Agriculture Business Week

“Ang halaman doon ay sari-sari. Singkatnas at talong, sigarilyas at mans, sitaw, bataw, patani, kundol, patola, upo, kalabasa, labanos, mustasa, sibuyas, kamatis,bawang, luya at linga…”

So goes a familiar line of the very popular Filipino folksong “Bahay Kubo.” The 18 crops mentioned in the song are Grown in the Bahay Kubo Garden of the Department of Crop Science of the College ofAgriculture of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU).

A new project of the department, the 200 square-meter garden serves as model for farmers and for urban families in growing organic vegetables in limited space. The garden has planting boxes for each crops. What’s interesting with this is that the crops are planted in the order these are sung in the folk song.

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This organic egg promotes growth, restores vitality and helps keeps us away from diseases.

Eggs are an essential and versatile ingredient for many baked goods, a key ingredient to so many delicious and nutritious dishes, and of course, great for breakfast.

But nowadays, people are now nary chicken eggs in the market open grass) like becoming conscious about the food they eat. Maybe this is why there were an increasing number of folks claiming to have organically grown eggs. They also believe that it is healthier to eat organic eggs than to have ordinary chicken eggs in the market because organic ones come from chickens that are treated with hormones (antibiotic free) and so our body should be safe from chemicals.

Organic egg, they said, is from free range chicken (raised on open grass) like native chicken.

They eat seed, grains, grass and other plants…unlike the commercial chickens fed with feeds made up of animal and fish byproducts which cause that fishy taste in their eggs. But these are not always true.

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A low-cost and effective organic fertilizer from seaweeds has been developed by researchers of the Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine School of Technology .

Fertilizers are major inputs in agriculture and aquaculture. The rising prices of petroleum-based chemical fertilizers have increased production costs of farms in the country and reduced farmers’ incomes. The use of organic fertilizers in combination with inorganic fertilizers is now being promoted by the government to improve farm profitability and protect the environment.

A low-cost and effective organic fertilizer from seaweeds has been developed by researchers of the Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine School of Technology (SPAMAST) in Davao del Sur led Gracilla Caballero. The technology was based on the observation that ornamental plant growers use the exudate or drippings of seaweeds for fertilizing orchids. To determine whether there was any scientific basis for such practice, the SPAMAST scientists conducted studies.

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It seems the organic movement is going great everywhere. Thanks to the soaring prices of chemical fertilizers three or four years ago, more and more farmers have turned to organic farming. Instead of urea and the like, many have resorted to processed as well as semi-processed organic fertilizers. An increasing number of practitioners have resorted to beneficial organisms to enrich plant extracts, fish emulsion and so on. More people are turning to fermentation technology for the production of organic plant growth enhancers.

And one of the more interesting developments that came to our attention is the project of Dr. Ofelia Peralta of the Sunshine International School in Daraga, Albay. Last year she bought a one-hectare property in front of her school which she converted into an organic farm producing high-value vegetables and other crops.

What is so interesting is that she has organized an Eco-Friendly Club with the grade school kids as its members. The young children are introduced to the wonderful world of growing crops the organic way. The members hold meetings during which they are taught the basics of growing plants and taking good care of them. This way, they also learn to love eating vegetables and fruits which lead to a healthy life style.

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Filipino farmers who are searching for a system that is not only environment friendly but improves their income as well should look no further. The answer to their quest: organic farming.

In Mindanao, at least 120 hectares of rice farms in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao is planted to organic rice. It is an agriculture practice that is already gaining ground around the country’s second largest island as many farmers have now seen the sweet harvest of those who went ahead of them and practiced what was earlier was less popular.

“Organic agriculture is the answer,” pointed out Jessica Reyes-Cantos of the Manila-based Rice Watch and Action Network. “It won’t only retain soil productivity but it can make farming viable. If farmers will have additional income from their land they will continue to plant rice.”

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At 71, Jaime Tadeo has been living a colorful life. From being a government extension worker, he experienced being a communist, activist, convict, and given pardon.

