Ilocos Norte to become dragon fruit capital of Ph - ilarrdec

July 2012
Ilocos Norte to become dragon fruit
capital of Ph
Ilocos Norte is now becoming
as the country's dragon fruit capital
having a perfect climate suited for
the crop, and with the hectarage
now being expanded every year.
Dragon plant, which is locally
called Saniata, was introduced in
the province not long ago. A vinelike species of cactus that thrives
in hot climate with a lot of rainfall,
dragon fruit is native to Central and
South America. The French
introduced it in Vietnam, where it
was first cultivated in Asia. It is now
planted in Thailand, Malaysia,
Taiwan, Southeast China, and the
Philippines.
Experts from the Mariano
Marcos State University (MMSU) in
Batac, Ilocos Norte said that dragon
fruit is now considered one of the
favorite fruits of many Ilocanos
because of its known therapeutic
properties. They further reported:
"Many are already involved in the
production of dragon fruit in Ilocos
Norte where the climatic condition
is very much adaptable."
MMSU is now one of the
government and private agencies
being harnessed to expand dragon
fruit production in Ilocos Norte that
constitute the northwestern most
flank of Luzon. Others involved are
the Provincial Agriculture Office
(FAO), Department of AgricultureRegional Field Unit I (DA-RFU I),
and the Saniata Dragon Fruit
Growers Association.
With the support of Ilocos Norte
Gov. Imee Romualdez-Marcos,
some 100 hectares in composite
areas of Laoag City, Burgos,
Pasuquin, Paoay, Sarrat, Bacarra,
and Currimao towns are now being
readied for dragon fruit production.
These areas are considered barren,
marginal or idle. Marginal areas are
those which are non-productive and
would require a lot of inputs, like
fertilizers, to make them give a
yield equal to that of productive
areas not given inputs.
Twenty-five hectares of these
(See ILOCOS NORTE . . page 2)
ILARRDEC is number one
In the last 10 years, the Ilocos Agriculture and Resources
Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) ranked
number one in the country based on the results of the
internal evaluation of the Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCAARRD). The evaluation was based on the ratings of
the annual accomplishment reports of the 14 consortia in
the country and is validated during Ugnay evaluations.
Overall, the consortium garnered an average of 89.97%
from 2001-2010. ILARRDEC is the only consortium in the
country which consistently maintained a rating of 85% and
above which is the cut off score for Ugnay evaluation.
As an incentive, PCAARRD has donated to the consortium
a slightly used car to be used as a service vehicle.
According to Dr. Stanley Malab, the consortium director,
we were able achieved this rating because of the superb
dedication and cooperation of all the member agencies in
(See ILARRDEC. . page 2)
ILARRDEC Reporter
ILARRDEC Reporter
July 2012
Published by the Ilocos Agriculture
and
Res ources
Res earc h
and
Development
Cons ortium
with
headquarters and editorial office located
in the main campus of the Mariano Marcos
State University (MMSU), Batac, Ilocos
Norte.
EDITORIAL BOARD
REYNALDO E. ANDRES
Editor-in-Chief
LOVE GRACE DC. CAMPANO
Managing Editor
(ILARRDEC. . from page 1)
the implementation of our
plans, programs and activities.
He said we have an excellent
rat i n g
on
t echn ol ogy
generati on , t ech n ology
promoti on
an d
pol icy
advocacy.
He added that our ranking
is base on our capability to
plan and implement programs
and generate technologies.
This, according to him, is a
(ILOCOS NORTE. .from page 1)
areas are now being planted to
Saniata cactus by at least 127
farmers who are members of the
Saniata Dragon Fruit Growers
Association. Experts f rom
ILARRDEC said farmers can get
some P200,000 profit from a
simple dragon cactus farm in one
year.
In support of the project, a
package of technology (POT) has
been produced in printed and video
formats to guide growers in the
production of dragon f ruits.
Demonstration plots in farmers'
field, elementary schools, and
barangay organization have also
2
proof that our system is
working well for consortium
operation. Through the years,
the consortium has been
generati n g ou t st an di n g
technologies on bamboo,
potato, bioethanol, solar
dryer, mango, goat, mallard
duck, to name a few.
The other consortia in top
five are ViCARP (87.89%),
SMARRDEC (86.92%), CVARRD
(86.72%), and CLARRDEC
(86.34%).
been established. Training
programs, cross visits, monitoring,
and field consultations, school-onthe-air programs, product
development, marketing, and
exhibits have been conducted.
Mrs. Edita A. Dacuycuy,
ILARRDEC Magsasaka Siyentista
for dragon fruit production, had
developed a number of products
made out of dragon fruits, among
them cupcake from dragon fruits
flesh and rind; macaroni from rind;
lumpiang shanghai, empanadita,
and siomai from its dried flowers;
ice cream and jam from flesh and
rind; soap from its stem; and wine
from its flesh.
Summing up, greening the
CHERYLL C. DELA CRUZ
MARY ANN R. RAROGAL
MELISSA M. RABANAL
LOVELY JOY VILORIA
ALICE GERALDINE HERNANDO
RICHARD GUINSATAO
Editorial Assistants
JOEL I. ADAJAR
Artist/Illustrator
STANLEY C. MALAB
Editorial Consultant
RACO REPRESENTATIVES:
Lea C. Agbigay, MMSU
Lourdes P. Calacal, DENR
Feliza R. Aurellano, NTA
Maribel Alupay, PhilRice-Batac
Leticia San Gabriel, PSU
Antonio O. Ogbinar, DMMMSU
Evangeline C. Cabigan, CODA
Wilhelmina P. Castañeda, DA-1
Floraceli Rodillas, UNP
Francisco D. Lopez, ISPSC
Lilian Lilibeth Domingo, NU
All opinions expres sed in the
ILARRDEC Reporter are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect
those of the editorial board.
grey and dry areas in Ilocos Norte,
aside from providing a lucrative means
of livelihood to the people. This can
mitigate climate change and an
opportunity for the underutilized and
idle areas to be converted into
productive lands.
