Saturday, August 21, 2004 Vegetables abound, too By Aurea A. Gerundio
EVERY Kadayawan celebration, fruits and orchids reign. As it is often said, the celebration will never be complete without the king of the fruits, Durian, and the elegance of orchids that abound in the city.
Not being given much noticed is yet one product group -- the vegetables. But not because of the lack of it. Like the fruits and the flowers, Davao is likewise blessed with a lot of vegetables.
Davao City has a total of 847.38 hectares (in the three congressional districts) targetted for vegetable plantation.
Of the total hectarage aimed for vegetable plantation, 730.61 hectares are already planted with different kinds.
High value vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, sweet pepper, tomato and Chinese cabbage are being planted in a total of 246.67 hectares while non-high value vegetables such as ampalaya, eggplant, squash, cucumber, raddish, ginger, beans and gourd are planted in a total of 483.94 hectares.
Production of the high-value vegetables has been fairly well, too, according to Senior Agriculturist Lorna Alderete of the City Agriculturist's Office (CAO).
Records from January to June showed that in the 18.80 hectares carrots plantation, 200.16 metric tons produce were harvested, 134.82 metric tons of sweet pepper were harvested in the 66.34 hectares area, 174.66 metric tons of tomato were harvested in the 67.86 hectares area, 202.80 metric tons cabbage were harvested in the 62.67 hectares area and 29.16 metric tons cauliflower were harvested in the 30 hectares area.
Alderete said the vegetable plantations in this city are widely located in the third congressional districts.
"Marilog area has the biggest hectarage for vegetable farms. The cold climate in the area is a plus factor for plantations," Alderete said.
Alderete, however, said this city cannot go into exportation yet of vegetable products because of the inability to meet the standards for exportation.
Alderete said Davao City has high production of vegetables but the cost is as high as the production because of the expenses incurred in controlling pests and diseases.
Alderete said there is already the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that combats the problem on pests and diseases in the vegetable plants.
The IPM was initiated through the CAO. Farmers are being trained to lessen the use of chemicals in their plants.
Alderete revealed that 80 percent of the farmers in this city have been using chemicals in their plantation.
"Ang farmers kasi natin have a wrong concept na kapag mayroong pest, dapat mag-spray," Alderete said.
Alderete said it is not necessary to spray chemicals if there are harmful pests (fruit worms and aphids) detected in their vegetable plants because there are also natural enemies (frogs, lady bugs, beetles, spiders) that prey them.
"Dapat i-monitor muna kung gaano karami ang harmful pests and the natural enemies. Check first if it is appropriate to spray chemicals," Alderete said.
In this regard, Alderete said the CAO has intensified the campaign among farmers for a chemical-free vegetable plant.
The CAO is said to be working in coordination with the University of the Philippines Mindanao, Growth with Equity in Mindanao 2 and the Department of Agriculture in promoting the vegetable production based on soil and climate suitability.
Alderete said the creation of the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (Vicsmin) has helped vegetable growers a lot as it encourages well-programmed planting schedules to ensure availability of produce at all times, minimize over-production and undertake crop protection technologies with the least negative impact on environment and human health.
Among the programs of the Vicsmin that the CAO has been spearheading this time is the Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB), which is aimed at providing the community with vegetable awareness and appreciation.
"Once the community appreciate the value of vegetables, they will later initiate planting vegetables at their own backyards," Alderete said.
Alderete said that Davao City is the pilot area for the GSB program with more or less 100 barangays already into it. "We have a contest among barangays. Each barangay should have a minimum of 100 square meters and a maximum of 300 square meters lot for the gulayan," Alderete said.
Alderete is certain that the vegetables in this city will soon be recognized for its good quality.
Alderete anticipates that in next year's Kadayawan, it will not just be durian and the orchids that will make an impression to the Dabawenyos and their visitors but the city's fresh vegetables as well. (Some notes on this subject were provided by Department of Agriculture 11 Senior Agriculturist Malou Infante)
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