Dahil sagana ang Pilipinas sa tilapia, naging paborito itong mapagkukunan ng protina. Bukod sa nakasanayang prito, sarsyado, at sinabawan, maaari ring kasiyahan ang tilapia bilang ‘ice cream.’ Isa na ang tilapia ice cream sa mga bago at patok na ice cream ‘flavors’ sa merkado.
Mula sa mga malikhaing isip ng mga ‘food scientist’ at mananaliksik ng Central Luzon State University (CLSU), ang tilapia ice cream ay panibagong paraan upang mas bigyang halaga ang produktong tilapia. Hatid nito ang masarap na pagkaing mapagkukunan ng protina nang walang malansang lasa at amoy ng isda.
Upang mas marami ang makatikim ng tilapia ice cream, binuo ng Vera Bella Enterprises Ltd. ang mga produktong Daerry’s na may sangkap na tilapia, gaya ng tilapia ‘cookies’ at ice cream ‘sandwiches.’
Ayon kay Dr. Dana Vera Cruz, managing partner ng Vera Bella, kakulangan sa nutrisyon ang nag-udyok sa kanilang simulan ang proyektong ito. Layon nilang maglatag pa ng mga masusustansyang pagkain na maaaring pagpilian ng mga Pilipino.
“The problem that we intend to solve here is the declining fish consumption of children… So incorporating fish into the children’s diet, and even those individuals who don’t eat fish, is an innovative way to provide them with the protein and other health benefits of eating fish,” ani ni Dr. Vera Cruz.
Sa kasalukuyan, nasa ilang pamilihan na ang may tilapia ice cream. Sa mga interesado, maaaring bisitahin ang Daerry’s Scoop ‘N Bites sa Munoz, Nueva Ecija. Mabibili rin ang mga produkto ng Daerry’s sa Harvest Hotel, Cabanatuan City; Lumings Café, San Jose City; Milka Krem, Science City of Muñoz; Kafe Klasiko, Cabanatuan City; at Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) sa CLSU.
Upang mas matulungan ang mga magsasaka sa Ilocos, inilunsad ng Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) ang isang inisyatibong pinaigting ng masusing pananaliksik at partisipasyon ng komunidad. Ito ay tinatawag na Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) na tumulong sa pag-unlad ng mga magsasaka sa Dingras at Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
Layon ng CPAR na magtatag ng epektibo at mabisang paraan ng pagtanggap ng mga teknolohiya para sa mga kababayang nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Nais nitong mapabuti ang lagay ng isang komunidad sa pamamagitan ng mga teknolohiya at kaalaman na makatutulong upang mapaunlad ang produksyon at proseso sa pagsasaka. Natatangi ang ganitong uri ng inisyatibo dahil ang bawat parte ng programa ay masusing inaangkop sa pangangailangan ng isang partikular na komunidad.
Isa sa mga bahagi ng proyekto ang pagtatag ng mga ‘model farms’ o sakahan kung saan ipinatutupad ang mga teknolohiya at kaalaman sa pagsasaka. Ang mga model farms sa proyekto ay gumamit ng ‘rice-rice-mungbean’ at ‘rice-white corn farming systems.’ Kalakip sa mga sakahang ito ang mga kalidad na hybrid na pananim, ‘straight-row establishment method,’ paggamit ng Rice Crop Manager, at paggamit ng sapat at balanseng pestisidyo.
Base sa resulta, nakitang napaigi ang produksyon ng mga sakahan sa tulong ng mga teknolohiya mula sa proyekto. Ang mga sakahan na gumamit ng rice-rice-mungbean system ay umani ng 4.55 ‘tons per hectare’ (t/ha) sa unang ani. Ito ay mas mataas ng 12% kung ihahambing sa pamantayan. Sa ikalawang ani, nagtala naman ito ng 4.39 t/ha, 30% na mas mataas kaysa sa pamantayan. Gayundin, kaparehong umunlad ang produksyon sa rice-white corn farming system model farms.
Kasunod nito, gumanda ang taunang kita ng mga magsasaka. Sa rice-rice-mungbean farming system, ito ay nagtala ng kitang humigit-kumulang P60,000.00 kada hektarya. Ito ay umaangat kung ikukumpara sa pamantayan na P30,000.00 kada hektarya. Ayon kay Ms. Reinamae G. Banquirig, isa sa mga nanguna sa proyekto, mahalaga ring mabigyan ng kapangyarihan at laya ang mga magsasaka sa kanilang produksyon. “Kapag pinagsama-sama ang apat na ‘factors —‘improved production technologies,’ ‘integration of production and marketing services,’ ‘social networking and linkage,’ at ‘complemented with building capacities of farmers,’ and we put them into action within the community, ay magiging sustainable yung ating community-based farm enterprise,” ani ni Ms. Banquirig.
