The growing Philippine Vegetable Industry: Obstacles and Opportunities

With the enactments of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) in 1997, the Philippine agricultural sector has been modernizing rapidly, establishing itself as the center of the country’s economy- with a 25% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution and employing 505 of the labor force. However, the industry as a whole continues to exist as units of small, individually-functioning farms, most of which are producing fruits and vegetables for home consumption or as small-time alternative income source.

Vegetables as part of Filipino subsistence, be it as food or as source of livelihood cannot be underminded. All 43 kinds and 250 lesser known species of Philippine vegetables are important sources of minerals, vitamins, fiber and proteins. In the crop category, vegetable ranks second to ornamentals in terms of income generated per unit area and time. Moreover it is widely used as an intercrop for coonut and fruits trees, and as a components of other cropping systems. Ironically, per capita consumption is quite low at 39 kilograms considering that the recommended intake is 69 kilograms.

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Mais as herbal medicine

MAIS

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Zea mays L. (Farm Gramineae).

OTHER NAMES

Corn, Gahilang, Igi, Mait, Maize, Mangi, Tigi

 

PARTS USED

Hairs and cobs.

INDICATIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Diuretic — Take decoction of hairs or cobs as tea.

CONSTITUENTS

Protein; fats; carbohydrates.

“Corn silk” — maizenic acid,  fixed oil; resin; sugar;mucilage

salts.

 

Source: Philippine National Formulary ,1 980

Chemical fertilizer application

Rules on the application of chemical fertilizers

 

For best result, the application of the fertilizers must be done in the right way. To use fertilizer scantily in efforts at thrift only result in harvest poorer than if no fertilizer had been used.

 

Manner of applying fertilizer and lime

 

A.      Lowland Rice

 

1. Broadcast the recommended quantity of phosphate with one-half of the nitrogen fertilizer.

Do this before leveling the rice field before transplanting seedlings.

 

2. Broadcast the remaining half of the nitrogen fertilizer three(3) weeks before the flowering of the play. Do this when the leaves of the play are dry.

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