July 2012
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS
The Department of AgricultureAgribusiness Marketing Assistance
Division (DA-AMAD) successfully
launched two Food Terminals in
Ilocos Norte making Region 1's
Food Terminal Projects to a total of
19 as of this year.
Intent on achieving its goal in
creating an effective and efficient
marketing avenue for local farmers
in Region 1, AMAD fast-tracked the
evaluation and validations of
proposed FTP areas in the region
hoping to further strengthen the
marketing opportunities of Ilocos
agri-products produced by local
farmers through the project.
Recently launched was the
Brgy. San Pablo Food Terminal
NEWS
AMAD launches 2 food terminals
in Ilocos Norte
Project in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.
Recipient of the project is the San
Pablo Multi-Purpose Cooperative
chaired by Mr. Hermino Ulep. Around
532 families are expected to be served
within the barangay food terminal (BFT)
area while about 2,098 families within
the catchment area will be served
through the project.
As component of the project, the
DA extended a fund amounting to
P270,000 as initial operating capital
for the BFT, together with 1 unit chest
freezer, digital weighing scale and
E-Kawayan project gets P31M
from PAGCOR
The engineered kawayan (Ekawayan) project in Alaminos City,
Pangasinan has been received
P31 million from the Philippine
Amusement and Gam ing
Corporation (PAG COR) to
strengthen the bamboo industry in
the city.
This amount is now being used
to build a fully functional Hundred
Islands E-Kawayan factory which
will drive the development of a
dynamic bamboo industry in the
Ilocos region. Going through in the
same vein are the equipment
modernization, human resource
development, bamboo nursery
establishment, bamboo plantation,
and the establishment of a tissue
culture laboratory.
Additionally, the project aims
to signif icantly contribute to
poverty reduction, climate change
mit igat ion and disast er risk
reduction management; and
renewabl e and sustainable
development. Particularly, the
project aims to expand the E-
July 2012
NEWS
Kawayan processing hub; promote
public-private partnerships; supply
DepEd requirements for chairs,
tables, f urniture and f ixtures,
produce construction and building
materials; and eventually makes the
city of Alaminos the regional center
for bamboo industry.
In a letter sent to the consortium,
City Mayor Hernani Braganza
thanked ILARRDEC for introducing
the E-kawayan technology in the city
and for equipping their out-of-school
youth and farmers with the skills
plastic crates. Prior to the launching,
a capability enhancement training
was also conducted to equip the
project
proponents
with
management skills to ensure
successful management and
operation of the food terminal.
Ulep expressed hopes of
providing quality and affordable
agricultural products to his
constituents through the BFT since
San Nicolas is a known producer of
rice, corn, garlic, onion and various
vegetables in Ilocos Norte.
needed in the bamboo industry. He
expressed his hopes that through
this project, the city of Alaminos
will be one step closer to attaining
its goals of poverty reduction
through the creation of new
businesses and job opportunities
brought by the demand of EKawayan desks, chairs and other
furniture.
A memorandum of agreement
(MOA) was signed between the
city government of Alaminos and
the Nippon Skilled Volunteers
Association (NISVA) f or the
conduct of
Short Course
Programs to enhanced the skills
of farmer cooperators in making ekawayan products.(Love Grace
Campano)
Alaminos City Mayor
Hernani Braganza
(2nd from left) and
ILARRDEC Director
Stanley C. Malab
(3rd from left) pose
for a souvenir photo
at the site of the 31
million E-Kawayan
factory in Alaminos
City, Pangasinan.
3
NWU to venture into goat milk production
NEWS
PSU gets P1.2 M
for research lab
The Pangasinan State
University (PDU), Sta. Maria
Campus, has receiv ed an
institutional development grant of
P1,225,000 for the establishment
of a Central Crops Research
Laboratory (CCRL).
The grant was awarded by the
Department of Agriculture- Bureau
of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)
through
its
institutional
development support program. The
establishment of the CCRL will
support and strengthen the
research, production, instruction
and extension thrusts of the
University.
What’s more, the grant will
enhance capabilities and skills of
PSU staff in agricultural research,
and improve the station's facilities
and equipment. The CCRL serves
as venue to diagnose plant pest
and diseases, and plant and soil
analyses. It is expected ti benefit
farmers in Pangasinan and those
in other provinces. (Benica S.
Briones)
NwU to venture
into goat milk prod’n
The Northwestern University
(NwU) is eyeing to venture into
goat milk production as one of its
research and dev elopment
activities and livelihood programs.
This was conceptualized by Dr.
Rudy Bareng, vice president for
Research, Community Extension,
Integrated Agricultural Development
V(PRCEIAD) after his participation
in
the 18th International
Agribusiness Exhibition and
Seminar popularly known as
Agrilink, at the World Trade Center
in Manila.
His exposure to the beautiful
and graceful milking goats of
Alaminos Goat Farm (AGF) in
4
NEWS
Laguna has inspired him to come up
with a f easibility study on its
profitability in the province.
Result showed that goat milk
production has a great potential in
the province since there are no
producers yet. No less than the
mayor of Piddig, Ilocos Norte signified
his interest in the goat production
program to be implemented in the
town. This will be an opportunity to
popularize goat milk in the locality,
and give the people a good livelihood
alternative.
To date, the goat project of the
university has acquired pure-bred
Boer and Anglo Nubian from the
Central Luzon State University
(CLSU) which became the sires for
the rest of the native herd which are
of meat-type.
