Center for Rural Technology Development
 
technologies

C. OTHER AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES/ COMMODITIES

1. Ornamentals and Landscaping Species

With the increasing demand for orchids, chrysanthemum, anthurium, poinsettia, and other landscaping plants, CRTD implements the projects to demonstrate the technical feasibility and profitability of the mentioned commodities. In its 500 mē area, a shaded house was built to maintain and propagate the plant species for commercial market.

2. Fruit Crops Projects

It was only recently that production of coconut for shoot (ubod) was recognized in the country. Ubod is used as an ingredient to various dishes, the most common of which is a Filipino delicacy called "lumpia" or spring roll. Others call it the "millionaire's cabbage". CRTD started this project in 1997. In shoot production, income could be expected in no more than two years.

CRTD also grows Sinta Papaya, the first Philippine-bred hybrid papaya. This is a semi-dwarf, high-yielding variety that is moderately resistant to Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV).

3. Vegetable Production Projects

CRTD has long realized that vegetable production provides immediate income for farmers due to crop's short gestation period. It is in this premise that growing vegetables, either as stand-alone crops or intercrops to fruit trees and other perennial crops, becomes advantageous to farmers. The projects aim to demonstrate appropriate and viable technologies of highly marketable vegetables to provide additional income to farmers. The Center also entered into a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) of the University of the Philippines at Los Baņos in the production of quality vegetable seeds.

4. Tilapia Hatchery and Fattening

The Center implements the Tilapia Hatchery and Fattening Project to assure the availability and regular supply of quality tilapia stocks that can be produced through inland fishery. This project is being implemented in coordination with partner organizations like the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). The project area has been expanded to 1.4 hectares, supplying the fish farmers within and outside Laguna.

5. Kabir Chicken Production

CRTD saw the need to improve the Philippine Native Chicken productivity through breeding research, an aspect that has been practically neglected. To hasten the growth of chicks and to increase egg production, the Center decided to upgrade the native birds by using exotic stocks such as the Purebred Israeli Kabirs to become sources of breeding stocks. The Kabir chickens are dual- purpose chickens suited for meat and egg production. They are also considered as range chickens and can subsist even on simple management procedures.

6. Dairy Cattle Project

This project is being implemented in partnership with the Department of Agriculture- National Dairy Authority (DA-NDA). At present, CRTD maintains four (4) Australian Friesian-Sahiwal (AFS) and two (2) Holstein Sahiwal (HS) dairy stocks for its operation in addition to the five (5) dairy cows of BUKHAY 1. The project aims to demonstrate to small dairy cattle raisers and farmer groups the proper techniques of dairy cattle stockmanship.

7. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is the process of producing organic fertilizers through the use of earthworms (vermins)- Eudrilus euginae. This project is being implemented to ensure availability of organic fertilizers for vegetables, ornamentals, and fruit crops projects of the Center. Aside from compost, vermins are also produced which are potential source of protein feeds for fish and poultry.