Today, he is living a new, interesting life as an organic farmer. As aging cools his ardor and intransigence for the farmers’ cause, he realizes more threats to the rural community, and one major threat is climate change.

Tadeo believes that organic farming can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This is the reason why he joined another movement—a peaceful movement this time and that is Go Organic, Philippines.

It is a consortium of NGOs led by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) and the La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI). Endorsed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Go Organic promotes the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides.

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Soular Organic Farm’s owners tell us how organic farming changed their lives and how they want to share the same brand of bliss with other people.

Several years ago, Editha and husband Omar ‘Jing’ Tobias were Filipinos  just dream of- Edith as an accountant-comptroller of one of the biggest diamond processors in the world and Jing as a management consultant in New York, nonetheless. They had lucrative jobs, the humbly plush address and luxurious cocktails every weekend as possible.

But the price they paid for that kind of lifestyle was higher than the cost of Big Apple living. “We moved up financially, yes. But my husband and I were away from our children most of the time. We missed countless programs at school for our children and there was even one time when our children had to set up the Christmas tree all by themselves because the two of us weren’t there,” continued Edith.

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Here’s an in-depth look at the world of organic farming for both livestock and organic.

Organic farmers should promote animal well-being throughout the farm. This may be done by minimizing physical and psychological stress on the animals and reducing the incidence of disease. Also, when animals are not stressed, veterinary hills are reduced and meat tenderness is maintained.

Pain and stress relief Conventional farming practices such as castrating, marking and mulesing, if it cannot be avoided, should be kept to a minimum.

Physical alternations should be provided as needed to promote the animal’s welfare and in a manner that reduces pain and stress. Anesthetics lidocaine and procaine are allowed to be sued for pain reduction. Chlorohexidine is also allowed for surgical procedures conducted by a veterinarian, as well as a number of other topical disinfectants.

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Here’s an in-depth look at the world of organic farming for both livestock and organic.

High production is the typical aim in conventional farming. In organic farming systems, the farmer chooses animals for a wider range of qualities. These qualities include the mothering ability and tolerance for pest and disease. Lifetime yield is given more importance, and the productive life of animals is given priority.

Longer life expectancy of animals has several advantages for the farmer. It allows the farmer to get to know his animals, including health and disease history. It also allows the herd to have a stable social order and health state. Because of their longevity, the animals become more adapted to the conditions, thus lessening the stress factors. For cows and other mammals, colostrums quality and quantity also increase over time.

Artificial insemination is generally discouraged except for cases where new genetic material is needed. Embryo transplant is prohibited because this practice requires hormone injection so that the breeding cycles of the animals are synchronized. Genetic engineering is also prohibited in organic farm operations.

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Why are organic products getting the consumers’ nod in Asia and in other parts of the world?

As consumers today are becoming increasingly aware of the issues concerning food safety, there emerges a positive perception of organic and eco-labeled food products which has given rise to an emerging niche market for such products in recent years. Such development is evident in the increasing demand for organically or naturally produced products, for which consumers are willing to pay a premium price.

In the case of aquaculture, the prospects are bright both in the domestic and foreign markets as there has been an increasing trend in production and demand in the past years, says Tarlochan Singh, chief of Malaysia-based INFOFISH Technical Advisory Services at the recent CFC/FAO INFOFISH workshop series on organic aquaculture production and marketing held in Makati.

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Organic rice farming can be a sustainable and profitable undertaking, especially if farmers will integrate growing fish and vegetables. That’s what Armand and Tere Perez-Saniano are trying to show in their Earthkeepers Learning Farm in Brgy. Lalig, Tiaong, Quezon.

Last October, they put up a 5,000-square meter showcase where they grew organic rice together with their favorite vegetables like tomato, eggplant, hot pepper, taro, soya and okra, as well as fish (tilapia and hito).

