What’s so special about Organic Farming?

In the olden days, there were no chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Everything in farming and livestock and poultry raising was done according to what nature can give.

Chickens were fed with palay and were free to hunt for their own food. Hogs were fed with palay husks, vegetables and assorted leaves of available plants. Palay crops were fertilized with chicken manure and pig wastes. So with vegetables and fruit trees.

Since the beginning of time all foods from plants were grown organically. Synthetic chemicals were used only in the last 50 years to cope they say with the growing population. But health and environment problems cropped up that these days organic food farming is back again on the heels of genetically modified organism (GMO) and getting popular again. One such popular organic organization in the Philippines is the Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA).

So what is organic farming? According to OPTA: “Organic foods are grown according to nature’s own recipe- full of fresh flavor and good nutrition without pesticides that damage the environment.”

One member of the OPTA is Ever Rich Farm Corp. in Santiago City, Isabela where its produce are served at the Deli Fresh Resto at the Carpark Bldg. Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Both the farm and the resto are managed by Eva Rose Pua, a BSBA Major in Management and Finance graduate and a jeweler for 15 years before becoming an organic farmer.

At the Deli Fresh, one can relish the first “certified organic chicken” in the country. These free-range chickens are raised in harmony with nature, devoid of any antibiotics, vaccines and steroid and feed with organically grown grains and cereals. Ms. Pua describes her offerings as “Food to live by – organic from the very beginning.”

Its vegetarian entrée and all other organic goodies certified as “pesticide free” coming from all over the Philippines are: organic salad greens and herbs from the highlands of Tagaytay and Laguna; organic veggies from the Coldilleras; organic rice from Nueva Ecija: indigenous rice from Nueva Viscaya and Ab; organic corn and soya from Cagayan Valley; and a variety of nicely packed food stuffs and fresh seafoods from the Visayas and Mindanao. Their drinks are also from organic fruits.

What is certified organic? To earn the label “certified organic” the food products must meet strick standards, from the seeds right through growing, harvesting and being sold in the grocery store, markets and supermarkets. Each organic farm is inspected to be sure that only approved organic methods are applied. Farm owners must have practice organic methods for three years prior to certification and they must also meet strict requirements of handling foods and their operations must be examined annually by independent inspectors.

Ramon Ma. Epino, October 24, 2004,The Philippine Star

A ‘Fishful’ Home Coming

Forty years ago, the fishers of Barangay Segapod, Maigo, and Lanao Del Norte could catch as much as 60 kilos a day by using simple fishhook or hand line fishing gear. Back then, a total of 42 species of fish could be found in the Pontoron Reefs. By the 1980s many of these species vanished as a result of illegal and destructive fishing practices.

Now, the fish are returning to the waters of the Barangay Segapod. Thanks to the Fisheries Resource management project (FRMP), members of the community have become responsive to their role in fisheries and coastal resource management.

Brgy. Segapod is one of 22 barangays covered by FRMP in Region 12. FRMP was formulated in response to the issues of fisheries resource depletion and persistent poverty among municipal fisher folk. The project is focused on reversing fisheries resource depletion by controlling illegal and over-fishing. FRMP is a six-year project funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan for International Cooperation. It is being implemented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) until 2005.

In the late ‘60s, fishes in the Pontoron Reefs were very abundant. There were only a few fisher folk then, add adjacent to the reef was once a good mangrove cover.

During the ‘70s, a decline in fish production and catch was observed as the number of fishers increased. Their bigger number drove many fishers to use destructive fishing methods such as dynamite, cyanide with the aid of compressor, fine mesh nets and other illegal fishing practices.

In the late 1980s, illegal fishing practices continued to proliferate. The 42 kinds of fishes that could be found during the ‘60s became rare in the reef. This was when the fisher folk, local officials and the community themselves saw the need to unite and undertake a common vision of restoring the bay which has become the life and blood of a great number of people in the area.

