Category Archives: News Feature

LB showcases agri produce in the Laguna organic agri congress

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by Nykyle Patricia Buenviaje, Renz Louie Celeridad, and Victorena Diesta

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, in partnership with the Region IV-A Agricultural Training Institute, held the first Laguna Organic Agriculture Congress at the Cultural Center of Sta. Cruz on October 28-30.

The organic agriculture congress, themed “Sa Organiko Panalo Tayo, Kaya’t Lagunenyo para sa iyo ito,” was open to all offices, departments, organizations, and individuals who were interested in organic agriculture — a “natural” way of growing crops, vegetables, and other agricultural products.

According to Lydia Estrada, the Laguna assistant provincial agriculturist, organic agriculture aims to create a farming system that will grow various chemical-free crops. The promotion of organic agriculture, such as holding the congress, is in line with Republic Act (RA) No. 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which mandates the state to “promote, propagate, develop further, and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.”

The organic agriculture congress also aimed to help address gender awareness issues, recognizing the need to change the traditional belief that farming is only for men and to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor through technology transfer.

Los Baños GAD Office staff help farmer cooperators sell their produce during the  three-day organic agriculture congress. (Photo courtesy of the GAD Office)

Laguna cities and municipalities took part in the provincial congress on organic agriculture. The local government unit (LGU) of Los Baños was represented by the Gender and Development (GAD) Office, the implementing agency for the organic agriculture component of the gender-sensitive livelihood project between the LGU Los Baños and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

From the PhP 4.6 million project “Enhancing Gender-Sensitive Sustainable Agriculture and Aquatic Science and Technology (S&T)-based Livelihood Enterprises in Los Baños”, PhP 2.2 million was allotted for organic agriculture projects.

The implementation of the organic agriculture component started in March and covered five barangays, namely:  Bagong Silang, Timugan, Maahas, Tuntungin-Putho, and Lalakay. According to Karen Lagat-Mercado, head of the Los Baños GAD Office, their unit started the project implementation by conducting seminars about organic agriculture in the five  barangays in partnership with PCAARRD. These seminars were followed by trainings for the farmer cooperators.

According to Mercado, the organic agriculture project not only provided additional source of income for the cooperators, it also helped the women – especially the housewives – develop greater confidence, build their self-esteem, and become more independent. With their own earnings, the women now depend less on their husbands’ income.

Through the congress, Los Baños was able to showcase organic produce from the farmer-cooperator and present the LGU Los Baños-PCAARRD collaboration to representatives of various cities and municipalities in Laguna.

For more updates on the LGU Los Baños-PCAARRD project, visit the Gender Sensitive Organic Vegetable Prod’n for Low-income Communities of LB Facebook CommunityPage.

AMDP displays smart incubator in Syensaya 2014

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by Remsce A. Pasahol

The Agricultural Mechanization Development Program of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (UPLB CEAT) showcased an egg incubator made from locally available materials in the three-day Syensaya annual science festival at the UPLB campus on September 10 to 12.

A simple ice chest made of styrofoam served as the chamber of the incubator. An incandescent bulb served as source of light and heat. To ensure that the heat was absorbed evenly by the egg, there is a computer fan which distributes the heated air and an egg turner which tilts the egg. An air vent was also installed to regulate the temperature and humidity or the amount of water vapor in the chamber.

What makes this invention a smart incubator is the automation system used in the machine. which is an Arduino platform (Gizduino X derivative). This tool acts like the central processing unit of a computer to control the fan, light bulb and egg turner based on the input and the environmental condition, such as moisture and temperature.

Since the incubator is no longer manually operated, more precise and accurate operation can be observed in maintaining the desired temperature of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius for better incubation of eggs.

Growing market for Red Nile Tilapia

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by Kristina Aloida N. Tolentino

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) showcased different innovations that aim to solve environmental, agricultural and food sustenance problems in the country during the 2014 Syensaya fair at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Copeland gymnasium. On the second day of the exhibit at the PCAARRD booth, the featured products were research development focused on rice production, coconut trade and processing, and tilapia breeding.

