Fast-growing Money-maker

Agri Plain Talk

By ZAC B. SARIAN

April 30, 2011, 1:20am

 MANILA, Philippines — One promising new money-maker for local investors is the Pekin duck, particularly the F1 (first generation) ducklings of a superior genetic line from the Czech Republic that is now available locally.

According to Dr. Erwin Cruz who is distributing the ducklings, this Pekin duck will usually attain a liveweight of 3.6 kilos in only 49 days. With a dressing percentage of 69%, each bird will yield 2.48 kilos of marketable meat. The meat has a farmgate price of P190 per kilo, hence one dressed duck will gross the raiser P471.20.

And what is the cost of production per bird of a batch of 100? The cost of producing one kilo of meat, including the cost of dressing, is P122.83, according to Dr. Cruz. So the cost of producing the 2.48 kilos of meat per bird is P304.61. Subtract this from the gross of P471.20, and you get a net profit of P166.59 per head. That’s not bad for a growing period of 49 days.

The quality of the meat meets the high standards of the top restaurants in Manila as well as the importers from Japan, according to Dr. Cruz. In fact, one Japanese importer would like to import three container loads (54 tons) of dressed Pekin duck every week. However, as of the moment, the requirement could only be met partially.

Dr. Cruz said that the ducks should be raised in confinement inside a house with elevated floor (one meter above the ground). In the growing period of 49 days, each bird will usually consume 8.4 kilos costing P194.58.

The other costs are the cost of the ducklings (P65 each), brooding cost at P5 per head; rice hull used for brooding (P5 per head). Labor is placed at P1,000 per 100 birds.

Here is a golden opportunity for the Philippines to capitalize on the fact that it is about the only country in the region that is free of the bird flu. Clusters of Pekin duck production involving the small farmers is possible, according to Dr. Cruz.

What is needed is government support for the industry such as the provision of AAA dressing plants that will make it possible to export the Pekin duck meat not only to Japan but also elsewhere.

Technology in postharvest processing as well as various ways of cooking Pekin duck meat should be in the research agenda.

Of course, the target should not only be for export. More Filipinos should also be able to savor the Pekin duck meat.

Actually, many Filipinos think very lowly of duck meat because they believe it is tough and has a fishy taste (malangsa). That’s because the local ducks often cooked are the culls whose meat is tough.

Once they taste the fleshy and tender meat of the 49-days-old Pekin duck of Dr. Cruz, their impression of duck meat would be totally different.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Farming right after college

By ZAC B. SARIAN

May 5, 2011, 3:00am

MANILA, Philippines – Most students who go to college usually look for employment after graduation. But there are a few who would rather become entrepreneurs and put up their own source of livelihood.

While there are risks to be faced by those who choose to go it alone, there are also rewards for those who are focused on what they want to undertake.

One fellow who took the self-employment route after college is Arthur L. Dacanay, 46, of Brgy. San Pedro Ili, Alcala, Pangasinan. He finished a course in mechanical engineering from the National University and while waiting for the results of the board exams, he thought of planting hybrid corn on 7,400 square meters that a retired tenant returned to Arthur’s family.

From that area, he was able to produce about three tons of white corn which he sold at P6.25 per kilo. He thought that farming could be a viable source of income after selling his first crop. And since then, he has developed the love for farming. He has been planting corn and rice on five hectares in the past many years. But the area will be expanded to eight hectares this coming November as another tenant who went to Hawaii will be turning over three more hectares.

One interesting experience was when planted for the first time the Bt corn called Healer 101 on just 3,000 square meters. He was able to harvest from that small area a total of 72 cavans of dried grains totaling 3,246 kilos which he sold at P12.10 per kilo, giving him a gross of P39,204. As per his record, he was able to net P26,423 from that 3,000 square meters.

During the rainy season, Arthur plants rice. For the past two consecutive years, he did not make money from rice because he planted a fancy variety that is low yielding. He was able to harvest only less than 250 cavans from the five hectares that he planted because of drought and floods that destroyed his crop.

