There are a number of good reasons why you should grow pummelo. You will read these reasons in the December issue of Agriculture Magazine which is now off the press. The magazine is published by the Manila Bulletin and is the most widely-circulated publication of its kind in the Philippines.

For one, pummelo has a long shelf life, and can therefore be transported to distant places without spoiling. It does not have to be shipped by air freight which is very expensive. Another good reason is that pummelo commands a high price as long as you plant the outstanding varieties. There are a number of superior varieties such as the Magallanes, Nenita and some others from Thailand. One white variety being grown by Arthur Griñ in Zamboanga is very juicy and sweet and is his bestseller. There are also new varieties from Vietnam which are also very excellent. They have big locules filled with sweet juice.

Jimmy Cordero (in photo) also tells us that he is propagating what he calls Daet Pink. The tree is low-growing with wide spreading branches, hence just right for a typhoon-prone place like Bicol. The rind is thick so that fruitfly will not easily damage the flesh.

Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico, our prolific roving reporter, reports about the excellent results obtained by rice farmers by using a bio-organic fertilizer. These include rice farmers from Nueva Ecija, Antique, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. You will also read about new rice varieties that will survive in flooded areas such as places in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III writes about the breeding and ranching of sea cucumber in Pangasinan. This is a marine product that commands a high price in the market. Rice and corn coffee, anyone? You will also read in the December issue about the inspiring story of corn and coffee makers in Sarangani.

Practical farming techniques could be learned from young Ilocano farmers as reported in the magazine. Onofre Balantac of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, for instance, spreads leafy kakawate branches in the rice paddies after transplanting. The decomposing kakawate leaves and branches, he claims, repel stemborers. For bugs, he sprays detergent and chili extract. Onofre dela Cruz is another young Ilocano who makes money from growing off-season tomato and other vegetables aside from rice.

Those interested in corn production will get a lot of useful information from the column of Allan C. Nieves who writes on "Understanding ear and kernel diseases." Aside from describing the diseases in text and photos, he also provides 12 useful management tips. One tip is balanced fertilization. "Avoid high nitrogen and low potassium levels. Study shows that high level of nitrogen could prolong the maturity of the corn thus predisposing the plants to ear rots, especially in cooler and higher elevation," he said.

Make sure you get a copy of the December issue. You will read many more interesting stories. Agriculture Magazine is distributed nationwide in bookstores and Manila Bulletin outlets nationwide.