Agriculture.ph Blog

Ratooning rice is advantageous

Following a large scale rice ratooning project in Ormoc City where some 500 hectares of irrigated rice farms last March to May, the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program is bent on pushing the adoption of the technology up to the year 2013.

Dr. Frisco Malabanan, GMA rice program director, said that the ratooning project pushed by Mayor Eric Codilla involving 274 farmers in 17 adjoining barangays was very successful. The farmers were able to produce 20 to 30 cavans per hectare in addition to the more than 100 cavans per hectare of the original harvest.

Ratooning is a technique where the rice stubbles after harvest are allowed to produce new growth that will bear new panicles that are harvestable in just 45 to 60 days later. This is an inexpensive way of producing a second harvest of rice from the same plants because there’s no need to plow the land, no need to plant new seedlings and only one sack of fertilizer is applied per hectare. There’s less likelihood that the crop will be damaged by pests and diseases or by inclement weather because the growing period is very short.

The hybrid rice varieties are particularly suited for ratooning as revealed by the experience in Ormoc. One farmer who ratooned his hybrid rice got 32 cavans per hectare in addition to the 160 cavans he earlier got from the main harvest.

The target of the next ratooning program is for the farmers to get about 40 cavans more from their ratoon crops. At the going price of P725 per cavan, the farmer will be able to gross P29,000 from one hectare. With a production cost of P7,170 per hectare, the farmer can earn an extra income of P21,830 per hectare in addition to what he can get from the main harvest.

Ratooning is possible only in irrigated fields. While there are big areas of irrigated rice elsewhere, it is only in Ormoc City where the biggest ratooning project has been implemented so far. Dr. Malabanan says there is a need to showcase the technology in other rice growing areas. In Ormoc City, the local government unit, the regional field unit of the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration have agreed to intensify the promotion of hybrid rice ratooning technology through the provision of location specific interventions and advocacy programs to farmer beneficiaries who will participate in the program.

Written by Zac Sarian

Source: Manila BUlletin

DA, AFP to invest in rubber-plantation project

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are set to invest in a rubber-plantation project in Bukidnon to provide additional funds for soldiers’ training and acquisition of military equipment, among others.

In a statement, the DA said that, together with the AFP, it will convert a 10,000-hectare idle portion of the 42,000-hectare Kibaritan Military Reservation in Bukidnon into a corporate farm devoted to growing rubber with possible expansion up to 16,000 hectares.

The AFP initially estimated its investment in the project at P70 million spent over seven years of planting and plantation management.

“The pilot project, if found profitable, was envisioned to be a template in developing idle parts of wide areas of military properties from Luzon to Mindanao to raise funds to sustain the AFP’s integrated logistical requirements for training; morale and welfare of military personnel; acquisition and maintenance of mission-essential equipment; and showcase production technology for rubber and other agricultural crops. Moreover, the project is envisioned to provide sources of livelihood to settlers close or inside those reservations,” the DA said in a statement.

National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) chairman and Agriculture Undersecretary Jess Paras said Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earlier endorsed the joint project as an in-partner showcase to the peace-and-development efforts in Mindanao. Nabcor is one of the investment arms of the DA.

Paras said a memorandum of agreement between the DA and the AFP is already being finalized, and will be signed by the middle of September this year.

The Nabcor head instructed his technical people to join representatives of the AFP headquarters in Manila to jointly inspect the area to fine-tune the implementing guidelines under the plan and validate the projected-investment requirements and viability analysis made by the military brass.

Paras also ordered his people to find out the viability of multiple cropping with other cash crops, like corn and coffee, and the possibility of an engineering brigade based in Bukidnon to help in building access roads to the plantation and other facilities, like putting up an irrigation system.

A technical working group from the AFP and the DA, he said, has met four times and visited the proposed rubber plantation.

Soil samples from the first 1,000 hectares to be planted on in the first year of the project have been taken for analysis to determine if other crops, including corn, coffee and cassava, are suitable.

