Falling In Line with Durabloom

Kishore Hemlani

The spiraling prices of inorganic fertilizer could very well be the primary factor that pushes farmers to look for the best and most available organic fertilizer in the country today as a partial replacement for costly imported chemical fertilizer. The capability to produce high quality bio-organic fertilizer would dictate who among the top organic fertilizer manufacturers in country would be able to supply the requirements of farmers without any government intervention. It is now very clear that farmers who mean business are more than willing to pay for high quality bio-organic fertilizer like Durabloom, a product of Novatech Agri-Food Industries which is owned and managed by Dr. Ronaldo A. Sumaoang. From all indications, Durabloom appears to be the most sought after in the country now as orders from various places in the country are continuously being received personallY or through phone calls. In Iloilo alone, members of the Northern Iloilo Corn Producers Association, Inc. (NICPAI) have placed an order of 60,000 bags of Durabloom for the present cropping season. Weekly deliveries of one to two boat loads of the bio-organic fertilizer from Wellisa Farms in Bantayan Island, Cebu started in early May. Amazingly, the cargo trucks of NICPAI and the individual members are already at the piers in Estancia and Ajuy, Iloilo as soon as the boat arrives in the morning.
Every NICPAI member wants to get his order soonest but the load of each boat has to be divided among them to avoid any problem. Novatech marketing manager Armand Pabiania has to be at the ports in Iloilo every time the boats dock to ensure that NICPAI members get a part of their fertilizer requirements. This is because a boat can only carry as much as 4,450 bags of the fertilizer. Wellisa Farms president and CEO Wellington Chanlim hopes to solve the slow delivery of the fertilizer when his new boat, the MV Durabloom, starts sailing the Philippine seas. The MV Durabloom has a capacity of 18,000 bags. Kishore Hemlani

Even farmers who are not NICPAI members also want a share from the boat deliveries. In one instance, two farmers went to the port with their tricycles and begged to be sold 10 bags of Durabloom each, as they cultivate only a hectare each. They said they have seen the performance of corn applied with Durabloom and so they also want to use it on their crop. They heard that the boat carried Durabloom and, hence, they hurriedly came with P4,000 each as they learned that a bag costs P400. From the two farmers faces, Armand knew then that they were really serious and wanted to use Durabloom and so he sneaked out 20 bags from the NICPAI order. Actually, even as the delivery for the present cropping season was not yet complete as of this writing, NICPAI had already made another order of 100,000 bags of Durabloom for the next cropping season. Indeed, this is a great indication of their trust on the product. Kishore Hemlani Antique farmers are not left behind. As of this writing, one boat load has been delivered to Antique already and another boat load was expected to be delivered the following week. Armand expects more orders are coming soon from Antique. In Capiz, Bert and Malou Alcansaren of President Roxas town have made an order of 30,000 bags for this season. One boat load was delivered towards the end of May. I would venture to speculate that no other organic fertilizer manufacturer has received such huge orders without a hullabaloo from any government agency. No under the table or over the
1

table deals are involved and both the farmers and manufacturer stand to benefit the relationship. The government does not need to get involved in the purchase and distribution of bio-organic fertilizer if the products are indeed truly bio-organic. The product will sell itself even without government intervention as in the case of Durabloom. All that the manufacturers need would be the approval of their application for ACEF loans to expand their production capability. Indeed, the provision of production loans to the manufacturers should be the kind of government involvement in the production of bio-organic fertilizer. Kishore Hemlani

NICPAI A Bunch Of Professionals

Northern Ioilo Corn Producers Association Inc(NICPAI) members are professionals, they are very much in a position to understand and readily adopt innovations that would prove beneficial in their farming endeavors. Kishore Hemlani We would venture to say that after witnessing the results of the Durabloom techno demo, they easily computed their financial gains if they use and advocate the product. For instance, NICPAI chairman Jose Baldomero, 64, is a BS Criminology graduate from the Philippine College of Criminology. He retired as a police colonel in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in 2002. Two years before he retired, he was already farming 6 hectares of riceland in Narra, Palawan. He also has a hectare of rice land in Sara, Iloilo where NICPAI is based. When he retired, he started to finance the operations of several corn farmers. Right now, he is financing 99.5 hectares of corn land which require 995 bags of Durabloom. On the other hand, Oscar Villegas Jr., 37, is a marine engineer, and he started farming after graduation. Right now, he is cultivating 10 ha of rice, 40 ha of sugarcane, and 15 ha of corn. He has been financing 150 ha of corn for three years now. His average rice yield is 6.3 tons a hectare, while his corn yield is 5.5 t/ha shelled and dried at 14 percent moisture content. Like most NICPAI members, he is using Durabloom for the first time and hopes to increase his yields with its application. Melchor Ducanes, 42, is also a marine engineer, but before that he was a bartender in a cruise ship for 16 years. He has been farming 8 ha of rice and 14 ha of corn for four years already. He is also financing 280 ha of corn, which would require 2,800 bags of Durabloom. He said the performance of this bio-organic fertilizer on corn is excellent and much better than the fertilizer supplements he was using in the past. Ruth Lampa went home to Sara 15 years ago and a served as a volunteer nurse for almost five years without any positive result. Then she started to finance 8 ha of corn. After two years, she was able to buy 4 ha of corn land and she is now financing 200 ha of corn. On the other hand, Delson Sonza and Jess Salcedo are agriculture graduates. Delson is a big distributor of agricultural inputs in the island of Panay, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan. Although he wants to distribute Durabloom, he has conceded its distributorship in Northern Iloilo to NICPAI of which he is a member. The youngest in the group is Vema Temporal. This social work graduate is only 24 and she now claims she understands every technical aspect of corn farming. Also with the group is Cecille Billones who has only three years left before she retires as an employee in the municipal trial court in Sara. Right now, she is very much into corn farming and financing. Eufrocina Celebrado, a retired school teacher, was the first NICPAI members whom we came to know. After getting my contact number from Agriculture Magazine, she called me early last year asking how she can possibly buy Durabloom. I referred her to Dr. Sumaoang and she even had to visit the Novatech office in Quezon City during one of her trips to Metro Manila. She is one of the NICPAI members who insist that she must be given at least 400 bags of the fertilizer every time the boat docks at the pier in Ajuy.

