PHilMech Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops

1. Department of Agriculture 2014 PHilMech Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops Engr. Raul R. Paz Acting Director III, PHilMech

2. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops 2010 • Supply Chain Improvement of Arabica Coffee in the Cordillera Region - The result of the study revealed that the current Arabica supply chain is hampered by: a) insufficient supply of green coffee beans for processing because of backyard type and low level of production, and b) poor quality of green coffee beans produced at the farm level because of poor postharvest practices and antiquated postharvest facilities.

3. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Assessment of Biological, Chemical and Physical Contaminations in Organically Grown Salad Vegetables in Benguet - Findings indicate that organic salad lettuce and carrot grown in Benguet are generally safe from pesticide residues and arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium metal contaminations. However, it is recommended that these vegetables must be thoroughly washed before eating or even before cooking to further reduce or eliminate physical contaminants and pathogenic bacteria and parasites.

4. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops 2011 • Biomass Utilization as Bio-filler/fiber for Biocomposite Materials Development in the Philippines - The project aimed to utilize biomass as biofiller in the development of biocomposite materials. Potato and cassava starch and agriwastes such as corn cobs, bagasse and cocohusk were used in this study.

5. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Non-chemical Approaches for Managing Postharvest Diseases of Tropical Fruits (Module 1-Banana) • Application of Hermetic Storage for Preserving Coffee- Module 2: Liberica and Robusta

6. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Microorganisms, Insects and Mites Associated with Dried/Smoked Fish - Analyzed fish samples taken from all the different stages of processing of both dried and smoked fish were found to be contaminated with bacteria and fungi. Five species of bacteria were isolated and identified as Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Macrococcuscaseolyticus and Ralstoniapickettii

7. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Assessment of Off-Season Onion Production Under Protective Structures - The study intends to assess the viability of producing off-season onion using protective structure (PS). It provides alternative ways of addressing the supply gap during the lean months attributable to onion‟s seasonality and limited storability. The use of PS is also an attempt to increase farmers productivity and improve their coping mechanism amidst the challenges of varying and changing climate.

8. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops 2012 • Value Chain Improvement of Robusta and LibericaCoffee - Introduction of pulpers and dryers provided solution for drying coffee. The use of coffee pulper allows the use of “pulped natural method” of drying which immediately remove or split the thick skin (pulp) of the coffee berries. Pulped natural method reduced drying time from 7 days to 3 days, thereby preserving quality.

9. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Utilization of Mango Peel as Source of Pectin - The utilization of Philippine carabao mango (Mangiferaindica) peel as potential source of pharmaceutical grade pectin was assessed. Results show that local production of pectin from mango peel is technically and economically feasible. In addition, it is environmentally sound with the utilization of voluminous solid wastes from mango processing plants, thereby, contribute in saving the earth from denudation.

10. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Development of Drying Systems for Philippine Cocoa Beans - The project was implemented to address the problem of poor bean quality due to inadequate drying methods. Two drying technologies were adapted. It also attempted to address the lack of locally available moisture meter for cocoa beans. For this purpose, SHEGA III which was originally developed for rice and corn was re-calibrated.

11. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Development of a Pilot Scale Conveyor Dryer with Combined Far Infrared and Convective Heating for Drying Mango Slices - A laboratory study on two-stage drying of mango slices was conducted by Martinez and Daquila et. al (2009). Results showed that two-stage drying significantly reduced drying time and energy cost by 30 and 11 percent, respectively.

12. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Development of Drying Systems for Granulated Cassava as Animal Feed Ingredient - The general objective of the project was to develop drying systems for unwashed, unpeeled, granulated cassava which is increasingly used as animal feed ingredient by commercial feed mills. Laboratory experiments were conducted to establish physical properties (particle size, bulk density and resistance to air flow) and drying characteristics of granulated cassava.

13. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Value Chain Improvement of Robusta and LibericaCoffee - The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Robusta and Liberica coffee industry by addressing the constraints of the value adding operations specifically in the field of postharvest that needs intervention.

14. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Non-chemical Approaches for Managing Postharvest Diseases of Tropical Fruits (Module 2-Mango and Module 3-Pineapple) - The study showed the effectiveness of biocontrol agents (BCA), salts, and hot water treatment (HWT) as single treatment or their combinations in controlling postharvest diseases and preserving the overall quality of banana fruit • Microbiota of cacao beans in the Philippines

15. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Formulation of Trichodermaharzianum DGA02 for the control of crown rot disease of banana - This study led to the present research, to develop and formulate the strain DGA02 of T. harzianum and test its efficacy against major postharvest pathogens of banana.

16. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Assessment of Off-Season Onion Production Under Protective Structures - The study intends to assess the viability of producing off-season onion using protective structure (PS). It provides alternative ways of addressing the supply gap during the lean months attributable to onion’s seasonality and limited storability. The use of PS is also an attempt to increase farmers productivity and improve their coping mechanism amidst the challenges of varying and changing climate.

17. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • The Role of the Social Laboratory in Accelerating the Establishment of MCSTD-based Enterprises - The project was conducted to establish the role of the social laboratory in accelerating the establishment of new MCSTD-based enterprises thereby improving the productivity and income of micro entrepreneurs engaged in the processing of dried agriculture and fishery products.

18. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Establishment of Agricultural Tramlines for Upland Agriculture in the Philippines - This project, thru the National Tramline Program, addresses the problem of transporting commodities in inherently rugged hard-to-reach production areas by the establishment of agricultural tramline system (ATS). An ATS is an alternative means of transport of agricultural products in hard-to-reach mountainous production areas not accessible by farm-to-market road.

19. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops 2014 • Enhancing Quality and Safety of MoringaProducts - The moringa (Moringaoleifera) industry was assessed to identify the gaps and challenges in moringa processing. Appropriate and improved processing systems for moringa leaves were developed to ensure good quality and safe products that will meet the standards of domestic and export markets. • Using Electrokinetic-treated Water for Shelf Life Quality of Cut Flowers

20. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Design and Development of a Cassava Harvester; Phase 1: Development of the Cassava Digger - A prototype cassava digger was developed in collaboration with the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI) of Thailand. The cassava Digger was a tractor drawn implement aimed to reduce the drudgery of manual digging or uprooting of cassava tubers.

21. Projects on High-Value Commercial Crops • Formulation of Trichodermaharzianum DGA02 for the control of crown rot disease of banana - This study led to the present research, to develop and formulate the strain DGA02 of T. harzianum and test its efficacy against major postharvest pathogens of banana. • Non-chemical Approaches for Managing Postharvest Diseases of Tropical Fruits : (Module 2-Mango and Module 3-Pineapple)

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