In the 1990s, the Fisheries sector program (FSP) was implemented in the area. With FSP came the idea of coastal resource management (CRM). For the fishers, it was the start of a long advocacy to reverse the degradation of their coastal resources. The fishers were organized into the Segapod Fishermen Association (SEGAFA) to stop illegal fishing practices. SEGAFA has since been transformed into the Segapod Multi-Purpose Cooperative *(SMPC).

As a result of community organizing activities conducted under FSP, the fishers decided to establish a marine reserve. Norberto Sobisol, chairman of SEGAFA / SMPC and of the Segapod Barangay Council, said that “As a past recipient of an artificial reef and mangrove reforestation project during the FSP, we knew what benefits resource management would bring to our community.”

Thus, the Segapod-Pontoron Fish Sanctuary was established, covering 18 hectares, with buffer zone of 100 meters, and is quite close to the shore.

With the establishment of the fish sanctuary, coastal resources have been rehabilitated. Organism said to have long vanished in the area such as green turtles and some reef fishes like laya, a kind of grouper that can weigh as much as five kilos as an adult, can now be sighted in the sanctuary. Some species like the pawikan (tortoise), taklobo (giant clam), dolphins and sharks, almost unseen for a long time, are now visible as well in the sanctuary.

The reefs now have some 50 – 60 percent live coral cover, regenerated from the total damage witnessed in the ‘70s. The fishers attest to having their catch increased from one kilo to 10 kilos a day with the use of hook and line, 20 kilos for pukot (fishingnet), and at least 30 kilos with the use of other fishing gear.

Even fishers from neighboring barangays attest to the abundance of fish, even in the vicinity of the Segapod-Pontoron Reef Fish Sanctuary. The rich fishery resources also lured poachers from nearby provinces. Thus, to guard the sanctuary from illegal fishers, a Bantay Dagat group was formed to watch over the area.

Sophia Paguital, October 3, 2004, The Philippine Star

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Take Coco nectar for insomnia, arthritis & hypertension

Coconut, the tree of life, has one more product to offer us – coco nectar – taken from extracted sap from the flowers which would later become the coconuts. The sap when concentrated could prevent or even alleviate ailments like insomnia, arthritis, hypertension and related illnesses.

The coco nectar is a product of the research of Quezon-based Jose Gonzales, owner of Coco Legacy Co. Inc., in the field of coconut physics. He looked for the nutrients of the extract and tried to separate useful components and found out that there were 24 amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, growth hormones an other substances the human body needs which contribute to our resistance to illnesses.

Explains Gonzales:” Coco nectar is a food supplement and the most important component of this extract are the essential amino acids, which serve as repair elements enabling our protein-built body organs to restore to health as quickly as possible. Vitamins and minerals help keep our body sturdy and in good condition while the enzyme contributes its attributes in the disposal of wastes and toxins in the body and growth hormones provide the youthful look by renewing the cells. All of these functions provide us a better and stronger immune system. One interesting fact is that this product is natural, meaning there is no preservatives.

Coco nectar, he said, prevents other ailments – aside from insomnia, arthritis, and hypertension – diabetes, stroke, migraine, colds and flu, headache, kidney ailment, hormonal imbalance, constipation, goiter, weight gain / loss, tonsillitis and other related health problems.

Manolette Gaelan tried the juice for the insomnia and was relieved with one tablespoonful in the morning and one in the evening. I can sleep well after taking coco nectar. My bowel movement also becomes regular two days after taking the juice. So far, there are no side effects, and I feel well.”

A government employee, 54-year-old Dante Bernardo, was taking medicines for his phlegm to no effect, the phlegm would not come out. “When I took coco nectar, the phlegm came out with ease and I slept better. Aside from that, there are no side effects.” Remy Valdez takes two tablespoonfuls a day for arthritis which was cured after two weeks.

