Factors Affecting Farmer’s Decision to Remain in Organic Rice Production: The Case of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, Philippines

Only few farmers in the municipality of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, continue to produce rice through organic farming. Although the price of organic rice is relatively higher compared to the conventional one, the majority of the organic rice farmers reverted back to conventional farming. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the influences that affect the decisions of organic rice farmers in Magsaysay to remain in organic farming through logistic regression analysis. Moreover, this study employed cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to evaluate the benefits and costs associated with organic and conventional rice production. Sixty farmers participated in the survey; 20 were organic farmers (out of 21 members of MOFARMCO) and 40 (out of 124) were previously organic farmers who reverted back to conventional farming methods. The result of the logit model showed that family labor size, perception on organic farming, and age significantly influence the decisions of rice farmers to remain in organic farming. Meanwhile, the cost-benefit analysis revealed that although the yield per hectare obtained in organic farming was less, it was still more profitable due to higher selling price and lower cost of production. In order to expand the use of organic farming in Magsaysay, it is important for the local government units and nongovernment organizations to formulate an organic farming promotion policy taking into consideration the results of this study. Moreover, this study recommends policy formulation and regulation to strengthen market development as well as the conduct of research and development programs to increase yield from organic farming

A Forecast for Cocoa Bean Farm Gate Prices in Davao Region, Southern Philippines, Using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity

The Davao Region is one of the top cocoa producers in Southern Philippines. The region aims to invest in cocoa production by enticing cocoa bean farmers to increase their production of the said commodity. This is possible if their cocoa beans produced have a good farm-gate price. Thus, this study was done to forecast the cocoa bean farm-gate prices in the Davao Region. The data for monthly cocoa bean farm-gate prices in Davao Region for the period of January 1990 to December 2015 was used as an input to the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) to come up with a time series model. Mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and Theil’s inequality coefficient (U-statistics) were used as the forecasting accuracy criteria in identifying the best fit model. The results of the study revealed that the time series data was influenced by a positive linear trend factor and also indicates that no seasonal factor exists. Moreover, the best model is GARCH (1, 2). Furthermore, a ten-year forecast was done for fiscal years 2016–2025. By discovering the price movement of the cocoa beans in the next ten years, farmers should maximize their production and sell their produce when the prices are estimated to increase. In contrast, when the prices are estimated to decline, farmers should use storing techniques and employ timed planting decisions in order to lessen the reduction of their profits

The Effects of Soil Erosion on Rice Productivity and Its Impact on Household Welfare Levels

Soil erosion is one of the major problems of agriculture, especially in rice production. With the critical role of irrigated rice production in the country’s supply of rice and the negative effects of soil erosion on rice farming, there is a need to measure the effect of soil erosion on the productivity as well as its impact on household welfare levels. We compared farm productivity, household income and expenditure levels, and children’s food and nutritional intakes of irrigated rice farming in areas with no and slight erosion in General Santos City. Utilizing the Bureau of Agricultural Research geo-coordinates of Mindanao’s soil erosion areas, we used the geographic information system to identify irrigated rice areas with varying erosion levels. The results of the Cobb-Douglas production estimates show that the presence of slight erosion in irrigated rice farms has no statistically significant effect on farm productivity relative to the farms in no erosion areas. Comparison of yield, income, expenditure, and food and nutritional intakes of children showed no statistical difference as well. Thus, the presence of slight erosion is not a threat to the household rice production, income, and consumption relative to no erosion irrigated rice farms. However, in this context, varying erosion levels (i.e., high erosion versus no erosion) must be investigated further in order to provide more comprehensive information regarding the effect of soil erosion on productivity, expenditure, and food and nutritional intakes in irrigated rice farming

The Effect of Soil Erosion to Calorie Intakes of Children among Corn-Producing Households in Davao Region, Philippines: Structural Equation Modelling

Soil erosion is a constant challenge to farm productivity and profitability. However, extending the effect to food expenditure and children’s nutrition is yet to be explored. In this research, we attempted to establish the path linking soil erosion to children’s calorie intake levels. Using the geo-coordinates of Mindanao soil erosion areas from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), we used geographic information system to identify the research sites for corn producing households in Davao Region. A total of 125 samples were analyzed. A 24-hour food-frequency recall survey was conducted, and conversion of food consumption to calorie equivalent was performed using the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. An analysis of variance was used to compare the mean difference of varying degrees of soil erosion in terms of productivity, food expenditure, and calorie intake. To perform the path analysis, structural equation modelling was used. The results indicate that corn farms in severe and moderately eroded areas have lower yield relative to no apparent/low erosion level. The results also suggest direct and indirect negative effect of soil erosion to farm productivity, food expenditure, and children’s calorie intake. Finally, the effect of soil erosion can be mitigated through adoption of soil conservation practices, providing opportunity for nonfarm livelihood, and empowering women head of household to improve access to nutritious food

