Harbest Agritech Teams were formally organized in Januaty
1999 to handle the growing clientele of HARBEST AGRIBUSINESS CORP.
for Technology Transfer Services on short-term, high value vegetables
and fruits. Harbest Agritech is supported by Known-You Seed Co.
Ltd of Kaohsiong, Taiwan, in the adaptation of improved Taiwanese
agricultural technologies in the commercial crop production. These
crops are seedless watermelon, watermelon, honeydew, muskmelon,
supersweet corn, papaya, tomato, bell pepper, radish, heat-tolerant
cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, leafy vegetables, cucumber, ampalaya,
patola, and upo.
Harbest Agritech has a team of twenty full-time,
experienced agricultural technicians serving our clients. In the
past three years, Harbest Agritech has undertaken several TECHNO-DEMO
AND TRAINING FRAM Projects initiated by private individuals, LGUs,
Department of Agrarian Reform and the DA Regional Offices.
Hands-on training in short-term, high-value crops production with
proven and doable technology.
Why go high-value farming?
 In recent years, more and more professionals are looking into
agribusiness as an option for livelihood opportunities. It is
indeed a boost to our agricultural development as a country that
has been dependent on imports, to a significant extent, for its
food requirement. Technology-based agricultural development by
these new breed of farmers aims for quality and profits.
As good agricultural land is getting scarse, with water and inputs
getting expensive, the yield per square meter of land and per
unit of input becomes important. New technologies to increase
yield and improve quality are constantly being researched on and
developed all over the world. The pace of adapting these technology
is also increasing. Hence, our technology-oriented agribusinessmen
are reaping the fruits on their investments.
A niche in this agribusiness development is the
production of short-term, high-value fruits and vegetables. These
are melons, sweet corn, papaya, specialty tomatoes, oriental ampalaya,
Japanese okra, pickling and salad cucumber, heat-tolerant crucifers,
oriental eggplants, Korean radish and oriental leafy vegetables.
Take the case of melons. There are now hundreds
of new varieties to choose from as your “agribusiness partnershipâ€
with watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew for your market. These
comes in different shape, size, taste and color for all types
of markets. We call them partners because they will give you the
profits once you specialize and produce high-quality fruits and
vegetables from your chosen variety. And you can shift from one
variety to another for your niche markets.
Short-term because it takes from one month to
nine months for the crops to mature for harvesting. High-value
crops give the investor from P100,000 to P500,000 income per hectare
per crop cycle. That’s worth your time, money and effort,
isn’t it?
Interested in Agribusiness?
It’s always advisable to study and learn about your choice
crops first before even sowing your first seed. HARBEST AGRITECH
gives free consultation on how you can start with high-value farming
on short-term, high-value fruits and vegetables.
Attend seminars, hands-on training or just listen to the old folks
and experienced growers. These new knowledge can guide you and
have your two feet firmly on the ground when you start. HARBEST
conducts seminars and hands-on training on the commercial production
of these crops. Our field technician can also visit your farm
for a fee to give professional assessment and advise.
You are the success factor
Whatever business you go into, the primary component is YOU. Your
time, your investment, your qualities – knowledge and wisdom,
industriousness, perseverance, sense of purpose, sense of responsibility,
marketing sense, attention to details and etc. You have to test
yourself if you can work under the sun, visit your farm regularly
and deal with your workers. Check if you have the patience to
do accounting records and bring your produce to market.
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1. A three-hour seminar conducted at the HARBEST HEAD OFFICE
by experienced technical staff. Topics touch on land preparation
up to harvesting and marketing. Multi-crops and varieties
or your desired crop. Very helpful for those starting an urban
project or week-end farm. With visual support.Good for a maximum
participants of 5 persons
Seminar to be conducted outside the office. No minimum participants.
Topics on crop production and marketing. How to develop your
farm lots? How to sell farm lots? Basic course for week-end
farmers. Opportunities in high-value farming after retirement.
All expenses for account of organizers
2. Regular crop-specific seminar –
How to grow your own vegetable series. A one and a half
hour lecture on specific crops cultural management from
sowing to harvesting. Melons, tomato, peppers, sweet corn,
papaya, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, herbs, leafy vegetables,
carrots, radish and etc.
Venue: Please check schedule with Harbest
Communications. 6717411-14 / 0917-5203260
3. One-on-one consultation during office
hours is entertained on specific questions on Urban Farming
and crop production.
4. Site visits can be arranged to evaluate
your farm or for guidance on your standing crops. Scope
limited to short-term, high-value crops.
Transportation, board and lodging should
be arranged by client.