The inspection team also found that 16,000 hectares, out of the original 42,000-hectare reservation, have been awarded to agrarian-reform beneficiaries under certificates of land acquisition.

Part of the proposed plantation was also found to be cultivated by some farmers who had an agreement with the camp commander to make those idle patches productive while the government had no use for them.

In a dialogue with farmers, the project implementers told the temporary occupants that they will be taken in as workers as soon as the plantation work has been started.

Written by Cai U. Ordinario

Source: Business Mirror

FIELDS program, plus rainy weather, moves RP closer to rice self-sufficiency

FULL-blast operations of the FIELDS component of the GMA rice program, coupled with abundant rains, are seen to bolster a bumper harvest of rice this coming harvest season, starting next month.

FIELDS stands for Fertilizers, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, Extension, Education and training for farmers, Loans, Dryers and other post-harvest facilities, and Seeds of the high- yielding varieties. It was launched in April last year when global rice prices started hitting historic highs.

Besides rice, the program covers corn, high-value crops, livestock and fisheries.

Barring any devastating typhoon going the way of four major rice-producing regions in Luzon and the Visayas and an El Niño-triggered drought in the Zamboanga Peninsula, rice harvests this year are seen to meet, if not surpass, the 17.48-million-ton forecast  harvests from 2.66 million hectares planted to rice this year.

This was the assessment made by Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Jess Paras on the basis of the latest situation report to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier this week on the aggressive implementation of the FIELDS program in the rice sector by rice program director Frisco Malabanan.

“Based on current planting reports, certified seeds have already exceeded the 2008 wet-season performance and significant production gain is expected in Western Visayas, thus high-yield increment is expected,” Paras said.

There was also a marked increase in areas planted to rice during the main planting season as typhoons Dante, Emong and Feria brought in abundant rain, but made little devastations when they entered the country, he added.

An estimate made by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics on the total area planted to rice was 2.66 million hectares, much higher than the 1.95 million hectares that yielded 7.4 million metric tons during the dry-season planting in the first half of the year.

Since last year, the DA had made it a major thrust the restoration of irrigation systems that have gone inefficient in past years, the building of postharvest facilities, particularly dryers, and the provision of hybrid-and inbred-rice seed at subsidized price to farmers.

Last year alone, deteriorated irrigation systems providing water to 24,430 hectares were rehabilitated, while totally dysfunctional irrigation canals were restored to irrigate 41,735 hectares. Records for this year on restoration and rehabilitation of old irrigation systems are yet to be consolidated.

Although the FIELDS program covers the whole country, higher incremental harvests on large swats of rice lands have been focused on the five largest rice-producing regions, namely, Central Luzon, the Bicol region, Cagayan Valley, the Ilocos-Pangasinan region and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The five regions supply more than half (60 percent) of the entire rice production in the Philippines.

Written by Jonathan L. Mayuga

Source: Business Mirror

NFA buys 30,000 MT yellow corn, 5% of ’09 goal

THE National Food Authority (NFA) has bought some 30,000 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn from farmers as of end-August, or about 5 percent of the agency’s procurement target of 600,000 MT until the end of 2009.

The food agency’s procurement target is 20 percent of the expected yield of around 3 million metric tons of yellow corn during the main harvest which started in August.

NFA administrator Jessup Navarro said the Department of Finance has already authorized an additional standby guaranteed credit line of P5.75 billion for the agency’s corn-buying activity.

In a statement, the NFA said it will buy clean and dry yellow-corn grains at P10 per kilogram. This is lower than the P13 per kilogram announced by the Deparment of Agriculture (DA) in May.

“[The] NFA’s reduced buying price for yellow corn has improved the agency’s financial capability to buy more corn from farmers,” said Navarro in a statement.

Earlier, corn farmers from the Philippine Maize Federation opposed this new buying price, saying the government had already agreed to buy corn at P13 per kilogram.

