Volume 11 Issue No. 7 A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research JULY 2010

BINHI AWARDEE (2007)Agricultural Newsletter of the Year

hronicleCVisit our official website at http://www.bar.gov.ph

ISSN 1655-3942

RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Ave.,cor. Elliptical Rd.Diliman, Quezon City 1104PHILIPPINES

Entered as second class mail at the Quezon City Central Post Office under permit no. 753-01 NCR

NEWS

FLORENDO AWARDEE (2003)Outstanding Information Tool for Print

BARBUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

BAR hronicleCBUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

ISO 9001:2000 New DA chief is organic agri supporter..............................1

Alcala swears in 6 DA officials............................................2

Increasing use of locally-available plants..........................3

Project on quail raising shows promising results............4

Ensure year round, high-value vegetables........................6

Adlai: Seen as alternative to rice and corn........................8

NAST focuses on achieving Millennium............................9

BAR, BPI look into commercial profit of raising..............11

Make Visayas self-sufficient in corn.................................12

Davao mangoes to reach Australia soon.........................13

Bignay: Pinoy’s posh red wine.........................................14

BAR sends researchers to UC Davis...............................16

BINHI AWARDEE (2009)

turn to page 7

The former representative of the2nd district of Quezon, ProcesoJ. Alcala, was appointed new

chief of the Department of Agriculture(DA). This was made official in abrief turnover ceremony held on 5July 2010 at the DA Central Office inDiliman, Quezon City with outgoingDA Secretary Bernie G. Fondevillaofficially passing the leadership to hissuccessor.

Secretary Alcala or simply“Procy" as he is fondly called,delivered his message to theemployees of DA and vowed tomaintain a transparent leadership. Heencouraged all DA officials andemployees to provide efficient serviceand adequate support to small farmersand fisherfolk so that they can earnincome and produce enough food forall.

As a two-term congressmanin Quezon and vice chair of the HouseCommittee on Agriculture and Food,Alcala authored bills that benefittedboth the agriculture and environment

New DA chief is organic agri supporter

PHOTOS: NDELROSARIO III

sectors. He was instrumental in thepassage of the Organic Agricultural Actof 2010 (RA10068) and the MountsBanahaw-San Cristobal ProtectedLandscape Act (RA2718). He was a co-author of the Climate Change Act (RA9729) and the Expanded SeniorCitizens Act (RA 9994). He alsosponsored the filing and eventualenactment in the House ofRepresentatives of the Hazardous andRadioactive Waste Management Act.

One of his important initiativesis the establishment of the

which serves as a tradingpost for vegetables and other farmproducts in the province. The facilityaims to reduce the involvement ofmiddlemen in the marketing chain byproviding farmers a venue to sell theirproducts directly to the consumers thusproviding higher income for them. Thetrading post made farm crops accessibleto buyers and consumers who comefrom as far as Bicol, Batangas, Laguna,and Metro Manila.

“SentrongPamilihan ng Produktong Agrikulturasa Quezon”

His other agri-relatedinitiatives included the rehabilitationof postharvest facilities in Quezon andthe establishment of a scholarshipprogram for students who want topursue an education in agriculture.

Believing that the sustainableway to farming is through organicfarming, Alacala's core advocacy isgeared toward organic agriculture. Inrelation to solid waste management, heinitiated the promotion of organic

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research(DA-BAR), in partnership with the

GlobeTek Science Foundation, recentlysent four researchers and researchmanagers from the University of thePhilippines Los Baños (UPLB), Bureau ofFisheries and Aquatic Resources-NationalFisheries Research and DevelopmentInstitute (BFAR-NFRDI) and DA-BAR tothe University of California (UC) Davisfor a training program on biotechnology.

The training program was held inJuly-August 2010 and was composed oftwo-parts. The first part, a formal trainingon Proteomics and Flow Cytometry, wasconducted at the UC Davis campus whichgave the participants a theoretical

Outgoing DA Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla (right) hands over the flag to incoming Sec. Proceso J. Alcala (left) signifying the change in leadership.

BAR sends researchers to UCDavis biotechnology training

background on proteomics and flowcytometry as biotechnology tools andtheir applications in agriculture andfisheries. Part two of the trainingprogram was a combination oflaboratory lessons and hands-on trainingon laboratory procedures and other basicbiotechnology tools such as mammaliancell culture, DNA analysis,immunological techniques, and others.These were done at University ofCalifornia Los Angeles (UCLA) and atthe GlobeTek Science Foundationlaboratories.

The trainees, Norvida Gatdulaof BFAR-NFRDI, Ma. Cecilia Reamilloof UPLB, and Carmencita Kagaoan andSalvacion Ritual of DA-BAR were also

oriented on the potential applications ofthese tools by Dr. Samuel Bernal,professor emeritus at UCLA and leadscientist of the GlobeTek ScienceFoundation.

The training is part of abiotechnology program implemented bythe GlobeTek Science Foundation(formerly Pacific Rim Foundation forAdvanced Technology Transfers, Inc.)which aims to help the Philippinesmaximize the use of biotechnologyadvances for the country's agriculturesector.

Potential applications of theprocedures and tools learned by thetrainees include analysis of GMOs,genetic characterization of species andvariant organisms, identification ofgenetic mutations for genomiccharacterization, genetic expression andgenetic products, and identification ofgenetic mutations, variants and manymore. A seminar on these biotech toolsand their applications will be conductedat BAR to re-echo what has been learnedfrom the training program for the benefitof the DA R&D staff and other localresearchers. ### (Carmencita V.Kagaoan, PhD)

Researchers from the Philippines learn lessonsand hands-on training on laboratoryprocedures and other basic biotechnologytools done at UCLA and at the GlobeTekScience Foundation laboratory. In the photoare: Dr. Carmencita Kagaoan (2nd from left) andSalvacion Ritual (left) of BAR.

What’s inside...

