Supply Chain Analysis of the Muscovado Sugar Industry in Antique, Philippines

In recent years, there is a growing preference for natural and healthy products resulting to increase in market demand for muscovado sugar in the domestic market and markets abroad. The Province of Antique, Philippines, used to be the key producer of muscovado sugar in the 1960s, producing 70% of the country’s total muscovado sugar. Production of muscovado sugar has declined, attributed to factors like domination of refined sugar in the over-all sugar industry, decline in volume and quality of sugar due to neglect, inefficient milling practices, and underdeveloped milling channels. This paper documents the muscovado sugar supply chain in the province of Antique to provide basis for policy makers and industry players towards industry revitalization and eventually increasing its level of competitiveness. Data was gathered using key informant interviews and expert opinion. In addition, surveys were conducted in 7 sugarcane-producing municipalities in Antique with 79 respondents, determined using a two-stage random sampling. The paper maps out the supply chain of muscovado sugar in Antique showing the actors, key processes, flow of product, payment and information, logistics issues and concerns, and external influences along the chain. Appropriate recommendations were made in accordance to the objective of increasing the industry’s level of performance and competitiveness. Specific participant-anchored and process-based strategies are recommended

Benchmarking Sugarcane Production and Management Technology for Muscovado Sugar in the Province of Antique, Western Visayas, Philippines

Long-term sustainability of industries such as an agri-food production system is essential in the light of pressures to satisfy diverse customer needs, comply with government regulations, and to maintain core competency as in response to stiffer market competition. This has led to the identification of best management practices for highly critical and important commodities as the case of muscovado sugar. This paper attempts to gauge the performance of sugarcane production and management technology for use in muscovado sugar production in the province of Antique vis-á-vis process-specific levels of sugarcane production technology as categorized by the Sugar Regulatory Administration. A survey was conducted in 7 sugarcane-producing municipalities in the Province of Antique with 79 respondents selected using two-stage random sampling. Results show that the industry is at par when it comes to best management practices along the areas of planting practices, planting material selection, closing in timing, harvesting practices, trash management, shuttle shaving, and variety programming. The industry in the province lags behind along the areas of soil preparation and fertilizer application. It is recommended that all interventions geared towards improving the industry performance be anchored on evidence-based research findings. Moreover, it is further recommended that to improve productivity in sugarcane production, the industry in Antique must capitalize on its strengths while working towards the improvement of critical areas mentioned

Brassinolide interacts with auxin and ethylene in the root gravitropic response of maize ( Zea mays )

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72956/1/j.0031-9317.2004.00356.x.pd

Genes involved in ethylene and gibberellins metabolism are required for endosperm-limited germiantion of Sisymbrium officinales L. Seeds

The rupture of the seed coat and that of the endosperm were found to be two sequential events in the germination of Sisymbrium officinale L. seeds, and radicle protrusion did not occur exactly in the micropylar area but in the neighboring zone. The germination patterns were similar both in the presence of gibberellins (GA4+7) and in presence of ethrel. The analysis of genes involved in GAs synthesis and breakdown demonstrated that (1) SoGA2ox6 expression peaked just prior to radicle protrusion (20–22 h), while SoGA3ox2 and SoGA20ox2 expression was high at early imbibition (6 h) diminishing sharply thereafter; (2) the accumulation of SoGA20ox2 transcript was strongly inhibited by paclobutrazol (PB) as well as by inhibitors of ET synthesis and signaling (IESS) early after imbibition (6 h), while SoGA3ox2 and SoGA2ox6 expression was slowly depressed as germination progressed; (3) ethrel and GA4+7 positively or negatively affected expression of SoGA3ox2, SoGA20ox2, and SoGA2ox6, depending on the germination period studied. Regarding genes involved in ET synthesis, our results showed that SoACS7 was expressed, just prior to radicle emergence while SoACO2 expression slowly increased as germination progressed. Both genes were strongly inhibited by PB but were almost unaffected by externally added ethrel or GA4+7. These results suggest that GAs are more important than ET during the early stages of imbibition, while ET is more important at the late phases of germination of S. officinale L. seed

Final Technical and Project Completion Reports / Banana Post harvest Technologies: Philippines

