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Israeli melons are now available to the Filipino consumer
Growing vegetables in greenhouses
Cucumbers and melons growing under plastic tunnels
A view of the luxurious plantations
Modern Israeli-made fertigation system
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The Republic of the Philippines lies in the western Pacific Ocean. The
principal islands of the Philippine archipelago are Luzon, in the north,
and Mindanao, in the south. These two islands account for 66% of the
country's area; between them lie the 7,000 Islands of the Visayas. The
climate is maritime and tropical, generally hot and humid, except in the
mountains, with abundant rainfall and frequent typhoons.
The Los Baños Agricultural Demonstration Farm was established in the
National Crop Research and Development Centre (NCRDC) of the Bureau of
Plant Industry in 1997, in cooperation with the Philippine Ministry of
Agriculture, MASHAV and USAID. The strategy of this cooperation took into
account 6 main objectives of the High Value Commercial Crop Programme,
scheduled for implementation by the government of the Philippines during
1997-2000, as follows:
Upgrading production technologies of high value crops;
Improving production quality standards;
Expanding income opportunities through value added activities;
Increasing access to local and export markets;
Increasing private sector involvement in agribusiness through cost
effective incentives;
Reducing post-harvest losses.
Farm infrastructure includes submersible pumps, main underground pipes,
sprinklers, a drip and microjet irrigation system, a top-ventilated
greenhouse, a super tunnel and nursery facilities.
The concept of an integrated farm
The concept of this integrated model farm was designed to supplement the
theoretical formulation of the High Value Crops Programme. The
implementation of this Programme requires the introduction of technologies
that are not currently used by local farmers in the Philippines.
As far as vegetable production is concerned, these technologies include:
1. Intensive cropping patterns and rotations of export and local market
vegetable crop throughout the year;
2. Greenhouses protecting the environment, for the production of
off-season vegetable crops in soil-less element during the rainy season;
3. Use of efficient pressurized irrigation techniques with associated
technologies, such as fertigation;
4. Use of appropriate crop varieties, adaptable to the prevailing low
altitude in tropical conditions;
5. Modern nursery practices, for the production of high quality seedlings;
6. Pre-cooling and pre-packing post-harvest facilities, to add value to
the harvested products, according to targeted market specifications;
7. Use of appropriate integrated pest and disease management practices to
comply with marketing needs, especially the maximum allowable pesticide
residue levels.
Crop selection
Crop selection for the farm is based primarily on two main criteria
1. Suitability for production under low altitude conditions in Los Baños,
which represent large areas throughout the southern portions of the Island
of Luzon;
2. Feasibility of marketing in both local and export markets; marketing
orientation is thoroughly emphasized in the High Value Crop Programme, and
has been given prime consideration.
The following crops are being assessed in demonstration plots covering an
area of 6 hectares:
Export market crops: okra, eggplant, baby corn, cucumber, vegetable soya
bean, chili.
Local market crops:
In open field: sweetcorn, pepper, eggplant, tomato, ampalaya (bitter
gourd), watermelon and sweet melon;
In protected environment (greenhouse): tomato, sweet pepper (capsicum),
cucumber, sweet melon, lettuce.
Programme Objectives
The main goal of this Programme is to demonstrate a year-round intensive
semi-commercial production of high value crops. Since the inception of
activities in the model farm in Los Baños, the demonstration of intensive
and modern farm technologies include: land preparation, planting patterns
and plant population, varieties, weed control, irrigation management and
regimes, fertilization and fertigation, integrated pest and disease
management practices, harvesting, post-harvest handling and marketing.
These technologies serve as major tools in the realization of the
Programme's objectives. This practical model farm, which demonstrates
matured and proven market oriented agrotechnologies, has become a showcase
for farmers opting for commercial farming. The demonstration of these
technologies brings together farmers and researchers to share and
facilitate the initiation of intensive commercial systems into the
farmer's field.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Philippines, in cooperation with MASHAV
and USAID, aspires to address key agricultural issues through introduction
of modern agricultural technologies, and promote economic undertakings.
This ongoing agricultural and technological cooperation reflects Israel's
commitment and dedication to share with others advanced technologies,
know-how, human resource enrichment and practical experience gained in
agricultural and rural development, adapted to each country's specific
needs and relevant conditions of its agronomical sector.
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