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[av_heading heading=’URBAN FARMER | High-value crops recommended for highland areas’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Wednesday, April 12, 2017
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DO YOU know that high-value vegetable crops which are normally grown on the vegetable terraces in Benguet can also grow very well in the highland areas of the country like in Bukidnon?
Highland crops like asparagus, celery, parsley, Chinese cabbage, and the different varieties of lettuce can also thrive very well in some areas of Bukidnon.
One such area where these crops thrive well is in Barangay Cawayan in Lantapan town, where the prevailing temperature is comparable to some locations in Benguet.
One particular farmer who cultivates these varieties is Adam Maluya Jr. who has a farm in Barangay Cawayan.
Maluya regularly plants the Fanfare and Iceberg lettuce, UC-157 F1 Asparagus, Italian Flat Parsley, and Ventura Celery, among others which he intercrops with his vegetables from time to time.
When asked as to how he maintains the quality of his crops, Maluya says he regularly uses Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer.
Maluya learned that the product contains effective microorganisms which can give long-term beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil.
The important role of microorganisms present in Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer favored the production of more assimilated macronutrients, particularly Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
The micronutrients, which contributed to the proper nutrition of the plants, resulted in the production of fruits and leafs that Maluya harvested from his farm.
Aside from these beneficial effects, it was also learned that the foliar fertilizer that Maluya uses also acts like a natural pesticide because it adheres to the surface of the plants much longer and its scent repels most kinds of insects.
After all, proper fertilization could provide the plants with the nourishment they need as nutrients are continuously depleted from the soil.
Plants sprayed with Amino Plus will become more resistant to diseases and other stresses in the environment – like extreme drought or flooding.
When sprayed, it effectively adheres to the plant’s surface and provides quick supplementation.
Unlike other fertilizers which are derived from fish and other natural sources, Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer is not processed in high temperature – preventing denaturation of proteins and retains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and natural oil.
One advantage that Maluya has over the other farmers in the area is that the other members of his family own vegetable distribution stalls in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
This way, Maluya earns more because the cycle of selling his produce became shorter, which means the services of some middlemen in the trade were eliminated.
Other farmers in the area also benefit from the distribution process of Maluya, bring their produce to him for distribution in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
It was learned that Maluya regularly taps the services of some farmers in the area to help him with the farm chores.
This way, the modest scheme generates additional income for the other farmers in the locality who depend solely on their very small farms.
At the same time, the other farmers also learn from the experience of Maluya. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
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