The highlight of the exhibit was the aquarium filled with Red Nile Tilapia.

Syensaya 2014

Aquarium filled with high breed Red Nile Tilapia developed by PCAARD (photo by KA Tolentino)

Willie Ibarra, science research specialist at PCAARD, said that the showcase aims to attract and inform people about the emerging market for Red Nile tilapia, a high-quality tilapia known for its appealing red color, which is attributed to the Mossambique tilapia crossbred with the Nile tilapia for faster growth.

This breed of tilapia was originally imported from Singapore in 1978 and has been improved locally to introduce a different variant aside from the commonly available gray, cheap, and fingerling tilapia.

According to Ibarra, PCAARD is trying to revive the market for this “Class A” breed of tilapia to have a cheaper alternative to the high-priced marine species. The market hampered due to the mass market of the common grey Nile tilapia.

The institution partnered with the National Tilapia Research and Development Program for funding and also with the Central Luzon State University-Freshwater Aquaculture Center (CLSU-FAC) to lead and improve on research.

LWD shows water sampling analysis in Syensaya 2014

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with reports from Vhernadette A. Oracion and Stephanie Pearl DP Orendain
The Laguna Water District (LWD) showcased the water-testing process in water facilities that ensure the quality of water in Los Banos. The process was available for observation on the first day of the Syensaya, an annual science festival held at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) campus.
Water testing is regularly conducted to test for bacteria in common water sources, such as deep wells.

Microbiologist Alma Grace Velasquez used three water samples to demonstrate the water testing process. Of the three samples, two tested positive for coliform and E. coli, common disease-causing bacteria. Among the diseases brought by these organisms is diarrhea.The Colilert-18 Test is used to test water samples in Laguna. Colilert-18 reacts with the enzymes present in the two types of bacteria and will turn the water yellow if coliforms are present. However, for samples with E. coli, the water will turn blue if observed under the UV light.

“Hindi naman nagpa-positive sa coli forms at E. coli ang tubig dito [sa Laguna],” Velasquez assured. However, when during outbreaks involving coliforms and E. coli, the LWD increase the dosage of the disinfectant chlorine dioxide as counter measure.

“Kaibigang bulate” reaches out to kids: BPI-LBNCRDC brings the African Night Crawler to SyenSaya 2014

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by Bea Elisha Apa-ap and Toni Krizia Vivares

The Bureau of Plant Industry Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-LBNCRDC) introduced the earthworm Eudrilus euginae or the African Night Crawler to students visiting their SyenSaya booth on September 10, 2014.

The visitors were mostly elementary and high school students who crowded at the booth of BPI-LBNCRDC to see and touch the earthworms encased in a small glass case as the exhibitors explained and gave out leaflets about vermiculture and vermicomposting. Vermiculture is the production of earthworms while the vermicomposting is the production of quality organic fertilizer through vermiculture.

Eugenia Buctuanon explained that vermicompost is a first-class fertitizer because it gives the soil higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Vermicompost also enhances the growth of plants and prolongs plantlife.

Buctuanon further explained that the technology of vermicomposting is environmental friendly and can be adopted by families in their homes to eliminate a huge bulk of household biogdegradable wastes.

Using the term “kaibigang bulate,” research assistant Melinda Mondenogo encouraged the children to hold the African night crawler while telling them that farm wastes are still helpful when converted to farm by-products like animal feed and organic fertilizer.

Bianca Looise Marie, 10, screamed when she was asked to hold the worm, but with Mondenogo’s encouragement, she enjoyed the feel of the animal on her hands.

Mondenego said, “Malamig [yung bulate], lalo na kapag gumagapang sa kamay kasi sa malamig din syang environment nag go grow. Minsan kasi natatakot ang mga bata kapag nakikita pa lang nila. So pinapaliwanag natin na ito ay kaibigang bulate, na hindi naman sila masama, at ginamit ito para sa organic farming.”