Although Romeo dela Rama, 55, is an elementary graduate only, he is acknowledged as the most progressive NICPAI member. He was among the first to provide financing to corn farmers in Northern Iloilo and now covers 370 ha. He cultivates more than 20 ha of corn and rice land.

Bitter Gourd
I. Climatic Requirements It can be planted year round. It can grow well at optimum temperature of 16 to 24 UC but it can thrive also at higher temperature. It is a tropical plant commonly grown in lowland areas but also survives at an altitude of 1,000 m. Kishore Hemlani II. Soil Requirements

Bitter gourd can be grown in any type of soil. But for best harvests, grow them in sandy loam to clay-loam soil along with good drainage and fertilization. The optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 6.7. III. Land Preparation

Plow and harrow the field until well pulverized, prepared and leveled. If soil is acidic (pH below 5.8) incorporate lime (e.g. Dolomite) at a rate of 1000-3000 kg of 1-3 tons per hectare one month before sowing. IV. Bed Preparation

Apply organic fertilizer at a rate of 20 tons per hectare or 2 kg per square meter together with the recommended basal inorganic fertilizer. V. Plastic Mulching 1. Establish the edge of the plastic mulch first by clipping it with bamboo staples at a distance of 20-30 cm apart. 2. Stretch the plastic mulch with the silvery side on top of the bed and staple the side edges every 20-30 cm as well. 3. At the end of the bed, cut the plastic mulch and staple.

VI.

Pre-Germination 1. Moisten a clean piece of cloth made up of cotton. Water must be just enough to wet the cloth. Make sure that it is not too wet or too dry. Lack of water inhibits imbibitions, while too much water can cause fungal infection which may lead to rotting of seeds. 2. Spread the seeds in the moistened cloth and roll it. Place it in dark and properly ventilated area. 3. Keep the cloth moist at all times and make sure that it is not too wet. 4. After 5 days, sow the seeds in the field or on seedling trays at 2cm deep.

VII.

Sowing

A. Direct 1. Sow 1-2 seeds on the holes at 2 cm deep. 2. Cover the seeds with loose soil to ensure better germination. Thinning to one plant per hill is done one week after germination. 3. At the end of the bed, cut the plastic mulch and staple. B. In Trays 1. It is recommended to use high quality seedling medium such as peat moss. Or prepare a seedling medium by mixing garden soil, sand, and compost at a 2:1:1. 2. Fill the holes of the trays with the seedling medium and then water. 3. Make a hole 2 cm deep and carefully sow the seeds. Cover lightly with soil just enough to cover the seeds. 4. Keep the trays in a secure and well lighted area, preferably under the sun but with black net on top. 5. Keep the trays in a secure and well lighted area, preferably under the sun but with black net on top. 6. When needed, fertilize seedlings by dissolving 30 grams of calcium nitrate in 16 L water and drench seedlings (avoid splashing the leaves to prevent leaf burning). Initial drenching can be done when 2 true leaves appear and can be repeated weekly if necessary. 7. Eight to ten days after sowing, seedlings are hardened for 3 days by exposing the seedlings directly under the sun, giving less water and no more fertilization. 8. After hardening, seedlings are now ready for transplanting. VIII. Transplanting

1. Water the seedlings in the tray in the morning. 2. Start transplanting late in the afternoon (2 PM onwards) to avoid extreme heat and high temperature during noontime minimizing transplanting shock. 3. Push out the seedling lightly by pressing the bottom of the seedling tray. Avoid pulling out hardly that will cause damage to the roots of the seedlings. 4. Transplant the seeds into planting hole.
6

5. Water or irrigate newly transplanted seedlings daily for 2 weeks after transplanting or until the seedling are well-established in the field.

IX.

Trellising

Start putting up the trellis two weeks after emergence. Do not delay trellising because plants grow very fast. Using Bamboo/Ipil-Ipil/Kakawati poles, erect the trellis approximately 2 meters in height and about 2.5 meters spacing along rows. Poles are then interconnected with G. I. wires (#16) then grid of blue string or trellising net (fish net) are vertically placed along posts in rows where vines could climb and horizontally on top where vine could crawl side ways. X. Pruning

The practice of pruning differs from place to place. Pruning is done by cutting the lateral branches when the plant reaches the height of 1.5 2m. After which, succeeding laterals are allowed to grow on the overhead trellis. Advantages: 1. 2. 3. 4. Less expense for trellising materials (almost no side trellis). Good fruit quality. Generate extra income from pruned tops. Longer life span of the crop.

Disadvantages: 1. Delayed harvesting since only fruits from the overhead trellis are allowed to develop. 2. Additional labor cost on pruning. XI. Fertilization
Timing of Application
During bed preparation During bed preparation 7 DAT* 14 DAT* 21 DAT* 35 DAT* 49 DAT* 150 150

Application Method
Spread/incorporate Basal (incorporate in beds) Drench Drench Side dress # 1 Side dress # 2 Side dress # 3

Chicken/cow dung (kg)

8250

Calcium Nitrate (kg)

14-1414 (kg)

00-60 (kg)

46-0-0 (kg)

300 2.5 5

300

50 10 10 50 50

Side dress # 4 Side dress # 5 TOTAL

63 DAT* 77 DAT* 8250 7.5

100 100 800 20 150

XII.

