Category: BUSINESS

Lobster Farming

Lobster Farming

Lobster (Panulirus sp.) locally known as banagan, is an expensive priced marine crustacean both in local and international markets. It is caught using bottom gill nets and the availability of stocks is dependent on a day’s catch.

Lobster farming is a lucrative and viable livelihood , especially for coastal residents.

There are three species of lobsters: tiger lobster (Panulirus ornatus) which is distinguished by its spotted legs;  Bamboo lobster (Panulirius versicolor) which has striped legs that resemeble that of a bamboo trunk; and Adik-adik lobster (Panulirus edulis) which is identified by its reddish back.

Continue reading “Lobster Farming”

Black Pepper Farming

Raking Profits from Black Pepper Farming

By Henrylito Tacio

Black pepper (Piper nigrum linn.), known locally as paminta or pimiento is one of those neglected crops grown in the Philippines. It is used extensively by food manufacturers as a seasoning agent in the preparation of both exquisite and everyday dishes. As a spice, it makes food tste better. It is essential in local dishes like “kilawin,””lauya,” “mami,” “pnasit,” “adobo,” “mechado,” and many other preparations.

Unknown to many Filipino farmers, black pepper – being a tropical plant, – can be grown profitably in many areas of the country where the soil is well-drained and fertile. It grows better under partial shade than in an open field, a characteristic that makes the plant good for backyard farming. It can laso be grown between coffee and cacao trees. Most Black pepper farms are found in Batangas, Lagauna, Quezon, Negros  Occidental, Zamboanga and Davao.

“There are four varieties of black pepper.” Says the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBLRC)  foundation, referring to large-leafed, small-leafed, tall , and short. “ You can plant any of these varieties in your farm or backyard.”

According to the MBRLC, black pepper is a creeping plant. “The plant needs posts to climb on,” the center states. Commonly used support trees – which are planted ahead of time- include “ipil-ipil,” “madre de cacao,” and “dapdap.”  The support s must be at least three to four meters high, 2.5 meters between rows.

Continue reading “Black Pepper Farming”

Growing caimito – part 2

Cultivation is not very extensive, though the seedling requires constant ring weeding while young..

Farmers in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna regularly  grow filed crops like rice, corn, pineapple, and root crops between young caimito trees to maximize use of land. Other farmers plant fruit trees like banana, coffe and lanz0ones between caimito trees to sterilize all available space.

Fertilizer application is not always necessary. A caimit tree can draw sufficient food from the soil to support growth and fruit production. However, it is a good practice to apply nitrogenous fertilizer when the plants are young. Usually, animal manure is good substitute for commercial fertilizer. To improve fruit production, apply complete fertilizer may also be applied at the start of the rainy season before flowering and when the soil contains enough moisture. The broadcast method of fertilizer application is economical and effective.

Caimito is a medium-sized and spreading tree. Its leaves are oval, with pointed tips, and are light to dark-green on the upper surface, and copper or golden  beneath,

Continue reading “Growing caimito – part 2”

Growing caimito – part 1

Caimito: a tough productive fruit tree

By: Dell H. Grecia and Pit La. Cantilang

Nobody can say with any degree of certainty why it is called star apple or caimito. There have been several wild attempts to explain these names. One corny version has it that the fruit was named caimito because it was first owned and propagated by Mito; thus kay mito

However it got its name, the introduction of this fruit in the Philippines was certainly one of the bsest things to happen to our fruit industry. For star apple or caimito (Chrysiophyllum caimito, L) is now one of the widely appreciated Philippine fruits.

The tree was introduce here in 1905 form the West Indies and Central America. Grown all over the Philippines today, caimito trees are thriving in La Union, Tarlac, Batangas, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulcan, Cavite and many other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Continue reading “Growing caimito – part 1”