Agriculture

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz WITH EL Nino now in our midst, it is but proper to ask how, individually and as a nation, have we prepared to cope with this dreadful climatic phenomenon– that worldwide has already manifested in severe heat, forest fires and other nature-borne catastrophes. As early as May the weather bureau has been warning …

THE  Department of Agriculture (DA) said only a fraction of farmlands in New Clark City, Tarlac will be affected by the United States-led Pax Silica initiative. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed  in a media report that some 266 farmers tilling 410 hectares will feel the adverse impact of the project’s planned development, citing the DA’s official assessment. “We …

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned imports of live cattle, beef products and processed animal proteins derived from cattle from the United Kingdom following an outbreak of mad cow disease in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The ban was imposed through Department Circular 50, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Sept. 21, as posted on the DA …

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gathered agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental to train them on practical tools to make their farms and communities more sustainable. The training, which focused on sustainable agriculture, stakeholder engagement, and environmental protection, was held at Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City. The discussions and hands-on …

A PROPOSAL to have the same tax for locally-produced sugar and imported artificial sweeteners is worrying the Sugar Regulatory Administration, which said that this will just hasten the demise of the local sugarcane sector. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said hiking the current two-tiered tax bracket for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) while retaining cane sugar in the same category as artificial …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz MANY of us, especially those in the path of floodwaters that destroyed homes, crops and caused deaths and missing persons, have been cursing the nearly two months of heavy rainfall that also brought mudslides and landslides. Many streets in Metro Manila went under and the floods merely exposed even more the substandard roads, …

RAW sugar output for crop year 2026-2027 will plunge to 1.662 million metric tons, its lowest level in over 20 years. The Sugar Regulatory Administration made this forecast because of plant disease infection called red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) on sugarcane fields, which is also its “early estimate” for the crop by its research department. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona …

DAIRY farmers of Ragay, Camarines Sur are being helped by the Departments of Agrarian Reform and Science and Technology to get better value from their dairy products besides fresh milk, by producing sweets like mazapan and toasted pastillas to expand their markets. Mazapan is a dense, sweet confection made from milk and ground nuts or starch, traditionally shaped into small …

By Edg Adrian A. Eva A GROUP of scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) has found a greener alternative method for producing silver nanoparticles–  a material known for its antimicrobial properties–  by using gamma radiation and a substance derived from seaweed. Silver nanoparticles are extremely tiny particles of silver and are widely known for their antimicrobial properties, having been used …

EXPANDING local ethanol production from sugarcane is the best way for the government to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. And the Departments of Agriculture and Energy are looking alternative feedstock to reach its goal of expanding ethanol output. DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and DoE Secretary Sharon Garin sat down to explore ways to bring down feedstock costs …