Bareng is optimistic that with the
years of experience he had with the
meat-type goat, the university is
ready to venture into a more profitable,
more
exacting
production
management, and marketing of milktype goats. He said, the university is
just waiting for the availability of
certified milk producers from AGF so
that NwU would start the project.
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS
Dragon fruit gets
nod in PhilARM
confab
The paper and poster on "RDE
Management on dragon fruit and its
implications to social responsibility:
The project 'Saniata' experience"
were adjudged second and third
places, respectiv ely, in the
conv ention of the Philippine
Association of Research Managers
held at Dakak Park and Beach
Resort, Dapitan City.
The paper was presented by the
project leader and main author,
Leonardo T. Pascua, senior science
research specialist of the Cotton
Dev elopment Administration
(CODA) and the regional
technogabay coordinator of
ILARRDEC. The co-authors are
Lilibeth Paraoan of CODA, Imelda
Adalem, May Damaso Pascua,
Lolita Raposas, and Ruby Saoait of
the Of f ice of the Prov incial
Agriculture - of Ilocos Norte (OPAGIN), and Love Grace Campano,
Marivic Alimbuyugen, Maura Luisa
Gabriel and Fausta Mercy Gano of
the Mariano Marcos State University
(MMSU).
In the presentation, Pascua
emphasized
the
relev ant
management strategies employed
in the project including the research
activities and utilization, publicprivate partnerships, and lessons
learned in the RD&E of dragon fruit.
He also discussed the implications
of these activ ities to social
responsibility to f it to the
convention's theme, Nurturing social
responsibility among research
managers".
The project SANIATA (Sagut ni
Imee Agnanayon Talged nga Agduras), which aimed to develop and
promote dragon fruit production, is
jointly implemented and funded by
CODA, MMSU, OPAG-IN,
Department of Agriculture-Regional
(See DRAGON FRUIT. . .page 5)
July 2012
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS
NEWS
New sched for regional M&E
system
The Regional Research and
Development Coordinating Council
(RRDCC) of the consortium has
approved the new schedule for the
conduct of the Regional
Symposium on R&D Highlights
during its second quarter meeting
held at the Mariano Marcos State
University last July 13.
With the recent rationalization
of PCAARRD, a new anniversary
date was set, hence, the schedule
for the M&E system of the regional
consortium, to include symposia
and reviews, should also be
aligned.
The traditional agency in-house
reviews (AIHR) maybe conducted
anytime from April - August with the
regional symposium on R&D
(DRAGON FRUIT .from page 4)
Field Unit-1 (DA-RFU-1),
ILARRDEC and the Philippine
Council for Aquatic, Agriculture and
Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD) under
the Techno Gabay Program.
Saniata, the local name for
dragon fruit, is becoming one of the
favorite fruits of the many Filipinos
not only because of its delectable
taste but also of its therapeutic
properties.
(Love
Grace
Campano)
July 2012
highlights to be held every last
quarter of the calendar year This
year, the consortium's R&D
symposium will be held on the last
week of October.
Moreover, beginning this year,
only on-going AANR research and
technology transfer projects with at
least six months of implementation
NEWS
regardless of their source of funds
shall be presented in the annual AIHR
of the consortium’s memberagencies (CMAs). In addition to
discussing project outputs and
project outcomes/consequences,
the significance of the project
accomplishments should also be
discussed by the project leaders.
PCAARRD's participation to the
AIRH shall be initially limited to those
CMAs with on-going PCAARRD and
DOST-funded AANR projects.
River dredging an alternative
strategy to arrest flooding
The problems on flood control
can now be solved with less cost
through a non-structural strategy
developed by the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau of the Department
of Env ironment and Natural
Resources in Region 1 (MGB-DENR1).
The MGB-DENR-1 poposed the
concept of dredging as alternative if
not an effective strategy in addressing
hazards like flooding and erosion in
major river systems in the region in
a forum held last year.
This non-structural method and
mitigating measure is cost-effective
as against the inf rastructure
intervention which costs millions of
pesos yet not fully effective.
The proposal covers the five major
rivers of Region 1 such as those in
Padsan River in Ilocos Norte, Abra
River in Ilocos Sur, Amburayan
River in Ilocos Sur and La Union,
Bued riv er in La Union and
Pangasinan, and Agno River in
Pangasinan. These rivers were
said to be on their mature stage of
development, characterized by
river channel widening and river
bank erosion which became
vulnerable to flooding and erosion
especially during strong typhoons
and prolonged rainfall. With this
scenario, a self-sustaining concept
is employed in the implementation
of this activity wherein service
contractors are tapped to do the
work.
In the dredging of the Padsan
River, OMNICO Natural Resources,
Inc., a dredging company,
undertakes the work with minimal
or less expenses f rom the
government. This, however, allows
the contractor to take and haul out
the dredged materials as their
compensation.
The project is implemented
through a memorandum of
agreement between DENR, MGB,
Department of Public Works and
Highways
(DPW H)
and
Env ironmental Management
Bureau (EMB). (Lourdes P.
Calacal)
5
ILARRDEC Reporter
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Hermetic enclosure lengthens
hybrid rice seed viability
In the past, farmers were
meeting problems on the low
germination rate of hybrid rice
seeds provided to them by the
Department of Agriculture, as
these were stored under ordinary
storage conditions.
The germination rate of hybrid
rice seeds [no lower than 85
percent] could be maintained only
up to three months under ordinary
storage conditions.
The
germination
rate
drops
significantly when stored up to six
months.
In their joint study, the
researchers stored one month old
seeds of Mestizo 1 with 9.5 to 10.5
moisture content in imported
Volcani Cubes or GrainPro
Cocoons for hermetic storage.
These were compared with seeds
stored in a cold room, airconditioned room, and ordinary
storage condition.
