40-kg technology for enough, healthy seedlings
For FarmFriday we have this fine tip from PhilRice about planting healthy seedlings.. Sowing the right amount of seeds results in strong and healthy seedlings. Hence, rice experts recommend the use of 40 kg certified seeds of an inbred variety or 20 kg hybrid for one hectare. This 40-kg technology disproves the common belief that […]
Participatory techniques useful in selecting appropriate crop breeds
FarmFriday showcases this excellenet research work on “Participatory variety selection and characterization of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) elite accessions from Malawian gene pool using farmer and breeder knowledge” Plant breeding and agricultural promotion programmes in Malawi continue to be patterned after those in western industrialised countries – heavily dependent on inputs. This strategy has […]
The Role and Potential of Secondary Crops
HungerWednesday brings this very informative article about how secondary crops can enhance household food security. “Secondary crop-based agribusiness development will contribute to the stabilization of household food security by promoting crop diversification, improving and fulfilling nutritional requirements, absorbing farm labour and generating farm household income. In addition, secondary crops will play a role in maintaining […]
Organic livestock production and marketing
FarmFriday is here again and we showcase this downloadable guideline on organic livestock production — it details the steps necessary to market livestock produce as ‘organic’. The contents of this Primefact include: * Role of livestock in organic farming systems * Livestock nutrition * Shelter * Breeding * Livestock welfare * Livestock health * Marketing […]
Food revolution thru SRI
Here’s a very interesting article about how SRI is proving to be a viable rice production strategy worldwide. By William J. Broad IHT Many a professor dreams of revolution. But Norman Uphoff, working in a leafy corner of the Cornell University campus, is leading an inconspicuous one centered on solving the global food crisis. The […]
Storing seeds the SACLOB way
FarmFriday brings us this ingenious seed storage techniques from our friends over at Philrice. SACLOB comes from the Filipino word saklob which means “cover”. True to its name, SACLOB shields stored seeds from pest infestation. In their paper, Orge and coworker Engr. John Eric Abon described SACLOB as a hermetic or airtight seed storage enclosure […]
Use leaf color chart to save on fertilizer use
FarmFriday brings your this expense saving tip from PhilRICE A common practice among farmers is to routinely apply 3-4 bags N fertilizer during panicle initiation. This is not entirely a wrong practice, according to Ms. Evelyn Javier, soil scientist of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). “It is crucial for rice at this stage to […]
Medical evidence of therapeutic, nutritional and prophylactic properties of Moringa oleifera
This is another interesting article about the supertree, moringa oleifera. This is the first of four planned papers on the nutritional, therapeutic, and prophylactic properties of Moringa oleifera. In this introductory paper, the scientific evidence for health effects are summarized in tabular format, and the strength of evidence is discussed in very general terms. A […]
Rice farming tips: "Controlling’ water during the rainy season"
FarmFriday showcases this rice farming tips from Philrice on “Controlling water during the rainy season” Don’t let your ricefields overflow with water. “Too much water, like the lack of it, could cause stress on the rice plant, affecting its growth and yield,” explained Jovino de Dios of the PhilRice’s Agronomy, Soils, and Plant Physiology Division. […]
The threat of soil pollution to food safety and sustainable agriculture
FarmFriday again and we share this article from FFTC about the looming soil pollution problems in the Asian REgion associated with “contamination of heavy metals in soils due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and intensive agriculture.” TSUKUBA, JAPAN – The Asian economy has been growing fast in recent decades, and environmental stresses are building up rapidly […]
