FOOD & NEWSLETTER FERTILIZER 157 TECHNOLOGY

Transcription

1 FOOD & NEWSLETTER FERTILIZER 157 TECHNOLOGY SEPTEMBER 2007 CENTER Photo courtesy of D.H. Tuyen, NIAH, Hanoi, Vietnam. Improving small-scale duck production in Asia SMALL-SCALE DUCK production substantially contributes to household food security, helps diversify incomes, and serves as a renewable asset in many rural households in developing Asian countries. However, small-scale duck producers are constrained by poor access to appropriate technologies and information, as well as market and support services, which could otherwise translate into improved productivity, increased income, and sustainable duck production systems. (see page 4) Articles in this issue News Briefs... 2 Corn project in Caraga Region, Philippines holds farmers' field day... 3 Improved technology and production systems Working toward the sustainability of small-scale duck production in Asia... 4 Strengthening the agricultural biotechnology capacity of Southeast Asian countries... 7 New Publication

2 News Briefs FFTC and NTU conduct training workshop on indexing and production of pathogen-free citrus seedlings TAIPEI, TAIWAN ROC - FFTC, in collaboration with the Plant Pathology and Microbiology Department - College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture of the National Taiwan University (NTU), conducted a training workshop on Technology on Indexing and Production of Pathogen-free Citrus Seedlings on 5-12 August 2007 in NTU, Taipei, Taiwan ROC for participants from the Philippines and Malaysia. The training workshop aimed to provide the trainees with a comprehensive technical and working knowledge on citrus greening (HLB) and virus disease indexing and management toward the production of pathogen-free citrus seedlings. The said training was under the expertise and guidance of Dr. Hong-Ji Su, Professor Emeritus of NTU and FFTC Consultant. The training workshop, attended by three participants from the Philippines and two from Malaysia, covered such topics as: citrus greening (HLB) and virus disease management; different techniques for virus disease indexing; production of pathogen-free seedlings by shoot-tip micrografting (STG); and pathogen-free citrus foundation and nursery system and antibiotic injection. The activity was envisioned to facilitate citrus research and development in the two countries, especially the establishment of disease-indexing laboratories in the participants' respective institutions. Prof. Hong-Ji Su briefs the participants of the training workshop during a visit to FFTC. Philippine agriculture officials visit FFTC TAIPEI, TAIWAN ROC - Officials from the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA), accompanied by MECO Resident Representative Mr. Antonio Basilio, met with FFTC Director Sing-Hwa Hu and staff on 23 July 2007 aiming to further strengthen the scientific and technical cooperation in agriculture between the Center and the Philippine government. During the visit, Dir. Hu took the opportunity to express FFTC's appreciation to the Philippine government for its all-out support and cooperation to the programs and activities of the Center, hoping that this tradition of partnership will continue especially in such areas as capacity building like trainings and workshops, and research and technology transfer activities. Philippine DA and MECO officials met with FFTC Director Sing-Hwa Hu and staff to explore future scientific and technical cooperation in agriculture. 2 FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157

3 Corn project in Caraga Region, Philippines holds farmers' field day FFTC DIRECTOR Sing-Hwa Hu recently participated in the Corn Farmers' Field Day in Butuan City, Caraga Region, northern Mindanao, Philippines. Joining him in this activity were Resident Representative Antonio Basilio of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), President Edgar Ignacio of the Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST), and Director Ricardo Regis of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga Region. The occasion brought together farmer participants and other stakeholders in the Modern Corn Cultivation Technology Transfer Project launched by FFTC, MECO, DA and NORMISIST in 2006 with the full support and active encouragement of the Council of Agriculture (COA) of Taiwan ROC. The major objective of the project is to transfer Taiwan technology in growing corn to Filipino corn farmers in northern Mindanao, which includes the use of hybrid seeds and appropriate mechanization to ensure greater productivity and laborsaving practices. The Taiwanese government has generously provided Taiwan corn hybrids for testing under northern Mindanao conditions. Four hybrids (two white corn and two yellow corn) were selected from a batch of hybrids screen-tested in the demonstration farm inside the NORMISIST campus. All four hybrids registered high yields and good adaptability to local conditions. The whole day activity highlighted the end of a successful cropping season wherein corn hybrid seeds developed and produced in Taiwan performed very well under agronomic and climatic conditions existing in northern Mindanao. In fact, some farmer participants reported yields better than those obtained in Taiwan using the same hybrid seed varieties. The field day, which took place on 30 July 2007, allowed the farmer participants to interact with DA corn technicians and with Taiwanese corn specialists Drs. Fu- Hsiung Lin and Tien-Joung Yiu and to exchange with them insights and lessons gained in growing corn the Taiwanese way and using Taiwan developed corn hybrid seeds. Students taking up agriculture in NORMISIST also attended the gathering and were exposed first hand on the problems and challenges facing corn farmers. The Farmers' Forum and Field Visits to the Corn Demonstration Farm inside the NORMISIST campus and in model farms in Tiniwisan, Butuan City, and Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte highlighted the whole day activity. (From top) Corn harvest display of Taiwan corn hybrid seeds planted in northern Mindanao; Visit to the corn demonstration field in NORMISIST; Farmers' Forum attended by Taiwanese experts, local corn farmer participants, DA technicians, and NORMISIST students. FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157 3

