More than Water in Watermelon

Watermelon is not only refreshing but it is also good for health. Watermelon is 92 percent water but a good source of vitamin A that helps maintain normal vision, keeps skin and hair glossy, and promotes growth.
It is also a good source of vitamin C that boosts the body’s ability to fight infection and helps keep gums healthy. It is an antioxidant, protecting body cells from damage by free radicals.
One cup or one slice of watermelon about 140 grams provides 140 micrograms of beta-carotene and 9.8 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C. This is a good 13 percent of Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENI) of a normal adult.
It is low in calories, yet gives the feeling of fullness. A cup or slice of watermelon has only 43 kilocalories.
Recent studies indicate that watermelon contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that appears to help prevent heart disease. Lycopene is also found in tomatoes and pink grapefruit.
A person should eat more vegetables, fruits, and rootcrops according to the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos in 2000 developed by a technical working group led by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
Reference: www.dost.gov.ph (Ma. Idelia G. Glorioso, S&T Media Service

Dairy Situationer In the Philippine Market

Dairy Situationer In the Philippine Market

* Dairy is approximately a P65 Billion business in the country;
* Milk is one of the country’s top agricultural import worth around US$500M annually;
* Despite increasing world milk prices, demand continues to increase;
* Local dairy production accounts for a mere 1% of the country’s dairy demand;
* Recognizing the need to strengthen local dairy production, business growth opportunities abound:
* The Philippines needs to import more dairy livestock;
* The Philippines needs to modernize its farming and production facilities;
* With the attention it is getting from both government and private sectors, the Dairy Industry in the Philippines is on the verge of a robust market growth!
Website: http://www.dairycongress.com/

China allows eight companies to export RP mango

Beijing has given the go signal for eight Philippine companies to export mangoes to China starting this month, a move that is expected to benefit the country’s 2.5 million growers of this premier tropical fruit export, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said eight exporters are the Fruitful Harvest Corporation, Mabuhay 2000 Incorporated, Phil-Harvest Agro Marketing Corporation, Diamond Star Agro Products Inc., DHM Philippine Produce Inc., Wenatchee Marketing Corporation, HiLas Marketing Corporation and Marsman Drysdale Food Corporation.
Beijing relayed this positive development in a letter sent last April 18 to Undersecretary for Special Concerns Berna Romulo Puyat by Liang Wentao, the Chinese Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Counselor.
Industry leaders thank DA
As this developed, leaders of the mango industry trooped to the DA last Monday to thank agriculture officials led by Yap for helping them secure Beijing’s approval to export the Philippine fruit to China. These mango industry leaders and growers included Jean Lui, owner of Fruitful Harvest, Estrella Gonzales of Philippine Harvest, Tony Tiu of Mabuhay 2000 and Reynaldo Mangilit of Diamond Star.
“On behalf of the country’s mango growers and exporters, we thank the DA, led by Secretary Yap, and Beijing’s quarantine officials as well for helping us and our 2.5 million mango farmers, penetrate China’s multibillion-dollar fruit market,” said Lui.
Also present during the visit to the DA office were William Co, former agricultural attache to China; Qiu Zhijun, First Secretary, Office of Commercial and Economic Affairs of the Chinese Embassy; and Liang Wen Tao, Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy.
New treatment passes global and China standards
Yap said Beijing’s move would further strengthen existing bilateral ties between the two countries. “Our exporters have fully complied with the requirements for extended hot water treatment as specified last year by inspectors and technical staff from AQSIQ,” Yap said. “Beijing’s nod to the treatment facilities set up by our mango exporters is very timely because this is now the peak of the mango harvest season.”
Puyat said Beijing gave the go-ahead after officials from its General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) visited Manila last month to check on food safety and treatment facilities for Philippine mango exports.
“Our mango exporters want to relay their thanks to the Chinese quarantine officials for recognizing the efforts that they have done to make treatment facilities for Philippine mangoes at par with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards,” Puyat said.
China earlier accepted the cheaper but effective Extended Hot Water Treatment (EHWT) that the DA had developed in tandem with the country’s premier research institutions as a qualified technology to ensure that Philippine mango exports meet global food-safety standards.
More income for RP’s farmers
Mango is among the Philippines’ top exports to China, which accounts for about 80% of total overseas sales of this tropical fruit. Yap said the DA’s sustained efforts to open more markets overseas for Philippine farm produce is in step with President Arroyo’s “Pagkain sa Bawat Mesa, Negosyo sa Sakahan-Laban sa Kahirapan” goal.
Puyat noted that “the viability of the fresh mango industry and the millions of farmers and their families who rely on it for their livelihood depends heavily on their ability to export their produce to China.”
“Similarly, the substantial investments in EHWT facilities that have been required by AQSIQ also lay idle and need to be productive so that our exporters can recover their expenses in setting up such facilities,” Puyat said. DA data show that around 500,000 metric tons of mangoes of the total 800,000 MT of annual production will be harvested during these peak months of March and April.
Puyat said China’s go-signal for Philippine mango exports would translate into higher incomes for some 2.5 million mango farmers in the country. The EHWT, which had been perfected by the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna (UPLB) will lower the cost of exporting mangoes to China by at least P20 a kilo, thus spelling higher profits for Filipino exporters in the world’s largest food market. Philippine mango exports to China in 2007 reached 933.33 MT, which Yap expects to rise significantly starting this year as a result of Beijing’s approval of the EWHT technology.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Growers’ Guide on Abiu Production in the Philippines

