CATEGORIES

QUALITY MAKES THIS DRAGON FRUIT FARM IN CAVITE ENDURE STIFF COMPETITION IN THE MARKET

SILAN FARM’S STORY is one that is full of inspiration. Husband and wife Edilberto, or Eddie, and Sheila Silan started with just 10 dragon fruit cuttings planted in a small part of a half-hectare property which Eddie inherited from his parents.

FORMER OFW PROMOTES SULU COFFEE CULTURE THROUGH HER FAMILY BUSINESS

OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW) who think of returning to the Philippines for good often look for a business to invest in. But in the case of Imelda Ahalul-Dagus, founder of Dennis Coffee Garden (DCG), not only did she find a new source of income, she also found a renewed sense of purpose.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER PUT UP AN ORGANIZATION TO TEACH MINDANAO YOUTH THE BASICS OF URBAN GARDENING

THERE’S A WORRY that not enough young people are showing interest in agriculture. This father and daughter team from Zamboanga City hopes to change that.

FARM TOUR DESTINATIONS YOU'D LOVE TO VISIT IN ILOILO AND GUIMARAS

YOU WILL ENJOY visiting farm tour destinations in Iloilo and Guimaras because you will be able to pick up practical ideas that you can adopt in your own farm. That’s what we found when our tour group visited projects in organic as well as conventional farms, all of who observe good agricultural practices.

ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT BROADENS CULTIVATION OF INDIGENOUS PALAWAN CHERRY

IT WAS the environment conservation event “Padyak Para sa Kalikasan” that paved the way for the recent planting of at least 500 seedlings of the Balayong tree, popularly known as the “Palawan Cherry,” in Barangay Bacungan, Puerto Princesa City.

EAST-WEST SEED BRINGS ‘MUCHO' SUCCESS TO FARMERS WITH ITS NEW EGGPLANT VARIETY

EGGPLANTS belong to the Solanaceae family, which includes tomatoes and peppers. In the Philippines, eggplant is considered one of the top vegetable crops in terms of volume of production (around 186,000 metric tons from January to June 2019). The Ilocos Region, Pangasinan, Central Luzon, and Southern Tagalog are known as the top producers of eggplant in the country. Every year, eggplant is grown in an average of 21,225 hectares, making it an important source of income for many Filipino farmers.

CULTIVATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN CACAO PRODUCTION

SITUATED within 20 degrees north and south of the equator, the Philippines belongs to what is called the “Cacao Belt,” an ideal hub for cacao production.

CHARMING SNOW, A NEW CAULIFLOWER VARIETY

GUILLERMO SARONA, 59 years old, is a hardworking father, a loving husband, and a farmer. Sarona has been farming crucifers (cauliflower and cabbage) for more than a decade and it has always been the source of their everyday living.

A NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FARM ADVOCATES THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

BEFORE MODERN MEDICINE was developed during the 18th century, people used plants as a remedy for most of their ailments. Numerous folklore from various parts of the globe attest to the capability of plants to address such problems.

Millennial Turns Family Farm Into Successful Agribusiness

NOWADAYS, it is rare to encounter a member of the younger generation who has a passion for agriculture. This proud millennial farmer is not only an advocate, but even shares his knowledge to long-time farmers.

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES CONFRONTING HIGH-VALUE FRUIT FARMERS IN MINDANAO

DURING OUR TOUR of leading farms producing high-value fruits in Davao City early last September, we were able to gather valuable insights on the opportunities and challenges confronting the industry. We particularly met producers of durian, pomelo, cacao, longkong lanzones, mangosteen, and marang.

Couple Successfully Grows Cacao And Makes Products Without Owning A Farm Or A Factory

MANY PEOPLE wish that they could pack up, move out of the city, and live on a farm. Husband and wife Kenneth and Shirley Reyes-Lao, 36 and 33 respectively, did just that.

How To Put Up And Run A Weekend Market

WEEKEND MARKETS are fun events that many people look forward to after a long work week. Not only are they good places to find local and artisanal products, they’re also small communities within themselves, with vendors and locals treating each other almost like family.

He Produced 14 Tons Of Palay In One Hectare

A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE has proven that he can beat many other farmers with higher educational attainment when it comes to growing hybrid rice. For instance, in April 2019, he harvested 13 tons of palay that he planted to US-88, a hybrid rice that is being introduced for massive planting in Nueva Ecija, the country’s premier rice producing province.

