Philippines

Recommendations

Info

PHILIPPINES Garlic (Allium sativa) Like onion, garlic is an important bulb vegetable in the Philippines. In 2005, a total of 4 700 hectares were planted to the crop, producing 13 200 metric tons valued at 674.3 million Philippine pesos (US$13.49 million). Also like onion, garlic is a traditional vegetable of the country and its use as condiment is part of the traditional cuisine. It is cultivated in the certain provinces of northern and southern Luzon. The genetic diversity of the crop is uncertain, although variation in size and pungency are observed. Recently, there is an influx of exotic varieties from China, although farmers still prefer to plant the traditional varieties. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) Eggplant is the most important fruit vegetable in the Philippines in terms of hectarage and volume of production. In 2005, a total of 21 200 hectares were planted to the crop, producing 187 800 metric tons valued at 2 118.4 million Philippine pesos (US$42.37 million). Diversity in eggplant exists in the country, in terms of shape, size and color of fruit. In addition, there traditional varieties that exhibit pest resistance. In addition to S. melongena, other species can be found in the country, e.g. S. torvum, S. indicum, S. nigrum, S. surattense and S. macrocarpon. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Tomato is the second most important fruit vegetable in the country in terms of area and volume of production. In 2001, a total of 17 700 hectares were planted to the crop, producing 173 700 metric tons valued at 1 808.7 million Philippine pesos (US$36.17 million). Tomato was introduced to the country during the Spanish era of colonization (from the 16th century). It has become an essential part of the cuisine of all cultural groups of the country. There is significant diversity of forms generated due to the different uses to which the vegetable is put, and to the varying preferences. Two species are extant, namely L. esculentum (the more prevalent) and L. pimpinellifolium. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Cabbage is the most important leaf vegetable in the country. In 2005, a total of 7 400 hectares were planted to the crop, producing 91 400 metric tons valued at 924.5 million Philippine pesos (US$18.5 million). Cabbage is an introduced crop in the Philippines. The only existing varieties are the commercial cultivars, mainly hybrids, sold by private seed companies. Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa) Calamansi is an important fruit crop used for condiment in the country. In 2005, a total of 20 200 hectares were planted to the crop, producing 200 800 metric tons valued at 2 042.2 million Philippine pesos (US$40.84 million). There is a claim that calamansi was introduced into the country from Cochinchinensis (approximately Vietnam of the modern period) at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, as supported by the fact that one of its progenitors, Fortunella sp., is not found in the Philippines. There is also a claim that calamansi is apomictic, hence there is very limited diversity to be found in the crop. 1.3 State of diversity of minor crops and underutilized species 24 Taro and Yam (Dioscorea and Colocasia) and other root and tuber crops Taro and yam (Dioscorea spp., Colocasia spp.) are important subsistence and staple crops of the poor and rural populations of South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Africa. In many parts of the tropics, root crops have played vital roles in traditional culture, rituals and religion and in local commerce as well. Some Dioscorea species contain large amounts of the saponins, dioscorins, which are important in the pharmaceutical industry and some types are preferred by the ice cream industry. The production of snack foods and the use of taro and yams in family meal food preparations as well the use of special flour products derived from them has not been fully explored. In 2004, a total of 29 333 hectares were planted to yam, taro and potato, producing 200 256 metric tons. The common species of root and tuber crops grown in the country include taro, yam and potato. Taro and yam are indigenous while potato is introduced root crops to the country. Root crops are a staple food of Filipinos in the central and southern Philippines.
COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The country is part of the center of diversity for Colocasia and Dioscorea. There are five species of Dioscorea found in the country, namely D. alata, D. bulbifera, D. esculenta, D. hispida and D. pentaphylla. There are 143 accessions of D. alata and 172 accessions of Dioscorea spp. found in three ex situ collections in the country. Except for D. alata, these species are generally not widely cultivated and utilized and are threatened with genetic erosion. This threat has been attributed to acculturation, industrialization and deforestation. Among the many uses of root crops that offer potential for exploitation are traditional snack foods. Other underutilized ariods include Xanthosoma sagittifolia, Cyrtosperma chamissonis, Alocasia sp., Amorphophallus pinnata, Maranta arundinacea and Pachyrrhizus erosus. These species are either grown in home gardens or exist as natural stands. Some of them have commercial uses, e.g. native cookies (Maranta) and delicacies (Xanthosoma, Alocasia). Other vegetables and food legumes Statistics on agriculture in the Philippines released by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) lists the following vegetables and legumes classified as minor: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, ginger, gourd, common (field) bean, lettuce, okra, Chinese cabbage and pakchoi. In 2004, a total of 36 354 hectares were devoted to these crops, with a volume of production amounting to 351 304 metric tons. Minor vegetables in the Philippines grow or are grown in the following types of production systems: Vegetables gathered as weeds or wild plants The practice of gathering vegetables from the natural vegetation is still important in the rural areas. With increasing urbanization, these vegetables will forever be lost in the Filipino food basket. Some examples are Marsilea, Amaranthus, Broussonetia, Ficus pseudopalma, Portulaca oleracea and the edible ferns. Vegetables grown in home gardens A large proportion of production of the home-consumed vegetables is through this production system. Such a system guarantees its conservation. Notable examples are Lablab purpureus, Phaseolus lunatus, Clitoria ternatea, Mucuna curranii, Allium tuberosum, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Moringa oleifera and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus. Vegetables grown in comparatively large areas, generally in monoculture The production of major traditional vegetables aimed at markets is through this system, usually after rice or corn or in coconut-based farming systems. Momordica charantia, Lagenaria siceraria, Cucurbita moschata, Luffa spp., Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis, Brassica juncea, Brassica rapa (= Brassica chinensis), and Ipomoea aquatica are notable examples. The Philippines is known to be rich in indigenous and locally adapted species utilized as vegetables. However, these species are being gradually replaced by new cultivated species, and newly introduced hybrid varieties. In the Philippines, farmers plant vegetables as an important cash crop or for subsistence. In the rural areas, home gardens are usually planted to a diverse range of vegetables for home consumption including yardlong bean, okra, cowpea, ricebean, Basella rubra, hyacinth bean, lima bean, Cajanus cajan, Cucurbita moschata, Luffa spp., Lagenaria siceraria, Benincasa hispida and Momordica charantia. The germplasm collection is found in one ex situ collection in the country. Diversity is decreasing in yardlong bean, okra, cowpea, ricebean and bittergourd mainly due to the replacement of traditional varieties with modern cultivars. Diversity has remained the same for Cucurbita spp., Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa spp., hyacinth bean, lima bean, Cajanus cajan and Benincasa hispida as farmers still continue to grow traditional varieties even with the influx of modern cultivars. Spices Spices form part of the traditional Filipino home garden. The known uses of spices are for culinary and seasoning purposes. They are also known to possess medicinal properties and assist in food digestion. The most popular spices grown in the country are black pepper (Piper nigrum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens). In 2001, a total of 15 million hectares were planted to the crop, producing 72.3 million metric tons valued at 2 010 million Philippine pesos (US$ 40.2 million). Black pepper is an introduced species in the Philippines. The traditional variety is exclusively asexually propagated by stem cuttings. Recently there have been foreign introductions coming from India and Indonesia. Ginger is also exclusively asexually propagated by rhizomes. The traditional variety is spread all over the country. There are several related species of Zingiber extant in the country. Hot pepper is an introduced species that has become naturalized in the country. It is widely distributed throughout the archipelago principally by birds. Therre is significant genetic diversity in the species in 25
Page 1 and 2: COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLAN
Page 3 and 4: Note by FAO This Country Report has
Page 5 and 6: 3.5 Security of stored material 44
Page 23: COUNTRY REPORT ON THE STATE OF PLAN

Philippines

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?