Irrigation/Water Management

Irrigate only when necessary since bitter gourd does not like too much water. During dry season, it is advised to irrigate plants 3-5 day interval. A good drainage is best especially in the lowland areas. XIII. Weed Control

Weeds are controlled by the use of plastic mulch, however, on uncovered areas, weeds will still grow and needs to be pulled-out or sprayed with herbicides. XIV. Harvesting

Marketable fruits can be harvested at around 45-50 days after sowing. Fruits that are fully developed are thick, green, and juicy. Harvest frequently with an interval of 2-4 days since the fruit ripens easily. Cut the fruit stem using a sharp knife or scissor. It is best to harvest the fruits early in the morning. XV. Post Harvest Handling
Kishore Hemlani

After picking early in the morning, avoid exposing the fruits from direct sunlight. Remove damaged and deformed fruits and carefully arrange marketable fruits in boxes or in plastic bags with holes for ventilation. As much as possible avoid higher temperature above 13 UC for this will speed up ripening of fruits. Keep away from banana, pineapple and apple for these releases ethylene causing fruits to ripen rapidly.

From Jeepney Driver to A Successful Farmer

Kishore Hemlani

Diligence, foresight and determination to provide well for his family were the key factors that led Rodolfo Ronnie Abas, 57, to success. Forty-two years ago, he was just a mere jeepney driver who was earning what was left from his P8-boundary. Now he cultivates more than 100 hectares (has) in Kiliog, Libona, Bukidnon. His farm is planted mostly to corn and raises 110,000 broilers per growing cycle with the help of his son Marte, second in a brood of five. His wife of 39 years, Mila, a former high school teacher, has provided him all the assistance he needed from a loving wife. Ronnie, a high school graduate, narrates that he became jobless for a year after he got married. The owner sold the jeepney that he was driving, and he was forced to stay at home doing nothing but to take care of their firstborn child. He was mad at himself very often because his wife was the one canning. He also found it difficult to be ataynaylong (a term coined to describe a person who acts as tatay [dad], nanay [mom] and katulong [househelp]). Much as he wanted to be the breadwinner, he could not find any profitable job. And he was worried of what could happen if he Would have more children. JUNKED JEEPNEY FOR A START Even with his predicament, Ronnie envisioned himself to be the owner of a fleet of jeepneys. And by the stroke of fate, probably, he found in 1970-a junked jeepney for sale. His problem, of course, was that he did not have money to buy it. He needed P 10,000 to buy it even if its engine was no longer functional and its tires needed replacement. His last recourse was his aunt who, upon learning of his only opportunity to become a family breadwinner, bravely lent him money. Because of my happiness, I really cried when she gave me the money, Ronnie said. After repairing the engine and vulcanizing the tires, he started to use the vehicle to ferry passengers from Libona to Cagayan de Oro City. In one particular trip, he was hailed by pregnant woman who wanted to be brought to a hospital in the city. He initially refused to take her, thinking that it would be bad luck for him and for his jeepney if she died on the way to the hospital. But he it did not take him long, when he thought that his conscience would be greatly bothered if the woman died for not being brought to the hospital; so he backed up to get her. As he was traversing the very rough road down to the city, the woman already gave birth. This made him increase his speed, not minding his jeeps worn out tires. When he visited her the following day, he found out that she needed some money to pay for the hospital bill. Without even thinking twice, he gave her P50, the only money in his pocket. Ronnie said this particular event was the turning point in his life. The following day was the feast of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Brgy. San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, which is adjacent to Libona. Just like any other barangays fiesta in the Philippines, people from other barangays attended the fiesta. Much to Ronnies delight and astonishment, it was his jeepney that was loaded with passengers all the time. Passengers insisted to ride in his vehicle even if it was already loaded to the brim, so to speak.
9

From then on, his income from the jeepney kept on increasing. Not long after the acquisition of the first jeepney, he decided to loan from a bank to buy another jeepney. One loan after another led to the development of a fleet of more than 10 jeepneys. TRIES AGRICULTURAL LANDS His success in running a jeepney fleet did not make him complacent. Instead, he decided to try his luck in agriculture. That is why even if his first jeepney has some sentimental value, he sold it for P70,000 in 1982 to buy 6 has in the town proper. However, the land was adjacent to the residential area and Ronnie thought it would be extremely difficult for him to expand the property if ever he would have money. He sold the property a year after for P230,000 and bought 5 has in Kiliog for P75,000. He also bought six cattle for draft purposes and used the rest of the money for mortgaging lands from neighboring farmers and for production inputs. For a start, he had 10 has planted to corn. Even if his harvest was low and the price of corn at that time was only P2 a kilo, Ronnie was making money from his agricultural venture. Not long after, he bought again 7 has for P70,000. He realized that he was making more money from agriculture and, hence, decided to sell his passenger vehicles to be able to further expand his agricultural operation. By 1990 he already owned 20 has and he decided to mechanize his farming operations, as he could no longer rely on animal power for land cultivation. Thus, he obtained a loan of P700,000 from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to buy 90 hp Ford 6610; he also borrowed P200,000 for production cost. Unfortunately, the crop failed because the rains stopped after two downpours. Although he paid the premium for the insurance of his crop, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation did not pay for his losses worth P 100,000 because the bank failed to remit the premium. The best thing he got from LBP was a restructuring of his loan amounting to P100,000, as this was the amount that he actually spent. The next crops were successful and so he was able to pay his loans. Kishore Hemlani Ronnie said his success in corn production is primarily due to the use of hybrid seeds and Bt corn, which is resistant to the destructive corn borer. Among the varieties he is using are Dekalb and YieldGard, which are marketed by Monsanto Philippines. He said he has used hybrid seeds of San Miguel Corporation, Ayala and Cargill. He mentioned that his corn yield is normally higher in the first crop with 9 to 10 tons a hectare (t/ha). Although the yield of the second crop drops to 5 to 6 t/ha, it is compensated by a much higher price and, hence, still makes almost the same net income as from the first crop. For this cropping season, he has planned to try Durabloom, a bio-organic fertilizer produced by Novatech Agri-Food Industries, in a few hectares in an attempt to cut down fertilizer cost. The rains had not yet come when we visited Ronnie last April, but the fields were already ready for planting as soon as there is enough moisture in the soil. He said that although farmers in other parts of Mindanao have already successfully used Durabloom, he has to try it himself before using it on a wide scale. Weve got to go slow on this, he said. If I find that it (Durabloom) works well, there will be no reason why I will not use it on a large scale.
10