Introduction

Abiu or Caimo (Pouteria Caimito) is native to Brazil and Peru. It has been introduced to other countries including South-East Asia. Abiu in the Philippines was brought from Australia in 1987, and is now fast becoming popular.
The fruit is usually eaten fresh, It is usually sliced longitudinally in four parts and the seeds removed . It tastes best when chilled and flavored with Calamansi juice.
Description
The small to medium-sized, evergreen tree grows up to 16 m high with upright or spreading branches. The leaves are dark green, 26 cm x 6 cm, oblong to elliptic and pointed at the tip.
The flowers are small, greenish-white and are borne in clusters at leaf axils. The fruits are oboivoid-globose, 6-8 cm in diameter and golden yellow when ripe. The flesh is white, soft, juicy and sweet. Each fruit has 1-3, large and flattened seeds.
The fruit and the tree resemble that tof tiesa (Canistel) but the flesh is similar to the taste, softness and sweetness of Caimito (Starapple).
Variety
“RCF GOLD” is the only registered variety of Abiu in the Philippines. Its fruit is round, large (weighs 300 grams) and golden yellow when ripe. Its flesh is translucent white, soft and melting, moderately juicy, sweet (19 Brix total soluble solids) and has high edible portion (63%). It has 1-2, oblong, black, large seeds. Other varieties have been identified but are not yet registered with the National Seed Industry Council.
Climatic and Soil Requirements
Climatic Requirement. Abiu thrives best in the open in places well-distributed rainfall. However, it can also be planted in areas with a distinct dry season if partial shading is provided.
Soil Requirement. Slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5), deep, loam soil with good drainageand rich in organic matter is favorable for raising Abiu. It can be planted in flat or slightly sloping areas.
Propagation

Abiu may be propagated by seeds but asexual propagation through Cleft grafting and inarching is recommended. Grafted plants fruit as early as two years while plants propagated by seeds fruit in three years or more.
To prepare the seeds, remove the slimy covering by macerating in fine sand or coir dust. Wash thoroughly in clean water and air-dry.
Sow the seeds horizontally in individual containers (such as perforated black plastic bags) containing good soil, or in a seedbox containing fine river sand or coir dust. Position the seeds with their hilum (large scar) down. Cover with a thin layer of germinating medium. Water and keep the soil moist all the time.
Transplant seedlings established in the seedbed in individual containers mentioned above as soon as the first pair of leaves has expanded and the roots are still short. This is also to check early if the roots are infested with aphids.
With proper care Abiu seedlings grow fast and are ready for field grafting or inarching when they are about a year old.
Planting

