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| Manila
Bulletin, Agriculture, Saturday, January 20, 2001 |
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Right
Technology can make even poor land productive |
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Agri Plain
Talk by Zac B. Sarian |
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| If we
use the right technology, even very poor land can be
converted into something productive. Just like the portion
of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife along North Avenue,
Quezon City, for instance.
In
1992, Bernie Dizon, the
fruit expert, was granted use of small portion so he could
develop it into a sort of fruit botanic garden. |
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Many were skeptical about the project at that time.
Even the superintendent was doubtful if Dizon could
do anything right. That is because the soil is
adobe. There is very thin topsoil that is heavy
clay. Year after year, attempts to plant forest
trees did not succeed because they died of
waterlogging. |
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But that did not deter Dizon to show what he could
do. Today, there are durian trees that have been
fruiting during the last four years. This time of
the year, they are again starting to bear flowers
which will be harvestable late April or early May.
His apple macopa
trees have been fruiting regularly. So are the
lychee,
rambutan and
other exotic fruits he has planted.
Normally, the durian will easily succumb to phytophtora
disease which is very prevalent where there is |
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| waterlogging. To remedy
the situation, he elevated the place where he planted the
durian trees. He dumped a top of garden soil in one place
and kept it in place by using two layers of hollow blocks. |
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