Category: AGRICULTURE

Growing Bell Peppers

Growing high Value Crop

By Carmela Abaygar

 

 

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is grown widely under rainfed conditions. High yields are obtained in areas with a total rainfall of 6oo to 1250 mm, which is well distributed over the growing season. In Ilocos Norte alone, the total area planted to pepper in 1999 was 373.16 ha.

Growing bell peppers

Bell peppers can be ideal for planting in Philippine climate. Bell peppers love heat. This crop needs warm soil and air temperatures throughout the growing season. However in areas with cooler temperatures, plastic mulches, row covers and hoop houses may be used to grow this vegetable more quickly.

Bell peppers need high amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Soil must be well drained. It is recommended to grow bell peppers in raised beds filled with good topsoil, compost, and rotted manure mixture. A pH near neutral (7.0) is ideal. Continue reading “Growing Bell Peppers”

Duck Meat and Production

Duck Meat and Production part 4

By Carmela Abaygar

 

Vaccination and

medication programs must be administered to the animals to prevent viral infections and bacterial diseases. Ducklings at age one day to seven days must be administered with antibiotic or sulfa drug preparation through drinking water to prevent bacterial infections like salmonellosis, collibacilosis and staphyloccosis. At age eight to 14 days, ducklings may be given antibiotic-vitamin-mineral mixture through their drinking water to increase the animal’s resistance against bacterial diseases. Ducklings aged 21- 28 days may be given multivitamins to increase their resistance. Continue reading “Duck Meat and Production”

Is Lapu Lapu the new endangered fish?

Is Lapu Lapu the new endangered fish?

By Henrylito D. Tacio

 

Unless something is done soon, the succulent lapu-lapu (grouper)will soon no longer be part of the menu in your favorite Chinese restaurant. The reason: the supply is facing imminent collapse!

Forty years of unregulated cyanide and dynamite fishing, in addition to the rising trend to target vulnerable spawning areas of lapu-lapu  (grouper), have all contributed to the rapid disappearance of the highly valued fish.

Most of the spawning areas of lapulapu  (grouper) can be found in Palawan, the country’s last frontier. Palawan and its territorial waters host some of the most productive yet exploited fisheries on earth, according to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a global conservation group. Continue reading “Is Lapu Lapu the new endangered fish?”

Organic Farming goes to Baras and Tayabas

Organic Farming goes to Baras and Tavabas

UPLB-NEDA Agri project

 

BY HANS AUDRIC B. ESTIALBO

 

Back in 2005, the authorization of Executive Order 481 titled “Promotion and Development of Organic Agriculture in the

Philippines” further fortified the need for an information system for organic agriculture. Signed last August 2006, the rules and regulations specified that the secretariat of the National Technical Committee nd the National Organic Agriculture Board, is lodged with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards.

Organic farming in the country has also improved since the demand for organic produce has skyrocketed for the past few years. Thanks to different organic markets in the Metro and bagsakan centers in rural areas that now, promote and give organic farmers a chance to sell their products.

Take for instance Baras, Rizal. Mayor Wilfredo C. Robles and Councilor Ramon A. Matignas Jr. were once anxious about the low income of farmers in the town, despite its abundant area for farming.

Farmers in their area had been discouraged because of this, and have also dissuaded their children from following their footsteps. Continue reading “Organic Farming goes to Baras and Tayabas”