Agri Trends

AGRITRENDS: The grass that feeds Filipinos

“Ten thousand years have passed since the current pleasantly temperate period began, so another sudden shift is overdue. The notion that greenhouse gases could...

AGRITRENDS: The grass that feeds Filipinos

Back in the 1950s, Asia faced an impending food crisis as population continues to grow. Something must be done so two American charities,...

The grass the feeds Filipinos

Filipino plant pathologist Dr. Benito Vergara worked at the Laguna-based International Rice Research Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from 1961 to 1995. He died in 2015 at the age of 81.

Going back to the basics

If someone mentions the words “organic agriculture,” what comes into your mind right away? Environment-friendly, natural, not using pesticides and other chemicals, sustainable, regenerative, and...

Going back to the basics

“Organic agriculture is the answer,” pointed out Jessica Reyes-Cantos of the Manila-based Rice Watch and Action Network.  “It won’t only retain soil productivity but...

Going back to the basics

Organic farming can feed the world’s growing population, according to the findings from one of America’s leading universities. The study showed that organic farms in...
STRAIGHT FROM THE FARM. A store worker displays freshly harvested bananas at a fruit stall in Agdao, Davao City on Thursday. Among the 60 commodities that the Davao region is exporting, fresh bananas ranked as the top commodity in 2016 according to PhilExport Davao. LEAN DAVAL JR.

AGRITRENDS: Going bananas

From its beginning in the late 1960s and spurred by the flourishing markets in Japan and the Middle East in 1970s, the banana export...
NOT ENOUGH. A worker carries a basket of coconut which will be hauled to a vehicle at a coconut plantation in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Producers of coconut byproducts like coco water are now feeling the effects of the low supply of coconut fruits as it could not cope up with the growing demand from their foreign customers. LEAN DAVAL JR.

Bringing back the golden days of coconut industry

‘Coconut oil is very healthy,” UK’s Holland and Barrett claims, adding: “Coconut oil is the little black dress of wellbeing – everyone should have...

Bringing back the golden days of coconut industry

While the coconut industry is touted as “the lifeblood of the Philippine agriculture,” it is not given much attention in recent years.  In fact,...
NOT ENOUGH. A worker carries a basket of coconut which will be hauled to a vehicle at a coconut plantation in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Producers of coconut byproducts like coco water are now feeling the effects of the low supply of coconut fruits as it could not cope up with the growing demand from their foreign customers. LEAN DAVAL JR.

Bringing back the golden days of coconut industry

When he inherited the 5-hectare farm in Eman, Bansalan, Davao del Sur from his mother, Benjamin R. Lao was a little bit apprehensive of...