A Farm-to-table Concept Works Best For This Organic Farming Advocate

WITH THE INFLUX of ready-to-eat foods, wouldn’t it be more satisfying to know where our food comes from? And where nutritional value is concerned, any homemaker would love that the members of their family, especially the younger generation who have been used to junk food, to at least change their preference, giving value to health benefits over taste and ease of preparation.

Processing Can Triple The Income From Mangosteen

Producing Mangosteen for the fresh fruit market is profitable enough, but processing the fruits, as well as the leaves and other parts of the tree, can increase income as much as three times or more.

Iligan Farm Counts Value-Added Goods As A Secret To Its Success

Venida Farms, located within the Iligan City limits, is technically an urban farm, though it’s easy to forget that once you’re inside. The farm is just a few minutes drive from the city center. You’ll know that you’ve reached Venida Farms by the calabash trees (Crescentia cujete) outside. Also called ‘miracle fruit,’ calabash has many health benefits, including phytochemicals that may contribute to decrease in blood sugar levels. It is also currently being studied for its potential anticancer properties.

How To Start And Run A Community Shared Agriculture Program

We are constantly looking for ways to ensure that farmers earn a living wage. One of the ways this can be achieved is by shortening the route from farmer to consumer.

Nueva Ecija Cooperative Promotes Soybean Production While Creating Livelihood Opportunities For Farmers

SOYBEANS, or soya beans, is a legume crop popularly used as a raw ingredient for food such as soy milk, tofu, meat substitutes, and the Filipino favorite: taho.

Bayer And Department Of Agriculture RFO 12 Accelerate Hybrid Rice Adoption In Mindanao

HYBRID RICE PRODUCTION leaps to another level through the collaborative efforts of Bayer and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XII (DA-RFO XII). Six months ago, both parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of a pilot project to boost hybridization in the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani, and Sultan Kudarat. Dubbed as Project 10k, the initiative aims to support the farmer recipients of Bayer’s flagship hybrid Arize®Bigante Plus under the DA Rice Program. This translates to 10,000 hectares of rice farm planted with said hybrid.

OFW Earns More From Farm Tourism Site In Laguna

VICTOR P. ESMERIS, an OFW in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw the potential of farm tourism and decided to start his own site in the Philippines.

Look, Ma, No Soil! A Cavite-Based Plant Grower Enjoys Propagating Tillandsias

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS are common favorites when it comes to houseplants that many, especially those who are only beginning to show interest in plants, consider to be undemanding and easy to grow.

Ordinary Housewife Is Now A Vegetable Entrepreneur

VIRGIE REBLEZA is a 62-year old housemaker and grandmother from a remote community of Kidapawan City, who is now an active vegetable entrepreneur.

Lomboy Farms: A Pioneer Of Philippine Viticulture

VITICULTURE is the science, study, and production of grapes that is practiced nearly everywhere in the world. It’s widely used in winemaking and growing grapes because it deals with vineyard management to ensure a good harvest.

Partners Left The Corporate World To Pursue A Successful Agricultural Social Enterprise

FARM-TO-FOLK is a social enterprise that aims to educate and empower local farmers. Adrienne Tan, and her partner, Carl Lee, the people behind Farm-to-Folk, believe that the Philippines has a really good potential for agricultural growth, and they want farmers to know that.

School Project Turned Real Life Agribusiness: The Tale Of E-Magsasaka

E-MAGSASAKA is a farm-to-table initiative that gets produce directly from farmers for a fair price. This agribusiness is the brainchild of Gorby Dimalanta and Aaron David developed back when they were taking their graduate program in Master of Science in Innovation and Business at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

Local Sauce Brands Choose Natural And Support Local

HAYNAYAN KETCHUP and Chili Asylum are two local sauce brands that look no further than the proverbial backyard when it comes to choosing ingredients to create their products.

Grandma From Bulacan Finds Fortune In Oyster Mushrooms And Uses It To Help Others

FROM BEING a caterer famous for her crispy kangkong, to becoming a pioneer in the crispy mushroom chips industry, Aurora Sumulong, more known as Mommy Au, revolutionized the way people consume mushrooms, while at the same time, helping others with her social enterprise.

The Importance Of Design When Planning A Garden

CONSTRUCTING a garden means more than picking one’s favorite plants and placing them wherever one wants.

From Fashion To Farming: A Visit To Patis Tesoro's Permaculture Garden In San Pablo, Laguna

FASHION DESIGNER Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro has always wanted to live on a farm. “Because I grew up in Iloilo in the 50s... that was my dream,” she says. “But I also like growing my own food because in the 50s, this is what we did.”