By Henrylito D. Tacio If you ask someone in Davao Region where Balutakay is, it seems no one knows. If you google it, you will be directed to Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association. It is a group of coffee farmers who banded together and ended up producing the award-winning coffee that is now...
A popular trend in our agricultural features are OFWs who come home to the Philippines and establish a farm for retirement, and it’s not hard to guess why. A farm in the province offers a serene life after decades of hectic work, but also helps one keep active and excited for new developments....
Davao’s first shipment of durian to China has sold out, according to John Tan, CEO of Eng Seng Food Products (ESFP). “Actually, naubos na yung stock natin (actually, all of our stocks have been bought),” he said. Durian fruit. (vitalina/ Pexels) ESFP is one of the four exporting companies who...
Here are five crops you can grow in the hot summer month of April. Hyacinth bean/Bataw ( *Lablab purpureus* ) Hyacinth bean, locally known as bataw, is a legume grown for its young tender pods, young leaves, or mature seeds that are used in cooking. Some farmers use the hyacinth bean as fodder for...
Bananas are classified as climacteric fruits, as they produce ethylene gas during the ripening process which triggers the fruit to ripen even after it has been harvested. (Yoendry Prieto/Pexels) There are several reasons why someone might want to hasten the ripening process of fruits or vegetables....
By Henrylito D. Tacio Filipino cuisine has been gaining recognition on the world stage, and just like any other cuisine, there are some secrets to it. One of those secrets is black pepper, known locally as paminta. Adobo, touted to be the country’s food icon, is one of the Filipino dishes that...
By Henrylito D. Tacio Farming in the Philippines is at a crossroads. The reason: it is facing several environmental problems: climate change, soil erosion, deforestation, flooding, and dry spell. All these lead to minimal production, low income, food insecurity, and malnutrition. There is one...
There’s a lot more a farm can be than being a land to plant crops. We all know how farms can be developed to become resorts, restaurants, tourism sites, and learning centers. A special farm in Beckel, Benguet made sure to get in all that. Cosmic Farm is an organic farm founded in 1989 by Rogel...
The first shipment of durian from Davao to China is about to take off! Tons of durian waiting to be shipped to China. (Abel Monteagudo/ Facebook) Abel Monteagudo, Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI in Davao City [posted a...
By Henrylito D. Tacio Almost everyone on the planet now knows what climate change is. It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of...
The beauty of art is that it can survive beyond its maker. Whether it be paintings, songs, architecture, or stories, art is made to be a legacy left in the world. Bonsai can be considered an art form rooted in agriculture. It’s the art of growing miniature trees in containers or pots, and training...
With such a fast-paced world, who wouldn’t want to take a break and escape it all? Folks in the city are especially surrounded with noise, activity and perpetual change. A quiet, provincial life is what a lot of people long for, but it’s not easy to drop everything and change lifestyles....