In May, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap announced that the government will buy 300,000 MT of yellow corn at P13 per kilogram during the main harvest.

The NFA, however, said the effective buying price will be at P10.40 per kilogram, as individual farmers will get additional incentives of P0.20 per kilo for drying and P0.20 per kilo for delivery.

For farmer organizations, the NFA grants P0.30 per kilogram cooperative development incentive fee (CDIF) on top of the drying and delivery incentives for a total buying price of P10.70 per kilogram. The CDIF is used for constructing postharvest facilities.

The NFA has also relaxed the purity requirement for yellow-corn grains to 96 percent from the previous 97 percent. The percentage presence of kernels of other colors has also been increased to 5 percent from the previous 4 percent. The standard for foreign matters has been adjusted to 4 percent from the previous 3 percent.

The NFA’s requirement for moisture content, however, remains at 14 percent. Damaged kernels remain at 5 percent, while the shriveled and immature kernels will be at the maximum of 3 percent.

The attached agency of the DA will also buy corn on cobs in Ifugao and Wao in Lanao del Sur where NFA corn centers are located. Navarro said the volume of corn-on-cobs procurement shall be limited to the maximum capacity of the dryers and shellers of the corn centers in these areas.

For other provinces and areas without corn centers, corn procurement will be limited to shelled corn.

The NFA said it will be lending its drying facilities to farmers to help them improve the quality of their produce. Individual farmers selling their produce to NFA will be charged a subsidized drying fee of P12 per bag of 50 kilograms.

Written by Jennifer A. Ng

Source: Business Mirror

Philmaize asks government: Restore P13-per-kilo support price for corn

CORN farmers belonging to the Philippine Maize Federation (Philmaize) appealed to Malacañang to restore the P13-per-kilogram support price for yellow corn.

In a statement sent to reporters, Philmaize president Roger Navarro appealed to President Arroyo to help “intervene” in the issue of the support price for corn.

“Philmaize feels that [the matter] is beyond the power of the secretary of agriculture to resolve. We believe this is the time for the President to intervene on the matter,” said Navarro.

“We, therefore, appeal to our Excellency to restore the P13-per- kilogram support price pronounced prior to the last planting season, especially now that it is harvest time throughout the country,” he stressed.

Navarro said the President may consider using her calamity funds for the purpose, as the fall in the ex-farm prices of yellow corn is “a calamity.”

“Under this difficult situation, the President’s intervention is needed to restore the market for our corn farmers to earn a decent income and gain confidence to replant,” he said.

The appeal came after the National Food Authority (NFA), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), announced that it will no longer buy yellow corn at P13 per kilogram.

NFA Administrator Jessup Navarro said the agency will buy clean and dry corn at P10 per kilogram, and that it will grant incentives to individual farmers and farmers’ organizations.

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the decision to bring down the support price for yellow corn to P10 per kilo was made in consultation with other corn farmers.

Yap had also pointed out that corn farmers would still earn from the new support price, since they incur a production cost of P6 to P7 per kilo. Also, he said, the new support price would allow the government to buy more corn from farmers. The NFA has increased its buying target to 600,000 MT from 300,000 MT announced earlier.

Philmaize cried for help at the start of the harvest in August, when ex-farm  prices of fresh yellow corn dropped to as low as P4.50 per kilo as against P8 per kilo last year.

The group blamed this to the issuance of Executive Order 765, which scrapped the 7-percent tariff on feed-grade wheat.

Philmaize claimed that no one from concerned government agencies could tell who authorized the inclusion of feed-grade wheat in EO 765.

The country is now in the middle of main harvest and farmers are expected to harvest as much as 3 million MT of yellow corn.

Written by Jennifer A. Ng

Source: Business Mirror

Underestimate not the lowly camote

The camote or sweetpotato is more important than you think in ensuring food security. It is providing a decent source of income even for the lowly farmers who don’t have much capital to spend in their farming.