As a large-scale corn producer, he has already mechanized his farm operations. Lately, in a trip to Thailand with his family, he brought home a 4-row corn planter, which he bought for P200,000. For faster land preparation, he has also acquired three large tractors. He said, however, the corn harvest must be dried soon after harvest so that the grains would not be attacked by aflatoxin, a fungus that diminishes the quality of the grains. If the corn would be free from the fungus, he could sell his produce at good prices. He invested P1 million for the installation of two vertical mechanical dryers right in the farm. To insure availability of water for his crops, he installed three years ago several deep wells (248 feet deep) in strategic locations of the farm. BROILER PRODUCTION Not yet contented with his success in corn production, he ventured into broiler contract growing with Swift RFM in 1994. For a start, he had three broiler houses with a capacity of 10,000 birds per house. Ronnie confessed that he was so excited with his new venture because it was his first time to see and take care of such a large number of chicks. Although he really did not know much about broiler production, he had to learn all the tricks as fast as he could. Indeed, determination and diligence made him a successful poultry grower. After 13 years, he now has nine poultry houses with a total capacity of 110,000 birds. Four houses can contain 15,000 birds each, while the five other houses have a capacity of 10,000 birds. Marte, a nursing undergraduate, now manages the poultry business. He said they have five to six production cycles a year. After 13 years with Swift, they recently decided to do business with Gamma Fanns, a supplier of birds for the roasted chicken business. Marte also manages the poultry farms of his uncle and another grower. All in all, he raises 540,000 birds per grow. BACK TO JEEPNEYS, THEN HAULING TRUCKS Kishore Hemlani Even if Ronnie sold his fleet of passenger jeeps earlier, he was forced to buy a brand new Armak passenger jeepney in 1989 because it was already becoming difficult for their children to get a ride to school. Besides, he was still the president of the local jeepney operators and drivers association, a position he held for 20 years. By 1997, he already had 12 Armak passenger jeepneys, as he continued to buy one after another whenever he had extra money. Later, he bought a truck with a capacity of 18 tons, which he used for hauling pineapple on a contract basis for Del Monte, which is adjacent to Libona. He was attracted by the handsome income and, hence, decided to sell the jeepneys to buy three more trucks. Lately, however, Del Monte decided to hire 10-wheelers only. Because the income is good, he had his hauling trucks converted as such to conform to the demand of the pineapple company. Ronnie is a kind of person who catches every opportunity where he sees good income. It was only recently that he also became a contract grower of Del Monte; he allotted 2 has of land near his house for this purpose. Del Monte provides the seed pieces and fertilizer, while he provides the labor.

11

He said he can harvest three times from one crop. The first harvest is done 18 months after planting. This is followed by a second harvest nine months after and a third harvest after another nine months. The income is attractive as Del Monte pays P3 a kilo for the first harvest and P1.75 a kilo for the succeeding harvests. Ronnie said the cost of production for the first year is P147,000 per hectare. Ronnie has also allocated a portion of his farm for fruit production. Although he says that it is not on a commercial scale, he has more than 600 fruit bearing trees of durian, over 200 lanzones, 35 pummelo, several mango trees, and lots of lakatan banana. Ronnie has not yet stopped looking for business opportunities. Aside from his ventures in agriculture, he also has a fleet of 52 taxis in Cagayan de Oro with the name Abas Farm Taxi.

12

Market your own farm produce

By ZAC B. SARIAN December 30, 2009, 3:05pm

One characteristic of successful farmers we have met is that they create a steady market for whatever they produce. That way they are assured of a market for whatever they can produce year round. The latest of such fellows we have met are the husband and wife team of Felipe and Jessilyn Ramos of Brgy. Sumandig, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Felipe and his crew of nine workers take charge of growing high-value vegetables while the wife takes care of marketing their harvest at the Balintawak market in Metro Manila. The arrangement has been working perfectly. They now produce and market bumper harvests of Galactica ampalaya, Django finger pepper, Sultan sweet pepper, Diamante Max tomato, Galante sitao and Mayumi upo all high-yielding hybrids from East-West Seed Company. Felipe, 40, is an agriculture graduate who served as head of the Product Support Team of a multinational company distributing farm chemicals and corn seeds. Jessilyn, on the other hand, kept herself busy while her husband was employed by buying vegetables from local growers and selling the same to stallholders in Balintawak, an experience that keeps her in good stead now that they are producing their own vegetables. Kishore Hemlani Felipe observed that many of the vegetable farmers that they were helping while he was with the multinational company really became rich. He figured that maybe they were making more than what he was making as an employee although he received a decent salary. Thus in 2004, he decided to give up his employment to grow vegetables in their one-hectare property. He planted his first crop of tomato, ampalaya and sitao in October 2004. From that first cropping the couple were able to gross P300,000 in less than six months, which was encouraging enough. They planted some more and and their farming business grew and grew. They had to buy a jeep for Jessilyn to use in delivering their harvest to the market in Metro Manila. With their income from vegetables, they were able to buy three hectares which they all planted to vegetables year round, necessitating the purchase of another jeep for transporting their produce. Today, in addition to the four hectares that they own, they are renting seven hectares of other peoples farms to grow more vegetables. The good thing about their farming is that they are able to sell their produce direct to the Manila market without any middleman, ensuring them a profitable price. One technique they have adopted is to plant a succeeding crop on the same field way before the standing crop is harvested. For example, they plant a new crop of ampalaya before the tomatoes start to ripen. When the last tomato harvest is done, the first harvest of ampalaya will follow in just a few more weeks. They have also discovered lately that ampalaya fertilized with Durabloom bio-organic fertilizer produces a lot more fruits with better quality than those fertilized with unprocessed chicken manure they used to apply before. They keep on adopting new techniques for more efficient production. Read more about their success story in the February 2010 issue of Agriculture Magazine. Kishore Hemlani