According to Dr. Arnold Calupitan, a doctor at the San Pedro Municipal Hospital, coco nectar is a natural product and this type does not need the prescription of a doctor. However, it doesn’t mean that it does not cause any side effects. “It is not bad for a person’s health but I cannot say whether this would cause any side effects because it depends on bodily reaction of a person but most probably it is safe as a food supplement. In fact, the result can be seen even when a person perspires. You take it in naturally and what had been detoxified in your body will eventually come out naturally, too.”

Mara Katrina b. Escurel, The Philippine Star

Saving the Dugong

Environment AND Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor has ordered the DENR CARAGA Region to investigate reports of rampant slaughter of “dugongs” or sea cows in Surigao Del Sur.

Reports coming from the Center for Empowerment and Resource Development, inc. (CERD), an NGO partner of DENR in “pawikan” or marine turtle and “dugong” conservations, disclosed that a 500-kilo male dugong measuring nine feet was washed ashore on Tipdos Island in Hinatuan Bay, Surigao Del Sur last September 3, 2004.

A day later, a 900-kilo female “dugong” was found beached at an island seven kilometers away. A week later, another dead “dugong” was found floating around the same area. It was believed that the same group of dynamite fishers from a neighboring area/ municipality was involved.

The islands of Tipdos, Maowa and Mancahurom in Hinatuan Bay are uninhabited, giving opportunity to fishermen to engage in dynamite fishing.

The DENR, together with the CERD and the municipal government of Hinatuan, has conducted extensive information campaign on their conservation in the coastal areas of the municipality. While residents are now actively participating in the campaign, unscrupulous fishermen from neighboring municipalities are still rampantly killing and selling “ dugongs” and “pawikan”.

Dugong is the only remaining herbivorous sea mammal found in the country particularly in Palawan. Sightings have been reported in eastern coast of Luzon from Isabel to albay, Romblon, and in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao like surigao. It belongs to the group of animals Known as sirenians because during the olden days sailors mistook it for mermaid or “sirenas” it is the only remaining survivor of the family (Dugongdae).

Dugongs, like whale and dolphins, have to surface from the water to breath. Dugongs are the only living mammals in the world that feed on sea grass. They spend most of their time feeding and consuming up to 25 kilograms of sea grass a day. It has been observed that their birthrates peak when there is an abundant supply of sea grass.

Even so, their growth rate is so slow that their number increases only by 50 percent yearly even without exploitation. A calf is born 13 months after the mating. A newly born dugong is about a meter long and weighs from 20 to 35 kilograms. Dugong are slow swimmers. They swim at a speed of about 5 kilometers per hour, thus fishermen find it easy to hunt them using their nets, spears and dynamites.

They are mainly caught for meat but other parts of the body are also used as aphrodisiacs. The DENR through the pawikan conservation project (PCP) of the protected areas and wildlife bureau (PAWB) is the lead agency in the management and conservation of “pawikans” and “dugongs”.

Republic act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources conservation and protection Act penalizes the killing, hunting, selling of endangered species in including the “dugongs” and “pawikan”, their meat or any of their derivatives. Violators could be fined from P100, 000 to P1, 000,000 and / or imprisonment ranging from 6 to 12 years.

Benny G. Enriquez, October 17, 2004 The Philippine Star

Growing exotic fruit trees in Luzon

Contrary to a long held belief, Davao and other exotic fruit trees can be grown in Luzon and every profitably at that. The key is the technology of cloning and multiple root stocking

Past planting of the exotic fruit trees has been disappointing. Durian, mangosteen, pummelo, lanzones and rambutan from Davao and other imported fruit trees were either stunted in growth and did not bear fruits or died for lack of the right technology.

Due to differences in soil and climate conditions, technology from Davao and other countries should be modified to suit local conditions in Luzon. Bernie Dizon, noted pomologist in Luzon, says culture and technology in Davao and other countries cannot be copied One hundred percent; they have to be modified.