This project entitled Banana Postharvest Technologies (Philippines) was undertaken to provide information and technologies leading to the enhancement of small banana farmers' income and productivity, and improve the supply of good quality and reasonably priced Saba bananas for the fresh market and processing into chips. Although the studies were limited to Saba initially, the results of the survey indicated the need to look at other cultivars normally shipped in mixed loads with Saba. Moreover, a typhoon devastated Saba crops in Northern Mindanao, while other areas were severely affected by a disease, both of which resulted in an extremely low supply of Saba in the course of project implementation. The systems for all cultivars destined for the domestic market are identical, whether or not Saba constitutes all or part of the load. Surveys, field visits and fora revealed a number of technical and extra-technical problems which render the marketing of Saba and other traditional banana cultivars a high risk enterprise. The risks involved have led to manipulative trading practices which ultimately lead to low producer incomes. The survey highlighted the fact that losses can be primarily attributed to inappropriate postharvest systems, although some farmers' practices and the lack of pre-harvest care also contribute to the problem. Laboratory and commercial shipment trials demonstrated that losses can be reduced with the provision of ethylene adsorbents, with the benefit in terms of reduction of premature ripening and the green-soft disorder (GSD) most pronounced during the hot summer months and in shipments experiencing delays. A series of experiments verified the hypothesis that GSD arises from a combination of ethylene with critically low levels of oxygen, which is consistent with observations from commercial shipments. As an offshoot of the observations from these studies the shipment of mature 'Lakatan' fruits during the hot summer months is now possible as long as adsorbents are used. One trader uses the same adsorbents tested in the trials for shipments. Banana shippers have expressed interest in the use of inexpensive ethylene adsorbents. As another off-shoot of this project, efforts are now underway to have a Mindanaobased cooperative manufacture the adsorbents for use by by banana shippers from this area to Manila. Both laboratory and shipment trials also demonstrated the detrimental effects of compression ar1s1ng from the practice of bulk shipments. Shipment trials involving this aspect required the use of vertical dividers to delineate control fruits (bulk-loaded to nearly the full van height) and racked fruits (bulk height reduced by half with provision of a horizontal rack). Cooperators from both shippers in Mindanao and consignees in Manila found the construction of stable horizontal racks too expensive, but judged the provision of vertical dividers a good means of dissipating heat from bulk loads in non-ventilated dry containers. Consequently, most shipments from Nasipit, the port shipping the largest volume of bananas to Manila, are now provided with vertical dividers. Although the use of wooden boxes gives rise to better quality fruits and reduced losses, shippers are still not willing to use these due to the added cost of the boxes and the increased shipping cost (a smaller volume can be loaded in vans). The project highlighted the key role of dialogs between potential users of technology and researchers. For example, a forum involving shipowners and operators conducted early in the project as well as a shipper of quality bananas led to the fabrication of ventilated vans now extensively utilized in the shipment of bananas from the port of Davao to Metro Manila

Philippine Tourism: Evolution towards Sustainability

Tourism industry in the Philippines has been identified as one of the powerful engines for a strong and sustained economic growth. To determine whether the Philippine tourism industry is moving towards sustainable development, this paper explores the evolution of the tourism industry in the Philippines by tracing its historical transformations and determining its typology. Four major periods has been recognized, namely: 1] pre-martial law era (years before 1972); 2] martial law era (1972-1986); 3] post-martial law era (1986-2000); and 4] 21st century era (2001-present). The eras are based on the country’s major political regimes. Corresponding events and numerous initiatives undertaken by the government agencies, non-government organizations and private sectors that significantly affect the tourism industry are described and analyzed. It is concluded that tourism is a well established industry in the Philippines that contributes to an inclusive economic growth of the country. The continued concerted efforts of all the stakeholders of the industry in the implementation of all these initiatives will surely lead to a sustainable Philippine tourism

Philippine Tourism: Evolution towards Sustainability

Tourism industry in the Philippines has been identified as one of the powerful engines for a strong and sustained economic growth. To determine whether the Philippine tourism industry is moving towards sustainable development, this paper explores the evolution of the tourism industry in the Philippines by tracing its historical transformations and determining its typology. Four major periods has been recognized, namely: 1] pre-martial law era (years before 1972); 2] martial law era (1972-1986); 3] post-martial law era (1986-2000); and 4] 21st century era (2001-present). The eras are based on the country’s major political regimes. Corresponding events and numerous initiatives undertaken by the government agencies, non-government organizations and private sectors that significantly affect the tourism industry are described and analyzed. It is concluded that tourism is a well established industry in the Philippines that contributes to an inclusive economic growth of the country. The continued concerted efforts of all the stakeholders of the industry in the implementation of all these initiatives will surely lead to a sustainable Philippine tourism