13

AMPALAYA (Los Baos)

Introduction Bitter gourd, which is known in the Philippines as ampalaya, is an annual plant that is native in this country. It is botanically known as Momordica charantia L. It can be grown anytime of the year for its edible shoots and fruits and offers a good supply of vitamins and minerals. The fruit contains the hypo-glycemic principle charantin, which is used to treat diabetes. Bitter gourd is profitable when grown in small or large scale either in lowland or upland rice-based areas. Site Selection Bitter gourd grows in well drained soil. However, the best soil texture for the crop is either sandy loam or clay loam with pH ranging from of 6.0-6.7. Growing Season Although the crop can be grown throughout the year, the most profitable growing seasons are from October to December and from May to July because most of the areas are being planted to rice during these periods. Only the tumana or the fertile hilly-upland areas are being planted with bitter gourd, hence, production is limited. Plant the crop once every two years in the same area. Since bitter gourd is a heavy consumer of nutrients, the soil is depleted on the second year and thus needs soil amendments. Recommended Varieties The recommended varieties of bitter gourd are: the Sta Rita Strain with fruit length of 20-35 cm, and Jade Star and the Native (Fig. 1) with fruit length of 10 to 15 cm. The characteristics of the recommended varieties are presented in Table 1. Sta Rita Strain and Jade Star are preferred by Bulakeos and Pampangeos in cooking ginisa and sauted recipes, while the Ilocanos preferred the native variety in cooking pinakbet because it easily shrinks when cooked as pinakbet, and the bitter taste is neutralized by equal proportion of tomato and fish sauce. Fruits of Sta Rita Strain have thicker flesh and dont easily shrink when cooked as pinakbet.

14

Figure 1.a) Sta. Rita b) Jade star and c) Native bitter gourd. (Photos from East-West Seed Company.)

Table 1. Characteristics of recommended varieties of bitter gourd. Variety Sta Rita Strain Jade star Native Days to Ave yield Harvesting (t/ha) (DAP) 45 45 50 30 30 25 General uses as recipes Sauteed/soup Pickles/salad Sauteed/soup Pickles/salad Pinakbet/broiled/soup Taste Fruit/Shoot Moderately bitter Bitter Bitter Fruit Size Long Medium Small

Land Preparation Plow and harrow the field twice. After the second harrowing, construct trellis at a distance of 2.5 x 2.5 m and with a height of 1.5-2 m. Fix one layer of GI wire no. 14 at the top of each row and column. Fix two layers of GI wire # 18 at a distance of 3 ft below the upper layer of the row only. Fix a layer of plastic string on top of the trellis foundation at 20 cm apart, then fix abaca string or dried banana bracts string vertically from the upper wire layer to the bottom wire layer for the vines to crawl on (Fig 2).

15

Figure 2. Trellised bitter gourd. (Photos from East West Seed Company.)

Crop Establishment Break the seed coat lightly and soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, then wash. Incubate for 24-48 hours until the radicles appear. On the first day, plant the seeds with uniform germination to have a uniform stand of plant in the field. Plant the second flush on the second day then throw all the slow germinating seeds since these are suspected to be infected with barako or other viral diseases. Incorporate organic fertilizer at the rate of 50 g per hill before planting. Plant one germinated seed per hill at a depth of 2 cm and spaced at 50 cm along the row.

Nutrient Management Bitter gourd responds well to soil rich in organic matter and inorganic nutrients. For soils without soil analysis, the recommendation in Table 2 must be followed. The organic fertilizer must be broadcasted before plowing or at final harrowing. Bitter gourd is a heavy consumer of fertilizer. If the recommended frequency of application at 28 DAE will show yellowish leaves after 2 weeks, adjust the application to 2-3 times/month or every 14 days for 3 months.
Table 2. Fertilizer requirement for ampalaya production Kind of Fertilizer Organic Fertilizer 14-14-14 Ammonium sulfate Rate of Application per 1000m2 300 kg 8 kg (1 tbsp/hill) mixed 16 Time of Application Method of Application At furrowing At planting At 28 DAE Basal Basal Sidedress

+ 16-20-0 Ammonium sulfate + 14-14-14 Ammonium sulfate + 16-20-0 Ammonium sulfate + 14-14-14 Foliar Source: Gajete, T.D. 2004

8 kg (2 tbsp/hill) 8 kg 8 kg (2 tbsp/hill) 8 kg 15 kg (2 tbsp/hill) 8 kg 8 kg (2 tbsp/hill) 1L 10 tbsp/16 L At 127 DAE and even 7 days Foliar spray mixed At 120DAE Sidedress mixed At 90 DAE Sidedress mixed At 56 DAE Sidedress

Water Management Bitter gourd is a flood-tolerant crop. It can withstand water logging for 48-72 hours. In dry season, irrigate the field by flooding at 14 DAE and repeat irrigation every seven days throughout the growing season in October to December and as the need arises for May to July planting. For leaf or shoot production, irrigate twice a week for faster shoot development, and to minimize the bitter taste of shoots and fruits.

