compilation march to may2004

8/6/2019 Compilation March to May2004

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S R A - L G A R E C

U P D A T E S Published by the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center La Granja, La Carlota City

Negros Occidental, Philippines Phone/Fax (034) 735-0132 www.sra-lgarec.net e-mail: [email protected]

Vol. 6 No 1-4 Marc

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DA SEC LORENZO VISITS LGARDC

Honorable Luis P. Lorenzo, Secretaryof the Department of Agriculture, visited theLa Granja Agricultural Research andDevelopment Center (LGARDC), La Granja,La Carlota City on April 29, 2004.

The 40-minute stopover was part of theSecretary’s visit to CFC-Gawad Kalinga site

at Hda. Remedios, La Carlota City, aprogram being supported by the Department.Secretary Lorenzo was motivated to visit theCenter upon learning that it already was along time since the last visit of a DASecretary. Employees from differentagencies of the LGARDC warmly welcomedhim: Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA),Bureau of plant Industry (BPI), DA-Regional

Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-RIARC), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)and the University of the PhilippinesResearch and Training Station(UPLBCARTS).

During the stopover, Secretary Lorenzogave an impromptu speech regarding theupdates and accomplishments of the

government through DA in its efforts to bringquality agricultural services closer to thefarmers. The LGARDC employees,encouraged by the heartwarming messagefrom the Secretary, were given theopportunity to an open forum and werepromised for another visit. (rtarmones)



SRA-LGAREC UPDATES March-May 2004 of 5 pages


ACEF FUNDED PROJECTSWhat’s new in SRA-LGAREC?

Upgrading of the whole station! Funded bythe Agricultural Competitiveness

Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for Sugar, theStations upgrading is ‘to increaseproductivity in sugarcane production therebyincreasing farmers income and to ensure theglobal competitiveness of the Philippinesugar industry.’

The project, from a proposal preparedby SRA-LGAREC and came to realitythrough the able leadership of Adm. JamesC. Ledesma, will ‘generate more ecologicallysound and environmentally-friendlytechnologies such as improvement of

cultural farm management practices,utilization of indigenous materials as fertilizersources, use of biological agents for thecontrol of sugarcane pests, and thedevelopment of HYVs resistant to pests anddiseases and lessen dependence onpesticides. The new technologies insugarcane growing will improve cane qualityand increase farm yield and income.’

The project, started on September2003, includes:

1. Rehabilitation of road networks – theeroded asphalt road network within thestation is now converted in 4-6 inch thickconcrete road. The road networkrehabilitation also included the de-cloggingof the old drainage system.

2. Rehabilitation of Buildings, Greenhouses

and Sheds – dilapidated and termite-infested buildings are being rehabilitated.As of this time, the Agro meteorologicalstation is completed, the Agronomy buildingand the Soils Laboratory are almost donewhile bidding is on going for the other

buildings. Screen houses and Pollinationsheds will soon follow to hasten thebreeding program.

3. Acquisition of modern laboratory

equipments – modern laboratoryequipments were acquired to aid the ever-changing demands of research in thestation. Biotechnology techniques are nowbeing utilized while an adequate BiotechLab is being installed. Computerized testingof samples being done in the laboratoriestogether with computer-aided analysesmakes research in the station moreaccurate and competitive.

4. Rehabilitation of Water Systems – theroad network going to the water source inTulo-tulo spring is being rehabilitated whilethe irrigation system in the experimentalfields is about 50% done. Layout ofunderground pipes is underway while the

booster pump is already on standby forimmediate testing. Soon, adequatedomestic and irrigation water supply willsupport the needs of the Station.

5. Rehabilitation of Electrical Systems – newCaterpillar generating set and transformerswere already installed to back-up the oldgenerator. Soon, new electrical lines will be





installed to rehabilitate old lines connectingthe buildings, laboratories and the trainingcenter. Uninterrupted electrical supply ismuch needed in maintaining research anddevelopment activities.