A few weeks back, we wrote about what’s new in sweetpotato after visiting the PhilRootcrops at the Visayas State University. There, the researchers are developing varieties for commercial production. Dr. Julie Tan, on the other hand, has been developing new products like wine and other camote-based products with added value.

In our more recent trip to the farms in Cebu, we have talked to farmers who are making a good livelihood in planting camote, even under not so ideal growing conditions. The soil in Cebu, many will tell you, is not really the best for growing agricultural crops. But with the technologies that have been imparted by the Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) started by Dr. Romulo G. Davide in 1994, the farmers trained in scientific farming can produce abundant harvests from their poor soil. They have learned to improve their growing conditions, largely through the application of processed organic fertilizer.

Edgardo Daogdaog of Brgy. Ubaob in Argao, is one fellow who grows a lot of camote in his farm. He grows the variety with red skin and yellow flesh which is high-yielding and is preferred by consumers. Rootcrops like camote can be a substitute for rice in the countryside. It is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins, too.

Although camote commands a price of only P10 to P20 ex-farm in Cebu, Daogdaog makes enough income to sustain his family. In fact, he was even able to buy a multicab truck with his income from camote. He now uses his vehicle to transport goods to and from Cebu City or some other places.

Enterprising investors are also coming up with new camote-based delicacies. Just like Jestrera’s of Camotes Island which displayed several camote-based delicacies during the Organic Forum held last August 21 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Camote is also recommended for areas that are often devastated by typhoons. It is one of the crops used in the rehabilitation of Bicol after it was hit by strong typhoons and floods a few years back. By the way, Dr. Davide’s FSTP is now being adopted in Bicol. He was in Bicol recently to attend the launching of the project which will turn ordinary farmers into hands-on farm scientists.

Written by Zac Sarian

Source: Manila Bulletin

Indigenous products from corn identified as potential livelihood in Region 10

Investing on local delicacies as alternative source of livelihood is one of the newest programs of Northern Mindanao. Thus, revealed Regional Executive Director (RED) Lealyn Ramos and Regional Technical Director (RTD) Constancio Maghanoy Jr. of DA-RFU 10, after identifying and evaluating indigenous corn practices in the region. Specific among corn producing areas in the region, Langkoga and Biniki were identified as potential livelihood.

Langkoga and Biniki are two indigenous preparations made out of corn. Langkoga is a beverage prepared through the process of fermentation. It is similar to the traditional preparation of wine making only this time it utilizes corn, powdered rice, ginger (yeast), and fresh sugar cane juice. The mixture is processed and brewed to desired taste. Initial work has been conducted by Dr. Janet Lopez and RTD Maghanoy on its social relevance to agricultural activities and festivities. Langkoga is a native wine used in rituals particularly during farming activities and festivities of the Higaunon tribe of Northern Mindanao including the Talaandig, Manobo and Matigsalog ethnic groups.

To date, the Langkoga is further studied according to its cultural relevance in the development of the indigenous people and communities; better corn varieties for wine processing and the product development. Specifically, it will be tested in terms of ageing, quality, packaging, and promotion. According to RDT Maghanoy, these research activities will be done in collaboration with the Food Science and Technology Institute of the Central Mindanao University (CMU).

Biniki is a native corn-based pudding made of young corn which is grinded, boiled, and mixed with sugar and milk wrapped in corn husks. It is normally sold in bus terminals and native delicacy shops in Cagayan De Oro City and nearby towns. Traditionally, these are prepared as part of the delicacies served during fiestas and parties in the corn growing areas. Given that it has cultural relevance to the lives of the people, it will be studied further in terms of preparation and packaging. Like the Langkoga, it will be subjected to sensory evaluation to improve its quality, shelf-life, packaging and promotion.

Both Langkoga and Biniki will be brought to mainstream food enterprise in Northern Mindanao to support livelihood programs of rural organizations especially women and youths. As soon as these are perfected, these indigenous delicacies will help contribute to the overall productivity and profitability of corn farmers making them as an alternative source of income.