Pest Management The advent of pests and diseases of bitter gourd depends on the season, weather condition and the cropping pattern in the surrounding areas. During wet season, aphids, fruit fly, leaf footed bug and leaf folder (Fig.3) are destructive. During the dry season additional pests such as leafhoppers, thrips, white flies and leaf worms (Fig 4.) are equally destructive. Damping-off, bacterial blight and Barako (Fig 5.) are common diseases of bitter gourd during wet and dry seasons. It is regarded as nutritional deficiency by some soil scientists since it responds to fertilizer application. However, pathologists claim that Barako is caused by a mycoplasma - like organism because of the abnormal development of leaves, shoots and tendrils. Farmers under the palayamanan scheme can try the suggested management in Table 3. In cases of insect pests and diseases outbreaks, integrate chemical control measures presented in Table 4 to reduce the insect pests population.
17

Insect Pests 1. Aphids Aphids gossipii is a sucking insect pest (Fig. 3a) of bitter gourd and other cucurbits. It lays eggs even in the absence of male. It multiplies rapidly during wet warm condition of the environment either on wet or dry seasons. They also secrete toxicogenic substances that cause curling, resetting of leaves or dwarfing of the vines. Sometimes they are vectors of viral diseases of crops. 2. Fruit fly Dacus cucurbitae (Coquillet) or Dacus cucumis Franch is the most destructive insect pest of cucumber and other cucurbits. The adult lays eggs on the female flowers and fruits (Fig. 3b). After hatching, the maggots enter into the growing fruit and feed inside. Damaged fruit becomes deformed and later turns yellowish with rotten flesh as a result of the feeding activities of the maggots. 3. Leaf footed bugs (Leptolossus sp.) The adult hind legs are flattened like a leaf at the posterior part hence the name leaf footed bug (Fig. 3c). The bug color ranges from brownish with marking. The nymphs and adults are destructive to bitter gourd by sucking the leaves and fruits. Damage fruits at early stage usually deformed. The bug emits unpleasant odor when disturbed. 4. Leaf folder Diahania indica (Saunders) The moth lays eggs singly at the undersurface of the leaf. Larva at 4th to 5th instars damage the crop by folding the leaf of the plant using thread - like web (Fig. 3d). The destructive larva is greenish with two white stripes at the back. Damaged leaves become brownish with web bed and tapering edge.

18

Figure 3. Appearance of a) Aphids b) fruit fly c) leaf footed bug and d) leaf folder. (Photos from http://www.ext.vt.edu/) 5. Leafhoppers Small 3-4m long nymph (Fig. 4a) and adults are destructive with the common hopper burn symptom on the leaves sometimes shinny and brownish causing pre mature death of leaves. 6. Thrips (Thrips tabaci) These pests are usually 1-1.3 mm long, grayish yellow to brown and lays eggs simply on the leaves (Fig. 4b). Thrips reproduce without male. The nymphs resemble that of the adult but without wings. Nymphs and adults cause silvering then browning of the leaves. 7. White fly (Bemicia tabaci) This is a serious pest of other crops and acts a vector of viral diseases. This pest also attracts cucurbits including bitter gourd (Fig.4c).Severe infestation causes malformation of leaves. 8. Leaf worm (Aulocophora similes) This pest is also a common foliage feeder of bitter gourd. The damage is severe if they occur at seedling stage but are manageable if they infest bitter gourd at vegetative stage. Leaf worms also feed on the fruits when the leaves are already old, leaving scars on the fruit that lowers the quality (Fig. 4d).

19

Figure 4. a) Leafhopper b) Thrips and damage c) White flies and d) Leaf worms Photos from Dr A.C. Roxas b)http://www.naturescontrol.com/thrip.htmlc)http://www.gardenforum.demon.co.uk/w hitefly.htm

Diseases 1. Bacterial blight Characterized by yellowing of the older lower leaves then is progressing to the matured green leaves (Fig 5a). Under severe condition, the leaves gradually turn brown starting from the leaf edge showing a blighted appearance. In resistant varieties, the leaves show slight yellowing then form angular leaf spots as a response to the pathogens infection. Bitter gourd infected with bacterial blight has shorter life span. 2. Barako The disease is caused by a mycoplasma-like pathogen. Infected plants shortened vines and small leaves near the shoot (Fig. 5b) that are visible when the plant has one meter long vine. The shoot grows slowly with smaller and malformed leaves compared with the healthy plant. The vines and fruits produced by the plant are greatly reduced.

20

Figure 5. a) Bacterial blight and b) Barako. (Photos from East West Seed Company)

Table 3. Biological and remedial control of insect pests and diseases of bitter gourd. Insect Pests and Diseases A. Insect Pest Suggested Management Spray hot pepper fruit extract at the rate of 100 -200 ml per 16 L of water. Spray on the plants late in the afternoon. Black pepper powder, 100g soaked in 1 L of water. Spray directly on the plant late in the afternoon Spray with Thuricide HP or Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) following manufacturers recommended dosage. These are bacterial pesticides Spray the plant with native basil leaf-juice at the rate of 200 ml/16 L of water as soon as the insect pear. It acts as a repellant. Irrigate the area planted with bitter gourd twice a week to prevent or minimize drying of the leaves sucked by the pests. Enough water absorbed by the plant will compensate the sap sucked by the pest. Practice organic farming because organic nutrients boost the immune system of the plant against pests. For white fly use yellow sticky trap. Crush folded leaves with thumb and forefinger to kill the larva inside the fold. Do not open the fold because the worm inside will quickly slide, fall, and in hide in the soil. Leaf folders Collect infected leaves, place in a plastic bag then seal. Expose the plastic bag under the sun to kill the worms. Use light trap to kill adults Spray with Thuricide HP or Dipel(Bacillus thuringiensis) following manufacturers recommended dosage. These are bacterial pesticides Wrap the fertilized female flowers with newspapers. Thin plastic sheets are not recommended as wrapper because the fruit flys ovipositor can pierce the plastic and can penetrate the fruits. Collect infested fruits while still young, then bury in the soil to avoid population build-up of the pest To control of fruit fly, Methyl Eugenol (a female pheromone) is used to attract the male. This is mixed with a contact insecticide and placed on a wick. Male fruit flies that contact the wick will be poisoned, thus unmated females lay sterile eggs. B. Diseases Barako Uproot the whole plant and burn. Treat the seeds with Centella asiatica (takip kuhol) decoction at 45C to 50C for 25 minutes. Bacterial wilt Uproot infected plants and burn outside the area. Drench infected soil with 5% solution of zonrox then expose to sunlight.Irrigate the area early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Do not cultivate or touch infected plants as this will transfer to pathogens to other plants. Remove the blighted and yellowing leaves then burn or bury deep in the soil outside the area. 21