Traditionally associated with colder climates, potatoes have established a steady demand in the Philippines. They thrive in the highlands of Benguet, Bukidnon, and other regions with cool temperatures and well-drained soil. The rising demand for potatoes is reflected in Filipinos' changing consumer preferences, as well as the increasing popularity of Western cuisine. Beyond serving as a versatile ingredient in traditional Filipino dishes, potatoes provide nutritional benefits by being rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
Increased demand for potatoes extends to the municipality of Los Baños, Laguna with an expanding local market. This presents an opportunity for local smallholder farmers to fulfill this unmet market need.
In response to this, the Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH) under the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) initiated a capacity-building training for farmer-members of the Association of Safe Fruit and Vegetable Growers in Los Baños (ASFVG-LB). Perceiving the need for a market-responsive production approach, the AABH hopes to shift the focus of farm production towards the present needs of the market, aiming to revolutionize the way farmers grow their crops.
The AABH, with the support of the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Los Baños, organized a three-day training on potato production from August 30, 2023 to September 1, 2023. Held at Benguet State University (BSU), La Trinidad and Atok, Benguet, the activity was facilitated by members of the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center (NPRCRTC) of BSU, led by Ms. Teresita Masangcay.
The training covered the following topics: potato varieties, quality seed potato production, major insect pest and disease management, postharvest handling and processing, and seed production management, among others.
A follow-up activity took place on September 22, 2023, in Brgy. Bagong Silang, Los Baños, where the chosen potato planting site underwent evaluation. Soil sampling and land preparation and planting of potato tubers were demonstrated to the farmers of ASFVG-LB. This was done to ensure that the planting practices were initiated properly and in accordance with NPRCRTC-BSU’s guidelines.
A total of 6,000 pieces of potato tubers composed of 5 potato varieties - Mexican, Cosima, Igorota, Granola, and Raniag - were distributed to the association. These potato varieties were planted and observed to validate whether these varieties will thrive under Los Baños growing conditions.
A field monitoring conducted on January 12, 2024, confirmed that the Raniag variety is adaptable to the climate and soil conditions in Los Baños and demonstrates the potential of the variety in establishing large-scale potato production for the association. During the visit, the BSU team once again distributed another batch of potato tubers for trial planting to the ASFVG-LB. The new tubers were sowed in the last week of January and had displayed promising growth, with a harvest being expected in the last week of April.
With this, a new hope for the farmers of ASFVG-LB has begun to sprout. Successful production of potatoes guarantees a sure market and steadier income for the farmers.
Participants of the Potato Production Training held in Benguet State University last August 30, 2023 to September 1, 2023 (Members of ASFVG-LB, MAO-LB, DOST-PCAARRD, and NPRCRTC-BSU). (Image credit: SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Members of ASFVG-LB, DOST-PCAARRD, and NPRCRTC-BSU at the field monitoring activity of the potato planting site in Brgy. Timugan, Los Baños held last January 12, 2024. (Image credit: SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Hidden beneath the rich soils of Cagayan Valley and Northern Luzon is an industry ripe for picking.
Peanuts have become integral to the culture and economy of the Philippines. It’s a taste that many Filipinos crave as snacks or a versatile ingredient for peanut butter and Filipino dishes like kare-kare. With its demand in the market, opportunities for peanut farmers and businesses are promising. Luckily, the industry is supported by innovative minds that aim to bring solutions toward the economic advancement of the local peanut industry.
As part of the celebration of the Peanut Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) supported by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), innovators from various universities and colleges in Cagayan Valley and Northern Luzon showcased technologies that aim to improve peanut production and processing. These innovators generated technologies that will help address challenges faced by the industry, such as labor costs, lack of manpower, high wastage, low-quality outputs, and more.
Peanut thresher
The peanut thresher is among the technologies developed by Cagayan State University (CSU) led by Dr. Jose D. Guzman. This machine separates peanut pods from the plant after harvesting. Using rotating drums or rollers, the machine can detach the pods from its vines, facilitating the collection of clean and ready-to-use peanuts. It also features a function that sorts peanuts into small, medium, and large sizes.
CSU’s Peanut Thresher. (Image credit: Dr. Jose D. Guzman)
According to Dr. Guzman, the CSU Peanut Thresher will reduce the threshing costs of peanuts per kilogram (kg) from P5.00 to P1.83 compared to manual threshing. The machine showcases better threshing efficiency and recovery and lower production loss due to damages. During the dry season, the stripping capacity can increase to 116 kg/hour (hr), with a stripping efficiency of 93%.
