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Archives
Sep 1-30, 2003
Potential of 'Vizcaya
oranges'
Dr. Solsoloy represents BAR in citrus forum
by Rita T. dela Cruz
The Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (MVMPC) conducted a citrus forum to discuss
the potential and competitive advantage of the ‘Vizcaya
oranges’ in the citrus industry at the Malabing
Valley Training Center, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, 6 September
2003.
A cooperative of farmer members,
the MVMPC is instrumental in implementing poverty alleviation
and people empowerment projects in their community through
its partnership with the provincial government. Recently,
the Coop won the Most Outstanding Coop-LGU Partnership
Award for 2003 (national level). This is a yearly event
sponsored by the office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel
Jr. and five other agencies to recognize the contribution
of MVMPC’s contribution to boost the economic
production of the community.
Representing the Bureau of AAgricultural
Research (BAR) was Dr. Teodoro Solsoloy, scientist I
and technical adviser on programs in the forum.
In his speech, he emphasized the
importance of citrus as a commercial fruit in the country.
He mentioned that although the country is focusing its
production mainly on calamondin and pummelo in terms
of the area of production, farmers must also look into
the possibility of producing other citrus varieties
that may have an edge in the world market. Since Nueva
Vizcaya is becoming known for its sweet ‘Vizcaya
oranges’ he reckoned that this might give a boost
to the industry.
In terms of our national production,
citrus ranks fourth—next to banana, mango, and
pineapple. The country is exporting citrus (in all forms)
next to banana, pineapple, mangoes, and papaya. If area
for production is increased, the country could further
boost its yield and export more of these fruits.
He mentioned that one of the daunting
problems in the citrus industry aside from the low production
and pests and diseases is postharvest and handling.
He mentioned that solving this problem strengthens the
stand of the citrus industry. The key to good postharvest
handling is careful harvesting. The quality of perishable
foods is achieved from the moment they are picked or
harvested. From this point, farmers should maintain
postharvest conditions so that deterioration is minimized,
and quality is preserved at its best. He stressed the
importance of having high-tech equipment and necessary
facilities to improve the postharvest handling of fruits.
A lot of produce are wasted if not properly handled
after harvest.
Other attendees include: Gilbert
Cumila, chairman of the Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose
Cooperative, Mr. Alfonso Namujhe III owner of the Namujhe
Farms, Dr. Edralina Serrano, director of Postharvest
Training and Research Center (PHTRC), and Dir. Gumersindo
Lasam, regional executive director of DA-Region 2. This
activity is partly sponsored by BAR. 
September 1-30 2003 Articles:
:: RP, IRRI hold workplan meeting
:: DA establishes DAGISNet; BAR technical adviser present potential
:: Dr. Solsoloy represents BAR in citrus forum
:: Functional foods seminar held
:: Crossing boundaries to save indigenous crops
:: Healthy oil?
:: Coconut flour form sapal; cheap and nutritious
:: BAR holds AFRDIS joint review meeting
::: More September 2003 articles :::
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