PHOTO COURTESY: SRITUAL

NEWS FEATURE

2 BAR hronicleC July 2010 Issue 15BAR hronicleC

BAR hronicleCBUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

ISO 9001:2000

Managing Editor/Layout:Consulting Editor:Writers:

Reproduction/Printing:Photography:Circulation:ACD Head:Adviser:

Rita T. dela CruzVictoriano B. GuiamMa. Eloisa H. Aquino, Carmencita V. Kagaoan, PhDRita T. dela Cruz,

Ricardo G. Bernardo and Anthony A. ConstantinoNicanor B. del Rosario III, Ricardo G. Bernardo, Rita dela CruzVictoria G. RamosVictoriano B. GuiamNicomedes P. Eleazar, PhD, CESO IV

Raymund Patrick A. LesacaMiko Jazmine J. Mojica, Amavel A. Velasco

ISSN 1655-3942Copyright Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture 2010.For subscription and inquiries please contact us: Tel. Nos +63 (2) 928-8505, 928-8624, 920-0234local numbers 3011, 3026, 3027 with email at:Articles are also available online, visit

acd@bar.gov.ph.http://www.bar.gov.ph

BAR CHRONICLE is published monthly by the

Applied Communication Division of the Department

of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research,

RDMIC Building, Visayas Avenue, cor. Elliptical

Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1104 Philippines.

This publication provides regular updates on DA-

BAR’s activities as the country’s national coordinator

for agriculture and fisheries R&D. It also highlights

features and news articles concerning NaRDSAF-

member institutions.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Alacala swears in 6 DA officials

As the Department of Agriculture(DA) anticipates the next evolutionof the agriculture and fisheries

development in the country after recentlyushering in newly-appointed AgricultureSecretary Proceso Alcala at its helm, DAwelcomed another batch of key officialswho will help realize and achieve its goals.

The three new appointees, namely:Undersecretary Antonio Fleta forAdministration and Finance, UndersecretaryClaron Alcantara also chief of staff at theOffice of the Secretary, and DirectorLeandro Gazmin of the Agribusiness andMarketing Assistance Service (AMAS),were sworn in to office by Secretary Alcalaon 3 August 2010 at the DA Central Officein Diliman, Quezon City. They were joinedin by three re-appointees, namely:Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano for Policy,Planning, Research and Regulation,Undersecretary Joel Rudinas for FieldOperations, and Undersecretary Bernadette

PHOTO: ALAN JAY JACALAN/DA-INFO SERVICE

Romulo-Puyat for Special Concerns.Secretary Alcala said that the six

officials form part of the first batch of thenew DA management team whom hetrusts to pursue the food security programof the government with him.

Alcala said. He vowed earlier to end riceimports by 2013.

According to the DA-Agricultureand Fisheries Information Service (DA-AFIS), Fleta previously held the posts ofundersecretary and executive director ofthe Coordinating Council for PrivateSector Participation under the Office ofthe President from 2000 to 2001.

An accountant-banker, hefinished the advanced bankingmanagement program at the AsianInstitute of Management (AIM) in 1988,

“Sila ang ilan sa ating magigingkatuwang upang isulong ang minimithi niPangulong Aquino na kasapatan sapagkain, lalong-lalo (na) sa bigas,”

and an advanced management program atthe Wharton School of Business,University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 1994.He also served as a consultant at EquitablePCI Bank, and was a previous president ofthe Far East Savings Bank.

Alcantara, meanwhile, has workedat the Presidential Management Staff sincePresident Corazon Aquino's time, andthereafter as chief of staff of SecretaryAlcala, during his term at the House ofRepresentatives. He finished his BS Degreein Economics at the University of thePhilippines (UP) in 1987, and Masters inDevelopment Management at AIM in 1997.

The youngest of the newappointees, Gazmin, is a UP mechanicalengineering graduate and an organicfarming advocate. He was previouslyinvolved in a joint project on commercialSNAP hydroponics with the Institute ofPlant Breeding in UP Los Baños. ###(Miko Jazmine J. Mojica)

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) swears in six DA officials (L-R): Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as usec for Special Concerns; Dr. Segfredo Serrano as usec for Policy,Planning, Research and Regulation; Joel Rudinas as usec for Field Operations; Antonio Fleta as usec for Administration and Finance; Claron Alcantara as usec and chief ofstaff; and Leandro Gazmin as director of the DA-AMAS.

and represents red wine andmango, which is known worldwide forits sweet taste and good aroma, for thewhite wine,” she said.

( L.)could be easily mistaken for wild berriesor even grapes based on the appearanceof its fruits but it is none of these. Itcomes from the spurge family( ). With its ovoid-shapedfruits clustered together in a bunch,

is native to the Philippines andoften grows in the mountains with atropical climate. Each bunch consists of30-40 fruits that become colorful due totheir uneven ripening. Some are paleyellowish-green, pale yellow, bright redand/or dark red, nearly black when ripe.Fruits are harvested from June toSeptember.

The skin of is thin buttough. Its ripe fruits yield an abundanceof bright-red juice which leaves a brightpurple stain on the fingers when crushed.The taste of y fruit is both acidicand slightly sweet when fully ripe. Itsdistinct aroma and smooth flavor make itan excellent substrate for red wine.

According to Dr. Dizon, “is considered a minor fruit but byutilizing it as a raw material for wine, weare putting high demand and value to itwhile at the same time promoting it asour home-grown fruit. And with theincreasing awareness on the healthbenefits of red wine, or wine for thatmatter, we are giving the consumers analternative to the usual, imported wines.”

Most wine drinkers, accordingto Dr. Dizon, buy wine mainly for healthreasons. “They have heard of thehealthful benefits of drinking wine,particularly red wine. It is good not onlyfor old people but for the young ones, inmoderation, of course.”

Specifically for wine, ithas phytochemicals and flavonoidsincluding catechin, proyanidins, B1 andB2. A study suggests that the fruits ofbignay possibly contain compounds withpotential cytotoxic activity andmethanolic properties.

As for health benefits, drinkingwine is said to reduce the

incidence of coronary heart disease dueto its antioxidant properties. The alcohol

duhat

Bignay Antidesma bunius

Euphorbiaceae

bignay

bignay

bigna

bignay

bignay

bignay

Grapelike

Healthful benefits

bignay

content prevents the deposition of fatsinside the arteries, reducing theincidence of orarteriosclerotic vascular disease (orASVD) which is a condition in whichan artery wall thickens as the result of abuild-up of fatty materials such ascholesterol. It was also reported that itcan reduce cancer cells.

Dr. Dizon also revealed thatthere are a lot of benefits from drinkingbignay wine. She advised to drink redwine during meal times, just like theFrench, because it can aid in thedigestion of food.

Other benefits from consumingwines, specifically, red wines, is that itcan treat anorexia nervosa (loss ofappetite). The alcohol in red wine canstimulate gastric juice secretion and,hence, can stimulate the appetite. It alsoworks against food poisoning sincealcohol can wipe out bacteria in thestomach thus, preventing theirproliferation and possiblegastroenteritis.

