Development of a cost-effective protected vegetable cropping system in the Philippines

A total of thirty four (34) protected cropping structures of various designs were constructed and tested at five project sites in Leyte, Philippines to evaluate their technical and economic viability for producing vegetable crops. Two types of structures were evaluated: house-type structures, built from either bamboo or coco lumber with an effective growing area of 200 m(2) (5x40 m) and tunnel-type/igloo types made of either bamboo or steel frames, with either plastic or net coverings and a growing area of 60 m2 (1.5x40 m). The VSU sites were mainly used for experimentation on crop suitability, pests and disease impacts and nutrition. The farmer sites were mainly used to collect information on yield differences under structure and open field to support the assessment of economic viability, and production challenges. From 134 comparisons, it was found that average yields were higher under protected cropping compared to the open field for cauliflower, green onion, lettuce, chilli pepper, tomato, sweet pepper, ampalaya, pechay, muskmelon, broccoli and beans. There was no improvement in yield for sweet corn, cabbage, watermelon, bottle gourd, cucumber and squash. Farmers need a certain minimum level of skill to take advantage of protected cropping, especially in relation to effective management of irrigation and in controlling pests and diseases. Protected cropping can result in higher yields in both the wet season and the dry season. Foliage diseases were easier to control under protected cropping structures but whiteflies, aphids and mites were more difficult to control.