The germination rate of seeds
kept in hermetic storage for six
months was comparable with
those in cold room storage, but
significantly higher than those
stored in air-conditioned room. At
nine months, howev er, the
germination rate of seeds in
hermetic storage was significantly
lower than those stored in a cold
room, but comparable with those
kept in air-conditioned room.
The PhilRice and BPRE
researchers said the low oxygen
environment inside the enclosure
prevents growth of fungi and
creates a favorable environment to
preserv e seed germination
capacity without refrigeration. After
a few days of storage, the oxygen
inside the enclosure is reduced to
a level that cannot sustain insect
life [1 to 2 %] and the carbon
dioxide level rises substantially.
6
Results also showed that among
the four methods, hermetic storage
is the most effective in controlling
insect infestation and in reducing
weight loss. This was followed in a
decreasing order by cold room
storage, air-conditioned room
storage, and ordinary storage.
Hermetic storage was also the
best in terms of cost effectiveness
per bag after six and nine months. It
was followed by ordinary storage, airconditioned room storage, and cold
room storage in a decreasing order.
PhilRice researchers explain that
the hermetic seed storage
technology uses a flexible enclosure
made of plastic material with low
permeability to air. However, the
imported seed storage enclosure
[SSE] is relatively expensive. For
instance, a 5-ton hermetic storage
enclosure, which can contain 210
bags of hybrid seeds weighing 20 kg
each, costs P70,000.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
To cut down on cost, PhilRice
researchers designed and
developed a low cost SSE with a
capacity that would fit the needs
of local seed producers. This
locally fabricated material is made
of tarpaulin, which is normally used
for making tents and cargo truck
cover. The local SSE is provided
with simple and easy-to-fabricate
zipping mechanism to attain
airtight sealing.
The PhilRice-fabricated SSE
compares well with the imported
material in terms of maintaining
low oxygen concentration inside
the enclosure, seed germination
rate, weevil count, and moisture
content.
The design of the enclosure
has been refined to make it more
user-friendly and fit with the current
system of handling and storing
seeds practiced by seed growers.
The latest prototype has a capacity
of 50 bags weighing 20 kg each
and costs around P4,000 each. It
is much easier to open and close
than the imported enclosure.
July 2012
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS FEATURE
NEWS FEATURE
NEWS FEATURE
Vitamin A deficiency affects millions in Ph
One long-standing nutritional
woe of children and pregnant
women in many dev eloping
countries such as the Philippines,
which is expected to worsen more
in the next few years, is the
continued decline on the quality of
their food intake which leads to
poor health.
Demonstrating the problem is
the increasing number of clinical
cases in many hospitals which
reached to about one-third of the
total number of preschool children
and about one of every 10 pregnant
women suffering from Vitamin A
deficiency (VAD).
Vitamin A, which is one of the
essentials that are found in food,
is one of the major deficiencies
which are contributing much to this
woe.
Records f rom the W orld
Health Organization (WHO) show
that about 190 million preschool
children and about 19 million
pregnant women in many Asian
countries are Vitamin A-deficient
and are more likely to suffer
premature death and poor health,
respectively. Each year, it is
estimated that 670,000 children in
By Reynaldo E. Andres
the world under the age of five die,
while 350,000 go blind as a result
from VAD.
In the Philippines alone, WHO
reported that VAD aff ects
approximately 1.7 million of children
aged 6 months to 5 years. This
number represents 15.2 percent of
the total number of children's
population regardless of what social
status they belong. The deficiency
affects one out of every 10 pregnant
women.
According to the report published
by the Helen Keller International
(HKI), a leading global health
organization, many people in
developing countries, such as the
Philippines, do not get enough
Vitamin A or beta carotene from the
food they eat, thus, contributing to
the serious public health problem of
VAD.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient
needed for the visual system, growth,
development, and healthy immune
system. Everybody needs Vitamin A,
particularly mothers and young
children.
The ordinary rice (left) and the golden rice (right).
July 2012
This essential is found in
animal products and breastmilk.
Carotenoids, substances like beta
carotene that the body converts
into Vitamin A, are found in orangecolored fruits and vegetables -such as squash and carrots, and
in dark leafy vegetables, such as
malunggay and pechay, among
others.
Experts said that VAD can
damage the immune system and
decrease the body's ability to
resist or fight infections, thus,
increasing the risk of death from
common diseases. VAD may also
result in impaired vision, including
night blindness and may result in
permanent blindness if lef t
untreated. Night blindness is the
inability of people to see at night.
Providing adequate amounts of
Vitamin A can reduce overall child
mortality to about 23 to 34 percent.
In the same report by HKI, the
agency has suggested few counter
measures to eliminate VAD. One
is the Vitamin A capsule
suplementation for people who are
severely affected by VAD. Last
year, it distributed nearly 85 million
Vitamin A capsules to children
ages 6-59 months old and lactating
mothers in many Asian countries.
It takes twp capsules of Vitamin A
a year to prevent VAD among
children at a cost of $1 per child.
Another is the Homestead
Food Production and the Largescale Fortification programs. The
former enables households to
produce their own micronutrientrich f oods
through the
establishment of home gardens
that are planted with vegetables
that provide foods rich in Vitamin
A. The latter, on the other hand, is
adding Vitamin A to commonlyused food products as cooking oil,
(See VAD. . page 8)
7
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS FEATURE
(VAD. . . from page 7)
among others.
But these counter measures
are easier said than done,
particularly in many remote areas
where VAD victims are hard to
reach out. Also, enriching food
products with Vitamin A is costly
on the part of the consumers.
The long term solution
While VAD victims of the world
are craving for a possible solutions
to their nutritional woe, four leading
agricultural research organizations
in the world are now working
together to address this worsening
scenario. The International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI), HKI,
Philippine Rice Research instirute
(PhilRice), and the Bangladesh
Rice Research institute (BRRI) are
now pooling their concerted efforts
to reduce the incidence of VAD.
