Scientists Discover a Practical Way of Storing Fresh Tomato

Tomatoes can be kept field-fresh for three weeks without using cold storage, according to the researchers from the Laguna-based Philippine Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC).

One economical alternative is to use the Evaporative Cooling and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Technology which prolongs the storage life of fresh tomatoes under ordinary condition using locally available materials.

Developed by the team of Gloria Masilungan, Dr. Edralina Serrano and Kevin Yap, Evaporative Cooling and MAP Technology utilizes coconut coir dust and polyethylene (PE) plastic packaging and a suitable crate or container for storing tomatoes.

Makupuno Has A Lot of Potentials

As early as the 1960s, the technique on how to sprout the embryo of the makapuno was discovered by the late Dr Emerita de Guzman of UP Los Banos. Ordinarily, the makapuno nut will not sprout but she was able to produce seedlings by nursing the makapuno embryo in a nutrient solution that is often used to grow orchid seedlings in the laboratry.

Makapuno Program Ups Seedling Supply

                                                               

                  

                                                                      

More and more makapuno seedlings are being made available to farmers who want to plant this high-value crop. Last year, a total of 11,529 embryo-cultured makapuno (ECM) seedlings were produced to augment the usually limited supply of this coconut that bears almost 100 percent makapuno nuts.
This is a tremendous increase compared to the production of only 2,433 seedlings per year from 1996 to 2008. The increase could be attributed in a large measure to the Makapuno Comprehensive Technology Development and Commercialization Program (MCTDCP) supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and implemented by the Philippine Coconut Authority from 1996 to March 2004.

CattleRaising & Fattening on Your Backyard Part 3 of 3

General Guide for Cattle Farmers
A. Selection of Feeder Stock

• Purchase feeder stock from reliable breeders or select good quality steers from the
  livestock market.

B. Deworming and Spraying

• Have fecal examination conducted to determine proper drugs for deworming. Spray animals to control external parasites such as ticks, lice and flies.

CattleRaising & Fattening on Your Backyard Part 2 of 3

Utilization of Farm By-Products to Cattle Feed
1. Rice Straw – chopped rice straw can be fed to growing-fattening cattle up to 40% of the total ration. If baled or stacked and adequately protected from weather, rice straw can be used as additional source of energy anytime of the year when feed supply is short. It contains 3-4% protein, 0.04-0.08% phosphorus and 0.20- 0.30% calcium.
2. Corn Cobs (without kernels) – can be coarsely ground and fed to cattle up to 45% of total ration. It contains 45% total digestible nutrients and 3% crude protein. Although containing higher crude fiber, it is more digestible than rice straw.

CattleRaising & Fattening on Your Backyard Part 1 of 3

Cattle fattening has gained prominence as an important business project of the livestock industry in the Philippines. It gives the farmer year-round work and provides him with extra income. He can make use of cheap, plentiful farm by-products such as corn stovers, rice straw, copra meal, rice bran and sugarcane tops, which ordinarily go to waste. Most importantly, it helps meet the urgent demand for high-protein foods in the Filipino diet.

Don't Graze Your Goats on Rainy Days

When it rains, it likewise pours diseases.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) said that goats, for instance, may continually be infected with worms throughout the year, but clinically apparent signs occur mainly during the wet season.

Goats, especially growing kids, the PCARRD explained, succumb to respiratory diseases, diarrhea and worm infestation during the rainy season. Worms reduce the production of meat and milk, and reduce the animals resistance to infections. Infected animals excrete worms.