Agriculture Business Week

Bronzeoak Philippines’ Jose Maria T. Zabaleta talks about the first Integrated Ethanol Distillery and Power Cogeneration Plant in the country.

Last 2006, Jose Maria T. Zabaleta was the executive director of the Philippine Sugar Millers Association, (PSMA) Inc. and eagerly spoke about his being an advocate of the use of sugarcane as a source of energy and fuel ethanol.

Today, the dynamic Zabaleta wears a different hat. As President and COO of Bronzeoak Philippines and Chairman of the San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc., the maverick businessman talks about sugarcane in a different light. It’s no longer just a mere crop from which we sweeten our foods, but also as potent source of fuel and electricity.

Together with Ms. Sheva Mehrabi, Bronzeoak Philippines’ corporate communication and marketing officer, Mr. Zabaleta giddily shared with us the huge and bright potentials of his latest project-the San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc.

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Posted on November 16th, 2008 under Going Green, Other Crops. Tags: Bio-Ethanol, Sugar, Sugarcane. Comments: None

Despite the lack of education, a former tuba gatherer in Misamis Oriental and his wife have made it big in cornmilling and in corn farming.

From 1958 to 1967, 66-year-old Ponciano “Cian” Nob worked as a tuba gatherer and earned P2 for every can of tuba he gathered. He usually gathered two cans of tuba a day and, hence, earned P4 a day or a total of P120 a month. Although it was not big, his income enabled him to provide the basic needs of a growing family.

Sensing that tuba gathering would not be able to provide well for his children, Cian put up a sari-sari store along the highway in El Salvador with an initial capital of P300 in 1967. While his wife, Hipolita, attended to the store, he later engaged in hog and cattle buying. He went around the neighboring towns like Naawan, Manticao and Lugait and brought the animals to Cagayan de Oro City using a service jeep.
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Posted on October 13th, 2008 under Corn/Maize, Entrepreneurs, Other Crops. Tags: Corn, Sugar. Comments: None

Dr. Evelina Tablan, naturepath doctor from San Francisco, California who promotes the use of coconut sugar among other organic foods shared in a press conference the benefits of coco sugar.

Dr. Tablan mentioned the three cases of patients with prostate problems. For two weeks, the patients took 1 tbsp of coco sugar three times a day. Later tests revealed that the reading went down from 14 to 2. She also said the coco sugar will soon be used as substitute for Viagra becaus of the high glutamic acid content.

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Posted on August 25th, 2008 under Other Crops. Tags: Coconut, Sugar. Comments: None

In a recent talk with agri-practioners from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos (UPLB), I was told of their disappointment over the seemingly wholesale invasion of agricultural products in the local market from China. This was coupled with the government plan to open a million hectares of agri-land for Chinese businessmen, despite of the existence or availability of local agri-talents recognized and hired by foreign governments and organizations.

To a large extent, I share their concern. UPLB enjoyed high international recognition as an educational institution producing top caliber agri-people. But the inability of the Philippines to elevate its agricultural productivity equal if not better than nearby countries somehow puts a dent in its image. Somewhere, somehow, the agriculture scenario seems not equal to the recognition anymore.

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Posted on July 31st, 2008 under Coffee, Corn/Maize, Other Crops, Rice. Tags: Coffee, Corn, Rice, Sugar. Comments: None

Sugar industry leaders in the country recently called for a review of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) as it criticized its “inherent flaws” which, they claimed, even defeats its noble purpose of liberating farmers from the bondage of tenancy.

The United Sugarcane Planters Federation (UNIFED), one of the largest coalitions of sugarcane farmers in the country said that a CARP review is needed at this point to be able to correct its defects and “make it attuned to the realites on the ground and aims of legitimate farmers.”

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Posted on July 26th, 2008 under Special Report. Tags: CARP, Sugar. Comments: None

Challenges and prospects for 2008 Commodity Highlights

Palay. Growth will continue to be moderate with the increased adoption of modern productivity technologies promoted through the GMA Rice Program as area harvested will basically stay the same. The higher budget for rice production will also be a plus factor for the sector’s growth. The PAGASA’s forecast indicates the start of a weak to strong La Nina which will likely last until early April of 2008. This can be good for production depending on its severity. A number of international agencies have indicated that there may be tight supply in 2008 with increased trade due to strong consumption. Rising demand and tight supply will keep world rice prices high.

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Posted on July 26th, 2008 under Special Report. Tags: Climate Change, Coconut, Corn, Economy, Philippine Agriculture, Rice, Sugar. Comments: None

Consumer interest in healthy and organic foods has revived the interest in muscovado sugar.

Did you know that excessive consumption of refined sugar can lead one to suffer from increased cholesterol levels, gallstones, and weak eyesight? For years, refined sugar has been the primary sweetener for everyone. But, recent research has shed light on some health complications caused by excessive intake of refined sugar. Because of the general trend these days for more healthy options, people are rediscovering healthy and organic foods like brown rice, muscovado, etc. These products often contain little chemicals and undergo little processing. Of these products, muscovado has one of the greatest potentials in terms of export and may be the key to revive the country’s flagging sugar industry.

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Posted on July 24th, 2008 under Other Crops. Tags: Muscovado, Sugar. Comments: None

A new fertilization technology may prove to be a viable help in today’s middling sector.

Fertilizers are as important as seeds themselves. Their increasing cost may not do well with the erratic supply and demand, so farmers are stuck with a Php1400 worth of 18-46-0 and Php1000 urea. Doubling the price from a preceding half, and with a consequent of a higher crop price, the potential setback can be one domino over another: freight costs, competition to other agricultural countries, oil hikes, importation cuts and a paltry exportation rate.

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Posted on July 23rd, 2008 under Corn/Maize, Rice, Technology, Vegetables. Tags: Corn, Fertilizer, Rice, Sugar, Veggies. Comments: None