Growing tomatoes during the off-season can be highly profitable, especially if you plant the right variety. Just like Nestor Kalaw who hit the jackpot by planting Diamante in his three-hectare farm in Plaridel, Lipa City.
He planted the latest hybrid tomato from East-West Seed Co. last June, and despite the fact that this cropping season was characterized by heavy rains, he got a bumper harvest of 32 tons per hectare. Besides the high yield he got, he also received a high price for his harvest. When he started harvesting in August, farmgate price of tomatoes was at a high
R33 per kilo. Harvesting lasted for more than two months (about 20 pickings), and according to the report of Ric Reyes of East-West, Kalaw grossed more than R2 million in just four months.
Diamante, according to Kalaw, is resistant to the tomato leaf curl virus (TYLCV) which farmers call "kulot." It can also tolerate heavy rains and is not susceptible to insect pests.
Fruits of the hybrid tomato also command a high price because they have shiny skin that is sought after by buyers.
Plaridel in Lipa City is a traditional tomato producing area. Many of the families grow tomatoes or are financiers or traders who supply tomatoes to Metro Manila markets and other places. Nestor is now a third generation tomato grower who intends to carry on the tradition.
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UPGRADED GOATS. It pays to cross the native goats with improved breeds. The offspring of native goats crossed with Anglo Nubian weigh about 20 kilos each in just 6 months compared to 20 kilos of the one-year-old pure native. That’s according to Jeffrey Lim, a young La Salle graduate who has a modern goat farm in Gerona, Tarlac.
He also believes that crossing Boer with Anglo Nubian will result in taller goats with bigger body. The crossbred could also inherit the milking ability of the Anglo Nubian.
By the way, Jeffrey sees good potential in producing goat milk. He is already getting about a liter a day from some of his Anglo Nubian does. He has also ordered a few Saanen goats from Australia which he will raise for milk. Goat milk is sold in Tarlac at
R100 per liter because it is something special.
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TERESA ORCHARD & NURSERY is open to visitors during Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. This is along the road in Teresa, Rizal, just before the Teresa - Morong boundary. The nursery specializes in exotic fruit trees such as latexless jackfruit, longkong lanzones from Thailand, sweet sampalok, Golden Queen mango, Chokanan mango, Guimaras mango and other certified carabao mangoes, durian, Rongrein rambutan, abiu, imported makopa, duhat, aromatic coconut, dwarf coconut with big fruits and others. Call or text 0917-997-6194 for more information.