Cut worm/leaf worm

Aphids Leaf hopper, white flies, leaf footed bugs

Fruit flies

Bacterial blight

Table 4. Insect pests and diseases of bitter gourd and their chemical control. Insect Pests and Diseases A. Insect Pests Aphids/Leafhoppers Suggested Pesticides/hormone Common Name Cypermethrin Deltametrin Carbaryl Product Name Cymbush 5 EC Decis R Sevin85 SP Selecron 500 Padan 50 WP Actara Karate 2.5 EC Lannate 40 SP Rate When and Application How to (tbsp/16 L Apply water) 1.0 - 1.5 2.0 - 2.5 4.0-6.0 3.0 - 5.0 1.0 - 2.0 1.5 - 2.0 1.5-3.0 4.0 - 8.0 Spray when leaf curling appears Spray when the insect pest appear Spray when the insect pest appear Hang the trap with saturated wick when the first flower appears.

Profemofos Thrips/Whitefly/Leaf worms/Leaf footed Cartap Hydrochloride bugs Formetanate HCL Lambdacyhalothrin Leaf folder Methomyl

Fruit fly

Methyl Eugenol

Methyl Eugenol + Lannate 40 SP 1:1 ratio

(Pheromone) B. Diseases Difinoconazole Azoxystrobin Bacterial blight Mancozeb Copper oxychloride Cupric oxide Score 250 E Amistar 25 SC Dithane M-45 Vitigran Blue 35 WP Champion 50 WP or Funguran OH

One trap per 1000m2 1.0 - 1.5 1.0 - 1.5 4.0 - 6.0 6.0 - 8.0 6.0-8.0 Spray when disease is observed. Repeat if necessary.

Weeding Uproot the weeds in between hills at 14 days after emergence (DAE) only. After 14 DAE do not uproot the weeds or cultivate in between the rows as this will harm the roots and consequently result in slow growth of the plants

22

After the first weeding, hill-up once only and cut the weeds close to the ground every 14 days or as needed. The remaining weeds will serve as alternate hosts of cutworms, army worms, and other insect pests.

Harvest Management Harvest the first batch of immature fruits at deep green stage. These are approximately 25-30 cm long for Sta Rita variety. Repeat harvesting every 3-5 days preferably in the morning to maintain the freshness of the fruits. For the varieties with small fruits, harvest the immature fruits when the rinds are already prominent. Do not harvest the shoots because it will lessen the fruit-bearing performance of the plant resulting to reduced fruit yield. Pack the harvested fruits in polyethylene bags of 10 kg capacity immediately after harvesting to avoid withered fruits. If the crop is intended for leaf/shoot production, start harvesting 1 foot long shoot when the vines reached 1 m long. Harvest succeeding shoots when the lateral vines reach 2 feet long, leaving 1 foot long vine for the development of new shoots. Tie the shoots with rubber band with 10 or 20 pc per bundle depending on the retailers preference. Pack in polyethylene plastic to prevent the leaves from wilting.

References Bitter Gourd Production. July 9, 2008. Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture. http://www.openacademy.ph/.

TECHNOLOGY OPTION 1 For Crop Establishment 1. Soaking

To activate the seeds, soak the seeds overnight. Drain the water in the morning and wrap the seeds in moist clean cloth. Keep the cloth moist until the seeds start to crack open.

2. Sowing

23

Sow the seeds 2 cm deep at a spacing of 100 cm within row and 150 cm between rows. o It is suggested that certain number of seeds be sown in plastic bags or seedling trays. Missing hills are replaced right away with seedlings of the same age. Transplant on cloudy days or late in the afternoon.
o

3. Trellising

Start putting up trellis when the plants are about 15 cm high. Do not delay the trellising because the plants climb very fast. Train the vines regularly by tying the vines on the trellis. Use ipil ipil as post because it may last for two seasons at a distance of 3x3 m. A stronger GI wire as main frame is needed. Use big post at the edges of the field and at a regular interval inside the field.

4. Cultivation

Cultivation is recommended to have good aeration for the root. However, deep cultivation should be avoided.

For nutrient Management Ampalaya responds well to organic fertilizer. At planting time, basal application of 300 g of compost and 30 g of complete fertilizer per hill should be done. Thirty days after the first application, do the first side dressing of 20 g Urea and 15 g Muriate of Potash per hill. Repeat side dressing every 25 days.

For Pest Management 1. Fruitfly - lay eggs on the young fruits. The eggs later hatch into a small worm that starts eating inside the fruits. Recommendation a. Remove all damaged fruits from the field and bury them b. Spray only after the removal of damaged fruits with recommended insecticides c. Wrap young fruits with newspaper or plastic bags to prevent fruitflies from laying their eggs on the fruits. 2. Thrips - small crawling insect on the lower side of the leaves.
24

Recommendation a. Spray insecticides at night (8:00pm), insects hide during daytime. b. If the attack is severe, spray for 3 consecutive nights; each time with different chemical.

3. Caterpillars- worms eating shoot tips and leaves. Recommendation a. Spray with recommended insecticides. b. Neem leaves extract.

4. Aphids small black colored insects that feed on the shoot tips and stem. Recommendation a. Spray with recommended insecticides. b. Spray botanical insecticides like neem leaves (500 g leaves pounded and soaked overnights to 1 liter of water).

5. Downy mildew most common diseases of ampalaya. The symptoms are usually small and big spots on green and yellow leaves. Recommendation a. Spraying with fungicide is a preventive measure. Alternative Pest Management Use mixture of powder soap and kerosene gas as spray on several insects like aphids and thrips. Amarillo is an insect repellant that could be planted in-between rows of ampalaya plants.
Source Package of Technology of Different Vegetable Crops: Technology Generation and Dissemination for the Growth and Development of Vegetable Industry.2005.DA-RFU 4A& Bureau of Agricultural Research, Diliman Quezon City.

