“Ako po’y talagang nagpapasalamat sa CPAR dahil marami kaming natutunan. Kung wala ito, mahihirapan kami sa production ng jackfruit [I am really thankful to CPAR because we have learned a lot. If not for CPAR, we will be having difficulty in jackfruit production],” said Job D. Abuyabor, Sr., one of the farmer-cooperators of a Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) project on jackfruit in Mahaplag, Leyte.
Job is a member of the Mahaplag Jackfruit Growers Association, one of the recipients of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Plant Now Pay Later distribution scheme of grafted jackfruit in Region 8. “Jackfruit is considered by the DA as one of the high-value crops and is one of the priority commodities of Eastern Visayas to be commercialized. And for that to happen, we should increase its production and improve its productivity. This is when we implemented the CPAR,” said Alicia Bulawan, CPAR co-project leader.
Upon the conduct of a Participatory Rural Appraisal among the farmers of the association, the lack of technical knowledge on proper cultural management and processing, and occurrence of pests and diseases have been identified as major problems in jackfruit production. Hence, the DA-Regional Field Office 8 through the Eastern Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center, in collaboration with the Visayas State University, developed technologies on jackfruit. These were taught to the farmers through the conduct of trainings and workshops. “We provided them with appropriate technologies on integrated nutrient management, pest management, and pruning strategies,” Bulawan said.
Learnings from the farmers themselves
According to Job, fruit borer and fruit fly incidence cost them almost 40-50 percent decrease in their income due to damages. “Because of the CPAR trainings, we were equipped with knowledge on how to control fruit borer through the use of Metarrhizium. We really saw its effectiveness, fruit borer occurrence were almost completely eradicated and damages were minimized,” Job recounted.
Applying what he learned on integrated nutrient management, he was able to produce good fruit quality and was able to ship some of them in Metro Manila. “May customer ako na concessionaire ng Robinsons sa Manila, dito siya kumukuha ng fruits sa akin. Malaki ang demand pero hindi ko naman ma-meet ang supply kasi maliit pa lang ang farm ko. Makikita natin na good quality talaga ang jackfruit namin, [I have a customer, a concessionaire in Robinsons Manila who gets fruits from me. There is a big demand, but I cannot meet the supply yet because my farm is still smallscale. But we can see that our jackfruits really are of good quality” he added.
Another farmer who was helped by CPAR was Mr. Harvey Abenujao. Harvey narrated on how CPAR imparted to them the importance of wrapping and bagging the fruits in controlling fruitfly incidence and in determining proper harvesting time. “Noon, ‘pag umamoy na ang prutas, may mga kumukuha na mula sa puno namin. Hindi kasi namin alam kung kailan ito dapat pitasin. Minsan, nahuhulog na lang at nabubulok sa lupa. Pero ngayon, alam na namin kung kailan ito dapat pitasin. Salamat sa CPAR, ito ang nagturo sa amin ng maganda at tamang pamamaraan sa pagtatanim ng jackfruit para lalong umasenso ang buhay naming mga farmers, [Back then, when the fruits start to smell, people are already getting them from our trees. We do not know when to harvest them. Sometimes, they just fall off and get rotten. But now, we already know when to harvest them. Thanks to CPAR, it taught us good and appropriate methods on planting jackfruit so as to uplift more the lives of farmers like us” Harvey shared.
Aside from production management, the CPAR project also provided trainings for home-based processing of jackfruit products. “We have also introduced processing jackfruit into pastillas, tart, jam, and jelly to women from the same association. Most of them are the farmers’ wives,” Bulawan said.
As one of the banner programs of the Bureau of Agricultural Research, CPAR has been making significant impact in the lives of the farmers and fisherfolk. In the case of the Mahaplag jackfruit farmers, their production was enhanced and the commodity’s productivity was improved. After two years of implementation, jackfruit yield increased from 8 metric tons to 15 metric tons per hectare; production areas expanded by 11 hectares; number of farmer-cooperators rose from 22 to 52; and average income boosted from P96,250 to P317,500. ### (Anne Camille B. Brion)
Bahay Kubo, Kahit Munti
Jose P.M. Cunanan & Elizabeth C. Cunanan
18 October 2015
Sec. Procy Alcala Serenaded @ AGRI-LINK 2015 by PCAFI
Greetings to ABANTE Readers, Philippines-wide and Earthwide on the occasion of the AGRI-LINK 2015- 22nd International Agribusinenss Exhibition and Seminars; FOODLINK 2015 16TH International Food Processing, Packaging and Products Exhibition; AQUALINK 2015 11th National Fisheries Exhibition & Seminars.
