Some 1,300 volunteers from the Aboitiz group of 20 companies recently planted close to 30,000 tree seedlings in various locations in the country in line with the Abotiz Million Tree Challenge, the planting of one million trees to offset carbon emissions from electricity and fuel consumption.

One piece of good news is that the banana that looks like a dwarf version of our Saba banana will now be propagated for commercial planting.

Flash flood, deaths of humans as well as animals, and damage to properties and many other wanton destruction of our environment are believed to be some of the ill effects of climate change.

In the radio program, Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura, which we co-host, we have been featuring a lot of agribusiness people, big and small, who are immensely successful in their projects.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap sees a bright future for coffee farming in the Philippines—despite the setbacks of the past two decades--and has set his sights on reviving the coffee industry.

Cutting trees is not really a bad thing.

Soil acidity is a common problem in many crop areas in the Philippines, especially among growers of crucifers (cabbage and the like) in upland vegetable areas.

One piece of good news we just learned is that the major breeders of Boer goats have rolled back their prices on purebred bucks in an attempt to encourage the use of purebred animals to improve the body size and meat quality of the existing native and other imported breeds in the country.

Growing ornamental and other plants like vegetables and fruit trees is also a good source of livelihood.

Make sure to get a copy of the November Agriculture Magazine which is off the press early next week.

Tomatoes can be kept field-fresh for three weeks without using cold storage, according to the researchers from the Laguna-based Philippine Horticulture Training and Research Center.

One successful agribusiness venture that continues to surge is Harbest Agribusiness Corporation owned by our good friend Arsenio ‘Toto’ Barcelona.

A seaweed-based organic fertilizer which is said to address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly zinc deficiency, in rice and other crops was one of the products showcased in the recent Agrilink trade show.

The 2008 annual report of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development features a number of successful farmers.

Unknown to many, the abaca produced by the small farmers in Northern Samar and Leyte provinces are the best abaca fiber in the world and it has a good market.

The Animal Products Development Center, a section of the Research Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry, is a most helpful government agency, if you ask entrepreneurs like Rene Almeda of Alaminos Goat Farm.

You still have your last chance to visit Agrilink Saturday.

Rambutan is one good crop to grow for a number of good reasons, whether in the backyard or in a plantation.

For agri people, all roads lead starting Thursday to the World Trade Center Metro Manila at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue and Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. in Pasay City.

Burong hipon (fermented shrimps), canned laing (leafy vegetable in coconut milk), dried fruit cocktail, fish bacon, and many other rare and innovative but highly exportable food products.