Month: February 2015

Grain borers are becoming resistant to pesticides

A lesser kind of grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica Fabricius) is becoming resistant to phosphine- a type of fumigant or substance that is used to disinfect stored grains and protect them from pests.

Phisphine has been popularly used since the 1980 because it is easy to apply and does not leave any harmful residues in the grain.

The first signs of resistance were recorded in the early 70s but the resistance levels then wer low to pose a serious problem. Today, however, there are widespread reports of higher phosphine reisitance in some countries, which resulted to more researches in grain borers and phosphine resitance.

A survey in 1995 indicated that R. Dominica strains that are phosphine-resistant are present in the Philippines. The survey used the resistance method recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It involves exposing adult grain borers to phosphine dose of 0.08 mg/liter phospine for 20 hours at 25 degrees centigrade and 70 percent relative humidity.

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Hybrid rice: The future of rice farming in the Philippines

Teofilo, a rice farmer from San Miguel, Isabela has just computed his earning for one cropping season. The amount was more than what one can win in some popular game shows on TV, a staggering 1.2 million.

Indeed, Mang Teofilo had become a millionaire in just four to six months with the help of new hybrid rice Mestizo. Ordinarily, his 30 hectare land would earn him 0.6 million per cropping season but with Mestizo he earned double by harvesting at least 150 cavans per hectare that he sold at 400 per cavan.

Documented success stories of hybrid rice adoption abound in other parts of the country: Isabela, Kalinga, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

According to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Deputy Director Edilberto Redona hybrid rice can in fact give farmers an additional 1,272 kg of palay per hectare, or at least 25% increase in yield.

Given the amazing income generating potential of hybrid rice varieties , can it be the saving grace of rice farming in the country? Can filipino farmers have, at last, the competitive advantage they need to compete with other markets, or finally raise their standard and quality of living? What makes hybrid rice superior to inbred rice varieties?

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113 plant species in Ilocos in danger of becoming extinct

For every second that ticks at least five plant species are permanently wiped off the face of the earth becoming extinct forever. Scientist are alarmed at the rate that valuable genetic material is getting lost. In other parts of the country the number of plant species disappearing is not yet documented.

In the Philippines, a team of researchers from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) found that 113 plant species in Ilocos Norte are vanishing: 16 vegetables, 31 fruits and forest tree species, 43 ornamentals and medicinals, 7 rootcrops and 16 other plant species.

This was revealed in a study that documented the province’s vanishing plant species in an effort to save the region’s valuable genetic resources.

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Bagito scandal

In the past few days a so called Bagito Scandal video is making wave in the internet.

On the said video you could see a girl which is still in her uniform and a boy doing the “Deed’ with their clothes on in the staircase. Looking at them it seems that both of them are still underage/ minors.  Some netizen  named the girl and accordingly the guy on the video had committed suicide although all of this is just speculation.

To some extent, looking at the video there are no indication that the people involved are even Filipino.

In other site the video is even named as “Bulacan Sports Complex Scandal”.