The great French chemist andmicrobiologist, Louis Pasteur, said thatwine is one of the most healthfulbeverages compared to other drinks. Itserves as stomach disinfectant andcontains 500 calories which can beutilized efficiently by our body withoutcausing an ounce of increase in weight,hence, the French Paradox. Drinkingred wine can also reduce anxiety andtension because alcohol is considered amild natural tranquilliser.

In product marketing, looksmatter. For the wine industry,packaging and labelling serve as thesilent salesman. Hence, appropriatewine packaging design is crucial—fromthe types of bottle and cap used downto the nitty-gritty details of label design.As the famous line goes: “It's what's onthe outside...”

One of the importantobjectives of the BAR-UPLB project ontropical wine is to improve thepackaging design that will promoteboth product stability and marketviability. Since the project started, thetropical wines developed by the FoodScience Cluster of UPLB have beengiven various packaging designs beforethese reached the current “posh-,elegant-looking” packaging.

atherosclerosis

Packaged to perfection

“We packaged our wines afterdeveloping the label design. We havealso tested our products acceptability tothe consumers and the profitability ofthis project,” narrated Dr. Dizon.

In terms of consumers'acceptability, the group of Dr. Dizonconducted a survey around UPLBrepresenting almost all units/departmentsand results showed that out of the threewines (mango, and ),is the most widely accepted in terms oftaste. Their study also showed thatconsumers buy wines mainly for healthreasons.

“As of now, we have alreadyprepared the operational manual forprocessing of fruit wines, we also haveIEC materials which we use forextension activities. We have alreadyestablished all the processing parametersfor wine making specifically for ,

, and mango. For interestedtechnology takers or adopters, we canconduct trainings and seminars andprovide other technical support to theprivate individuals who are interested inwine-making,” explained Dr. Dizon.

-----------

duhat bignay bignay

duhatbignay

For more information, please contact:Dr. Erlinda I. Dizondirector, Institute of Food Science and Technology(IFST), University of the Philippines Los Baños(UPLB), College, Laguna Tel. Nos (049) 536-2312Email: ei_dizon@yahoo.com

(L-R) Wines from bignay, mango and duhatdeveloped and packaged by UPLB Food Cluster.

July 2010 Issue

NEWSFEATURE

14 3BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC

To increase the utilization of locally-available plantsin the country, researchers from the Regional FoodProcessing and Preservation Center of the

Department of Agriculture-RFU 9 (DA-RFU 9) and theWestern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center(WESMIARC) in Zamboanga Sibugay, is conducting astudy to develop and package locally-available plants forcommercialization. The project titled, “Development andPromotion of Locally-Available Botanical Plants” entailsthe assessment of the market potential and profitability ofthe products, and capability building in product promotionand responding to end-user expectations.

“We want to help farmers in the rural areasparticularly the low-income earners who cannot afford tobuy medicines,” said Erlinda G. Gadon, project leader.Gadon will soon conduct several training for farmers, theirhousewives, and out-of-school youth on botanical plants(plants that have herbal applications) utilization andprocessing (food and herbal medicine).

Part of the study includes preparing various juiceconcentrates utilizing botanical plants such as(leaves), , , and . Meanwhile,yerba buena, miracle leaf, , , and

will be used for tea preparations. According tothe project proponents, these plants have beenscientifically-proven to possess medical and therapeuticproperties aside from food value.

The study was funded under the project“Technology Management for Competitive Agriculture andFisheries Sectors” of the Bureau of Agricultural Research(BAR) and the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council(NAFC), through the Japan Official DevelopmentAssistance's (ODA) - KR2 Program Grant Assistance forUnderprivileged Farmers.

The BAR-NAFC project aims to speed up thetransfer of mature technologies for farmers' and fishers'uses for increased productivity, and generation of incomethrough commercialization of these technologies, thus,transforming agriculture and fisheries into market-drivensectors.

The project's products are now undergoing tests bythe Department of Science and Technology (DOST) andthe University of Philippines Diliman (UPD).

malunggaylemon grass calamansi yacon

lagundi gota kola banaba,malunggay

### (Ma.Eloisa H. Aquino)

Increasing use of locally-available plants in Reg.9

Part of the study includes preparing various juice concentratesand tea preparations using these indigenous plants. These plantshave been scientifically-proven to possess medical andtherapeutic properties aside from food value according to study.

Funded under the project, “Technology Management for Competitive Agriculture and FisheriesSectors” of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the National Agriculture and

Fisheries Council (NAFC), through the Japan Official Development Assistance's (ODA) -

, the project entails the assessmentof the market potential and profitability of the products, and capability building in productpromotion and responding to end-user expectations.

KR2Program Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers

There is a reason why France is awine-drinking country. In the“French Paradox”, Dr. Serge

Renaud, a scientist from BordeauxUniversity observed that French peoplesuffer a relatively low incidence ofcoronary heart disease, despite having adiet relatively rich in saturated fats. Heattributed it to drinking of red wine whichdecreases the incidence of cardiacdiseases. Red wine, he said, is rich inresveratrol, a phytoalexin which is heart-friendly.

In the Philippines, red wine isserved only during special occasions.And because we don't grow grapes here,all red wine is imported, hence it is quiteexpensive. But given the country'sabundance in tropical fruits, a group ofresearchers from the Food ScienceCluster, College of Agriculture of theUniversity of the Philippines Los Baños(UPLB) led by Dr. Erlinda I. Dizonrevived the idea of producing wine usinglocal fruits. “There is a large volume ofwine importation from other countries.

Pinoy's poshBignay: red wineStory and Photos by:RITA T. DELA CRUZ

Getting a share of the market for wineswould help our farmers and the localfood industries if we could just makeour own wine using our home-grownfruits,” Dr. Dizon explained.

This idea was realized in 2008through a project titled, “TechnologyCommercialization and Packaging ofWine from Selected Local Fruits” withfunding support from the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR) throughits National TechnologyCommercialization Program (NTCP).

The project sought to showcaseappropriately packaged and quality winefrom selected fruits and, eventually, toexpand the market for local fruit wines.

With results from previousstudies on wine-making, Dr. Dizonhoped to revalidate the processingparameters to produce quality wine fromthe laboratory scale to commercial scaleproduction and also to improve thepackaging of the products. “We aimed toestablish the quality assurance systemlike the HACCP, GMP, and SSOP forwine processing, evaluate themarketability and profitability ofproduction system, and enhance thecapability of the technology adopters,”she said.