During this coming planting season, however, Arthur will be trying Jollirice, a new hybrid rice being distributed by Bioseed Research Philippines based in General Santos City. As per the experience of farmers who have earlier planted this variety, it is high-yielding with a potential yield of 11 tons per hectare under favorable and good management conditions.

According to Mrs. Estrella Hidalgo, Bopseed product evaluation and agronomy manager, Jollirice is more resistant to drought than most other varieties. It has very sturdy stems so that it will not easily lodge. Moreover, this variety produces very long panicles, each containing as many as 300 to 400 grains. The eating quality is also excellent so that it can be sold in the market as a fancy variety. As such, it commands a higher price than other varieties.

Arthur does not regret becoming a full-time farmer rather than become an employee after graduation. He is leading a comfortable farm life with his wife Rowena. Aside from rice and corn, they have a small piggery and fruit trees.

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AANI SEMINARS ON SUNDAY, MAY 7 — Two seminars will be conducted by Agri-Aqua Network International (AANI) on Saturday, May 7.

One is on Vermiculture and Vermi Tea production to be conducted by Raymond Rubia. He will discuss how to produce first-class organic fertilizer by culturing the African nightcrawler earthworm. He will also teach the attendees how to prepare vermi tea which is a potent liquid fertilizer that can be used for producing organic vegetables.

A total of 10 vermiculture kits will be raffled to the attendees so they can start their projects right away. The seminar will be held at the AANI weekend market at the St. Vincent Seminary on Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

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MUSHROOM SEMINAR – The other AANI seminar on May 7 will be on mushroom culture. This will be held at the AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center at the Quezon Memorial Citcle in Quezon City. The resource person will be Freddie Adorza. Those who are interested to attend either of the seminars can make their reservations at the AANI office at the Quezon Memorial Circle or at the St. Vincent Seminary.

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MANGO FESTIVAL – Meanwhile, watch for the Mango Festival that will be held at the St. Vincent Seminary in Quezon City on May 21 to 22. This will be participated in by some of the major mango producers. There will be lectures on mango production and display of mango fruits, inputs and equipment.

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ANTI-VEGGIE SMUGGLING STUDY — The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in Los Baños have agreed to conduct a joint study on how to curb smuggling of agricultural products in the country. The UP Los Baños will also be tapped to help in the project which will investigate the quantitative and qualitative aspects of smuggling of agricultural commodities to find out the extent of this illegal activity.

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GET A COPY OF AGRICULTURE MAG — Make sure to buy a copy of the May issue of Agriculture Magazine which is now off the press. You will read about the fast-growing Pekin duck which can grow to 3.6 kilos in a growing period of 45 days.

You will also read about the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who decided to give up their jobs abroad to become full-time farmers and agribusinessmen.

Then there is this article on Carribean Pearl and Carribean Gold melons which are being grown for a company that distributes fruits and vegetables in Metro Manila. These have thick flesh that is firm, bright orange in color, and with very delightful smell and sweet taste. These varieties are being distributed by Allied Botanical Corporation.

You will also read about the new P1-billion hybrid seed production plant of Pioneer Hi-Bred located at the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City. It is said that at full capacity, the facility will be able to process more than 12,000 metric tons of corn and palay seeds for drying, conditioning, packaging and warehousing prior to distribution through its channels in major rice and corn producing areas.

Another interesting story is how Ramon Uy of Bacolod City was saved from bankruptcy by his shredders which have become the favorite of organic fertilizer producers as well as local government units who use the same for their waste management programs.

Source: Manila Bulletin

A camote advocate

By ZAC B. SARIAN

April 8, 2011, 5:45pm

HO CHI MINH -- We had an interesting exchange of ideas with Roberto P. Alingog during breakfast at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City last April 2. He is a rural banker and founder of Ropali, a distributor of agricultural implements and motorcycles with 110 outlets all over the country.

