CFL distribution roll-out in
The Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) being implemented by the Department of Energy (DoE) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is rolling out Switch to CFL campaign to place consumers in a better position to control their electricity demand. All they have to do is to exchange their incandescent bulbs (lBs) with the more energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
On the average, ordinary incandescent light bulbs burn for about 1000 hours only, while the CFLs to be distributed by the DOE-PEEP can last up to 10,000 burning hours. CFLs consume up to 80% less electricity that lBs for the same amount of illumination.
A total of 32kWh savings per year could be realized for every 40-watt lB replaced with a 15-watt CFL that is used for an average of 3.5 hours a day, which translates to about P300 annual savings per bulb. Under this initiative, the two million CFLs to be distributed in
The reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is important for the
Dryland crops from
High-yielding crops, namely: peanut, pigeonpea, and chickpea, developed by the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), an advanced international agricultural research institute headquartered in Andhra Pradesh, India, were found to thrive well in Philippine soil. This was the result of the first year trial of the project titled, “Field Testing of ICRISAT Legume Varieties and Technologies in Selected Regions of the Philippines” funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).
The project tested the crops for their suitability under local conditions and develop appropriate production package of technology ( POT ) and distribute high-yielding seeds to the farmers. Crops were tested on-farm in seven pilot regions, namely: Regions 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
With the introduction of these new crops, the project aims to disseminate suitable technologies that will empower Filipino farmers by providing them higher production and income thereby addressing food inadequacy in the rural areas.
According to Dr Nicomedes P. Eleazar , director of BAR, “based on the reports submitted, several I CRIS AT varieties introduced in the country for field testing have already shown promising results and have been identified for their potential breeding lines.” These breeding lines, according to Dr. Eleazar, if found stable in producing high yield in the second yield trials, can already be included in the national screening as test entries this year.
The adaptability yield trial on peanut showed that ICGV 00350 and ICGV 99046 peanut lines were consistent high-yielders among the four ICRISAT entries evaluated. Noticeably, these two promising selections significantly out-yielded most of the national and local check varieties (NSIC Pn 11, NSIC Pn 12, NSIC Pn 14, and NSIC Pn 15) in almost all the test stations. The two promising lines will be considered for further yield and adaptability test on-station and on-farm to obtain more reliable results for inclusion as test entries under National Cooperative Test (NCT) in the
In the adaptability trial for pigeonpea, it was found that four genotypes (ICPL 88034, ICPL 88039, ICPL 81 and ICPL 161) bear flowers and developed into pods in all locations where the lines were tested. These genotypes produced a seed yield of 0.87-1.28 t/ha. Although ICP 7035, ICPL 87091, ICPL 87051 and ICPL 87119 did not perform well in the Visayas, these genotypes performed better in Regions 5, 9 and 10.
Results of the adaptability yield trials for chickpea showed very encouraging results and with bright future for chickpea production, particularly in trials conducted in
Dr. William D.Dar, director general of ICRISAT is hopeful about this project endeavor with BAR. “We hope that through this project, we will be able to identify breeding lines for peanut, chickpea, and pigeonpea that we could recommend for the national screening test and showcase the technology to our farmers to increase their production and income,” he said. (Rita T. dela Cruz, DA-BAR)
DA-10 introduces new Post Harvest Facility to LGUs
The Department of Agriculture (DA 10) Regional Field Unit-10 through the High Value Commercial Crops ( HVCC) Program has sought to support the Local Government Units in Region 10 to build a service facility for Post Harvest development services like the Packing House. In concept a Packing House considered as a consolidation area for farmers to bring together their crops and their produce. This will enable bulk buying of commodities such as fruits, vegetables, root crops and industrial crops at a reasonable price.
The Packing House that will be turned-over by DA 10 to LGUs will be its first time in the department’s history. The idea of creating a Packing House was based on the priority directions of GMA-High Value Commercial Crops Program lead by Program Coordinator Rene Rafael C. Espino. The priority therefore was adding more hard-infra projects which is this Packing House itself. The Packing House is a resemblance of a Trading Post which is also considered a hard-infra, but the Packing House is more a state-of-the- art project compared to the Trading Post which is merely a building and a consolidation and display area to be used by sellers and farmers while the Packing House has all its accessories that carries with it as part of the project package like weighing scale, plastic crates, working tables, drying tables and areas that are specially built within the Packing House for comfort and convenience like washing area, storage rooms and comfort rooms.
Eleven (11) Packing Houses will be turned-over by DA 10 this year among the municipalities that were given support by the department are Jasaan, Villanueva, Laguindingan and Claveria located in Misamis Oriental; Kapatagan, and Lala in Lanao del Norte ; Oroquieta and Jimenez located in Misamis Occidental; Pangantucan, Lantapan and Sumilao located in Bukidnon. The DA 10 and the concerned LGUs will still follow the counter-parting scheme in the financial matters so as to make this project a reality. DA 10 will shoulder 1 million pesos per unit of Packing House while the LGU concerned will shoulder the remaining costs to complete the project.
Currently, most of the Packing House are still on-going as to its construction with its 1st tranche already released last year except that of LGUs of Lala, Sumilao and Claveria were they still have to pass certain requirements for their 1st tranche to be released. However, the LGU of Laguindingan has completed its Packing House but it has yet been turned over by DA 10. (RAFID 10-Suzy May A. Roa)