The Philippines, being atropical country, has a wide array offruits. According to Dr. Dizon, thecountry has around 30 kinds of fruitswhich their group screened for wineprocessing. “Way back in 1983, we hadalready screened almost all of the localfruits and looked at their potentials forwine-making. Majority of them wereexcellent and suitable for wine-making.In fact, some are way better compared tograpes in terms of flavor and aroma. Outof those 30 different fruits that wescreened, and Carabaomango turned out to be excellentsubstrates for wine processing.

bignay, duhat,

Bignay

July 2010 Issue July 2010 Issue

PHOTOS: BAR ALBUM

Dr. Erlinda I. Dizon (inset) of the Instituteof Food Science and Technology, UPLBand project leader of the BAR-NTCPfunded project on tropical wines.

Bignay fruits and bignay wine

NEWS NEWS

4 13BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC

The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) funded a projecton quail production titled, “The

Economics and Impact Evaluation ofQuail Raising”, a 24-month undertakingconceptualized by the Bureau of AnimalIndustry-National Swine and PoultryResearch and Development Center (BAI-NSPRDC) based in Tiaong, Quezon.

The project aims toinstitutionalize quail raising in a village-level setting that involves other membersof the family in the production, and toprovide community members withadditional source of income.

In a research study conducted byBPI-NSPRDC, quail raising is one of themost promising livelihoods as thedemand for cheap eggs and meat is high,with no compromise to health benefits.Quail eggs and meat are also goodsources of protein.

According to NSPRDC, 100ready-to-lay quails are enough for afamily to earn an additional income ofabout PhP 1,000 a month from egg andmeat production.

Raising quails is easy and lessdemanding than chicken. For instance, aquail hen is ready to lay eggs after 41days with peak of laying on or about the

70 day with laying percentage declining

on the 10 month. Its eggs hatch in 16days. Quail are easy to raise and itshousing requirement is not ascomplicated as that for chicken. A

foot high cage can already house 250-300 layers. And if one uses localmaterials like bamboo, the cost rangesfrom, P1,000 to P1,500 only.

Quail, locally known as isa small and tailless bird found in manyparts of Asia. It belongs to the

family under the order of. As commercial birds, quails

require minimal space, time, andinvestment. Moreover, they are quickgrowers, fast multipliers, and veryefficient in converting feeds to egg andmeat (Capitan, 1995). Quails, unlikeother fowl, are not delicate birds. These

th

th

4 x 8 x1

pugo,

PhasianidesGalliformes

Project on quail raisingshows promising results

birds do not easily contract fowldiseases common to poultry, especiallychickens.

There is a demand for quaileggs and meat that marketing is notsomething to be worried about. Instreets, stores, restaurants, hotels, andbars, quail eggs and meat are in greatdemand. Quail eggs can be sold fresh,boiled, salted, pickled, or as .Quail meat can be served barbecued,fried, as or in the otherways that chicken is also cooked. Somereputable bakeries use quail eggs as aningredient in baking and in making

.Quail raising in the country is

promising. This can be started with amuch lower capital investment ascompared to chicken and ducks. It alsooffers quick financial cycles that lead toquicker returns. The average cost perchick ranges from PhP23 to PhP25.

Recognizing the potential ofquail farming in providing addedincome and opportunity for poultryfarmers, BAR supported the objective

“balut”

adobo, ginataan

leche flan

The project at a glance

and concept of quail asproposed by BAI-NSPRDC. Thebenefits derived from raising hasby far been impressive based on thetestimonies of the farmer-cooperators.

The project started in 2009 andwas piloted in barangays Pinagdanlayanand San Mateo in Dolores, Quezon andin some barangays of Tagkawayan,Quezon.

Each of 15 farmer-beneficiariesfrom the identified areas received 300ready-to-lay quails. The recipientsunderwent a one-day seminar in quailmanagement for better understandingand appreciation of the project. Theother family members like the mothersand their children pitched in byproviding extra labor like giving feeds,providing water to the layers, andselling the products.

Qualified recipients areselected in cooperation with theMunicipal Agricultural Office (MAO).Each of the recipients were required tomake a ft. high cagethat can house 250-300 layers. A one-time assistance of a 20 kg layingcrumble was also given to each recipient

raising

quail

4 feet x 8 feet x 1

Fresh mangoe from Davao del Surwill now be accepted by theAustralian government, said in a

report submitted to DepartmentAgriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J.Alcala in a report from Bureau of PlantIndustry (BPI) Director Clarito M.Baron.

The Biosecurity AustraliaAdvisory announced the extension ofexisting policy for the importation offresh mango fruits from the Philippinesand the inclusion of other additional

Davao mangoes to reach Australia soon

growing areas in Davao del Sur in theisland of Mindanao.

According to Dir. Baron,Australia has existing policy for theimportation of grouch mango fruitfrom the Philippine which only allowsimports from Guimaras Island. Thecountry has likewise, requested theextension of the market access for freshmangoes fruits from Davao del Sur asadditional growing area.

BPI head said BiosecurityAustralia has prepared a report drawing

from the existing policies for freshmango fruits from India, Haiti, Mexico,the Philippines (principally GuimarasIsland in Visayas) and Taiwan taking alsointo considerations the pests.

The report added the considerationof existing commercial mangoproduction practices in Davao del Sur inconjunction with existing policies,assessment of the potential for entry,establishment, spread and consequencesassociation with quarantine pests anddiseases of mango fruits andrecommended the quarantine measuresbeing implemented at Guimaras Island.

This, according to Barron, is aproduct of long-term cleanliness policyand quarantine practices that BPI isimplementing coupled with stringentcrop management measures which isnow being done in Davao del Sur.

Before the start of the trade,Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) willvisit mango production areas in theDavao del Sur to audit the operationalprocedures, treatment facilities, and areafreedom protocols before mangoes canbe exported to Australia.

Quarantine measuresrecommended for mangoes include: 1)recognition and maintenance of pest-freeareas, 2) pre-export phytosanitarycertification by BPI and on-arrivalinspection by BSG, 3) pre-export vaporheat treatment, and 4) operationalsystems to maintain and verifyphytosanitary status. ### (DA PressRelease)

cabbage, cauliflower, carrots andsweet pea (chicharo) — collectivelyknown as 'chopsuey' vegetables — incool, hilly areas in Cebu, and otherparts in the region.

Traditionally, Cebu farmersraise eggplant, tomato, bitter gourdor ampalaya, string beans and squashor also known as 'pinakbet'vegetables.

He said diversifying intosemi-temperate vegetables could bedone, as shown successfully byfarmers in Quezon province.