4 Improved technology and production systems Working toward the sustainability of small-scale duck production in Asia S mall-scale duck production makes substantial contributions to household food security in developing countries in Asia. It also helps diversify incomes and provides quality food, energy, and a renewable asset in many rural households. Ducks easily adapt to various adverse environments, and are well resistant to a variety of animal diseases. They can grow well with locally available feeds and less manpower is needed to raise them even under meagerly equipped facility, so that even women and aged people are able to easily manage the production. However, small-scale producers are constrained by poor access to appropriate technologies and information, as well as markets and support services, which could otherwise substantially improve productivity and income generation. Recognizing the important contribution that duck production can make to poverty alleviation and rural development, FFTC in cooperation with the National Institute of Animal Husbandry (NIAH), Vietnam, organized the international seminar on Improved Duck Production for Small-Scale Farmers primarily with the goal of bringing together duck experts from all over Asia in order to share and exchange practical and technical information in support of small-scale duck producers, as well as to enhance technical cooperation in this area among countries in the region. During the seminar held in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 2007, technology and information to promote efficient production of ducks for Asian small-scale farmers, particularly in the areas of genetic improvement and improved cultural practices, were presented. The seminar also provided a better understanding of the usefulness of biotechnology in increasing egg production and fertility, and in improving viable embryos development and hatchability. The participants Intensive rearing (above) and gene conservation rearing (right) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photos courtesy of Duong Xuan Tuyen, NIAH, Vietnam. Duck-fish integrated system in Hanoi, Vietnam. 4 FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157

5 all agreed that if small-scale duck production is to remain sustainable, the use of better breeds and management of stock health and local feed resources, as well as the introduction of appropriate new technologies, must be enhanced. Status and potential of duck production in Asia In Asia, duck production has remained a traditional poultry industry, playing an important role in the rural economy. However, while in many developing countries ducks are traditionally raised in small-scale for meat and eggs, large-scale production has recently been prevalent among more advanced countries in the region, and chilled/frozen duck meat and processed eggs have become major export commodities. Faced with strong competition worldwide, duck industries in developed countries in the region have expanded to duck egg and meat processing as a major industry component aimed at achieving premium-quality duck products. Certification and traceability system have also been introduced for duck egg and meat products to guarantee food safety. And with the expansion of duck production and duck processed products, intensive duck farm management monitoring, sanitation, surveillance, biosecurity and emergency response systems have been established covering the whole range of duck farming. Along with this expansion are changes in choice of breeds, intensive cultural practices and improved housing systems, which usually involve large investment. On the other hand, in many developing Asian countries ducks are still raised in traditional system of herding and scavenging, where ducks are mostly kept in small flocks by farmers as extra activities in between their crop farming routines, and are expected to produce eggs only as additional income to the farmers' households. Variability of production is still very high because of low performance and productivity under extensive and subsistence system. Under small-scale conditions, the main challenge is how to encourage farmers to shift toward a more intensive and efficient production system, and to help them overcome problems facing the duck industry such as lowquality breeding stocks, scarce and unpredictable quality of locally available feedstuff, source of quality day-old ducklings (DODs), lack of information on the nutrient requirement of ducks, high cost of commercial feeds, and limited space of herding. Technologies are then required for improving productivity and efficiency in intensive and commercial duck farming, especially in supplying good quality breeding stock with efficient feed utilization, and improved cultural practices. Duck farming has a great potential as a commercial entity for small-scale farmers, with the right program and policy support from the government and private enterprises. Genetic improvement In Asia, some major initiatives on genetic improvement have been done in Vietnam and Taiwan. In Vietnam, the genetic improvement of the local laying Co duck breed for farming systems and sustainable agricultural ecology was carried out in order to save on cost from importing egg-type ducks. The breeding effort was also intended to improve egg production for increased income of smallscale farmers, and to reduce environmental pollution and promote safe agricultural products from sustainable agricultural farming systems such as duck-rice, duck-fish or duck-fish-rice without chemical insecticides. In Taiwan, the Brown Tsaiya, a Taiwan native duck, is one of the highest laying duck breeds in the world. Since 1984, a selection is being done in order to obtain a maximum gain for the number of egg laid up to 52 weeks of age, to increase eggshell strength at 30 or 40 weeks of age, and to keep constant egg weight at 40 weeks of age and body weight at 40 weeks of age (BW40). Future initiatives will focus on identification of QTL and genes which control the economic traits by using DNA marker in order to enhance the efficiency of the selection for quantitative traits. Also in Taiwan, Muscovy have been used as terminal sires in a 3-way crossbreeding by artificial insemination of the common duck female as well as in pure breeding for Muscovy for meat. Line 302 of Muscovy was moderately selected for body weight at 10 weeks of age. Growing traits, which included body weight at 10 and 18 weeks of age and length of the 8 th primary feather at 10 weeks of to page 6... FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157 5