One nobel approach is the biofortification of rice so that it can
contain beta carotene, an
essential component to produce
high levels of Vitamin A. Rice,
which is widely produced and
consumed as staple food in Asia
must contain beta carotene so that
Vitamin A can reach many people,
especially those who do not have
reliable access to or cannot afford
to buy capsulized Vitamin A
supplement.
Already, these agencies are
producing a unique rice variety
called Golden Rice (GR), a new
type of rice that contains high
amount of beta carotene. Two cups
of GR per day is enough to meet
the daily requirement of Vitamin A
of a person.
At present, GR is being tested
and evaluated in the Ilocos region
whether its consumption improves
Vitamin A status among Vitamin
A-deficient children and adult or
not. This is necessary to ensure
that, if GR is commercialized, it will
reach the poor and those who need
it most.
8
NEWS FEATURE
NEWS FEATURE
Dragon fruit prod’n continues
to benefit Ilocos Norte folks
By Mercy R. Gaño
The dream of v arious
stakeholders including Magsasaka
Siyentista (MS) Edita A. Dacuycuy
to make Ilocos Norte the dragon fruit
capital of the country is becoming a
reality. This is because dragon fruit
production is now a flourishing
industry in the province.
Dragon fruit provides source of
livelihood and additional income as
attested by the recently conducted
dragon fruit field day to the Science
and Technology-Based Farms
(STBFs) of MS Dacuycuy cum
Cross-Farm Visit to some of the
dragon fruit areas in San Nicolas,
Sarrat, and Bacarra, Ilocos Norte last
July 19.
The activity was attended by
agricultural Technicians from various
municipalities of Ilocos Norte,
Technology and Liv elihood
Coordinators (TLE) from elementary
and secondary schools, rural women,
out-of-school youths, staff from
various Farmers and Information and
Technology (FITS) centers, other MS
of the Ilocos Agriculture and
Resources
Research
and
Development Consortium-Philippine
Council for Agriculture, Aquatic,
and Natural Resources Research
and Development (ILARREDCPCAARRD), personnel from the
OPAG, MMSU, ATI, and
ILARRDEC, and members of the
Kailokuan Saniata "Dragon Fruit"
Growers Association, and
entrepreneurs. The group of 137
is a manifestation of the all-out
support and interest of various
groups to grow dragon fruit in the
province.
The Field Day
The conduct of the field day
was a component of the STBF
project to showcase the organicbased f arming technologies
f ollowed in the MS f arm.
Dacuycuy highlighted the different
technology interventions in her
farm. She emphasized that
growing dragon fruit is v ery
beneficial. She recalled that
growing the crop was never
included in her plan and of her
family. But because this crop has
provided an alternative cure to her
(See FIELD DAY. . . page 9)
July 2012
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS FEATURE
(FIELD DAY. . . from page 8)
child who is a victim of cerebral
palsy, she got interested in growing
the crop. Then, she found that the
crop has many uses. Aside from
the health benefits derived from it,
it also provides additional income.
According to MS Dacuycuy,
following the various technology
interventions introduced in the
STBF is very beneficial. She
added that the use of stem cuttings
shortens the waiting time of
growing dragon fruit. Instead of
propagating the cuttings for three
months in the nursery, these can
be directly planted in the farm.
Likewise, this lowers production
costs as cuttings are cheaper than
the rooted seedlings. Moreover,
she saved a lot from the cost of
labor in rooted seedlings.
MS Dacuycuy emphasized
the importance of plastic mulch.
This helps preserve soil moisture
and reduces the growth of weeds.
This does not only decrease the
irrigation but also the labor costs
for weeding. To save cost on
plastic mulch, she encouraged
growers to recycle ordinary plastic
materials.
MS Dacuycuy also highlighted
the importance and role of the
Saniata "Dragon Fruit" Cooperative
NEWS FEATURE
to the success of the dragon fruit
industry. She reiterated the
contribution of information campaign
activities such as field day and crossfarm visit to enhance the promotion
of the dragon fruit industry. She
thanked the LARRDEC-PCAARRD,
OPAG-PGIN, DA, ATI, and MMSU
which have been very supportive and
helpful in the promotion of dragon fruit
production.
MS Dacuycuy challenged her
fellow dragon fruit growers to target
not only the local but also
international market. She mentioned
that the demand for the fruit is really
great. While there is a present
problem on marketing, this will soon
be in placed because of effective
information dissemination program of
the agencies.
“W e will soon penetrate the
international market. If fruits cannot
be marketed as raw, let us process
them into jam, cookies, and others.
Nothing is wasted in dragon fruit",
she said.
Bearing with happiness, MS
Dacuycuy said, "Your presence
makes me happy because now I can
see the future of the dragon fruit
industry. I can see people happy,
providing livelihood for the people,
families and the community as a
whole. I assure you that while I can
Teachers at the Catuguing Elementary School in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
pose in for a souvenir shot in their dragon cactus garden. Photo shows
ILARRDEC Techno Gabay Coordinator Leonardo T. Pascua (4th from left,
second row).
July 2012
NEWS FEATURE
still serve, I will do whatever help I
can provide."
Prof. Maura Lusia Gabriel of
MMSU and a designated
technology expert for the STBF
project, supported the claims of
Mrs. Dacuycuy on the benefits of
growing dragon cactus using
organic fertilizer and concrete
instead of wooden posts. She
disclosed that using wooden posts
is good but concrete posts is still
recommended in terms of
durability.
Cross-Farm Visit
The cross-farm visitations to
v arious dragon f ruit areas
highlighted the experiences of
individuals who started to venture
into dragon fruit production and
processing.
