The versatile ipil-ipil – part 2

Brewbaker says that, apparently the ipil ipil growth slows down when it produces pods.

 

Hugh M. curran Jr., a forestry consultant he has been actively introducing fast growing ipil ipil varieties in the Philippines. One of the most  avid planters of the fast growing ipil-ipill (he obtained his first planting materials from Curran) is Radio announcer Bobby Montemayor of Davao.

 

In August 1972, Curran gave forester M. Decena of Davao 100 seeds. From this Montemayor obtained 30 seeds which he planted in his yard. The plants grew rapidly, and he immediately recognized the potential of ipil ipil trunks as supports for banana plants. Millions of stakes are required every year to support banna plants in  Davao plantation.

 

Montemayor decided to expand the area planted to ipil-ipil. He obtained more seeds from Garran, and used his first plants as mother trees. As early as eight months from planting, the giant ipil-ipil trees were already bearing pods.

 

Today, says forester C. T. Rimando, Montemayor has 1.5 million ipil-ipil trees planted on more than 30 hectares. These are planted in rows that are tow meters part. In another  Montemayor farm, the trees are spaced much farther apart (15 meters) and durian trees have been planted inbetween the rows. Today, the durian trees are growing luxuriantly because of the cooling effect of ipil ipil as nurse trees and because of its ability to fertilize the soil (ipil-ipil is legume and can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil.)

 

Othe planters are growing ipil-ipil commercially and semi-commercially. These include the Monterey farms in Ibaan, Batangas (for livestock feed); the Mabuhay vinyl Corporation (for charcoal); General Milling (leaf meal production) and Dr. Daniel Bolong  (for cattle forage0.

 

The big problem today is the shortage of giant ipil-ipil seeds for planting, Because of the limited supply, the price of seeds is high indeed. A ganta of  sells for as much as 1,000 pesos to 2000 pesos. Even  in Hawaii, the price is fantastically high –  as much as 100 dollars for  7 pounds of seeds – owing to the high  cost of labor.

 

Nevertheless, one can start with a limited amount of seeds. And since trees produce seeds in less than a year, it won’t take long for a grower to produce the planting materials he needs.

 

Davao foresters say nine trees yield one ganta seeds every three months. Of course, older ipil-ipil trees produce more seeds than younger ones and their height makes harvesting of mature pods more difficult.