The earthworms are used in vermicomposting as organic fertilizer. “Iyan yung ginagamit sa vermocompo. Kasi, yung mga farm waste imbis na itapon na lang natin, maganda na gamitin na lang natin. Base sa results ng experiments natin mas marami yung nutrients ng soil kumpara sa inorganically fertilized,” she added.

Eggpplant, cabbage, cauliflower , tomato, onion, cucumber, pole, sitao, and okra exhibit outstanding growth because of this earthworm. Grasses and kakawete leaves fertilized by vermicompost contained nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, pH(7.20), magnesium, manganese, copper, and zink.

Mondenego said that this earthworm could be housed on a rectangular box with plastic sheet for a floor and placed in a shaded area. They can be fed sawdust which are said to be best in earthworm production. She also stressed that many farmers are already producing vermicompost. “Simula nung na generate ang technology, marami ng farmers ang gumagamit. Mabilis lang din silang i-produce.”

The starting capital is Php 500 for 1,000 pieces and Php 360 per wombin. 220 kilos of vermicompost and 30000 earthworms are produced in six months.

Technology Forum: “Handa KNB sa oras ng kalamidad?”

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with reports from Kimberly Salamatin,  Arron Lucius Herbon and Christian Rieza

A technology forum was held at the New College of Arts and Sciences auditorium of the University of the Philippines Los Banos on September 11 during the Syensaya science festival for the benefit of barangay officials, municipal government staff, students, and other community stakeholders.

The activity aimed to disseminate information regarding calamities, as well as necessary preparations and response during calamities.

This year’s forum focused on calamity in light of the recent experience with typhoon Glenda that affected many parts of the country and caused heavy damage to property particularly in Los Banos.

Dr. Primo Garcia, chair of the Techno Forum Committee 2014, said that the forum is very timely because the affected people and communities find disaster preparedness relevant and necessary.

“Maraming naapektuhan noong Bagyong Glenda noong July, particularly sa UP Los Baños. Napapanahon po talaga ang topic natin at napag-isapan ng LBSCFI (Los Baños Science Community Foundation Inc. ) [na] ipamahagi sa mas malawak na audience ang mga isyu at mga kaalaman ukol sa disaster risk management,” Dr. Garcia said.

Barangay officials are the primary target of the techno forum because of their capability to effectively communicate information to their respective constituencies.

“Mas madali kasi kapag barangay officials ang nakakaalam kasi pwede silang magkaroon ng sarili nilang seminars at maituro nila ang mga natutunan nila sa kanilang nasasakupan,” Garcia added.

The forum featured Ms. Bernadeth Lucillo, chief meteorological officer at the National Agromet Station of PAGASA – UPLB, who lectured on the Hydrometeorological profile of Los Baños, Laguna.

The Philippine Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 was also discussed by Mr. Elvis Cruz, assistant regional director of the Office of Civil Defense of Region IV-A. The talk emphasized the importance of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (NDRRM) plan in responding, recovering, and in the rehabilitation process concerning disasters and calamities.

“NDRRM is everybody’s concern. We can minimize disaster risk by becoming more responsible citizens even in our little own ways by getting involved in the NDRRM efforts of the government,” Cruz stressed.

Finally, Mr. Martin Q. Imatong, LGU Disaster Risk Reduction Management consultant, delivered a lecture on the possible disasters that could be experienced by the Los Baños community such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, and typhoons. Mr. Imatong discussed on the precautionary measures that could be done by the community people for disaster preparedness.

The participants found the forum interesting and informative. However, according to Eng. Ruel Tanqueco, one of the participants, it would have been better had they been given materials or visual aids for reference during the discussion and for future use.

The forum was organized by LBSCFI in cooperation with its partner organizations namely: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration (OVCA), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP)-Laguna, Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The techno forum started several years ago to showcase technological advances to the people. It focuses on agriculture, water technology, and other innovations that benefit the local community.