Dizon mages a 4,000- square meter orchard at the Ninoy Aquino parks and wild life along North Avenue in Quezon City under a 20- year contract with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

There he gives free lectures to interested farmers and hobbyist every Saturday and Sunday on the latest technologies. Estublished in 1992 in a waterlogged area (2,000 square meters) with no forest trees because of adobe soil and thin top soil, Dizon’s modified technology (cloning and multiple rootstocking) converted the poor marginal land into a paradise of local and imported exotic varieties of fruit trees.

Because of the project’s success then Environment and Natural resources Secretary Victor O. Ramos expanded Dizon’s area by another 2,000 square meters. He also commended Dizon for his excellent work in showcasing the agro- forestry program of the government.

Dizon advises orchard growers and hobbyist to study first the cultural requirements of each variety before deciding which cultivar plant. A lot could be learned from the free seminars which Dizon conducts every weekend.

Ramon Ma. Epino, October 3, 2004,The Philippine Star

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A Salad Sensation

Silang, Cavite—about a year ago, three friends took a leap of faith and shed their corporate suits to go into farming. They pulled their early retirement windfall to put up a P9-million business called Hydrent Ventures lettuce farm.

For former Bank of the Philippines Islands executive A.S. Tanjanco, former Unilever marketing guy Nestle Jeturian and information technology specialist Tonito Vargas, there is a lot of potential in agriculture.

Rather than go into cash crops, the group decided to grow lettuce, a high-value commercial crop at their 1.3-hectare farm. They harvest every 45 days about 3,000 kilos of six leafy lettuce varieties – red and green oak, lollo rossa and lollo biondo, waldmans greens and green ice and romaine. Soon, other vegetables like salad tomato and bell pepper and herbs such as basil will also be grown.

Why lettuce? “First, you don’t need a big land to be profitable. It’s a high-value crop, which means higher margins. We understood many are still not used to eating salads, but there is a very big niche market, especially in Metro Manila, so we decided to tap that. Most of the vegetable salads are still being imported and we can produce that and sell it at more reasonable prices,” said Tanjanco who is the group’s director for business development.

The crop is grown in two big greenhouses using the highly-efficient hydroponic method which ensures that the lettuce are grown in a sanitized and controlled environment to eliminate the need for harmful chemical-based pesticides and contaminants. The farm also hosts a post-harvest facility where the goods are packed, washed, handled, sanitized, and chilled.

IT expert Vargas designed a computer-controlled irrigation system that provides the crops with exactly what they need in terms of nutrients, exactly when they need it.

“Unlike the traditional form of organic farming which carries the risk of bacterial infection by using compost materials for nutrition, hydroponic farming ensures that only the required nutrients found in compost material are transmitted in soluble form through driplines in the greenhouse. This ultimately means clean, safe, fresh and high-quality produce,” said Tanjanco.

The greenhouses are equipped with humidity-controlling misters and fans, allowing for-round production that eliminates the seasonality normally associated with high-end crops..

Jeturian said the group did its homework before venturing into lettuce farming.

“We went to several provinces such as Cebu, Bukidnon and many other places. It was a learning experience. For instance, there are also other mens of growing lettuce other than our hydroponic method which is more expensive but which, I believe, produces better quality lettuce.

We did our market feasibility study, we wanted to make sure that we had a market. Looking back, we should have initially done trading. So we not only looked for a market, we created a market as well,” said Jeturian.

Hydrant Ventures now supplies supermarkets such as Shopewise (Libis/Makati/Alabang/Araneta) and South Supermarket. It also delivers to hotels such as Dusit Hotel, Pan Pacific Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Manila Hotel, Astoria Plaza, Hyatt Hotel & Casino, Richmonde Hotel, Great Eastern Bellevue Hotel, Traders Hotel, Manila Diamond and Westin Philippine Plaza. Some of the restaurants and bars it supplies are Windows Café, Gourdos Café & Restaurant, Lumiere, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Oliver’s Super Sandwiches, Bizu Patisserie, kulinarya, Masas, Cena, Palm Country Club and Vargas Kitchen.

