Another vegetable that is widely consumed by Filipinos is kalabasa or squash ( Cucurbita maxima ). It contains vitamins and minerals that the body needs such as vitamins A, C, B1, B6, and B3, as well as potassium. It also has beta carotene that serves as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. ...
Ampalaya, or bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), is a crop that is suitable for year-round cultivation in the Philippines, though thrives best if grown from October to February. It must be planted in soil with pH levels 6 to 6.7. Image by Vishnu Vasu from Pixabay. Ampalaya is the main...
Six local government unit (LGUs) in Batangas have been declared free of African Swine Fever (ASF)--the first "local declaration" in the country since its outbreak last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture) “This is the first local...
Some of the hybrid corn varieties of German multinational pharmaceutical firm Bayer AG have yielded 8.3 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) in a government-led farm competition held in Asturias, the biggest corn-production town in Cebu. A statement showed that three hybrid corn varieties of Bayer,...
Identifying the physical differences between mature male and female chickens can be a piece of cake, if you know what to look for. Here are some ways to tell them apart: Image by Xuân Tuấn Anh Äặng from Pixabay. Laying eggs Hens only start laying eggs when they reach six months old,...
Cherofel Gabuna, 39, a registered nurse from Libacao, Aklan, is among those people who took different jobs before truly finding a work that they see themselves engaging in in the long run. When an opportunity came, Gabuna grabbed the chance to pursue a long-held ambition: to be a farmer....
AVANT GARDENER Yvette Tan There’s a story about Nick Joaquin that’s been going around the creative writing circle for as long as I can remember. It’s said that during a writer’s workshop, the National Artist got so annoyed at a participant's work that he allegedly told the poor workshop...
The Philippines has completed the final phase of the P1.1 billion ($23 million) five-year biological threat capability building partnership program with the United States aimed to strengthen the country’s capacity and capability to detect, diagnose, and report dangerous pathogens. Left:...
The Philippine government will spin off the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), the country’s biggest vegetable trading facility, after six years in operation, Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced. According to Dar, this move will free up the state-funded BAPTC) in La Trinidad,...
Rain can be a blessing or a threat to gardeners. Overly large amounts of rain can result in flooding, plant diseases, and soil erosion. Gardening during the wet season may also be difficult, especially for gardens in flat, low land, or flood-prone areas. Here are few tips that may help combat...
Talong or eggplant ( Solanum melongena ) is a vegetable that is extensively grown locally. Producing this crop will only take three to four months when grown from seed. Photo by Dan-Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash. Eggplant is a popular ingredient in various Pinoy recipes, such as tortang talong or...
Nikka Veronni Factolerin Espinili-Restovic, 32, is a seafarer turned Filipina gardener based in Serbia, where she grows Philippine or Asian vegetables. Espinili-Restovic settled abroad after marrying a Serbian national named Radoje Restovic and is now a mother to their three-year-old...