Crispina Santos, principal of
the Catuguing Elementary School
in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte,
shared her experiences in dragon
fruit production, which provided
financial benefits to the school.
Started in August 2009 with
only 100 posts, the school now
have 500 posts. From their sales,
they were able to buy equipment
and finance the painting of all the
classrooms. In addition, the
school provided all the schools in
San Nicolas with planting
materials. According to Santos,
they had P50,000 to P80,000
sales of dragon fruit in 2011.
In behalf of the members of
the Palayamanan 4-H Club of
Brgy. Catuguing, San Nicolas,
Ilocos Norte, Mr. Emerson Tabios,
president, thanked ILARRDEC for
the dragon fruit planting materials
provided to them. Starting with
100 posts, they are now
maintaining 500 posts. As one
enters Brgy. Catuguing, he is
greeted by a billboard sign tat
reads: "Entering the Dragon." Said
Mrs. Norma Calamayan,
municipal agricultural officer and
(See FIELD DAY. . . page 10)
9
ILARRDEC Reporter
NEWS FEATURE
(FIELD DAY. . . from page 9)
FITS manager of San Nicolas,
Ilocos Norte, the vision of the 4-H
is to plant all the available areas
along the road going to Catuguing.
Through the dragon fruit production,
they were able to accumulate funds
for their organization.
Engr. Rogelio Castillo, owner
of the REER Dragon Fruit Farm in
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte describes
dragon fruit as a "good income
provider" and a good relaxation.
"No matter how tired you are if
you see your dragon cactus, this
will disappear," he says.
Castillo's dragon fruit farm has
3,200 posts and it serves as a
tourist attraction in Sarrat.
According to him, dragon cactus
is not labor-intensive, not sensitive
to changing climate conditions,
and very resistant to drought.
Engr. Albert Calsada of
Bacarra, Ilocos Norte is another
dragon fruit enthusiast. Inside of
his dragon cactus farm is a piggery
project and a f ishpond. He
practices integrated farming.
Recently, he opened his dragon
fruit garden where one can enjoy
breakfast, lunch and snacks. In
the garden, one can order and savor
the flavor of dragon fruit ice cream
and shake.
It is recalled that the Techno
Gabay Program (TGP) where the
MS, through the establishment of
the STBF Projects, was initiated
and implemented by PCAARRD
through the various consortia in the
country.
Now, the TGP is
sustained by the DA-ATI. The TGP
aims to bring and promote sciencebased
technologies
and
information services to the endusers in agriculture, aquatic and
natural resources through the
regional consortia.
“But he knoweth the way that I
take: when he hath tried me, I
shall come forth as gold.” -(Job 23:10)
10
BREAKTHROUGH
BREAKTHROUGH
Farmers can save more
with zero tillage
Farmers can save money through zero tillage. By using
herbicides and doing without the usual plowing and harrowing
done before planting crops, farmers can increase their yields,
save costs on weeding and hired labor and earn more money
in the long run.
Zero tillage is recommended to farmers who plant corn or
other vegetables after rice in rainfed lowland areas.
Corn farmers who tested the technology obtained the
highest yield of the yellow corn (Var Cargill 818) when they
also applied POWERTM herbicide. This treatment also reduced
the rate of fertilizer when it is used in combination with a
one-kg per hectare of BIO-N, a microbial-based fertilizer for
rice and corn. It is mainly composed of microorganisms that
convert nitrogen from the air into ammonia which is needed
by the plants.
BIO-N is considered a better alternative to commercial
fertilizers since it does not leave any harmful residues in the
soil or in nearby bodies of water. The farmers’ use of commercial
fertilizers was reduced to half at 600 kg of ammosul or
ammonium sulfate per hectare. The zero tillage treatment
obtained the highest yield at 5.44 tons per hectare. This was
followed by the farmer-cooperator that used conventional
tillage at 5.33 tons per hectare.
Instead of the usual plowing and harrowing, farmers sprayed
the rice stubbles and other weeds with POWERTM herbicide
at the rate of six to eight liters per hectare. They planted a
day after spraying the herbicide using the drill method. This
method is manually planting the seeds using a pointed wood.
If the soil is hard, the field is flooded two to three days
before spraying the herbicide.
Scientists sum up the zero-tillage technology into three
foremost advantages: better management of the soil,
improving the soil's ability to produce crop, and less production
cost. In the final analysis, farmers should be able to get more
returns from this technology and that is the foremost
consideration of most if not all farmers.
Farmers can plant
corn immediately
after rice without
plowing the field.
July 2012
ILARRDEC Reporter
ILUKO SECTION
Segun iti rekord, umab-abot
laeng iti 14 a porsiento ti kabaelan
ti Pangasinan a patanoren a
produkto manipud iti kawayan a
mailaklako kadagiti kaarrubana a
probinsia iti Kailokuan babaen
kadagiti nasurok a 100 nga umili
ken negosiante agprosproseso iti
kawayan.
Umabot met iti agarup 28 a
puli/klase ti kawayan ti masarakan
iti Kailokuan manipud iti 62 a puli/
klase a masarakan iti Pilipinas.
Kadagitoy a puli, ti bayog ken giant
bamboo ti ad-adda a magustuan
dagiti pribado a kompania nga
agar-aramid iti muebles. Dagitoy ti
natakuatan ti ILARRDEC a
kapintasan a puli ti kawayan a
sulnit ti kayo kas kangrunaan a
material iti panagbangon iti
kalapaw kadagiti aw-away.
Kasano a nainaw ti proyekto
Malagip nga idi 2006,
simmarungkar ni Mayor Braganza
iti MMSU ket nakitana dagiti
agkakapintas a produkto ti
kawayan a pataud ti unibersidad.
Gapu itoy, kiniddawna ken ni Dr.