Further, he suggested thatshould practice and adopt aprogressive planting schedule so asto avoid oversupply during harvest,and thus enable them to get better

MAKE VISAYAS...from page 12prices for their vegetables, This isdone by planting on a weekly basisa portion of the total farm area, say,one-fourth to one-half hectare.Harvest would then be done everyother week, too.

He said DA will also assistthem in marketing their products,with the setting up of farm tradingcenters in strategic areas in thecountry.

Among those who attendedthe forum were Cebu Vice-Governor Vicente Sanchez, Jr.,Msgr. Rommel Kintanar of theArchdiocese of Cebu, CCFS ChairFrancisco Fernandez, Cebu CityCouncilor Hilario Davide III, DARegion 7 Dir. Ricardo Oblena, andDA-BFAR 7 Dir. Andres Bojos. ###(DA-Info Service)

Quail raising is one of the most promisingsources of livelihood as the demand forcheap eggs and meat is high, with nocompromise to health benefits.

PHOTOS: RDELACRUZ

PHOTOS: BAR ALBUM

July 2010 Issue July 2010 Issue

One of Philippines’ export champions, Carabao mangoes.

NEWS NEWS

BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC12 5

once the animals were received.As a repayment, the recipients

must pay the producers of quail layersafter six months.

Based on estimates, andassuming that there is no mortality, aquail farmer can augment his incomewith an additional PhP4,800 for every300 quails that he raises.

Siblings, Petronilo Manalo andPatricia Manalo, combined their layersand saved their earnings, and after fivemonths, they bought a second-handvehicle. Now the vehicle is being usedto deliver the harvested eggs and astransportation service for schoolchildren. The amount paid to buy thevehicle came from the earnings of eggsthat they sold over five months alone.

Virginia Bautista of SanMateo, Dolores, Quezon delivers herharvested fresh eggs to her neighbors.Everyday, she earns PhP130-PhP150.Eight hundred (800) ready-to-lay quails

Personal testimonies

have been added to the currentbreeders to replace the unwantedfemales or culls. If the trend ofincome continues, she will eventuallyreach a daily income of PhP800.

Cristopher Baliza ofTagkawayan, Quezon lives near thecoastal area and he constructed his all-bamboo quail cage above the water.

Petronilo Manaloand the second-hand vehicle hebought fromraising quails.

His layers have already reached the peakof 280 eggs in a day. Currently, hisrecord of production ranges from 250 to260 eggs daily. The quail cage has nofoul smell because sea water washes theunderneath of the cage. The quails havenever contracted a disease and lookedvery healthy.

Edgardo Villanueva of Lagalag,Tiaong in Quezon was awarded 300ready-to-lay quails on 11 September2009. Today, the layers produce 140 to160 eggs a day. His wife sells the boiledeggs to school children and sometimescooks the quail eggs as . Theearnings are set aside by his wife assavings.

kwek- kwek

### (Patrick Raymund A.Lesaca)

----------References:1. Capitan, SS. 1995. Raise Quail for

Profit. Agriscope, June-July Issue, p.38-44.

2. Feasibility Study, NSPRDC3. Status Report submitted by NSPRDC

Virginia Bautistaof Dolores,Quezon showsher double layerquail cage thatshe built.

Based on estimates, andassuming that there is nomortality, a quail farmer canaugment his income with anadditional PhP4,800 for every300 quails that he raises.

NSPRDC for demonstration purposes tofarmers. This type of pig pen usedlocally-available materials such asbamboo, nipa, coco-lumber, and coconuthusk and coir dust as bedding. Onemodule of pig pen requires a floor areaof roughly sq.m.

A team from BAR’s

o validate and ascertain thedevelopment of the project and visitedthe farmer-cooperators in their respectiveareas to determine the progress of theproject.

Recently, BAR DirectorNicomedes P. Eleazar also visited theproject site with

Dr. Santiago narrated to themonitoring team that the identification ofcollaborating municipalities is dependenton the need of the locality for the project,environmental considerations andwillingness of the LGUs. These criteriaare of paramount importance to the

4 x 4Technology

Commercialization Unit (TCU)conducted project reconnaissance in May2010 t

Ms. Teresa Perez-Saniano, head of the Earthkeepers, oneof the recipients of the project.Earthkeepers is a non-governmentorganization based in Tiaong, Quezon.

success of the project. The farmercooperators, on the other hand, werechosen based on their capability andknowledge in swine raising in general.

The monitoring team noted thegood relationship between the projectproponents and farmer-cooperators.Native swine cages were wellmaintained. Feeds and alternate sources

of livestock were available. Moreimportantly, the conservation of nativepigs be already achieved. It isexpected that the project will boost theneeded stocks of native pigs whichwould be made available formultiplication and livelihoodproduction. ###(Patrick Raymund A.Lesaca)

Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar of BAR (3rd from left) and Ms. Teresa Perez-Saniano (2nd from right) ofEarthkeepers during BAR’s visit at the project site of native swine in Tiaong, Quezon.

BAR, BPI...from page 11

Let's forge stronger partnershipsto make Central Visayas self-sufficient in food, particularly

in white corn,” hence the challengetossed by Agriculture SecretaryProceso J. Alcala to about 650participants at a forum organized bythe Cebu Coalition for Food Security(CCFS), held at the College ofTechnological Sciences, in Cebu City.

“If we could increase theharvest of white corn, the region'smajor staple, to an average of threetons per hectare, then you would bemore than sufficient,” Alcala told theparticipants, composed of farmers,local government officials, non-government organization, leaders,organic farming advocates, membersof the clergy, and agri-fishery industrystakeholders.

“When achieved, we couldease the pressure on rice supply, andlessen our imports,” the DA chiefadded.

Make Visayas self-sufficient in corn ~ AlcalaThe current average yield of

corn in Central Visayas is less than oneton per hectare, according to the DARegion 7 corn program group.

Some 164,770 hectares areplanted to corn in Central Visayas,composed of the four provinces ofBohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, andSiquijor.

Of the total, 95 percent or157,110 hectares are devoted to whitecorn for food, and the rest (5 percent or7,660 hectares) is planted to yellowcorn for feed.

Some of the corn areas areirrigated, and thus planted twice a year.Hence, in 2009 the region's total cornarea harvested reached 231,473hectares, producing a harvest of186,479 tons of both white and yellowcorn, for a measly average of 806 kilosper hectare.

On the demand side, CentralVisayas has a total population of 6.61million as of 2009, with a per capita

consumption of roughly 44.8kilograms of white corn, for a totaldemand of 296,128 tons.

