DIZON EXOTIC FRUIT TREES

The Philippine Star, Agriculture/Environment, Sunday, March 30, 2003

Davao high value fruit trees winning ventures in Luzon

by Ramon Ma. Epino

High value fruit trees that are a pride of Davao in Mindanao can now be grown into winning ventures in Luzon and elsewhere. This has been demonstrated by successful orchard growers - of Davao Magallanes pomelo, durian, longkong lanzones and mangosteen - in Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija.

In the heart of Quezon City at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau-Dizon botanic fruit garden at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife, a techno-demo farm managed by pomologist Bernie Dizon, these money-making high value fruit trees are now a-bloom and fruiting. For interested hobbyist, entrepreneurs and orchard growers, he is conduction lecture-seminars on these money-makers and other exotic fruit trees for free on Sundays.

At Central Luzon State University (CLSU), a one-hectare demo-farm run by Dizon through a memorandum of agreement is lush and fruiting well since 1999 with durian, mangosteen, Davao pomelo, rambutan, lanzones, lychees, chokonan, Guimaras and golden queen mangoes from Taiwan and other exotic fruit trees.

Dr. Fortunato A. Battad pose with the only Durian that survived out of hundred of double and triple rootstock given to the University as land rental of Bernardo O. Dizon at Lingap Kalikasan, Central Luzon State University.

The durian and longkong lanzones that survived at the CLSU are now fruiting at Lingap Kalikasan under the supervision of Dr. Jose Tabago. As provided for in the MOA, Dizon's land rental will be the fruit trees that he nurtured at the CLSU.

In Tiaong, Quezon, the CLSU-Dizon Orchard Techno-Demo Farm owned by Atty. Victor P. Lazatin, durian, longkong lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen and lychee are now in full bloom. Not too far away in Calauan, Laguna, Luie Gibe is now enjoying the fruit of his labor in his farm. Magallanes pomelo, durian, lychee and rambutan are now commercially fruiting and bringing in tremendous profits.

Dizon says rice farmers can take advantage of extra incomes offered by these high value fruit trees. These can be grown at the fringes of the rice fields and the dikes (pilapil) that subdivide the vast tracks of the rice fields.

With the right technology (among them, topworking) and superior varieties fruit trees can be successfully farmed anywhere in the Philippines.

The following superior varieties are recommended:

* Durian: Monthong from Thailand and D24 from Malaysia;

* Lanzones: Longkong which is currently priced at P350 per kilo in Metro Manila as compared with P70 per kilo of the local Paete variety;

* Pomelo: Magallanes or Nenita;

* Mangosteen: Lucban variety or Davao variety;

* Lychee: grafted tropical variety;

* Longan: grafted tropical variety.

Dizon provides tips on how to plant these high value fruit trees

1. Plant double rootstock to strengthen growth and fruiting efficiency. Double rootstocked trees can withstand strong wind and adverse weather condition.

2. Plant Magallanes pomelo, mango, lychee, longan, local and imported mangoes in areas with full sunlight.

3. Provide 50 percent shade on durian, lanzones, rambutan during early years. Plant banana in-between the fruit trees to serve as temporary shades.

4. Mangosteen should be planted on farm with 70 percent or more shade. Plant grafted mangosteen to utilize shaded area.

5. Always make planting base porous and fertile. Clay soil should be mixed with one-third rice hull or sand to make it porous. Mix also with decayed manure.

6. Make a mound one meter high on rice field with a diameter of one and one-half meters. The roots must not be submerged or subjected to waterlogging to avoid root rot.