Treatment solutions to cure Xylella fastidiosa diseased plants

This opinion addresses the question of the efficacy of current treatment solutions to cure Xylella fastidiosa diseased plants, and discusses the experimental treatments under evaluation by two research groups in Apulian olive orchards infected by strain CoDiRO (Complesso del Disseccamento Rapido dell'Olivo). The increasing problems from newly emerging vascular bacterial diseases and the limited success to cure plants from such infections have stimulated numerous studies on treatments with chemical and biological compounds. Under field conditions, various formulations of copper and zinc as spray or root drench are currently used while further options, for example the application of bioactive substances, are at an experimental stage. In Apulia, preliminary results from intensive treatments with such formulations, in combination with the use of good crop management practices, reported more vigorous new growth of diseased trees. However, results provided so far confirmed the continued presence of X. fastidiosa after the treatments under evaluation. This is in agreement with current knowledge that there are no means to cure plants from this bacterial disease, in the sense of eliminating the pathogen from plant tissues. The reported positive response of the treated olive trees is most probably due to the effect of micronutrients and other bioactive compounds that, together with soil cultivation and agronomical practices, improve the vigour of the plants and their resilience to stress caused by bacterial infections. Notwithstanding the preliminary status of these findings, the Panel acknowledged the potentially positive effects of such treatments in prolonging the productive phase of olive trees and their putative relevance for the management of olive orchards, particularly in the containment area where eradication of the pathogen is considered no longer possible. The Panel also concluded that long-term studies are needed to confirm that the reported positive effects on crop performance can be sustained over many years

Pest categorisation of Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health (PLH) Panel performed a pest categorisation of Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae, a well-defined and distinguishable fungal species of the family Mycosphaerellaceae. The regulated harmful organism is the anamorph Cercoseptoria pini-densiflorae (synonym Cercospora pini-densiflorae) with the corresponding teleomorph Mycosphaerella gibsonii. P. pini-densiflorae causes a needle blight of Pinus spp. also known as Cercospora blight of pines or Cercospora needle blight. P. pini-densiflorae is reported from sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Oceania, but not from the EU. The pathogen is regulated in Council Directive 2000/29/EC (Annex IIAI) as a quarantine organism whose introduction into the EU is banned on plants (other than fruit and seeds) and wood of Pinus. The pest could enter the EU via plants for planting and other means (uncleaned seed, cut branches of pine trees, isolated bark, growing media accompanying plants, and mycorrhizal soil inocula). Hosts are widespread in the EU and favourable climatic conditions are present in Mediterranean countries. Pinus halepensis, Pinus nigra, Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster and Pinus sylvestris are reported to be highly susceptible to the pathogen. The pest would be able to spread following establishment after introduction in the EU mainly on infected plants for planting. The pest introduction could have impacts in nurseries and young plantations. Cleaning seeds from needles and removing infected seedlings and pine litter from affected nurseries can reduce the risk of establishment in nurseries and of spread from nurseries to forests, especially given the limited scale of splash dispersal. The main knowledge gaps concern (i) the role of means of entry/spread other than plants for planting and (ii) the potential consequences in mature tree plantations and forests. The criteria assessed by the Panel for consideration as potential quarantine pest are met. For regulated nonquarantine pests, the criterion on the pest presence in the EU is not met

Apolipophorin-III Mediates Antiplasmodial Epithelial Responses in Anopheles gambiae (G3) Mosquitoes

Apolipophorin-III (ApoLp-III) is known to play an important role in lipid transport and innate immunity in lepidopteran insects. However, there is no evidence of involvement of ApoLp-IIIs in the immune responses of dipteran insects such as Drosophila and mosquitoes.We report the molecular and functional characterization of An. gambiae apolipophorin-III (AgApoLp-III). Mosquito ApoLp-IIIs have diverged extensively from those of lepidopteran insects; however, the predicted tertiary structure of AgApoLp-III is similar to that of Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm). We found that AgApoLp-III mRNA expression is strongly induced in the midgut of An. gambiae (G3 strain) mosquitoes in response to Plasmodium berghei infection. Furthermore, immunofluorescence stainings revealed that high levels of AgApoLp-III protein accumulate in the cytoplasm of Plasmodium-invaded cells and AgApoLp-III silencing increases the intensity of P. berghei infection by five fold.There are broad differences in the midgut epithelial responses to Plasmodium invasion between An. gambiae strains. In the G3 strain of An. gambiae AgApoLp-III participates in midgut epithelial defense responses that limit Plasmodium infection