6. Establishment of Local Area Network

(LAN) – while new computer desktops andlaptops were acquired to aid the informationmanagement of the various working units, aLocal Area Network (LAN) was alsoestablished. Utilizing the wired and wirelesstechnology, working units is now able tocommunicate and share information online.While the www.sra-lgarec.net website isbeing maintained, soon SRA-LGAREC willbe connected with the LAN of SRA-Bacolod

and of Panay that will also be establishedunder the ACEF fund.

7. Establishment of modernized training

facility – ACEF-funded OPSI seminars forthe Agrarian Reform Communities are beingconducted by the Training Unit of ExtensionServices Department all over Negros andPanay. Soon, the Clubhouse will beconverted into modern Convention Centernot only for training and symposia but alsofor other important functions andgatherings. Presently, state-of-the-art audio-visual and conference equipments havearrived while bidding for the conversion ofthe Clubhouse is underway. The trainingcenter will also include a dormitory andcafeteria. Added to this are the renovationof the tennis courts and the retiling of theswimming pool. Overall, the Clubhouse area

will soon be a fully functional conventionand recreation haven.

8. Acquisition of Vehicles and Farm

Implements – new vehicles like vans and

motorcycles to aid in the transportationneeds of the station were acquired whiletractors complete with farm implement wereprovided in the project. Together with theimproved irrigation systems these farmimplements will pave the way for a morevigorous production and field maintenance.

These valuable items and much neededimprovements are but dreams of yesterday,and a lot more is still to come! Finally, thechallenge of converting the objectives of this





project into reality is in the hands of the ablemen and women of SRA-LGAREC. (glrosales)

COST REDUCTION

MEASURES IN SUGARCANEGROWINGProduction cost in sugarcane growing is

getting higher every year due to increasing costof farm inputs and labor. This could beminimized, without compromising yield, byadopting the following cost reduction measuresrecommended by the Sugar RegulatoryAdministration in the growing of plant canes andratoon crops.

Soil Analysis – Through soil analysis,correct amount and kind of fertilizers are appliedin a specific farm. Unnecessary inputs entailcosts.

Liming – Liming improves the availabilityof nutrients in the soil and lowers fertilizerrecommendations.

Organic Farming – inorganic fertilizerinputs may be reduced by trash farming, use ofrock phosphate, guano, mudpress, bagasse andmill ash or other agricultural products such aschicken and livestock manure.

Use of High Grade Fertilizers – To satisfy

the NPK requirement per hectare based on soilanalysis, high-grade fertilizers are moreeconomical to use than the low-grade fertilizers.

Rate of Seeding – The best population perhectare is 40,000 plants. By planting more thanthis recommendation will incur about P2,000.00per additional “lacsa” of canepoints used.

Seedpiece Selection – Proper cane pointselection at planting reduces costs for replanting.A savings of about P352.75/ha is gained if canepoints are properly selected.

Replanting – When missing hills occur

replant the area to complete crop stand and tomaximize production per unit area. When usingcane points replant 1.0 – 1-½ months afterplanting (MAP) and 2-3 MAP when using chippedtillers.

Weed Control – For effective weed controlat lower costs, timely implement either of thedifferent strategies: three plow cultivations andthree row weedings; pre or post-emergence

herbicide application + three plow cultivationsand two row weedings; and, three plowcultivations and three blanket weedings.

Pest Control:

?? Sugarcane Stemborers or ‘tamasok’ – Release adult Trichogramma parasites atthe rate of 40 strips /ha starting at 1 ½MAP at P6.00/strip to effectively controlstemborers. It is economical for onlyP240.00 and also safe to use.

?? White Grubs or ‘buk-an’ – Insecticidescould be substituted application of limeand the frequent cultivation to minimizepest population.

?? Rodents – The substitute for rodenticidesto minimize rat populations in the

sugarcane fields are sanitation andcultivation.