With a three-ton averageyield from a little over 230,000hectares, Central Visayas couldproduce at least 690,000 tonsyearly, which is more than twice thecurrent corn consumption. Theregion could then ship their surplusto other regions in the Visayas andMindanao.

Secretary Alcala said thethree-ton average harvest could beachieved by providing farmers theright farm inputs such as high-yielding and pest-resistant whitecorn varieties, and adoption ofmodern technologies, combinedwith organic farming.

During the forum, he alsoencouraged vegetable farmers todiversify into planting semi-temperate crops such as lettuce,

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PHOTO: PRLESACA

PHOTO: PRLESACA

July 2010 Issue July 2010 Issue

“

PHOTO: AVELASCO

NEWS NEWS

6 11BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC

Characteristically small, usuallyblack in color, spotted, and areresistant to parasites and diseases,

native pigs can adapt to local conditionsand can tolerate heat and coldenvironments better than the importedbreeds. They can thrive well on locally-available feeds, including kitchen andfarm refuse, and can cope with lowquality feeds and maintenance. The usualfarm practice, especially in the far flungvillages, is the system—allowing pigs to scavenge for their ownsurvival.

Philippine native pigs aretraditionally known as best foror roasted pig. This delicacy,prepared the roasted way, commandsgood price and is highly preferred by foodconnoisseurs during special occasions.Philippine’s is tastier, with crispierskin and leaner meat, compared to theimported ones.

To conserve and maximize thepotential of expanding the market,the Bureau of Animal Industry-NationalSwine and Poultry Research andDevelopment Center (BAI-NSPRDC)based in Tiaong, Quezon conducted astudy on the “Conservation, Evaluationand Commercialization of the PhilippineNative Pigs”. This was funded andsupported by the Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) under its bannerprogram, the National TechnologyCommercialization Program (NTCP).

The two-year project is led byDr. Rene C. Santiago, DVM, also the

“bahala na”

“lechon”Pinoy

lechon

lechon

BAR, BPI look intocommercial profitof raising native pigs

agricultural center chief of BAI-NSPRDC. Project implementationcalled for collaborations with the localgovernment units (LGUs) of Quezon andselected farmer-cooperators in Lagunaand Quezon.

The objective of the project is toestablish a production system involvingraising native pigs under farmers'management and propagate such on acommercial scale and improve theantiquated system of swine raisingresulting in better production. Thesocio-economic importance ofproduction and commercialization is acrucial aspect of the project.

Production of native pigs can be aviable alternative for swine producerswho cannot cope with the high price ofcommercial swine feeds and for thosewho do not have enough capital forhousing and feeding. This animal canbe raised without the use of chemicalinputs and, as a breed, has higheconomic potential for those engaged inorganic swine production. In addition,native pigs are very rich sources ofgenetic materials for local breeddevelopment and improvementprograms, hence it is a necessity toconserve and preserve this breed.

BAI-NSPRDC started theproject where production of breedernative pigs was carried out which weresubsequently distributed to selectedfarmer-cooperators in somemunicipalities in the second and fourthdistricts of Quezon province and in the

fourth district of Laguna.The BAI-NSPRDC selected 20

heads of breeder sows with two boarsfrom their stock farm in Tiaong, Quezonfor use in the production of breeders to bedistributed to the cooperators of theproject. The breeders produced pigletsthat were raised, selected, and distributed.

Nine beneficiaries wereidentified based on their capability,willingness, and cooperation. The farmer-cooperators and technicians attendedtraining and seminars on the productionand management of native pigs. After thetraining, each farmer-cooperator wasprovided with a set of 5 female and 1male native pigs as breeder stocks. Eachfarmer was also provided with a one-timesubsidy for housing in the amount ofPhP10,000 and feeds worth PhP1,000.

A prototype pig pen was alsoconstructed inside the compound of BAI-

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PHOTO: PRLESACA

July 2010 Issue July 2010 Issue

Before, the idea of growingvegetables in urban settingseemed unrealistic. The lack of

available space, immense pollution, andextremes weather have daunted potentialvegetable growers to go into this kind ofproduction system.

But with the advent of urbanagriculture, specifically the production ofvegetables in containers under protectivestructures, optimization of land-use andproduction using climate-controlledtechniques can now be opportunisticallyaddressed. And with the scientificadvances, urban agriculture is now ableto address the challenge of supplyingnutritionally adequate and safe food(even) to city dwellers.

Dr. Renato C. Mabesa, professorat the Department of Horticulture of theCrop Science Cluster of the College ofAgriculture, University of thePhilippines Los Baños (UPLB), leads aproject titled, “Protective Structures forHigh-Value Vegetable Production inContainers as an Approach to UrbanAgriculture”, with funding support fromthe Department of Agriculture-HighValue Commercial Crops (DA-HVCC)Program and the DA-Bureau ofAgricultural Research (DA-BAR).

The project aims to providegrowing urban populations with year-round access to nutritious food bygrowing high-value vegetable crops incontainers using protective structuresand covers right in the towns and cities.

Ensuring year-round, high-value vegetables withcontainer gardening under protective cultivation

Production of vegetables incontainers as an approach to urbangardening is not entirely a new conceptfor this has been practiced before. “Thisis like backyard gardening butvegetable crops are exclusively grownin containers instead of planting themin the ground. Vegetable containergardening can be considered a viablesustainable production method since itpromotes the re-use of materials thatare abundant and considered as wasteincluding old rubber tires, styropor,plastic bags and bottles, tin cans, andscrap metal,” said Dr. Mabesa.

Protective cultivation is a

cropping technique wherein the micro-climate surrounding the plant body iscontrolled partially or fully according tothe requirement of the plant speciesduring their period of growth. Usingproductive structures and covers such aspolyethylene plastic and fine agriculturalnylon net helps in improving the qualityof vegetables grown in containers.

According to Dr. Mabesa, “thiscropping technique is very appropriate inthe Philippines because our extremeweathers easily affect the outcome of ourvegetable produce. Protective structuresand covers serve as physical safeguardsagainst extreme environmentalconditions such as excessive rain andhigh temperatures.”

The first phase of the projectdemonstrated the production of differentkinds of vegetable salads, particularlylettuce, in containers under protectivestructures. This was conducted invarious sites of the CALABARZON(Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal andQuezon) area.

Phase two of the project studiedthe performance of various(also called ) such as cabbage,cauliflower, broccoli, and kale also inCALABARZON and selected areas ofMetro Manila.”

