BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

IPB recommends organic farming for vegetables
by Rita T. dela Cruz

April-June 2001
Volume 3 No. 2

For the past years, the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) through funding support from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has been conducting several varietal trials for organic vegetable production. The main purpose is to enable the Institute to recommend varieties of vegetables suited for organic farming.

What is organic vegetable production?
Organic vegetable production is a system based on the principle of taking care of nature and respecting all life forms. It is a progressing industry not only in the Philippines but mostly in America and Europe. This agricultural practice is health-wise and cost-effective since it does not use synthetic chemicals.

Some of the methods used in organic vegetable production include: organic fertilizer (using animal manure or compost as growing aids); intercropping (planting different types of plants); repellants (plants that release strong scents to fend off pests); attractants (plants that appeal to natural enemies); crop rotation (planting legumes after harvesting the main crops to enhance the soil with nitrogen); and mulching (using hay or plastic to retain soil moisture, minimize the growth of weeds, and to nurture the soil from extreme weathers).

IPB identified 11 kinds of vegetables suitable for organic vegetable production. These include eggplant, pepper, tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, string beans, bush beans, cowpea, Baguio beans, and bunching onions.

Eggplant
Eggplant is one of the most planted and valuable among vegetable crops. It is the most consumed vegetable among Filipino households, particularly those belonging to the lower income bracket.

IPB recommended three eggplant varieties suited for organic production. These are: Concepcion (circular and greenish with white stripes); 455 (long and purple); 98-452 (long and purple); and Thep (long and greenish).

Pepper has a high demand and potential in the local market.
Among its recommended varieties for organic production are: C1550 (greenish, slightly-spiced); Inokra (greenish, non-spiced); 99-232 (green; spicy) and; Hp 21(green, slender, non-spiced).

Tomato
This crop is third in terms of value of production. Tomato is the top major export crop of the country. Among the recommended varieties are: Prestige (Del Monte type, reddish, thick and plump); Tropic boy (salad type, circular, the side part is greenish) and; 99-234 (Del Monte type, plump).

Cauliflower
This is a popular crucifer grown mainly in cooler areas. Among the recommended varieties include: 98-323 (whitish, narrow) and; Tsx-97501 (yellowish, broad).

Cabbage
In terms of value of vegetable production, cabbage ranked eighth with 8.2% average annual growth. Varieties recommended for organic production are: Alex (green, flat-round) and; Tropical King (green, flat-round).

Lettuce
This is a semi-temperate vegetable which is popularly used in vegetable salad. Local varieties common in the country are the crisphead types that include the green and the red iceberg varieties. Other recommended varieties are: President (green, heading) and Kaiser (green, heading).

String bean
This crop is very popular in backyard farming. Recommended varieties include: 228-1(green, long); CSL-19 (greenish, long); and UPL PS1 (green, long).

Bush bean
Recommended varieties are: CBD 53-2 (green) and UPLB S3 (slightly greenish).

Cowpea
Varieties for organic production include: CES 26-1 (green) and; CCD 10-1 (green).

Baguio beans
The only variety that IPB recommends for organic production is the B-21.

Bunching onions
Bunching onions may be produced from immature, thickly planted white onion varieties and from commonly known Japanese bunching types. Green bunching onions are known by several names depending on the region of the country. Some of the names used are "scallions," "green onions," and "spring onions."

All these terms can be used for immature onions. However, the "green bunching onion" sold in stores today is most likely a different species from the bulb onion. On the other hand, the most common green onions at present are Allium fistulosum.

The only variety of the bunching onion that is recommended for organic production is the aqua green.

(For more information, please contact Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang, Vegetable RDE Network Team Leader, Vegetable Crops Division, Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, UPLB, College 4031 Laguna or call at Tel. No. (049) 536 2298; 536-2697 or 536 3304 local 217 or Fax No. (049) 536-3438)