He and a group of bankers were visiting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam and then to Thailand. On the other hand, we were on a trip sponsored by Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Company as part of our award in the Bright Leaf Journalism Awards.

Mr. Alingog, who has just been notified as this year’s outstanding UP alumnus in entrepreneurship and employment creation, is also very much concerned about our rice supply in the country. He believes we should not just tackle our rice problem by trying to increase production. There should be other alternatives that will help alleviate our perennial shortage of rice.

Just like what we have been advocating, he is for the consumption of more root crops, especially camote. Eating camote is not only good for the health, It could help the country save foreign exchange. If only more people would eat camote instead of rice once a day, he said, the reduction in rice consumption would be tremendous.

He believes that the way to do that is to subtly advocate camote consumption. There should be no coercive or legislative fiat. What is needed is to have more advocates who are really sincere in promoting the idea.

There are advantages in advocating more camote consumption. For one, even the most ordinary farmer can produce his own camote. This crop is not badly damaged by typhoons. Besides the roots, camote tops are also nutritious.

Also, there are already improved varieties of camote for human con¬sumption, thanks to the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center at the Visayas State University in Baybay.

One outstanding variety developed in Baybay is VSP6 that is not only re¬sistant to virus, it is also high-yielding with an average yield of 21.02 tons per hectare. It also has a high dry matter content of 32.90 percent. This means that it has excellent taste as boiled camote. It is also good for camote-cue because the flesh does not easily break.

Another significant hybrid released in 2002 is now known as NSIC SP25 or the LSU Purple. It has a marbled purple flesh which is desirable because it is said to be high in anthocyanin. It contains a lot of antioxidants which is good for the health.

Dr. Julie Tan, head of the postharvest division of PhilRootcrops, says that among the various varieties released for commercial production, LSU purple has about the highest dry matter content of 36 percent, hence it is very tasty when boiled. It is sweet because it has the highest sugar content of 4.07 percent compared to most other varieties which only have 2 to 3 percent.

 

Counterpart fund for Mindanao cacao program eyed

By MELODY M. AGUIBA

MANILA, Philippines – Cacao producers are looking for a counterpart fund for a $5 million Mindanao cacao sustainable agro-forestry program that should aid in raising Philippine output to 100,000 metric tons (MT) of export-quality cacao beans by 2020.

The counterpart fund will be applied for the same sustainable cacao program in Luzon and Visayas.

From the current cacao production of only 6,000 metric tons (MT) yearly, it is not very hard to reach the 2020 production goal.

This is because there are as much as 1.07 million hectares of available coconut areas that can readily be intercropped with cacao of which only 10 percent or 107,000 hectares will be needed to hit the target, according to Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines (CFP) President Edward F. David.

CFP already obtained a $3 to $5 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the ACDI-VOCA (Agricultural Cooperation Development Intl-Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance), for the three-year Mindanao program that started in 2009.

The program called the Success Alliance Philippine Program (SUCCESS) includes development of seed gardens, plant distribution, training of farmers, and facilitating of partnerships with the local government.

However, funding for SUCCESS in Luzon and Visayas is also needed.

"Fortunately, we were still able to get a grant for SUCCESS, but only for Mindanao. We're looking for donors from the national and local government for Luzon and Visayas," said CFP President Edward F. David in a press briefing.

SUCCESS is already on its third phase. It has so far successfully helped in raising Philippines' cacao export by raising the quality of cacao beans through sustainable farming, fermentation techniques, and other post harvest technologies. From a negative export figure in 2001, the country's cacao bean export rose to 95 metric tons (MT) in 2004, rising up to 295 MT in 2009. This is further aimed to rise to 500 to 600 MT in 2011.

Related to this target, CFP is pushing for the establishment of 23 more more cooperative-based, village level fermentation and drying facilities nationwide. That should be on top the three post harvest centers in Davao, Compostela Valley, and Zamboanga that it already established in 2010.