6 Small-scale duck production... from page 5 age, were individually measured and recorded. The female ducks' laying performance traits was also individually measured. Technology and production systems development Technology and production systems improvement presented during the seminar includes the development of artificial insemination to improve production of mule ducks; establishment of nutrient requirements on ducks to facilitate the usage of completely formulated pelleted diet and to enlarge the scale of duck production; development of electric incubator to achieve a stable supply of healthy ducklings; research and development on duck meat and egg products to provide consumers with a variety of duck products and which is important in terms of sustainability of the duck industry; and further selection of economic traits of important breeds, germplasm preservation, biotechnology, processing of duck products, and alleviation of heat stress. Assistance and extension to the duck industry is always emphasized. Production systems have likewise been improved considerably through technologies and practices such as improving the farm's general layout, sanitation, biosecurity, husbandry and health practices; management practices and key performance index of duck breeders in closed and open houses; changes in choice of breeds, trends in housing system, and simple and natural management practices of duck farms; development and management of layer duck farming and marketing of duck eggs; and production performances of breeders. Future prospects and recommendations There are different scales and levels of duck production systems in the Asian region. In some developing economies, duck farms remain under traditional system with low productivity and practically no breeding farm. However, interest toward intensification is increasing in recent years due to changing technical, social and economic environments. Modern technologies are required to support more intensive farming system in order to be attractive to farmers. Development of commercial strains, feeding strategy, and institutional innovations must be intensified, and regulations and standards must be implemented toward the sustainability and competitiveness of small-scale duck production. In developing economies where small-scale production is prevalent, research and development and market and support services are critical to boost the economic importance of duck. Problems on quality breeders, high cost of feed inputs, threat of avian flu, and shrinking agricultural lands are the most immediate Participants visit to the Duck Research Center of NIAH, Hanoi, Vietnam (above); Demonstration of artificial insemination in duck (left). concerns needing attention from the government and the private sectors. Some development strategies to improve small-scale duck production include organizing farmers into cooperatives to facilitate efficient management and achieve economies of scale, technology diffusion, supply management, and imporved production and market. The general trend will be towards organized and larger units and consolidation, especially in the area of duck meat and egg processing. Some issues and concerns toward this trend include intensive duck farm management monitoring, sanitation, surveillance, biosecurity and emergency response systems, and food safety and traceability, which should be addressed to cover the whole range of duck farming. Along with this expansion are changes in production systems such as choice of breeds, intensive cultural practices, and housing systems. In view of the concern of some developing countries for research funding, particularly for molecular research, technical cooperation within the Asian region must be promoted. More advanced countries like Taiwan can offer opportunities for research implementation and research results sharing. There should also be a follow-up meeting of the seminar to set up a network for technical cooperation among countries in Asia, so that a regional cooperation mechanism can be established to harmonize efforts in the promotion of improved duck production for small-scale farmers. 6 FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157

