DIZON EXOTIC FRUIT TREES

Manila Bulletin, Agriculture, Saturday, January 20, 2001

Right Technology can make even poor land productive

Agri Plain Talk by Zac B. Sarian

If we use the right technology, even very poor land can be converted into something productive. Just like the portion of the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife along North Avenue, Quezon City, for instance.

In 1992, Bernie Dizon, the fruit expert, was granted use of small portion so he could develop it into a sort of fruit botanic garden.


WATERLOGGED ADOBE SOIL TRANSFORMED INTO FRUIT BOTANIC GARDEN

Many were skeptical about the project at that time. Even the superintendent was doubtful if Dizon could do anything right. That is because the soil is adobe. There is very thin topsoil that is heavy clay. Year after year, attempts to plant forest trees did not succeed because they died of waterlogging.

But that did not deter Dizon to show what he could do. Today, there are durian trees that have been fruiting during the last four years. This time of the year, they are again starting to bear flowers which will be harvestable late April or early May.

His apple macopa trees have been fruiting regularly. So are the lychee, rambutan and other exotic fruits he has planted.

Normally, the durian will easily succumb to phytophtora disease which is very prevalent where there is waterlogging. To remedy the situation, he elevated the place where he planted the durian trees. He dumped a top of garden soil in one place and kept it in place by using two layers of hollow blocks

This Wednesday, January 24, Dizon will conduct an open house that is open free to the public. He will explain what he did to convert the barren place into a thriving forest of fruit trees. He will also discuss his technique of producing planting materials with double rootstocks to make them faster-growing and more productive.

He will be discussing pointers on the care not only of durian but also such high-value fruits as mangosteen, longkong, duku lanzones, lychee, longan, rambutan, Millennium mango, Guimaras mango, variegated chico, Paniyur variety of black pepper which produces big fruit spikes, and others

The open house is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. everybody is invited.