Peanut sheller
The peanut sheller is another innovation developed by CSU under Dr. Guzman. It addresses peanut processors' constraints, such as low output, postharvest losses, contamination, and high labor costs. The peanut sheller removes the edible kernels inside the peanut shells. It operates by applying pressure to crack open the shells and after which, broken shells and peanut kernels are subjected to vibration to allow ease of separation. Similar to the thresher, the sheller also sorts the kernels according to size.
Compared to manual shelling, the CSU Peanut Sheller will reduce the total shelling cost per kilogram from P5.00 to P1.00. Depending on the variety, the machine can shell up to 90–100 kg/hr.
CSU’s Peanut Sheller. (Image credit: Dr. Jose D. Guzman)
Aerated peanut bulk storage
Also designed by CSU under Dr. Guzman, the aerated peanut bulk storage addresses the challenges of common storage practices by traditional farmers in controlling humidity, infestation, and temperature that may affect the quality of the crop.
This storage equipment has an intelligent system for preserving peanuts that features sensors to detect the inside and outside humidity and temperature. It also sends information about storage conditions to the user’s mobile for smart monitoring.
The aerated peanut bulk storage can store 1 ton of peanut pods, with a monthly operating cost of P1.47.
Aerated Bulk Storage. (Image credit: Dr. Jose D. Guzman)
Peanut rotary sorting machine
To provide quality products and services, a sorting machine developed by the team of Engr. Joel M. Alcaraz from Isabela State University (ISU) offers peanut processors a faster and more efficient sorting machine for peanut kernels.
According to Engr. Alcaraz, advantages of the rotary sorting machine include its high mobility, less damage to kernels, and lesser vibration compared to other sorting machines.
Peanut Rotary Sorting Machine. (Image credit: Joel M. Alcaraz)
Mobile peanut sheller
Developed by ISU, the mobile peanut sheller offers a different take on shelling peanuts. Its mobile feature allows easy machine transfer, which is best for farming cooperatives that may need to share equipment. Depending on the model, the machine can shell peanuts up to 150–380 kg/hr. The price of the machine ranges from P50,000.00 to P120,000.00.
Mobile Peanut Sheller. (Image credit: Joel M. Alcaraz)
With the advent of better and more affordable machines, science innovators continue to open gateways of opportunities for more farmers and business owners in the peanut industry. Just as the celebration of the Peanut FIESTA says, definitely, “May Money sa Mani!”
Do you want to know more about these game-changing peanut technologies? For more information, contact the Cagayan Valley Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (CVAARRD) Consortium and the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC).
CVAARRD This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (078) 323-3035 facebook.com/cvaarrd
ILAARRDEC This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +63 948 327 3456 facebook.com/ilarrdec.ilocosregion
Through its Management Information Systems Division (MISD), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) has made a significant step in responding to the Digital Transformation agenda of the National Government. By meticulously redeveloping its information systems and employing a holistic approach, two of its administrative information systems have gained popularity among DOST agencies and regional offices for adoption and implementation.
The Human Resources Management System (HRMS) and the Financial Management System (FMS) are two of the major information systems used by the Council in handling its human resources and financial matters, respectively. HRMS was developed to integrate the four pillars of HRM – Recruitment, Selection, and Placement (RSP), Learning and Development (L&D), Performance Management (PM); and Rewards and Recognition (R&R). Meanwhile, FMS is a comprehensive system that encompasses the complete budget cycle, from preparation to utilization.
While the development of both systems was an internal strategy to establish the interoperability of systems in the Council, it created a precedent within the DOST system when it was presented during the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Consortium meeting last August 30, 2023. It has set a new standard for excellence and attracted seven DOST agencies that expressed their intent to adopt them.
Over the months following the ICT Consortium meeting, the number of interested parties increased, signaling the unequivocal value that the systems bring to the table. Furthermore, these initiatives not only serve as benchmarks for DOST-PCAARRD but also for the Civil Service Commission (CSC), providing a tangible measure for evaluating the competency maturity of an agency across the core components of HRM.
In essence, PCAARRD's holistic approach to digital transformation significantly influenced its internal processes, while setting a high standard for industry-wide best practices.At present, the Systems Development and Database Management Unit (SDDMU) of MISD is actively enhancing its HRMS, now known as iHRMS, ensuring seamless alignment with the specific requirements outlined by the requesting DOST agencies. The HRMS is foreseen to be implemented DOST-wide and DOST-PCAARRD has manifested its place at its core.