5. Pick N Pay Garden Center
Convert your vacant lots into a productive and profitable
vegetable garden center within your subdivision. Develop
a captive market for your CLEAN AND FRESH vegetables overnight
with the proven HARBEST AGRITECH technology. Easy to learn.
Easy to earn.
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For those starting a farm, we can
provide sound advice on what you can do with your farm.
Technical advice is also given the those with standing crops
limited to vegetables and short-term fruits such as watermelon,
melon, papaya and sweet corn. Transportation, board and
lodging to be provided by client.
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This program is formulated for those who wants their farm
helpers trained in improved technology on commercial crop
production, particulary on short-term and high-value vegetables
and fruits. Four - two day session per week, hands-on training
with technical briefings. 8am to 5pm. Includes board and
lodging under farm condition. No comforts. Effective. Training
fee per person. Sites to be determined based on available
slot andschedule.
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Modern and workable agricultural technology
is essential in the development of an agri-based industry
using short-term, high-value crop cycle. By short-term,
the production cycle may range from three weeks to four
months. To modernize the vegetable and short-term fruit
industy in the Philippines, it is important to learn and
apply practical technology that is not so capital intensive
and should be adaptable by common growers.
It is with this backdrop that HARBEST AGRIBUSINESS CORP.
started the TECHNO-DEMO AND TRAINING FARM arrangement with
interested growers and goverment agencies. This arrangement
is covered by a Memorandum of Agreement between Harbest
and the Grower. The basic features of this arrangement are
:
For Harbest : to provide the technology for the commercial
production of short-term, high-value crops and provide marketing
guidance for the produce.
For Grower : to provide the land, labor, capital and management
of the farm.
It is important that the project will have these conditions:
1. Fertile, flat and arable land.
2. Sufficient source of water for the whole crop cycle.
3. Security.
4. Accessiblility.
5. Availability of a full-time technician from the Grower
who will receive and apply the technology and manage the
farm.
 An important features of this arrangement is the Training
Module which is opened to about twenty trainees
to be organized by the Grower. A calendar of activities
defines the training program for the duration of the crop
cycle. Important stages of the growth cycle are empahasized
with hands-on training and technical briefings.
A Harbest Festival culminates the activities with the introduction
of the new varieties to the local consumers and traders.
Afer the first techno-demo project,
commercialization of certain crops in the locality will
usually follow with interested growers who were trained
at the techno-demo farm doing their own planting in a small
scale production. Gradually a domestic market is developed
with the sustainable suppy of produce using F1-hybrid varieties.
As production volume is stabilized, new opportunities arise
with local traders and wholesalers getting interested on
a long term supply contact. This cycle normally takes about
a year or two.
A final point is that vegetables and fuits produced using
improved technology will result in higher yield and better
eating quality. Market acceptability takes a short-time
to establish. Production cost is definitely lower because
of higher yield. The end result is more afforable vegetables
and fruits, available in most part of the year. And the
fact is most the these can be grown in any part of the Philippines.
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Urban farming for everyone
The fast-paced development of Metro Manila and other urban
centers in the Philippines shows the growth of urban markets
for vegetables and short-term fruits. These high-value crops
can be grown easily in vacant lots and areas in the city.
There are now pockets of these vegetables patches in Fairview,
Fort Bonifacio, San Mateo, Taytay as well as inside subdivisions.
Urbanities are becoming more aware of the health benefits
in eating clean and fresh vegetables and fruits.
HARBEST AGRIBUSINESS CORPORATION recently
formalized its Urban and Peri-urban Agricultue Department
– simply called URBAN HARBEST – to support this
growing need for people to plant their own vegetables in
their backyard or in containers and for those interested
to take urban farming as a business. Our HARBEST AGRITECH
Teams are also actively promoting the Vegetable Self-Sufficiency
Program of Local Government (LGUs) by developing agricultural
barangays in cities or municipalities and surrounding areas
near urban centers into Peri-urban agricultural production
modules. This activity has gained acceptance among LGUs
nationwide.
URBAN HARBEST has drawn up several activities
and training modules to educate interested “Urban
Farmers†on how to develop their resources for specific
profitable projects in vegetable and fruit production. We
hope that you will avail of these products and services
for your proper guidance.
North Greenhills Association DEMO FARM
Chinese Kang Kong, Grand Rapid and Red Rapid lettuce, Pak
Choi are already for harvest after 30 days. These fresh
vegetable are now available to the residents of North Greenhills
in the PICK'N PAY Garden Center assisted by HARBEST AGRITECH.
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