SUCCESSFUL ORCHARD GROWERS IN THE COMMUNITY

1. Gil T. David (Mango Orchard)

-Retired officer of thePhilippineArmy -Son of a farmer in the barrio of San Isidro, Bacolor, Pampanga.
-He purchased a 10-hectare farm and planted rows and rows of mango trees of a sweet variety of
carabao mangoes.
-His family harvested about 40 to 45 “tiklis of native carabao mangoes.
-Marketing the product was not a problem because middlemen from neighboring town would come
to the farm to purchased the products.
-Today, Gil’s mango orchard is one of the most prosperous mango orchards in the barrio.

2. Ben M. Santos (Jacfruit Orchard)

-Became an orphan at a young age 12. He and his two sisters were adopted by his mother’s brother,
his Uncle Jose who owned a jackfruit farm in Bataan.
-Ben’s uncle owned a five
-hectare farm, where jackfruit trees are planted.
-They say that the fruits are extraordinarily big, plump, sweet and juicy.
-They hire pickers to extract inside plumb fruit preserves like langka preserves.
-The jackfruit orchard has been a profitable business for over a decade.
-After the death of his uncle, Ben and his sisters took over the management of the farm.

3. Senen Bacani of La Fuerta Inc.

-A former Department of Agriculture (DA) head during thePresidency of Corazon C. Aquino head, Mr.
Bacani is now a CEO of one of the largest exporters of bananas in the country, La Fuerta Inc. “We
excel because we care,” is his compamy’s motto. True enough, it is not only in their world class
products that got them big, but also in their effort to care and value their hardworking farmers.
-With his eagerness to help his community in Mindanao, he converted his land into a banana
plantation that produces 5 to 6 million boxes of Cavendish bananas and export them to Middle East
and other Asian countries.

4. Editha Aguinaldo Dacuycuy (REFMAD FARMS)

(Rare Eagle Forest Marine and Agricultural Development)
-Owns the largest dragon fruit farm in the country located in Ilocos Norte.
-Her dragon fruit farm was a result of her search for a cure for her daughter’s illness/disease.
-With her continuous research and process innovation, her business grew and became known for its
zero –waste farming practices.
-Her vision is to make the country a big producer of dragon fruit producers.

5. Jose Mercado of (MERLO AGRICULTURAL CORPORATION)

-He Was the chairman of Merlo Agricultural Corp. Knows that coffee business will make him
successful. It actually gives him a better life.
-He grow up in a coffee farm in Lipa, Batangas.
-They bank on the quality of their coffee beans and roasting technique. In 1990, Jose developed his
own blend which became a hit because of its flavour and called it Café de Lipa named after his
hometown.
-He sells three brands of coffee- Batangas Brew, Café de Lipa and Kapeng Barako which are all
proven to be popular in the market until today.

6. Joseph Calata (Calata Corporation)

- The youngest business tycoon in the country started by studying their family business and
through his passion to develop their business, Calata Corporation is the country’s largest distributor
of Agrochemicals, feeds, fertilizers and seeds.
-Mr. Calata is the brain behind the success. Now, Calata Corporation has been signing deals with
different foreign firms.

7. Desiree Duran ( Duran Farm

and Agribusiness Center)
-With her desire to learn about farming, Ms. Duran involved herself in various agribusiness seminars
and training.
-She then converted her land into a tomato plantation and involved her community in the
production.
-Besides producing high quality fruits and vegetables, the center also trains and teaches farmers on
moderm agricultural technology.
-They also developed seeds which are now available in the market.

8. Alfredo M. Yao
-The “Juice King of the Philippines” owns a farm in Negros Occidental aside from Zest – O
Corporation.
-He is the President of Semexco Marketing Corporation, Asia wide Refreshment Corporation (makers
of RC Cola); Harmon Foods (Phils) Inc.
-When no company took notice, he made his own fruit juice and launched what was to become one of
the biggest local juice brands.
-He introduced other names which were exported to other countries in Asia like China, Korea,
Singapore and some parts of America and Europe.

9. Patricio Base
-With his three-hectare plantation of watermelons, honeydew melons, and papaya, he produces
crops year-round in Alicia, Isabela.
-He was able to send his four children in college with his earnings.
-He used to grow rice before venturing into watermelons.
-He said there was no money in planting rice, but now with melons, one can even hit the jackpot.
-In July 2013, he planted Diana watermelons in 3,500square meter s and got 12 tons worth
P480,000 at P40 per kilo ex-farm. He surely earns much more today.
 Elements/Factors to be Considered in Planting Trees and Fruit
Bearing Trees
1. Climate- is considered as the most important factor affecting the growth
of
trees or crops.

Climate includes:
a. Temperature- refers to the degree of coldness and hotness of the
atmosphere of a certain period.
b. Sunlight- is the main energy provider in the process of food
manufacture in
the plant kingdom, sunlight influences the growth of trees
through its
effects on photosynthesis, transpiration, flowering, rate of
water
absorption among others.
c. Rainfall- is very important for the growth of all kinds of trees. Too
much or too
little water may stunt their development.
2. Soil- holds the tree and provides it with nutrients and certain mineral
elements
necessary for growth and development. It is the primary medium
for
plants.

Types of Soil
a. Mineral Soil- composed of inorganic substances with varying amounts
of
decaying organic matter
b. Organic soil- is form from partly decayed plant materials.

Classification of Soil
a. Sandy –is made up largely of coarse particles of sand
b. Loamy Soil –is fertile and retentive of soil moisture and is considered to
be the best garden soil.
3. Water- Trees cannot survive without water for it forms part of every
plant, cells and tissues

4. Fertilizer- are added to the soil to increase its productivity.

Two Kinds of Fertilizer

a. Organic Fertilizer- are a mixture of animal manure; food washing and
decayed fruits, vegetable peelings and humus.
b. Inorganic Fertilizer- are the commercial fertilizer and are made up
of synthetic materials and is used as substitute for the organic one.