The risk they took are paying off and has spun two other businesses- Heartlands Slad Sensations and farm consultancy.

Heartlands Salad Sensations offers different kinds of salads with lettuce as the base ingredient. The salads are prepared by a chef and delivered to business establishments in Quezon City, Ortigas, Pasig, Mandaluyong and Makati.

“We are getting about 150 orders daily. We were riding on fitness conscious Filipino looking for an alternative to mostly unhealthy fastfoods. By creating a ready-to-eat salad line we created another market,” said Jeturian.

The salad comes in two packages – regular and big, The big ones costs P100 and the regular is priced at P75. Orders are made over the phone or through text message placed a day ahead because they prepare the meals at night in time for delivery the next morning. (For inquiries on Heartlands Salad Sensations text 0917-8556971 or e-mail salads@hydrent.ph)

The group also forayed into farm consultancy which involves the setting up of high value farms and systems both for the government and private sectors. Their current projects include the creation/enhancement of farm-to-market systems in Cebu for local farmers in cooperation with the local government and a livelihood project in San Manuel, Pangasinan in partnership with San Roque Power Corp.

ROCEL C. FELIX, November 7, 2004, Philippine Star

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Many Things To Be Done To Improve Mango Production

Going over the main report on strategic action plan on mango by the Department of Agriculture recently makes us realize that there are so many things that have to done to make carabao mango production profitable.

The report is a product of a study by experts commissioned to come up with a strategy to make mango production viable.There are several areas that have to looked into. One of them is the need to improve disease and insect control. Anthracnose is the major disease while mango hoppers are the most destructive pest of mango. Other pests like the “kurikong” have also become a serious problem in places.

The experts recommend, “heavy corrective and anticipatory researches are needed not only to efficiently control pest but also to evolve products or systems that are more economical and safe.”

The big problem in the Philippines is the very high cost of agrochemicals. In fact, a recent survey by Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona of the University of Southern Mindanao reveals that pesticides in the Philippines cost as much as three to four times more than those Thailand and other Asean countries.Part of the problem, the experts note, is the difficulty in determining common control methods that will respond to all, or to a greater percentage of the scattered and diverse small growers.

And the big problem is how to effectively deliver information to all these growers.The experts recommend an efficient extension service. One component of the strategy is to select a model farm in strategic mango areas which should be made to serve as a model and training ground for adjacent growers with similar environment and concerns.This concept, they say, should not be limited to pest and disease control alone.

It should include other problems of production such as mineral nutrition, irrigation, etc.They stress the value of integrated pest management (IPM) as a more effective and cheaper means of controlling pests and diseases than the usual calendar system of spraying.They admit, though, that IPM is more difficult to understand and implement because spraying is base on need such as intensity or presence of pests or diseases, weather conditions and stage of plant development.

They point out that IPM could be more easily adopted if the farmers are well organized. Efforts should also be made by researchers to simplify the technique and make it understandable and appreciated by the average mango grower.Proper nutrition of the trees is very important in mango production. The big problem, according to the experts is the failure of the average mango grower to understand or appreciate the importance of fertilizers.

They note that often, the farmer wants to avoid extra expense. He also believes that since a mango tree can survive harsh environment, it does not need fertilization. That’s of course very unfortunate.Compounding the problem is the fact that many growers enter into contracts where another party takes care of the trees during the flowering and fruiting season for a share of the harvest.

This is often detrimental to the health and future productivity of the trees because the contractor is often not much concerned about fertilization and pest control throughout the year. Such chores that should be done year-round are usually carried out only during the flowering and fruiting stage.Varietal Improvement.

