 17.8% of the manufacturing establishments in the country comprises of food establishments (excluding beverages), and the 13% year-on-year growth of the food manufacturing industry last summer may be a good thing for the workforce. This is because as the food establishment industry shares 14.4% in the total distribution of employment in the manufacturing industry. One notable thing is that, at regions IV-A and IV-B have been collating almost 430,000 employees, while Metro Manila has 270,000.

Productivity-wise, the almost Php460B revenues of the industry can be plausibly said to directly affect our economy’s path to improvement. It was the second top grosser (in value of output) last 2005, just Php12.2B short compared to the evenly growing industry of electronic components, with the latter having Php456.4B, and the former Php444.2B; in terms of value added for manufacturing, it is the industry’s top grosser with Php106.4B.

According to Adeliza Ramos and Christmasita Oblepias of BFAD-DOH in their FAO/Who report, food establishments manufacture, process and distribute a diversity of agricultural materials, from fruits and vegetables to fisheries and livestock; the processed ones, like flour, condiments, snacks, beverages and even supplements are also derivative from agriculture. Our fondness for food aside, we cannot discount the kind of importance that the industry has in our economy. Its ties to agriculture, fisheries and livestock may as well be noted, for after all, almost every raw material from food establishments comes from this fundamental sector.

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Posted on November 16th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: , . Comments: None

How Real is the Threat of Mycotoxins for Feed and Animal Producers in Asia? (Part 1)

A recent survey of mycotoxins in Asian grains shed some light on this dangerous compound on animal feeds.

Mycotoxins are now well established as dangerous compounds in animal feed, where they cause a multitude of confusing symptoms. These typically cause poor performance and can result in disease, with the added danger of being passed into the human food chain via meat, offal and milk.

As with any - natural toxic compound that is influenced by environment and climate, it is important to keep a regular check on the current situation.

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Posted on November 13th, 2008 under Livestock, SPOTlight. Tags: . Comments: None

Seacom and PhilFoodEx at Agrilink 2008

Now on its 70th year, Seacom, one of the country’s top agribusiness firms that specialize on irrigation products and services will participate in this year’s biggest integrated international trade show on agribusiness, food and aquaculture, Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink.

In its desire to diversify, Seacom, which has entered into partnership with other service-oriented companies, will feature its extensive and impressive line of products on its first-time participation in Agrilink.

This includes engine and power products such as the Mitsubishi Meiki Gasoline Engine, which has 4 to 16.5 horsepower engines and applications that are best for fishing, agriculture, construction and commercial uses; Powermak Diesel Engines, which are available at 7 hp and io and Mitsubishi and Denyo Generators.

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Posted on November 6th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: . Comments: None

Paper Mill Sludge For Stronger Roads

Sludge, the fibrous waste material from the wastewater treatment facilities of pulp and paper mills, is a very promising material for making cheaper and stronger asphalt roads, according to a recent study by the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology based in Los Banos, Laguna.

For more durable roads, many countries use the stone mastic asphalt technology developed in Germany. The technology makes use of expensive cellulose fiber to improve the binding of asphalt with the aggregates. The introduction of this technology to Asian countries has encouraged the search for cheaper and better sources of cellulose fiber for asphalt mix.

FPRDI researcher Erlinda L. Mari dried, ground, sieved sludge samples, then mixed them with aggregates and asphalt while heating. The mixture was then compacted after which the properties of the composite were tested.

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Posted on November 6th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: . Comments: None

Microcredit: Big Things Come in Small Packages

Througout most of the developing countries, inadequate access to reasonable credit is most rural areas remains a major hurdle to the fulfillment of basic human aspirations. Complex application procedures and lack of connections and collateral are insurmountable impediments. Ironically, money-lending, especially to the poor, makes many fortunes and scarce resources are immobilized for consumption rather than invested in development.