The global market for cacao has been very promising over the last few years with a deficit reaching to 82 million MT as of 2009-2010.

It is important that the Philippines should have a long-term cacao program so that farmers will find stability in planting cacao.

"We have received a premium price of $3,400 per ton for our cacao. Five or six years ago, that was just $3,100 dollars. And most people are saying 'we shouldn't have cut our cacao trees.' This is our usual problem-- if price drops, we cut our trees. We forget that we can plant other things in the area (in order to survive the low prices)," said David.

Farmers also have many options of choosing the cacao variety that they see fit in their business as the CFP already has good, high-yielding varieties and certified seeds. CFP has started promoting the production of more cooking chocolates or tableas.

It has also partnered with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) in Philrice's Palayamanan program where cacao trees are planted with other high value crops along with rice and with the raising of livestock and fish ponds. Some of the farmers under its cacao program are agrarian reform beneficiaries tending small areas of 1 to 1.5 hectares.

Organic fertilizer producer reeks of unqualified success

By Tonette Orejas Central Luzon Desk Most Read CONCEPCION, TARLAC – In 2006, Alfredo Gonzales had problems with chemicalfertilizers, which at that time cost P2,000 per 50-kilogram bag. He found the prevailing prices of urea to be ironic, considering the wasteful practice of most farmers. “When I traveled around [Central Luzon], I saw palay husks being burned. When I go to sugar mills, I also saw wasteful practices,” says Gonzales, a sugar planter. But instead of whining, the sugar farmer decided to do something about it. His 40-hectare farm, which used to be buried under 20 feet of lahar (volcanic debris) following Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991, is now the site of what is touted to be the first mechanized production facility for organic fertilizer in the country. In a day, the farm churns out 500 fertilizer bags, which Gonzales sells for P240 each. The product, which is registered with the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, goes under the brand name “Power” – Pilipino Ways for Environmental Reconditioning. Gonzales, 60, says each bag contains 4.40 percent nitrogen, 1.85 percent phosphorous, 2.08 percent potassium, 13.14 percent moisture, and is 27.38 percent organic. The fertilizers are also mixed with microelements, like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, iron, copper and zinc. All organic elements are obtained by mixing 60 percent chicken manure, 10 percent each of cow and hog dung, and 20 percent sugar waste and agricultural waste from public markets. Laden with indigenous microorganisms, all of these undergo decomposition from 21 to 27 days. Surprisingly, flies are nowhere to be seen in the decomposing area, indicating that the process is clean, Gonzales says. Each bag represents hard work, he adds. From 2006 to 2008, his truck gathered sugar waste (bagasse, mud press and boiler hash) from Basecom, Sweet Crystal in San Fernando and Porac in Pampanga, and Central Azucarera de Tarlac in Hacienda Luisita. Gonzales obtained the droppings of chicken, cows and hogs, and hauled in agricultural wastes from public markets. By late 2008, Gonzales and his staff began making organic fertilizer “pala-pala” (shovel) style. Output then was a little over 50 bags a day, which he used in his sugarcane projects. He also handed out organic waste products to friends who agreed to test the fertilizer. Because labor costs ate into his budget and manual work did not prove to be efficient, this mechanical engineering undergraduate fabricated his own machines. “The current output cannot catch up with the big demand,” he says. One client alone needs 35,000 bags a month, for instance. Minus a marketing staff, the plant employs 10 workers, including seven Aeta. Jomer de la Cruz, 19, of Sta. Juliana, Capas, has not even reached Grade 1, but now he drives a forklift. In late 2009, Gonzales started his own organic farm for health and environmental reasons. His one-hectare farm is certified organic by ecoLand, a certification agency. According to a billboard on the site, the farm has met the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture and Processing established by the Department of Agriculture. On the farm, Gonzales and his helpers raise vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, and fruit trees. Gonzales does not sell the produce. He distributes most of the farm yield to family members, friends and workers. On the manufacturing and farming fronts, Gonzales turns to his cousin Eduardo, the Central Luzon assistant director of the Department of Agriculture, for technical advice. Power’s organic fertilizer includes modified sandy soil, found in abundance in Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales following the 1991 eruption, Gonzales says. The organic fertilizer also increases the water holding capacity of the soil by introducing microelements, which improve root penetration. It also minimizes dependence on synthetic fertilizer, eventually turning the farm into a chemical-free plantation. “We can’t just be grumbling and worrying about things. There are solutions,” says the sugar planter, whose sunny disposition is almost legendary in the local industry.