TECHNOLOGY OPTION 2
25

Land Preparation a. Plow the field 2-3 times, each time followed by harrowing. b. Make furrows 3m apart. c. Apply 2-3 tons dried animal manure per hectare while preparing the land to incorporate it well with the soil. Planting A. For direct seeding: 1. Soak the seeds in water overnight. Seeds can also be wrapped in a moist cloth. 2. Plant 2 seeds per hill 30 cm apart in the furrows 3m apart (30cm x 3m). 3. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water immediately. Mulch with rice straw. 4. Remove weak seedlings leaving behind the healthy ones 3-4 weeks after sowing.

B. For transplanting: 1. In planting hybrid ampalaya because of the high price of seeds or when the seeds are few, let the seeds turn into seedlings first. 2. Sow 1 seed per hole of the nursery tray with a mixture of 2 parts garden soil, 1 part burned rice hull and 1 part compost. 3. Irrigate and mulch. 4. 1 week after sowing, apply starter solution (1tbsp Urea (46-0-0) dissolved in 1 gal of water). 5. To strengthen the seedlings, reduce watering and gradually expose the seedlings to sunlight 1 week before transplanting. 6. 3 weeks after sowing, transplant 30cm apart in the furrows 3m apart (30cm x 3m) 7. Transplant late in the afternoon so that seedlings will not wilt. Fertilization 1. Before planting, apply 1 tbsp 14-14-14 per hill as basal application. 2. 30 days after planting or if the seedlings have produced branches, apply 1 tbsp Urea (46-0-0) per hill 10 cm away from the seedlings. 3. Every 3 weeks, apply 1 tbsp of a mixture of 1 part Urea and 1 part Muriate of Potash (00-60) per hill. 4. Cover the fertilizer with soil. Irrigation 1. Irrigate the field every 7 to 10 days for furrow irrigation during dry season. Construct a canal for furrow irrigation. 2. During wet season, irrigate only when necessary. Construct a drainage canal. Trellising
26

1. Before the vines creep, construct vertical and overhead trellises. 2. Layout 2.5m long and 2-2.5cm wide ipil-ipil, bamboo, or kakawate poles 2 m apart within the rows 3. Connect the poles horizontally by wire (#16) at the top, middle and bottom portions in every row. 4. Tie the top wire to the stakes at the end of the rows to make the poles stable. 5. Cut abaca twine or synthetic straw, and tie them vertically from top to bottom wires, and criss-crossing overhead. 6. Allow 1 plant to grow around a vertical string. Vine Training 1. Train the vines by spreading them evenly across the trellis until they reach the top. Pruning 1. Remove the lower lateral or branches to facilitate vine growth at the top of the trellis. 2. Harvest as fresh vegetable the lower leaves. Weed Control 1. Remove the weeds around the plants 2. Cut-off the weeds in between the rows by using a scythe. Mulching 1. Mulch with rice straw or black plastic sheet to control the weeds and conserve soil moisture. 2. Layout the mulch in the soil before planting. Insect Pest Management 1. Fruitfly is the most destructive insect pest. Controlling it is not easy because the adult fruitfly lays its eggs in the fruits. The hatched egg becomes a larva which destroys the fruit from the inside. 2. In order not to multiply the fruitfly: o Remove and bury the damaged fruit. o Wrap the fruits with paper while they are still small. o Use attractant.

Disease Management 1. Remove the diseased leaves immediately. 2. Pull-out and burn or bury plants with virus, nematode or bacterial wilt. 3. Spray the plants with chemicals only when necessary. Harvesting
27

1. Harvest the fruits 16-19 days from full bloom of the flower (anthesis) or when the rough skin of the fruit becomes shiny. 2. Cut the fruit together with its stalk using a sharp knife or scissor. Seed Production 1. Pollination/Isolation o Male and female flowers are borne separately on the same plant. o If population of pollinators (bees) is low, employ hand pollination early morning from early flowering to peak flowering to increase seed yield. o Female flower opens early in the morning and remains receptive 36 hours from opening, while male flowers opens either 10 am or fall off. o Due to the highly cross-pollinated nature of ampalaya, an isolation distance of 500 m radius for certified seeds and 1, 200 m radius for basic seeds is necessary. Roguing/Field Inspection 1. 2. 3. 4. Remove off-types. Conduct field inspection at early vegetative stage, flowering stage and fruiting stage. At vegetative stage, check the leaf size, shape, color, vigor and vine trailing habit. At flowering and early fruit development, observe for shape and color of the ovaries, shape and color of fruits, and general appearance. 5. Do the final rouging when fruits are maturing for fruit shape and color. Harvesting Harvest when the fruits have turned yellow-orange in color or when portions of fruit have yellow streaks, which is about 23-25 days from flower opening. Seed Processing

Cut off the apical portion or peduncle end of the fruit and split open the fruit to scoop out the seeds. Mash or rub the seeds unto a sturdy screen under running water to remove the red mucilaginous seed coat. Put clean seeds in a pail of water and allow the white, unfilled immature seeds to float. Pour the seeds out together with the water leaving normal seeds at the bottom of the pail. Repeat many times until seeds are free of mucilaginous coating and immature seeds. Air dry the seeds for 2-3 days. Sun dry the seeds gradually for 4-5 days.

Packaging 1. For home use, pack the seeds in thick plastic or paper envelopes and place them in large aluminum cans or large-mouth jars lined at the bottom with charcoal, lime or silica gel. 2. Seal the package well.
28

3. Place the seeds in a cool, dry place. 4. For large volume, pack the seeds in thick plastic or aluminum foil and seal well. 5. Keep in a cool and dry place or storage area. The drier the stored seeds and the cooler the storage area is, the longer is the life of the seed.
Source: Fliers. September 2008. Ampalaya. Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines, Los Baos, Laguna.

29