In most parts of Asia, usury rates are deplorable. In Bangladesh, for instance, villagers routinely pay 120 percent annual interest on loans used for investment and consumption purposes. In the Philippines, Metro Manila market vendors commonly operate on a “five-six system,” paying 20 percent interest per week on their borrowed capital. Especially in agriculture, such exorbitant rates cripple investment. Access to credit at more reasonable rates often favors those who already hold wealth or exercise power, thus stifling more egalitarian participation in the economy.

One man who was very much aware of this problem was Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This Bangladeshi national was determined to find a way to free his country’s poor from the grip of usurious money-lenders. In the mid-70s, he was able to put into practice his philosophy of microcredit which he called Grameen - which means “rural bank.” The bank’s motto: “Take the bank to the people; not the people to the bank.”

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Posted on October 23rd, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: . Comments: None

Cabeza De Turko Flowers As Food

Do you know that the flowers of a certain cactus are edible? In La Union, consumers cook the flowers of cabeza de turko, a spiny cactus that could grow tall. The taller it grows, the more flowers it produces.

La Union residents, especially those in San Fernando City, said they have known as far as they can remember that the flowers of cabeza de turko are edible. They cook it as dinengdeng mixed with ampalaya leaves or fruits and grilled fish. When cooked, the flowers taste like saluyot.

Vendors at the San Fernando City public market sell five flowers for r10 because not so many residents have this plant. According to consumers, unopened flowers taste better than open ones. And so vendors do not sell open cabeza de turko flowers.

For a number of years now that I have been observing the vendors of cabeza de turko flowers, I have learned that it does not take long before the flowers are sold. Most vendors grow this cactus themselves. They told me that they sell the flowers to the city public market for additional income.

Posted on October 19th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: , . Comments: None

A Book that Redefines the Importance of Agriculture for Children

Beyond fiction, folklores, and fairy tales, many children’s book authors and illustrators grapple with how to present a science-heavy but very common topic that readily appeals to young children.

Rice science and nutrition, for example, are knowledge-intensive subjects that unlike the three “Fs” mentioned above that have been handed down for generations as a unique form of entertainment and cultural heritage, that writing a children’s book is as challenging as writing a script for a sci-fi movie.

Just recently, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) launched a children’s book titled Popong eats his rice by Chat Garrido-Ocampo, manager of the Community and Employee Relations of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and author of the book Random thoughts on rice, science, technology, etc. (Insights from a non S&T insider).
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Posted on October 16th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Comments: None

Fertilizer : Managing Possible Nutrient Losses in Your Field

With the rising cost of synthetic fertilizers in the market, it is evident that many corn farmers started reducing their use of fertilizers on a per bag basis. For the first time, financers started cutting lending to growers because fertilizers are too expensive to be bundled with hybrid seeds and other farm inputs. And besides, even fertilizer dealers felt the crunch and they themselves have difficulty. Result: prominent pale green cornfields and some significant areas left idle for what used to be a vast lush cornfields.

In reaction, the government introduced newer and cheaper way of helping our corn farmers, seed inoculants and use of organic fertilizers. While it can be of help, educating our farmers on some basics in nutrient management remains integral. It is a known fact that majority of our farmers do not know anything about soil analysis and do not have access to such services. What they know for sure is that all plants need nutrients in the form of fertilizers, however, they are not aware of what 14-14-14 and 46-0-0 tells them. Well, of course they know the names - complete fertilizer and urea, respectively - but whether they know how much and when are these applied is another story.
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Posted on October 12th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Tags: . Comments: None

Philfoodex Puts RP’s `Best Food’ Forward in the Global Market

High Production Cost. Inefficient food supply chain. Lack of funding support. For the longest time, food processors and exporters have been hounded by these problems.

And with the flooding of cheap imported goods and the unstable foreign exchange rate, the profitability of the food and export industry has been greatly affected.

But for the members of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters’ Organization (Philfoodex), the country’s biggest organization of food processors and exporters, these are not stumbling blocks but surmountable challenges. As a proof of their resolve; the group recently staged the 7th Philippine Food Expo at the SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap as guest of honor and keynote speaker.
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Posted on October 9th, 2008 under SPOTlight. Comments: None

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