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer Sept. 26, 2010.

Bahraini Firm Invest in Banana Farm

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

September 30, 2010, 4:20pm

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-Bahraini joint venture Dana Fresh Agri-Development Inc. is developing a 250-hectare Cavendish banana plantation in Sarangani province for export to Middle East, Bahrain, Korea, and other Asian countries.

The Board of Investments has already approved the project on a non-pioneer status entitling the company to four-year income tax holiday and duty-free importation of capital equipment.

In approving the project, the BoI cited the P306.042 million in net cost benefit in favor of the government in terms of tax contribution and foreign exchange earnings of $77.575 million in the first four years of the company’s operation.

The company’s banana plantation in Malandag, Sarangani province is expected to produce over 1.310 million boxes or 17,809 metric tons a year of Cavendish bananas, all for the export market.

Initial planting of bananas has already started after having established a banana nursery in June this year. Commercial production is expected to start in January 2011 with 392 employees with annual payroll of over P52.553 million. Project financing is 88 percent stockholders’ equity and 12 percent bank loans.

This activity is listed in the 2010 Investment Priorities Plan under export activities.

The company is 60 percent Filipino-owned and 40 percent Bahraini. Its major stockholder is Nader & Ebrahim S/O Phils. Inc., which owns 99.99 percent stake in the project.

The group has an existing banana production operation in Davao del Norte province, which is 50 kilometers away from Sarangani province.

Nader & Ebrahim has P427 million company asset and is primarily engaged in wholesale trading of agricultural products.

The company will acquire several farm equipment and machineries including cable system, cross guying, irrigation system, powerlines, transloading hub, farm spray equipment, deepwell, vehicles and radio equipment. from local manufacturers.

Published in Manila Bulletin Oct. 1, 2010.

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Ilocos Upland Communities Gets Windfall From 12-M Loan.

September 02, 2010 23:41:00

Philippine Daily Inquirer

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—Upland communities in at least 10 towns of the Ilocos region have increased their forest and fruit tree density using a P12-million agro forestry livelihood assistance fund, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office here.

“Agro forestry provides direct income to the upland communities at the same time makes idle lands productive,” said Samuel Peñafiel, DENR Ilocos region director.

According to DENR data, 13 projects worth P6.6 million were given to 1,298 upland farmers in the towns of Vintar, Marcos and Sarrat in Ilocos Norte; Burgos and Del Pilar in Ilocos Sur; Tubao and Santol in La Union; and Sison, San Manuel and Bugallon in Pangasinan.

Out of the target 326 hectares of forest areas, 292 hectares have been planted with forest and fruit trees, coconuts, agricultural crops and bamboos, Peñafiel said.

“We have already organized them into people’s organizations under our community-based forest management program to ensure long-term benefits to them,” he said.

Peñafiel said P1.6 million was also extended to farmers to finance capability building, training on plantation technologies and information dissemination activities on forest protection.

These organizations have been registered with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Labor and Employment and Cooperative Development Authority.

This year, five more organizations involving 231 families were granted different projects worth P4.4 million.

Among these are agro forestry and livestock raising production project in San Pedro, Batac, Ilocos Norte (worth P790,937) and the Tiagan agro forestry development in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur (P984,590). Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon.

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer September 2, 2010.