Palm Oil and Salago Uses and Extraction

Palm Oil Extraction, Uses, and Benefits

• Palm oil is extracted through various methods like hand stripping, decortication, and retting.
• Palm oil is advantageous due to its durability, resistance to pressure and high temperatures, and relative stability.
• It’s perceived as healthier than other oils because it remains solid at room temperature, avoiding the need for hydrogenation which produces trans-fatty acids.
• Hand-scraped pina fibers are used for various traditional crafts like barong Tagalog, kimonos, and household items.
• Decorticated pina fibers are utilized in textile manufacturing for clothing, home furnishings, and handmade papers.

Salago (Wikstroemia spp.)

• Salago serves as a vital material for producing currency papers, banknotes, checks, and other high-quality documents.
• It’s also suitable for various everyday uses like rope making, fishing lines, and clothlines.
• Notably, it’s a component of Japanese sliding doors and kimonos.

Retting

• Retting separates fiber bundles from central stems, loosening fibers from wood tissues.
• This process relies on the action of microorganisms and water/moisture.
• Retting is a crucial step in extracting fibers for different applications.

Precision Agriculture

• Precision agriculture involves digital tools and data analytics for efficient farm management practices.
• Technologies like GPS and GIS help in mapping fields and analyzing spatial data.
• Remote sensing, utilizing drones and satellites, collects data about crop health and growth.

Foliar Fertilizer

• Foliar fertilizer applies nutrients directly to plant leaves instead of soil.
• This method optimizes nutrient uptake and reduces potential soil contamination compared to traditional soil-based fertilization.

Arabica Coffee

• Arabica, known locally as "kapeng tagalog," represents a superior quality coffee variety.
• It's typically cultivated with hedgerows containing diverse vegetation such as legume shrubs and fruit crops.
• Nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs are pruned to minimize shading, promoting overall crop health.

Liberica Coffee

• Liberica coffee, also known as "kapeng barako," is a distinct coffee variety.
• It's recognized for its strong, robust flavor and bold aroma.

Dragonfruit (Hylocereus)

• The genus Hylocereus classifies various varieties of cactus fruits, commonly known as dragonfruit.
• Dragonfruit is recognized for its vibrant colors and refreshing taste.

Strawberry (Fragaria)

• The genus Fragaria encompasses numerous strawberry varieties.
• Strawberries are beloved for their sweet, juicy fruit, widely used in desserts and culinary delights.

Lychee (Litchi chinensis)

• Lychee, with popular varieties like "Mauritius" and "Sinco," is a delectable fruit.
• It's known for its delicate, sweet taste and attractive appearance.

Pineapple Varieties

• The Smooth Cayenne pineapple variety is favored for its exceptional taste and suitability for both canning and fresh consumption.
• Other pineapple varieties grown in the Philippines include Queen (Formosa) and Red Spanish (Native Philippine Red).

"Sinta" Hybrid Papaya

• "Sinta" is the first Philippine-bred hybrid papaya variety.
• It stands out for its semi-dwarf profile, sweet flesh, and size, averaging 1.2-2.0 kg per fruit.

Intercropping Under Coconut Palms

• Intercropping practices under coconut palms provide a selection of marketable crops, boosting overall farm productivity.
• It enhances cropping system efficiency by obtaining higher yields and improved growth characters.
• Intercropping also reduces the impact of drought on fruit setting and serves as a mechanical control measure for pests.
• Recommended vegetable intercropping under coconut palms include tomato, eggplant, sweet pepper, squash, okra, ginger, and more.
• It's crucial to avoid intercropping coconut with alternate hosts like cacao, durian, papaya and black pepper.

Coconut Bud Rot Disease

• This fungal disease causes significant damage to coconut palms.
• Control measures include:
  • Chemical Control: Trunk injection of fungicide containing Fosetyl-Al within a 20m radius of infected palms.
  • Biological Control: Regular application of organic and bio-control agents (Trichoderma) to suppress pathogens.
  • Resistant Varieties: Planting coconut varieties less susceptible or tolerant to bud rot disease.

Asiatic Palm Weevil

• This beetle infests and damages coconut palms.
• Management strategies include:
  • Farm Sanitation: Removal of infested palms and extermination of all pest stages.
  • Preventive Chemical treatments: Spraying palms around infested areas with chemicals at the trunk base or new holes to ward off the pest.
  • Implementing quarantine measures: Thorough inspection of planting materials to prevent infestation.
  • Biological control: Utilizing predators like earwigs and entomopathogens for natural pest control.

Rhinoceros Beetle

• The coconut rhinoceros beetle, a significant pest of coconut palms, is targeted with Biological control using a specific strain of the fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae.
• The fungus infects the beetle and causes mortality in larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Organic Fertilizers for Coconut

• Organic fertilizers, including farm wastes like animal manures, are increasingly used in combination with chlorine nutrient sources (KCl, NaCl) to supply essential electrolytes for coconut growth.
• Coconut water is rich in electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Significance of Coconut Water

• Coconut water provides electrolytes, essential for muscle function.
• It's an isotonic drink revitalizing the body and mind, aiding in rehydration and regaining energy.
• Coconut water may help lower blood pressure, potentially reducing the risk of blood clots in arteries.
• It improves digestion due to bio-active enzymes and dietary fibers.
• As a natural diuretic, coconut water helps cleanse the urinary tract.
• Coconut water can regulate blood sugar levels, beneficial for individuals with prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
• It contains cytokinin, a hormone that potentially delays aging.

Philippine Agricultural Production by Region

• Central Luzon: Most significant region for Palay (rice) production.
• Cagayan Valley: Top producer of Corn.
• Central Luzon: Leading region for Chicken farming.
• CALABARZON: Primary region for Chicken egg production.
• Central Luzon: Largest producer of Duck and Duck eggs.
• CALABARZON: Region where goat farming is most prominent.
• Central Luzon: Key region for Dairy production.

Philippine Export Markets

• Japan: Primary destination for fresh banana exports.
• Netherlands: Major import market for Coconut oil.