Abiu is planted during the start of rainy season, from May to June, with a planting distance of 4-5 m between trees. Prepare holes 30 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep. It is recommended to place a handful of complete fertilizer (15-15-15) before planting. Cover the fertilizer with a layer of soil. Remove the plastic bag from the plant and set the plant at the center of the hole. Cover the hole with soil. Water after planting.
Training and Pruning

Unlike other fruit trees, Abiu branches at an early stage. For easier management of the trees, prune branches growing lower than 50 cm from the trunk. Maintain the treeheight at 2 meters by cutting excess branches. Pruning is done regularly to remove dead. weak or interlocking branches.
Irrigation
During summer months, Abiu trees should be watered especially when the leaves start to wither. Mulching with leaves and grasses around the tree is recommended to conserve moisture in the soil.
Fertilization

Apply compost and manure if available. Mulching also conserves the nutrients stored in the soil. Application of inorganic fertilizers is recommended if Abiu trees exhibit low fruit yield. Apply 200 grams complete fertilizer on newly bearing Abiu trees at the start and end of rainy season. Five-year old trees and above should be fertilized with 500 grams complete fertilizer twice a year.
Harvesting

Plants propagated from seeds start to fruit in three years while grafted plants start to fruit in tow years. Abiu is available all-year-round but the peak of the fruiting season is from December to February. When the fruits turns golden yellow, it is ready for harvesting. A five to seven year old tree usually yields 50-70 fruits.
Abiu is harvested by twisting or pulling from the stem. It usually has a storage life of two weeks.
Reference: Growers’ Guide on Abiu Production by Dr. Roberto Coronel

Sleeping Fish

Bonifacio Comandante, Jr. is a Filipino inventor responsible for the waterless transport of live fish technology. Boni Comandante, a pride of Dumaguete, is a graduate of Marine Biology at Silliman University.
In 1987, Mr. Comandante was experimenting on the sex reversal of groupers in Palawan in preparation for the fish hatchery to be established. During one of his experiments, he accidentally discovered the “anti-stress salt solution” that allows fish to hibernate. This started the tale of the sleeping fish. However, Mr. Comandante did not launch his invention until after he was successful in defending it at Silliman University in 2003 as his thesis for his Master’s Degree in Coastal Resource Management.
The waterless transport of live fish involves this process:
1. Fishes to be shipped undergo a process of conditioning where they are starved and held for 24 hours in seawater set at a desired temperature.
2. The fishes are then dipped with an organic anti-stress solution called the Buhi Blend to stun the fishes and put them to sleep. This slows the metabolism and reduces breathing rate of fishes.
3. The sleeping fishes are then put and arranged in boxes filled with oxygen. These boxes are sealed to be ready for transport.
4. The transported fishes will recover their consciousness after around 22 hours.
The technology gained international recognition and won both local and international awards. A few of the recognition he received are the Grand Prize for Department of Trade and Industry Business Innovation Awards, Department of Science and Technology Kabalikat Award, Best International Business award in the University of San Francisco University Business Plan Competition, World Bank Development Innovations Marketplace Grant Competition award.
The waterless transport technology has made significant contributions to the fish industry. It enables Filipinos to competitively price their fish exports to China, Taiwan, Japan, and other countries that consume fish. It also enables fish traders to eliminate a large portion of shipment cost through the absence of water in transport. With this, the Philippines may make a big share of the international market. This technology could also reduce the mortality of the fishes being shipped. In addition, it can ensure entrepreneurs, organizations, and even individuals the freshness of the fishes they will consume on their plates.
Even if Mr. Comandante is aiming for an international market, he makes certain that the technology will stay in Filipino hands to provide employment to his countrymen, bring pride to his nation, and improve the lives of Filipinos.
Indeed, Bonifacio Comandante’s sleeping fish has awakened the world.
Buhi Worldwide – http://www.buhiworldwide.com/
Photo Courtesy of http://fairandunfair.splinder.com/tag/cibo
Article written by Julianne Lacson