The dates were October 15-17, 2015 and the venue was the World Trade Center, Roxas Blvd-Gil Puyat at Pasay City.
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) co-organizer of the , PCAFI President, Col. Alex T. Escano, together with Myra Gavino, Jet Gavino, Mar Sajorda, Benjie Catarroja and Pepz Cunanan coordinated the PCAFI and Bahay Kubo Exhibits, products and presentations. The collage of the history of PCAFI was creatively produced in the tarpaulin by multi-media artist Mar Sajorda.
Danny Ricohermoso and Naomi Joy Dilo-Dilo with their exhibits and products highlighed the richness and diversity of Philippine land and aquatic (terrestial and marine) flora and fauna.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in his busy rounds of the Exhibits visited PCAFI and he was serenaded with the original Filipino folksong “Bahay kubo, kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari… Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani, sitaw, bataw, patani, kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa; at saka mayroon pa: labanos, mustasa, sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya, sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga.” The Philippines is the only country in the whole world with a farming system that has a folksong with 18 vegetables in one stanza… for food, health and livelihood.
PCAFI also offered Secretary Procy Alcala the first taste of the frozen, fresh LANGKA, natural in color, flavor, sweetness: no artificial and chemical additions. PCAFI highlights and promotes LANGKA (Jackfruit) as the BIGGEST FRUIT in the whole world and focuses its development as a priority crop and product. Often considered as a backyard fruit tree, LANGKA has been taken for granted and under developed as a farm, plantation and commercial fruit tree. In spite of its food, health, nutritional and market potentials, no plantation in sizeable hectarage have been developed.
It is hoped that 2015 will be the beginning of the advocacy and promotion of LANGKA: THE BIGGEST FRUIT WORLDWIDE with the support of homeowners, farmers, land owners, agri-business, government and private enterprises. And also, by schools, barangays, local government units and sectors: children, youth, women and senior citizens. With each one planting LANGKA: 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000 ONE MILLION. That target is only 1% of the 100 MILLION Philippine population.
It is proposed that a LANGKA (Jackfruit) FESTIVAL will be held in Leyte in March- April 2016, with a contest on the “BIGGEST & HEAVIEST LANGKA IN THE PHILIPPINES”. And consider for opening this with INTERNATIONAL participation of LANGKA Producing countries. PCAFI President Col. Alex T. Escano, veteran in international exhibitions and product development envisions this as a Philippine pioneering initiative. And also, promote the many uses and products of LANGKA as well as the setting up of Nurseries and Plantations in every School, Barangay, Town, Province, City and Region, Nation-wide: Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon.
If beauty pageants as well as culinary and cooking contests are held annually, why not hold a contest and festival in celebration of LANGKA: THE BIGGEST FRUIT IN THE WORLD… Also, talents competition such as vocal / singing and sports and skills. And even in catching the biggest fish. Let the Philippines be the Lead Pioneer as our legacy and heritage for the present and future generations for their food, health and livelihood in growing the BIGGEST LANGKA.
For the hundreds and thousands who visited AGRI-LINK 2015, we hope to meet you in PCAFI- BAHAY KUBO 2016 and all year round the various exhibits and seminars as well as crop productions for food, health and livelihood.
For more information, contact: PCAFI – Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food Inc. / Bahay Kubo Global System, Inc, Dr. Jose Pepito Manansala Cunanan, Phone: Smart 0919-9923630/ 0977 600 1004; pepz2002@yahoo.com ; pcunanan@gmail.com ; Facebook: Jose Pepito Cunanan; Dr. Venerando Catarroja 0999 501 6273 / 0916 351 5766 : venerando.catarroja@yahoo.com; Facebook: Venerando Catarroja; Mar Sajorda marsajorda@yahoo.com; 0918 384 1877/ 0933 329 8461 ; Myra Gavino <gavinomyra@yahoo.com>; magavino888@gmail.com>; 0928 755 6698 / Dr. Naomi Dilo-Dilo <naomi1204@gmail.com> 0988 530 2863; Capt Danny Ricohermoso 0908 216 5916; Limuel Alegario lalegario@yahoo.com;0939 881 4281