The identification of these indigenous products as potential livelihoods was based on the successful implementation of CPAR corn-based projects in the region. The regional management is aimed at enhancing technical support by utilizing corn and its by-products as alternative source of livelihood of corn farmers. With this, corn farmers are now encouraged to find ways to efficiently use their excess produce.

Written by Marlowe U. Aquino, PhD.

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Research

PAC, BAR launch book on sweet sorghum

Promoting the potential of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) as source of human food in various forms, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) funded the book, “Sweet Sorghum Food Products: A Compendium” by Drs. Estrella C. Zabala, Fortunato M. Battad and Norman G. de Jesus of the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC).

The book was officially launched during the 22nd BAR Anniversary with DA Asst. Secretary Clayton A. Olalia, BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar, and PAC President Honorio M. Soriano leading the activity.

The book contains food products from the sweet sorghum grains and stalks highlighting food products from sweet sorghum of which 24 come from grains and one from the stalk. Likewise, it includes valuable information such as guide planting sweet sorghum, forms of utilization, nutritional contents, and suggested sweet sorghum menu.

Sweet sorghum is a promising cereal crop that could address problems on malnutrition and dwindling supply of alternative source of flour, an answer to the increasing cost of wheat flour.

The publication of the book is in line with 4Fs (Food, Fuel, Feed, Fertilizer) in sweet sorghum, which the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) first introduced in the country through the leadership of Dr. William D. Dar. ICRISAT considers sweet sorghum as a smart crop as it produces food, fuel feed, and fertilizer, without significant trade offs in any of these uses in the production cycle.

Dr. Zabala, food technologist from PAC, developed the various food products from sweet sorghum with Drs. Battad and de Jesus who provided the technical support. Sorghum grains are processed into flour and is used as a substitute/or is the main material of the products either as whole grain, sprout, or in ground form.

Among the potential food products developed include soups and porridge (mushroom in sorghum soup, sorghum soup, veggie-sorghum soup, sorghum porridge with chicken, sorghum porridge, sorghum-choco porridge, pepper leaves in sorghum, and sorghum con moringa); native delicacies (pastillas de sorghum, sorghum native cake, native cake sorghum with langka, sorghum sapin-sapin, sorghum suman, sorghum-yam native cake, sorghum-squash native cake, sweet sorghum tupig, and sweet sorghum espasol; and meals (burger sorghum, sorghum in salty taste, sorghum in sweet taste, sorghum-veggie in oyster, sauce fresh, spring rolls with sorghum, and shanghai sorghum).

Likewise, the sorghum kernel can also be made into pop sorghum, which is a popular healthy snack. Aside from the grains, PAC has developed vinegar from the sweet sorghum stalks.

According to Dr. Honorio M. Soriano, Jr., PAC president, sweet sorghum has a huge potential as source of human food in various forms of high commercialization value. Its grains can be processed and used as alternative to rice.

In terms of production, Dr. Soriano added that, sweet sorghum can be grown throughout the year or at least twice a year and needs minimal time and cost compared to other field crops. “It is the only crop that provides grain and stem which can be used to produce ethanol, sugar syrup, jaggery, flour and other food items,” he said.

PAC has been conducting its own R&D activities related to sweet sorghum since 2004. These include varietal testings, fertilizer trials, development of sweet sorghum-based food products and animal feed, and ethanol production.

Sweet sorghum grain is higher in protein and lower in fat than corn. The mineral composition differs only slightly from corn and vitamin content is similar to that of white corn. A 200 g of cooked sorghum grain is a rich source of protein, vitamin B1, B2 niacin and iron, a good source of zinc, and provides 14 g of dietary fiber.

Written by Rita T. dela Cruz

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Research

Corn energy bar being prepared for commercialization

Wheat energy bar is to Americans as corn energy bar is to Filipinos. Randomly selected patients of The Medical City got to try the newest product – the corn energy bar – developed by the School of Nutrition of the Philippine Women’s University (PWU).