The project is now on its thirdphase focusing on the performance of

BrassicasCruciferae

Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar during asite visit to the native swineproject in Tiaong, Quezon.

PHOTO: AVELASCO

BAR, BPI look intocommercial profitof raising native pigs

Dr. Renato C. Mabesa of UPLB, projectleader of the project on protectivestructures for high-value vegetables.

A project demonstration of container gardeningof high-value vegetable crops under protectivecultivation using a fine agricultural nylon net.

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

NEWS NEWS

10 7BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC

“pinakbet” crops including tomato,eggplant, lady's finger, stringbeans,bitter gourd, and squash. Results fromthe first two phases have beenincorporated in the third phaseparticularly in the use of protectivestructures and containers.

“For the protective structures,we used protective high tunnels and ironstands for durability and sustainability.Also, instead of plastic pots we havemetal shelves with bamboos for plantingarea due to the immediate availability ofthe material,” Dr. Mabesa expounded.Another modification is on the structureitself making it smaller (10 sq.m) toaccommodate limited spacesmaking the technology morecost-effective.

In Phase 3, the projectconcentrated on the GawadKalinga and Bahay ni Juanareas with informal settlers.“We need to teach them thetechnology of makingavailable home-produced foodand be able to sell themthrough informal markets thusproviding them an additionalsource of income.”

Dr. Mabesa is hopeful that,given the projected increase of thepopulation in urban areas in the next 25years and its consequential effects onurban poverty and food insecurity,protective cultivation technology canplay an important part in addressingthese issues.

“With proper care andmaintenance, container growing ofhigh-value, all-year-round vegetablesunder protective cultivation is an idealway of providing urban dwellers withhealthy and nutritious food,” Dr.Mabesa concluded. ### (Rita T. delaCruz)

agriculture in Quezon andlaunched the

which aimed to promotealternative farming technologiesamong elementary and secondarystudents in Quezon.

In his stints at congress,Alcala also served as vicechairman of the Department ofPublic Works and Highways(DPWH); member of the HouseCommittees on Accounts,Agrarian Reform,Appropriations, Food Security,Natural Resources, OverseasWorkers Affairs, Oversight,Transportation, and SouthernTagalog Development.

In 2003, Alcala wasawarded the Quezon’s

forEnvironmental Protection andTen Most Outstanding PublicServants – Special Award asEnvironmentalist.

Born on July 2, 1955 inLucena City, Alcala is a licensedcivil engineer. He is married tothe former Corazon AsuncionMaaño, executive vice presidentof the Cotta Realty andDevelopment Corporation basedin Lucena City and chief financeofficer of the Pueblo Por LaPlaya in Pagbilao, Quezon. Theyhave three children: Ingrid, Irvin,and Ivy.

Procesong GulayPara sa Masaganang Buhay

Medalyang Karangalan

### (Rita T. dela Cruz)

NEW DA CHIEF...from page 1

“...given the projected increase ofpopulations in urban areas in the next25 years and its consequential effectson urban poverty and food insecurity,protective cultivation technology canplay an important part in addressingthese issues.” ~ Mabesa

PHOTOS: RDELACRUZ

July 2010 Issue July 2010 Issue

With only five years left until the2015 deadline to achieve theMillennium Development

Goals (MDGs), the scientific communityin the country puts social concerns on

center stage as it holds the 32 AnnualScientific Meeting with the theme“MDGs and beyond: Are we makingprogress?” on 14-15 July 2010, ManilaHotel, One Rizal Park, Roxas Blvd.,Manila.

With Dr. Emil Q. Javier at thehelm, the National Academy of Scienceand Technology (NAST) organized thescientific meeting to highlight the roles ofscientists, researchers, professionals,policymakers, and students in theachievement of the MDGs which thePhilippines is bound to adhere to as partof the United Nations.

The MDGs represent humanneeds and basic rights that everyindividual around the world should beable to enjoy—freedom from extremepoverty and hunger; quality education,productive and decent employment, goodhealth and shelter; the right of women togive birth without risking their lives; anda world where environmentalsustainability is a priority, and womenand men live in equality.

As the leading forum for thepresentation of new findings, researches,and scientific information, leaders andexperts from the different government,academic, and private institutions

nd

NAST focuses on achievingMillennium Development Goals

gathered in the scientific meeting tofocus the discussions on the assessmentand monitoring of the progress towardthe achievements of the MDG.

The paper presentations in theplenary sessions included “AchievingUniversal Education in 2015: AnImpossible Dream? (A Synthesis of theNAST Social Science RTD and otherMDG-related Documents)” whichhighlighted the erosion of the Philippineeducation advantage but presented hopein the country's getting close to or evenmeeting the MDG targets by 2015.

The paper, “MDGs and beyondare we making progress?” by Dr. JaimeGalvez Tan, UP College of Medicinepresented the challenges and roles of thedifferent sectors in the achievement ofMDGs as well as the study on theregions and provinces least likely toachieve the MDGs.

Raul V. Fabella of the UPSchool of Economics meanwhilepresented the paper titled, “MDGs,economic growth, and governance”which gave observations on globalpoverty across space and time, thedecomposition of poverty reduction interms of growth vs. equity, cross-countryevidence on poverty incidence and infantmortality, and social protection as ameans of good governance.

Moreover, the paper titled,“Population growth and its implicationson the realization of MDGs” by Nimfa

B. Ogena of the Population Institute,College of Social Sciences andPhilosophy, UP Diliman stressed that thePhilippine population will continue to

grow through the middle of the 21century and identified its implications inthe MDGs. Other paper presentations inthe plenary sessions tackled a specificMDG.

The two-day scientific meetingculminated in the formulation of policyrecommendations on appropriateinterventions for the Philippinegovernment and the private sector tohasten or improve the achievement ofthe goals for legislative and executiveactions and for consideration of otherconcerned agencies and institutions.

The resolution was packagedinto a document titled, “Resolutions onthe imperatives to heighten the progressof the Philippines in meeting theMillennium Development Goals(MDGs)”. The document, along with thepapers presented in the plenary sessions,are available for download through theNAST website,

The 2010 Outstanding YoungScientists of the country and thescientific posters session were also heldon the sidelines of the scientificmeeting. The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) likewise providedsponsorship for the event andparticipated in the exhibit.

st

http://www.nast.ph.

### (MikoJazmine J. Mojica)

Dr. Emil Q. Javier (2nd from left) leads the ribbon-cuttingceremony during the opening of NAST exhibit.

Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (right) discusses with Ms. Melody Aguiba (left) ofthe Manila Bulletin on the current initiatives of BAR. At the background isBAR’s exhibit featuring its two flagship programs: CPAR and NTCP.

PHOTOS: NDELROSARIO III

A modified version of the protective structure,which is smaller in size (10 sqm) to accomodatelimited spaces making it more cost-eefective.

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

FEATURE FEATURE

8 9BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC July 2010 Issue

In the not-so-far-away land ofMindanao, with its vast plantationsof pineapple, banana and durian,

hides a plant not known to many butwhich is being cultivated in idle lands inparts of Bukidnon. This certain plantcomes by the name of .

The plant has also been seen inother parts of the Philippines. There areeven claims of it being commonthroughout the country but not to thesame extent as other crops like rice,corn, coconut, , etc. withwhich one can easily identify.

is considered a weed insome places but it is prized as a sourceof raw materials for necklace andbracelets in others. In Bukidnon, it ismade into and wine by some ofthe local tribes. It is also cultivated ordomesticated in other parts of thecountry and may have other uses asidefrom food but these are yet to bedocumented.

One could have seen it in

Adlai

malunggay

Adlai

kakanin

seen as an alternativeto andRICE CORNAdlai:

Story and Photos by:AMAVEL A. VELASCO

his/her own hometown or in the ruralareas but didn't think it significant andconsidered it just like any other weedgrowing around the house. Or someonecould have seen it already or has worn itas bracelets or necklace withoutknowing that the beads used were from

grains. Or this could been fed tofighting cocks as feed and no one iseven aware that it is

, also known as Job'sTears ( L.), comesfrom the family or the grasses,the same family that wheat, corn, andrice belonged.

The grains, which come inwhite or brown, in some instances, arespherical in shape and have a groove atone end. It is said to have originated inSoutheast Asia. It is a freely branching

Adlai

Adlai.

AdlaiCoix lacryma-jobi

Poaceae

What is ?Adlai

upright herb that can grow as tall asthree feet and propagates through seeds.

According to the Bureau ofPlant Industry, the leaves are 10-40 cmlong, 2.5-4 cm wide, with the basebroad and cordate. The spikes are 6-10cm long, erect and peduncled, while themale spikelets are about 8 mm long.

Grains are usually harvested 4-5 months after sowing. Grains areseparated from the stalks throughthreshing and, like rice, seeds are firstsun dried before milling.

is said to be at least 50percent starch, 14 percent protein, and 6percent fat.

In South Asia, at the time whencorn was still not that popular,was already being widely cultivated as acereal. In India, it was pounded,

Adlai

Adlai

As food and drink

threshed and winnowed as a cereal.The pounded is sometimesmixed with water like barley whenmaking barley water; some turned itinto a sweet dish by frying and coatingit with sugar. It is also boiled and eatenin the same manner as that of rice.

grains are also used insoups and broths. In fact, in SouthernVietnam, , a sweet andcold soup, has as its mainingredient.

Fermented grains, on the otherhand, are also made into beers andwines. Aged vinegar is also made outof in Japan.

, or Job's Tears tea,is a thick drink in Korea which is madefrom powdered . Another liquor,which is made from togetherwith rice in Korea, is called .

is said to be a folkremedy for a wide range of ailments. Itis used as a remedy for various tumorslike the abdominal tumors, esophagealand gastrointestinal, as well as warts. Italso finds use in treating abscess,anodyne, anthrax, appendicitis,arthritis, beriberi, bronchitis, catarrh,diabetes, dysentery, dysuria, edema,

Adlai

Adlai

sam bo luongAdlai

AdlaiYulmu cha

AdlaiAdlai

okroju

AdlaiFolk medicine

fever, goiter, halitosis, headache,hydrothorax, metroxenia, phthisis,pleurisy, pneumonia, puerperium,rheumatism, small-pox, splenitis,strangury, tenesmus, and worms. Someof these claims though still need to bescientifically-verified to warrant an“approved therapeutic claim” inlabelled containers as herbal medicineadvertisements are saying these days.

Some studies indicated thathas anti-allergic, anti-mutagenic,

hypolipemic, and anti-diabetic effects.It is also said to exhibit anti-

cancer activity. In a study by Hung et.al., in 2003, seeds were found toexert an antiproliferative effect onhuman lung cancer cells and

and might also prevent thedevelopment of tobacco carcinogen-induced tumors. The anti-canceractivity of was further proven bythe study of Lee et. al., (2008), whoisolated five active compounds from

bran that inhibit cancer cells.In traditional Chinese

medicine, hull extract is used totreat dysmenorrhea and was proven in arecent study that, indeed, it is a feasiblealternative therapeutic agent.

Pharmacological effects

Adlai

Adlai

in vitro invivo

Adlai

Adlai

Adlai

Introducing to mainstreamagriculture

Adlai

The Department of Agriculture(DA), through the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR), incollaboration with non-governmentorganizations (NGOs), namely:Earthkeepers and Masipag, has beenlooking into the potential of as analternative crop to rice and corn.Masipag, a farmer-led network ofpeople's organizations, has already doneinitial research endeavors on the crop.

BAR, together withEarthkeepers and Masipag, is currentlycrafting training and planning workshopon production tentativelyscheduled in September 2010.---------

Adlai

Adlai

References:1. Hung WC, et al. 2003. Methanolic extract

of adlay seed suppresses COX-2 expressionof human lung cancer cells via inhibition ofgene transcription. J Agric Food Chem51(25):7333-7. Can be retrieved from:http://healthydoses.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/job%E2%80%99s-tears-chinese-pearl-barley-coix-lacryma-jobi-adlay-seed-coixseed-ma-yuen/

2. http://www.bpi.da.gov.ph/Publications/mp/html/a/adlai.htm

3. http://www.zhion.com/herb/Adlay.html4. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/

duke_energy/Coix_lacryma-jobi.html5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job%27s_Tears

ADLAI, also known as Job's Tears (Coixlacryma-jobi L.), comes from the familyPoaceae or the grasses, the same family thatwheat, corn, and rice belonged. The grains,which come in white or brown, in someinstances, are spherical in shape and have agroove at one end.

...at the time when corn was stillnot that popular, Adlai was alreadybeing widely cultivated as a cereal.

July 2010 Issue

BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (2nd from right) attends a preparatory meeting heldat Earthkeepers which is based in Tiaong, Quezon. Earthkeepers is a non-governmentorganization headed by Ms. Teresa Perez-Saniano (3rd from left).

Grains from Adlai, also known as Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi L.)

Adlai plant growing the wild.