Harvesting – Supervise harvesting toensure that operations are properly implemented.To be economical follow the following tips duringharvest:

?? Cut canes close to the ground for higheryields and eliminate costs for stubbleshaving

?? Observe proper topping at harvest – Leave two canepoints when harvesting.Higher rendement can be realized byexcluding ‘no sugar stalks’ for milling.

?? Mill clean canes – Leave all trashes inthe field during cane loading andhandling. Trashes include cane tops,dried leaves and stalks, bull shoots,weeds, roots and soil particles. Extra costis paid for trashes that lower sugarrendement.

Ratooning – about P250.00/ha cane besaved when cutting canes close to the ground,due to the skipping of stubble shaving. By trashfarming, another P1,050 can be saved due to

lesser frequency of weeding and cultivation.

By adopting SRA’s recommendations ingrowing sugarcane from planting to harvesting, atotal of P42,000 and P29,000 are needed forplant and ratoon crop, respectively. Followingthe suggested cost reduction measures couldreduce this up to P7,000.00 per hectare. (compiled by rgentima)





New MS Graduates for SRA-LGAREC

SRA-LGAREC recently produced twoMaster of Science Degree holders, GrignionL. Rosales and Rimmon T. Armones.

Mr. GrignionL. Rosalesgraduated onFebruary 2004 withthe degree ofMaster of Sciencein Management of

Agro-EcologicalKnowledge andSocial Change

(MAKS) from Wageningen University in TheNetherlands. The MS degree is a hybridstudy between the technical and socialsciences. The Netherlands FellowshipProgram (NFP) financed his 18 monthsstudy, which started on September 2002.

His graduate thesis entitled “Until theBell Rings – Perspectives of AgrarianReform Beneficiaries on SugarcaneFarming: La Carlota Mill District, NegrosOccidental, Philippines” was conductedamong beneficiaries of the Comprehensive

Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).The study was conceptualized as a

contribution to the improvement of thesugarcane technology transfer and adoptionin the context of agrarian beneficiaries.Focusing on small-scale sugarcane farmershe was able to acquire valuable informationon farmers’ perception, which is found toaffect valuation of sugarcane productiontechnologies, and the eventual decision toadopt or reject the same. It also included thesupport system and the effects of various

contexts in agrarian reformed areas and howthese are translated into farming practices.

His findings reiterated that lowsugarcane production is not due to lack ofknowledge on sugarcane production butrather on limited access to production inputs,resources and a level playing field toarticulate farmers’ needs and localknowledge.

Mr. Rimmon T.Armones, on theother hand,graduated on April24, 2004 with thedegree Master ofScience in PlantBreeding at theUniversity of thePhilippines Los

Baños that was made possible through ascholarship grant given by PCARRD andvaluable support from SRA.

His graduate thesis entitled “AmplifiedFragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ofGenetic Variability in Selected Philippine

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum , L.)Breeding Materials” was considered one ofthe pioneering molecular studies onsugarcane in the Philippines. The study wasconducted at the Institute of Plant Breeding,UPLB and was funded by PCARRD,PHILSURIN and IPB. The results of his studywill be utilized as one of the bases forselection of parental clones and in theprediction of hybrid performance in theSugarcane Variety Improvement Program(SVIP) of SRA. (glrosales/rtarmones)

2004 SUMMER FARMPRACTICE

As member-agency of the La GranjaAgricultural Research and Development Center(LGARDC), SRA-LGAREC involved its technicaland extension personnel in training students fromdifferent agricultural colleges and universities inWestern Visayas. The students were trained fora month, during the summer break, throughactual exposure in the field complementing theknowledge they acquire in the classrooms.

At SRA-LGAREC, topics on sugarcanegrowing were provided to the students in the formof lectures, field and laboratory works.

This year’s Summer Farm Practice startedon April 19 and ended on May 21. The batch wascomposed of 26 students from the University ofNegros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) and 5students from La Carlota City College (LCCC).(rgentima)

compilation march to may2004

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