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) supported the development and promotion of this corn energy bar for the endurance of physically active individuals.

Generally, the project aims to develop and promote a corn-based energy bar made from white flint corn grits. The product is intended to be an alternative to other commercially available energy bars.

Previous studies show that corn has high amylose content which makes it a good pre-event meal to active individuals. This study thought of developing corn into a more convenient form for consumption that has the same advantages as the original form. Hence, the corn energy bar was produced.

That corn is an indigenous crop makes the corn energy bar more sustainable and competitive compared with other commercially available products. Its being one of the top commodities in the Philippines makes it all the more fit to boost the appeal of this product.

Since the initiation of this project, the recipe of the corn energy bar has already been standardized and consumer acceptability testing has already been done. Also, the packaging has already been developed and its shelf life, proximate composition and total dietary fiber analysis have already been defined.

The proponents of this project, with frontliner Dr. Leonora Panlasigui, are now thinking of collaborating with the mass media such as television, radio and print to promote the corn energy bar. They are also going to start conducting seminars and workshops on the benefits of this product. Furthermore, they are going to start establishing linkages with prospective manufacturers of the product.

Collaborating with the School of Nutrition of the PWU in this venture is the Physical Education Department of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Written by Don P. Lejano

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Research

Promoting pigeon pea coffee as a nutritious alternative beverage explored

As the national agriculture research and development (R&D) continuously discovers potential agricultural crops like pigeonpea, a lot of nutritious products are being developed.

Pigeon pea, locally known as kadyos, functions both as food and forage crop. It is also used as cover crop for controlling soil erosion due to its strong woody tap root that can penetrate deeply into the soil and has the capability for nitrogen fixation that makes itself tolerable in dry and poor soil conditions.

As food crop, pigeon pea seeds were being processed into flour and were used to bake various food products such as cookies and biscuits. This time, through the project, “Development, Utilization and Commercialization of Pigeon Pea and Sweet Sorghum Nutri-based Food Products” other food uses from pigeon pea are being explored. One of which is the pigeon pea coffee.

According to Professor Raul Palaje, project proponent from the Isabela State University (ISU), roasted pigeon pea seeds are brewed similar to coffee gained good acceptability and positive remarks during their technology forum conducted in various municipalities of Isabela and Cagayan. “This is a good start to work on pigeon pea as coffee,” said Prof Palaje in an interview.

Prof. Palaje being a coffee hobbyist, tried to roast and brew corn, rice, soybean, and other crops that can be roasted to experiment a new flavor for coffee. “But pigeon pea is different compared to those crops I have tested,” Palaje revealed. Pigeon pea coffee is noted for having a strong aroma compared to traditional coffees that are sold in the market. Some participants also noted that pigeon pea coffee when added with cream and a little sugar tastes like a “Sustagen” or a “Milo”, he added.

On to the process, Prof Palaje said that pigeon pea coffee is easy to prepare. “Harvest mature brown pods by cutting the stem two-feet from the ground or manually hand-picking the seeds. Dry the seeds in an open sunlight twice and clean it before roasting. The seed is roasted to about 20-25 minutes with constant mixing on a frying pan to produce strong aroma. Start roasting at high temperature and gradually adjusted to lower one, cool down and grind to its finest texture. Then you can get your all new roasted pigeon pea coffee,” he explained.

As of now, the technology is still in the process of fine tuning, testing its nutritional value, marketability and production.

Products such as organic vinegar, “basi” wine, handmade paper, vermin compost, pigeon pea syrup, different cookies and other flat bread baked from pigeon pea flour are also included in the project.

While the project recognizes the importance of the agricultural crops as alternative to fossil fuel, Prof Palaje stressed that, it is also important to generate more food products from these crops that could help ensure the country’s food and nutritional security particularly in the rural areas.

The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) which is in sync with the long term programs of the government to promote agribusiness in the country and to create job opportunities.

Text by Edmon B. Agron

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Research