Malab no mabalinna nga adaptaren
sadiay Alaminos ti teknolohia ti EKawayan. Kalpasan ti yaanamong
ni Dr. Malab, insigida a pinirmaan
ti ILARRDEC ken ti lokal a gobierno
ti Alaminos ti maysa a katulagan
a pannakaisayangkat ti maysa a
proyekto a managan iti Technology
Investment and Market Encounter
in Alaminos. Naipatungpal ti
proyekto babaen iti tulong ti
Farmers Inf ormation and
Technology Services (FITS) Center
ti siudad.
Gapu itoy, nangipasa ti
konseho ti siudad idi Marso 7,
2008 iti maysa a resolusion a
nangted iti karbengan ken ni Mayor
Braganza a makikammayet iti
MMSU ken ti ILARRDEC tapno
pormal nga adaptaren ti siudad
dagiti teknolohia ti E-Kawayan a
pinartuat ti unibersidad. Pormal a
napirman ti katulagan idi Marso 28,
2008 bayat a maang-angay ti
July 2012
ILUKO SECTION
maikapito a pannakarambak ti
panagsiudad ti Alaminos. Daytoy a
tignay ni Mayor Braganza ti nagbalin
a pangal ti Siudad ti Alaminos tapno
mabangon ti Hundred Islands EKawayan Factory.
Segun iti katulagan, ti MMSU ti
agaramid kadagiti makina a
kasapulan ti proyekto ken
mangtulong kadagiti taga-Alaminos
tapno masursuroda ti mangaramat
kadagitoy. Ti unibersiad pay ti napan
nangipasdek kadagiti makina
kadagiti temporario a shop a pagararamidanda kadagiti E-Kawayan a
produkto ken ti pannakasanay dagiti
mannalon nga agpatanor kadagiti
patubo ti kawayan ken panagaramid
iti uring manipud kadagiti nagtabasan
ti kawayan.
Tapno alisto ti pannakaipasdek
ti temporario a shop, insigida nga
inaprobaran ti Siudad ti Alaminos ti
pannakagatang ti uppat a makina a
partuat ti MMSU a mausar iti
panagaramid kadagiti E-Kawayan a
produkto. Dagitoy ti Kawayan Kiln
Dryer, Kawayan Tile Maker (KTM)
and Pole Cutter, KTM Width Sizer,
ken KTM Thickness Sizer. Agbalor
amin dagitoy iti P762,000.
Innem a bulan kalpasan a
naipasdek ti temporario a paktoria a
pagaramidan iti E-Kawayan a
produkto iti Brgy. Bolaney, Alaminos
City, insigida a nagsanay dagiti
mangimaton iti shop kadagiti
bambanag mainaig iti E-Kawayan.
Nairaman ditoy ti wagas no kasano
ti agpatanor iti patubo ti kawayan ken
no kasano ti mangallangon iti daan
ken matmatayen a kinawayanan.
Agarup 40 a mannalon ti dimmar-ay
iti panagsanay a naaramid idi
Nobiembre 25-27, 2008.
Akem dagiti ahensia iti EKawayan Factory
Tapno agballigi ti Hundred Islands
E-Kawayan Factory impeksa dagiti
maseknan nga ahensia ti suportada
tapno
naannayas
ti
pannakaipatungpal ti proyekto. Iti
biang ti lokal a gobierno ti Alaminos,
inkari ni Mayor Braganza ti
ILUKO SECTION
pannakaparnuay dagiti trabaho
tapno ad-adu pay a taga-Alaminos
ti mairanud iti proyekto. Rinugianen
ti mayor ti agpanday kadagiti
mabalin nga alternatibo a
panggedan dagiti tagaaway nga
agar-aramid iti uring tapno
malapdan ti alisto a pannakadadael
dagiti kabambantayan babaen iti
saan nga agressat a panagtarikayo.
Inkari met ti PAGCOR a
suportaranna kadagiti proyekto ti
komunidad babaen iti Integrated
Community Dev elopment a
programa ti Alaminos tapno
mapabileg ti gagem ti tunggal
pamilia a maaddaan iti oportunidad
ti panagnegosio. Sabali laeng ti
inkarina a nayon ti pondo tapno
matun-oyan ti programa ti lokal ken
ti nailian a gobierno a mangpaduras iti industria ti kawayan.
Iti met biang ti DepEd, inkari
dagiti mangibagi ti ahensia a
gatangenda dagiti ti E-Kawayan a
tugtugaw ken lamisaan iti eskuela
nga aram iden dagi ti tagaAlaminos. Iti kasta, maipatungpal
ti sagudayen ti EO 879 wenno ti
linteg a nangipasdek iti Bamboo
Industry Development Council
(BIDC). Ti kinaadu ti kasapulan ti
DepEd a kawayan a tugtugaw ken
lamisaan ti nagbalin a karit
kadagiti taga-Alaminos tapno
doblienda ti part akda nga
agaramid kadagitoy.