One aspect where the experts have interesting recommendation is on varietal improvement. They note that the carabao mango has some limitations such as small fruits, soft skin that is easily damaged, short shelf life, susceptibility to anthracnose disease, among others.They believe that the carabao mango should be improved through conventional breeding or through biotechnology. Areas that can be improved without affecting fruit taste are resistance to pests, diseases, blemishes, jelly seed, internal breakdown and uneven ripening, size, color, shelf life, and yield.

They say that with the right expertise and budget (Php 5 million), an improved carabao mango can be obtained in five years.Another possibility is the introduction of a new variety for a new market that prefers that variety in question. A private or corporate plantation that has the resources to create a new industry and maintain the desired standards which is necessary for the export industry must undertake this activity.

The fact is that the ECJ Farms in Negros Occidental has started the production of an Australian hybrid, which has an established market abroad. This is the hybrid called R2E2, which produces big fruits that are pinkish in color. Test market shows that exotic mango is saleable even in Bacolod.There are other imported varieties with export possibilities that can be grown locally.

These include the Golden Queen from Taiwan, Chokanan from Thailand, the Valencia Pride and Southern Blush from Florida and several others.Planting materials of these varieties are already available in limited stock here but could be easily produced in big numbers if needed.The experts also emphasize that since the mango tree will last a century, it is important that growers plant superior varieties.

The National Seed Industry Council has certified a number of carabao mango strains, including six from Guimaras, one from Ilocos Norte (MMSU Gold) and another from Bataan (Lamao).Most of these are now being multiplied at the Teresa Techno Demo Farm in Rizal.We will feature other recommendations of the mango experts some other time.

Zac B. Sarian, October 12, 2003, Philippine Panorama, Manila Bulletin

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Livestock Researchers Develop Improved Technologies

One major key to achieving greater competitiveness, whether in the local or foreign markets, is improved technology. This applies to crops as well as to livestock production.

New techniques, for instance, can result in faster growth of animals, In the case of dairy animals, the improved technologies can produce higher milk yields.One such improved technology developed by researchers of the Philippine Carabao Center is what is called in vitro buffalo embryo production.

This involves the collection of ova or eggs from a superior female animal and then having them mature in the laboratory. These are eventually fertilized with sperm from an equally superior animal.The fertilized embryos are then transferred to surrogate mothers where they will develop into animals carrying the superior genes of the embryo and sperm donors.

With the used of this technology, the production of superior animals can be made much faster compared to the natural way. For example, a purebred Murrah buffalo will only produce one calf a year if made to reproduced naturally.The calf produced will not be able to reproduce until it is two years older. In other words, it could be a very slow process.

To import a lot of purebred buffaloes for breeding would be very expensive, hence not practical.The in vitro technology makes multiplication of superior animals fast because so many embryos could be collected from a superior mother buffalo everytime it gets in heat. The embryos fertilized in the laboratory could then be transferred to surrogate mothers, which could be ordinary carabaos.

The resulting offspring are what the scientists call test tube buffaloes. Several such test tube buffaloes have been produced through embryo transfer using embryos processed in the laboratory.One of them was born of a native carabao owned by Buddy Castillo, a 27-year old farmer cooperator of the Philippine Carabao Center in Nueva Ecija. Named Irfan, the test tube buffalo has been proven to superior to its native counterpart.

Castillo reported that at 1.6 years old, Irfan was really big.It will take a native carabao three years to attain the weight. Moreover, Castillo said that his Irfan can easily fetch Php30, 000 if he is going to sell it. On the other hand, a native carabao of the same age, he could only fetch about Php7, 000.

By the way, the first purebred test tube buffalo in the Philippines (perhaps in the world) was born on April 5, 2002. And since it was also the birthday of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the buffalo was named Glory after the president. One other first (perhaps in the world) that was achieved at the PCC was the birth of a twin test tube buffalo calves to a purebred Bulgarian Murrah buffalo.

Zac B. Sarian, September 26, 2004, Philippine Panorama, Manila Bulletin

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