WATCH for the July 2017 issue of Agriculture Magazine featuring the Dioko Farm Resort in San Pablo City. Highlighted in the article are the model Eco-Tourism Park where visitors can pick up bright farming and gardening ideas. Another section of the resort complex is the very profitable piggery operation which boasts of 550 breeding sows and an overall swine population of 3,500. It also boasts a huge biogas digester which supplies the electricity requirements of the feedmill and the resort during daytime.

Other stories include the report on the 39th anniversary of PhilMech where new machinery and equipment for farm mechanization were showcased. These include the 10-Row Onion Mechanical Seeder which can cut cost of onion production and at the same increase yield.

Another interesting feature is the great success achieved by Harbest Agribusiness Corporation that Arsenio “Toto” Barcelona started 20 years ago. The company has been instrumental in introducing improved production techniques of vegetables and other high-value crops. Harbest has introduced the use of plastic mulch, greenhouse and drip irrigation technology, small farm machinery and high-quality seeds.

Other features include the story on Masantol as the crab capital of Pampanga; the story of four sisters who started their house of goodies with just P500; SeedWorks hybrid rice tops derby; sustainable household-level production of muscovado sugar, and other stories.