Evaluating the Philippine vegetable industry
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THE
ABOVE- quoted biblical passage f r om t he Old Testament written by the prophet Isaiah who lived in the year 740 before Christ already brings to fore that ecology was already then a markedly signal concern.
The main reminder-contents of the citation are plain yet profound in significance and implications. First, earth has nobody else as Maker and Designer than God Himself. Second, earth must thus be cared for, preserved not wasted, even but considering its Maker. Third, earth was specifically designed and made by God for man he also created, to live in with all his fellow human beings.
So it is that no less than some two thousand seven hundred and fifty five years ago, ecology was already a marked preoccupation as expressed by no less than Isaiah, a distinct Prophet. Yes, there were other men of God who saw, understood and wrote about truths in the supernal order – in the realm of the spiritual and in the sphere of the divine. Yet, ecology – which is basically about on-the-ground relationship between living beings and their environment and vice-versa, was already a well- THE
VEGETABLE Research and Development Review a n d P l a n n i n g p a v e d the way for the evaluation of accomplishments, assessment of technologies, identification of gaps, and showcasing of innovative technologies that can help boost the Philippine Vegetable Industry.
The activity, which was spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), was held in Los Baños, Laguna, recently.
Speaking on the importance of the event, Leilani Pelegrina, Vegetable Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) manager, from the Crops Research Division ( CRD) of PCAARRD, said the meeting would help determine which activities were more important and urgent to effect the wise use of resources. Among the technologies featured during the meeting included: Phytochemical coating, which was found to extend the shelf- life of vegetables – the coating made from hagimit (Ficus minahassae) prolonged the freshness of tomatoes from 27 to 83 days, a difference of almost two months;
Dipping pechay in one-percent vinegar solution for two minutes before rinsing – the technology significantly reduced insecticide residues. Other effective methods included the use of liquid detergent, boiling, and grilling. The common household practice of washing vegetables with running water failed to lessen insecticide residues in vegetables as shown in a study;
Rapid Bioassay for Pesticide Residues (RBPR) – this is a tool that can quickly detect traces of organophosphates and carbamates pesticides in vegetables during pre- and postharvest. RBPR can aid in pesticide regulation programs for agencies such as the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, Food Development Center, and Organic Certification Center of the Philippines. This technology is currently being pilot-tested in Laguna, Quezon, and Benguet;
Biological control agents (BCAs) against bean rust, powdery mildew in tomato, anthracnose, and alternaria leaf spot in Chinese cabbage – BCAs are natural enemies of particular pests that are used as part of pest management. IEC materials on these biocon technologies were already published through the project. Exciting opportunities have sprung from the findings of these projects. For one, the optimized grafting technologies for year-round vegetable production are now apt for commercialization.
These grafted seedlings at the Bureau of Plant Industry- Los Baños National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BPI-LBNCRDPSC) range from P5 to P8 per seedling for solanaceous, and P10 to P12 per seedling for cucurbits.
The Review and Planning also showed that Phase 2 of the project, “Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genome (TILLING) of Tomato for Multiple Virus Resistance,” is on its way.
The project will focus on the molecular marker-aided breeding for outstanding fresh, salad, and processing tomato.
The Technology Demonstration project, which is also being implemented by the BPI-LBNCRDPSC, was presented during the meeting.
The project includes landscaped vegetable gardens and a park designed for learning and income generation.
It houses four technologies under the organic production system, and 10 cultural management technologies under the conventional production system.
Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio, director of the DOST-PCAARRD Crops Research Division, challenged the team to make their technologies truly beneficial to the Filipino farmers. com/
(jaypeeyap@ymail. PN)