7 Strengthening the agricultural biotechnology capacity of Southeast Asian countries The application of the powerful tools of modern biotechnology, particularly that involving DNA recombinant technologies, promises substantial improvement in food quality and significant contribution in attaining food security. The research and development advances made by Taiwan in agricultural biotechnology and its subsequent agro-industry applications, provide a fertile ground for learning among countries in Southeast Asia. Thus, the training-workshop on agricultural biotechnology was formulated with the National Taiwan University (NTU), a premier university in the development of biotechnology in Asia, as the lead implementing institution. Held on September 2007 at the Center for Biotechnology, NTU in Taipei, Taiwan, the training workshop was attended by a total of 27 participants from 7 countries in Southeast Asia as follows: Cambodia (1), Indonesia (3), Malaysia (3), Philippines (8), Taiwan (5), Thailand (3), and Vietnam (4). FFTC co-organized this activity with NTU, the Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center (STPI) of Taiwan, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in the Philippines. Generous support was provided by the National Science Council (NSC), the Council of Agriculture (COA), and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The training-workshop primarily aimed to strengthen the agricultural biotechnology capacity of countries within Southeast Asia and was envisioned to pave the way for the enhancement of their respective biotechnology industry. The training-workshop was also expected to open doors for future cooperation and partnerships in the development of agricultural biotechnology industry in the region. The module was developed by NTU, and all the lectures were conducted by professors of the university. The topics covered include: (a) recombinant DNA techniques-cloning tools, transformation and identification of transformants and protein expression systems; (b) methods for identification of genetically modified organisms (GMO); (c) molecular detection of plant pathogens; (d) genetic transformation in plants; (e) application of molecular profiling in crop quality management and improvement; (f) development of pharmaceutical proteins produced by transgenic animals; and (g) realities of developing and bringing a transgenic crop to the market. The laboratory exercises provided considerable exposure to participants in learning biotechnology core techniques, complementing the topics discussed during lectures. The laboratory exercises also provided wide opportunities for knowledge networking among the participants and resource persons (lecturers). (Clockwise) Field study tour at the King Car Biotech Company; Laboratory exercises at the Center for Advanced Biotechnology, NTU; Lecture sessions at NTU. FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157 7

8 New Publication FFTC ANNUAL REPORT 2006 In the rural landscapes of the Asian and Pacific (ASPAC) region where agriculture has remained the main source of livelihood, small-scale farmers become increasingly vulnerable particularly to the globalization of the agriculture sector. This is characterized by highly-advanced technological innovations, large-scale production dominating the markets in a highly competitive environment and in view of changing consumer preferences, and shifting international agricultural trade regime. Amid these structural changes in agriculture, markets and consumers have become segmented, and issues such as food safety, environment-friendly production and sustainability have become major concerns. While large farm corporations easily conquered these new challenges, small-scale farmers in the region are left groping to survive in an increasingly harsh environment. In view of these, the need of small-scale farmers for state-of-the-art, but practical information and technologies has become even greater than before. That is why year after year, FFTC reviews its strategies and work programs to fittingly integrate the needs of small-scale farmers in the face of the current global agricultural environment. The ultimate mission of FFTC is to promote increased information and technological exchanges among countries in the region in support of their development efforts and to contribute to the creation of a genuinely interdependent regional sustainable agriculture. The FFTC Annual Report 2006 presents our Center's work program and initiatives in pursuit of this goal in the past year. We are proud to contribute, in our own little way, to the ASPAC region's process of social and economic progress by addressing our small-scale farmers' basic need for practical information and technology. We look forward to working with all our member countries and partner institutions as we take the next step on this journey toward a broad-based economic growth and sustainable agricultural development of the ASPAC region. FFTC Quarterly Newsletter The Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) is an international agricultural information center for smallscale farmers in the Asian and Pacific region. It collects and disseminates information on improved low-cost technology, with the aim of helping farmers obtain better yields and a higher income. Articles in this Newsletter may be translated, quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given to the source. Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region 5th Fl., 14 Wenchow St. Taipei 10616, Taiwan ROC Tel. (886 2) Fax (886 2) info@fftc.agnet.org Home Page: ISSN: FFTC NEWSLETTER 2007/157