The half-hectare lot was divided into five rice paddies, separated by dikes that are about a meter wide. Along the dikes surrounding the rice plants in each paddy, they constructed a canal which was stocked with either tilapia or hito. That’s where they stayed when the rice field water ebbed. But if the water was maintained above the ground, the fish roamed the entire field, in the process feeding on the harmful insects that may have been attacking the rice plants. Their feces also served as fertilizer to the rice plants.

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According  to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa),  El Niño, a weather phenomenon characterized by dry spells, may peak in February.   Sunstar Davao (28 december 2009) reported  that Davao City and the provinces of Davao Region have been categorized as moderately vulnerable to the El Niño phenomenon alongside with the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Romblon, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique, Bohol, Samar, Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga Sur, and Bukidnon. The Center for Initiative and Research on Climate Adaptation (Circa) explained that the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (Eenso) is a recurrent ocean-warming and atmospheric disturbance resulting in deficient rainfall or prolonged drought.  This phenomenon is expected to adversely affect crop production.

Drought is a major limiting factor in farming.  Limited moisture suppresses the growth of crops, weakens the resistance  to pests and diseases, affects nutrient utilization and usually decreases the quality and quantity of yield.  Drought can cause damage to cell membranes.  Not all plants develop antioxidant defense systems to cope with  drought such that application of natural plant supplements that enhances resistance to drought maybe necessary during drought.   Cytokinins, a class of phytohormones, function as antioxidants and have been shown to improve drought resistance and exhibit anti-senescence properties  Musgrave,1994. Thimann (1987) noted that cytokinins delay the senescence process probably by maintaining the integrity of the tonoplast membrane.  Tonoplast membrane is the cytoplasmic membrane surrounding the vacuole, separating the vacuolar contents from the cytoplasm in a cell.  As a membrane, it is mainly involved in regulating the movements of ions around the cell, and isolating materials that might be harmful or a threat to the cell (www.biology-online.org/dictionary)

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In the last five years or so, the high price of commercial fertilizer has become one of the major concerns of our farmers. Due to this, many farmers cannot give their plants substantial amount of fertilize: Also, due to the use of these chemical fertilizers, many important soil nutrients were lost, resulting in unhealthy crops.

Here in Ilocos Sur, it has been agreed to avoid using inorganic fertilizer for five years. The reason, says the local government, is to lessen the cost of production and to restore lost soil nutrients.

For this reason, a vermicomposting facility has been set up at the 16-hectare BaRang-ay Demo farm in Labing, San Juan. Called Demo on Vermiculture utilizing Biodegradable Substrate (DVBS), the facility will serve as a model in the production of organic fertilizer.

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Among the many available fertilizers now in the market, liquid seaweed extract belongs to the most beneficial. This is because it is not only a plant food, but it effectively works as a biostimulant and a soil conditioner as well. Yet, many farmers still do not realize it. Although proven valuable as fertilizer, this product is probably the last that most farmers will think of buying when they go to their local Agri-supply store. They do not see the advantage that liquid seaweed fertilizer is not just organic and natural, but that it comes from a sustainable source and its production is done without harming the environment.

In the Philippine market, there are only a handful of registered and proven seaweed extract and most are even imported and thus expensive. VEGEGROW seaweed extract is a proudly Philippine made product that is proven effective yet economical. It is a natural plant food and biostimulant produced from 100% liquid seaweed extracts. It passed through a scientific extraction process that is designed to maximize the derived amount of primary, secondary and trace elements, as well as the naturally occurring plant growth regulators and other beneficial compounds. It is non-fibrous and non-neutralized alkali extracted.

Vegegrow works on a wide variety of crops and is compatible with other inputs. It provides a wide range of beneficial effects that include providing a well-balanced nutrition, improved growth & development of crops, increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, soil conditioning and enhanced yield. Vegegrow combines in one unique formulation the essential properties of three (3) seaweed species found in tropical waters namely Euchema cotonii, Euchema spinosum, Sargasum polycystum.  These are the same seaweed species used to produce food supplements, food ingredients and enhancers, cosmetics etc., proving its being safe for environment and humans.

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