MANILA, Philippines – Make sure to get a copy of the December issue of Agriculture Magazine which is now off the press. It contains a lot of useful information that could help you in your farm projects. You might be inspired by the success story of Willis Gonzalez of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, whose favorite crop is sweet pepper, particularly the Emperor variety.

He is some kind of a contrarian sweet pepper producer. While most other farmers time the harvest of their sweet pepper around December (Christmastime), he times most of his production for harvest in February to late May. He has observed that the price of sweet pepper in Bukidnon during December is lower than the price from February to May.

Last December, he said, he got an average of only P30 per kilo for his sweet pepper because there was an oversupply in the market. In May last year, he got as much as P120 to P150 per kilo. That’s because many of the farmers in Northern Mindanao don’t have irrigation for their crops in summer so they don’t grow much sweet pepper. And since sweet pepper is in short supply, the price is higher. He revealed that his sweet pepper is marketed mostly in Cebu and Bohol. There are a lot of fiestas and many tourists go to Cebu and Bohol during the summer months, and they need a lot of good quality vegetables.

The December issue features a lot of information about Brassicas, the family of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and many other relatives. They are the vegetables to eat, and how to grow them in lowland farms is tackled in detail. There is also a story on club root, the most serious problem of Brassica growers in Benguet.

Then there is the inspiring story of a former security guard who gave up his job so he could farm full-time. Now, he is a progressive farmer growing mango, goats and several others. You will also read the expansion program of Ramgo International. It launched recently its own research station in Polomolok, South Cotabato. So, we can expect more improved varieties we can plant in our own farms. One unique variety that Ramgo is developing is an eggplant that produces fruits in clusters.

Sweet corn is also becoming very popular in Northern Mindanao, particularly Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. You will meet the man responsible for popularizing sweet corn in that part of the country. A young entrepreneur is also processing sweet corn into several unique value-added products. So get a copy of Agriculture Magazine now.