Inkari met dagiti tagaDENR nga
isuda
ti
makaammo iti
pannakamula dagiti turturod ken ti
pannakaallangon
dagiti
matmatayen a kinawayanan tapno
saan nga agressat ti suplay a
kawayan iti Kailokuan. Iti kasta,
saan laeng a maipatungpal ti
sagudayen ti National Greening
Program ti gobierno, ngem ketdi
matulongan pay ti National Disaster
Risk Reduction Management
Council iti programana tapno
maalay-ayan ti rigat dagiti
mannalon gapu iti epekto ti
panagbaliwbaliw ti klima (climate
change) iti Region 1
11
ILARRDEC Reporter
Ni Reynaldo E. Andres
Addan paktoria ti e-kawayan iti
Pilipinas
Gapu iti agtultuloy nga irarangay ti industria ti kawayan iti
Kailokuan, rinugianen ti Siudad ti
Alaminos, Pangasinan nga
ipasdek ti umuna a paktoria ti
Engineered Kawayan (E-Kawayan)
iti
paglian
babaen
ti
pannakikammayet ni Alaminos
City Mayor Hernani Braganza
kadagiti mangibagi ti Ilocos
Agriculture and Resources
Research and Dev elopment
Consortium (ILARRDEC) ken iti
Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Naangay idi Marso 28 ti
maysa a seremonia iti
pannakabangon ti paktoria ti EKawayan iti MVC Technology
Demonstration Farm a masarakan
iti Brgy. Tangcarang, Alaminos City
a dinar-ayan dagiti opisiales ti
siudad, probinsia, ken dagiti
mangibagi ti ILARRDEC.
Maawagan ti paktoria iti Hundred
Islands E-Kawayan Factory.
Umabot iti P31 million ti
inlatang ni Presidente Benigno C.
Aquino III, babaen iti PAGCOR,
tapno maipasdek ti proyekto a
mangpadur-as iti industria ti
kawayan iti Kailokuan. Kuna ni
Mayor Braganza a panggep ti EKawayan Factory a padur-asen ti
industria ti kawayan ken tulongan
dagiti taga-Alaminos City nga
awanan iti trabaho. Babaen ti
Technical Schools Development
Authority (TESDA), masanay
dagiti taga-Alaminos nga agaramid
kadagiti dekalidad a muebles ken
dadduma pay a "world class" a
Rukod
no itipanawen
produkto
manipud
kawayan.
Panggep ti proyekto a
12
suplayan ti Department of Education
(DepEd) kadagiti kasapulanna a
tugtugaw para kadagiti agad-adal iti
elementaria ken sekundaria,
agraman dagiti lamisaan dagiti
mangisursuro a naaramid iti
kawayan.
Dakkel ngamin ti akem ti Ekawayan a proyekto ti Alaminos City
iti pannakaipatungpal ti sagudayen
ti Executive Order 879 a pinirmaan ti
gobierno idi Mayo 25, 2010. Ti EO
879 ti linteg a nangipasdek iti
Bamboo Industry Development
Council (BIDC) nga isu ti mangidaulo
iti pannakapadur-as ti industria ti
kawayan iti pagilian. Ti EO 879 pay
ti nangmandar iti DepEd tapno
usaren ti ahensia ti kawayan kas
kangrunaan a material iti
pannakaaramid dagiti tugtugaw ken
muebles nga usaren dagiti agad-adal
ken mangisursuro.
E-Kawayan ti awag kadagiti
naidumduma a produkto manipud iti
kawayan kas iti sagaysay, baldosa
(tiles), tropeo, plake, pulpito wenno
rostrum, tugaw dagiti ubbing iti
eskuela (school desk), pangopisina
a lamisaan, kandelaria, deck
organizer, pagikabilan iti video CD
(CD rack), kansir (divider) a kawayan
ken dadduma pay a napipintas a
produkto ken muebles. Ti Mariano
Marcos State University (MMSU) ti
nangpartuat iti teknolohia ti
panagaramid kadagiti produkto ti EKawayan.
Mapartuat dagiti E-Kawayan a
produkto babaen iti panangipigket iti
dua wenno ad-adu pay a genned ti
napitpit, nakatam, nasigsigit wenno
tinakayasan
tudtudo
a kawayan sa maaramid
dagitoy iti ania man a produkto a
kayatmo. Kasapulan laeng ti
nasariwawek a panagpampanunot
tapno makapartuatka kadagiti
naidumduma a produkto nga awan
pay iti merkado.
Gapu ta adun dagiti
naidumduma a produkto ti
kawayan a partuat ti Siudad ti
Alaminos babaen iti kinasaldet ken
kinasariwawek dagiti agar-aramid
kadagitoy, pinagbalinen ti lokal a
gobierno ti E-Kawayan a one-townone-product (OTOP) ti siudad.
Kinapudnona, nangyetnag ti
konseho ti siudad iti maysa nga
ordinansa a nasken a kawayan ti
kangrunaan a materiales kadagiti
maaramid a muebles a maibisti
kadagiti opisina ti siudad ken
kadagiti amin a restoran ken
panganan a sakup ti Hundred
Islands tapno makita dagiti
ganggannet ken lokal a turista ti
kinapintas dagitoy. Iti kasta,
maitandudo ti produkto ti kawayan
iti probinsia ken iti pagilian.
Iti agdama, dagiti E-kawayan
a produkto ti Alaminos ti
magustuan nga orderen dagiti
pagtagilakuan iti probinsia nga
agsupsuplay iti tropeo, plake,
baldosa (tiles) kadagiti sukida
nga agdayaw la unay iti kinapintas
dagitoy a produkto.
Kuna ni ILARRDEC Director
Stanley C. Malab a sakup daytoy
a konsepto ti pannakausar dagiti
nalakayan a pinuon ti kawayan a
masarakan kadagiti bakras ti
turturod iti Kailokuan tapno
maaramat dagitoy a pagtaudan iti
nayon a pamastrekan dagiti umili.
Al-allukoyen ni Dr. Malab dagiti
kameng ti nadumaduma a
kooperatiba dagiti mannalon tapno
agsanayda nga agaramid kadagiti
dekalidad a produkto ti E-Kawayan
tapno ad-adda pay a dumur-as ti
industria ti kawayan iti pagilian.
Panggep pay ti proyekto a
pagungaren dagiti matmatayen a
kinawayanan iti Kailokuan tapno
matun-oyan ti dumakdakkel a
pagkasapulan ti Hundred Islands
E-Kawayan Factory.
(Maituloy iti panid 11)
July 2012