Biotechnology experts have called on the
government to intensify the cultivation of crops that profuce
biofuel like jatropha curcas and coconut, even as they
underscored the need to breed drought-resistant crops and
saline-tolerant fish to obviate the impact of the prolonged
drought.
Jatropha, known locally as tuba-tuba, produces oil that
performs as good as diesel and the plant can be planted even in hostile terrain
and the most inhospitable soil.
Research on coconut oil as a green fuel has also been
undertaken by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Zamboanga City and
results have been encouraging, with the oil used as fuel to run pick-ups and
farm equipment.
Government is also trying to identify which areas could be
developed for the massive production of genetically-modified sugarcane, cassava,
sweet sorghum, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn and other crops that yield
between 9 percent and 18 percent alcohol for the production of ethanol.
Scientists from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)
and the AgricultureTechnology Institute (ATI) who have been concerned with the
prolonged drought have also called on the Arroyo administration to develop
superior crops through gene-splicing technique to come up with drought-resistant
varieties as well as crop varieties that can survive severe flooding.
Rafael Guerrero of the Philippine Council for Marine and
Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCAMRRD), who warned that the
long-dry spell might affect in-land fishponds and fish cages recommended the use
of high-saline tolerant fish variety developed specifically for such weather
condition.
He said for brackish fish cages, high saline-tolerant fish,
especially tilapia, should be used to minimize loss as a consequence of the dry
spell.
Advocates of biotechnology said it is during this crucial times that the
wonders of biotechnology work to offer government a better solution to the
country’s woes, and farmers a better alternative to increase their farm
production.
