Sustainable vegetable production for small farmers on problem soils in the highland of Bukidnon (Philippines) for fresh market and processing

Supplying the growing world population with food, particularly in developing countries, is the overwhelming challenge of the future. It is known that in almost all of these countries consumption of vegetables is far from being sufficient. Growing vegetables is particularly suited for small farmers and their families because they can best meet the special cultivation requirements. Yet farmers need to be encouraged to move to new and more profitable crops. Additionally, careful management of the natural resources soil and water is necessary to prevent the decrease of the amount of usable land. · To integrate the production of vegetables into the prevalent corn cropping systems on the basis of a tomato-corn-legumes (mungbean, vegetable soybean) crop rotation pattern. · To overcome low soil fertility by application of organic fertilizers in combination with optimum amounts and sources of mineral fertilizers. · To optimize production of high quality tomatoes for fresh market and processing during dry season by use of drip irrigation systems. All field trials were part of the programme of the Research and Development Department of the Bukidnon Resources Company, Inc.