By Anselmo Roque, Philippine Daily Inquirer via SEAMEO SEARCA BIC

Don't underestimate the value of the eggplant. Culinary-wise, it may just look like an ordinary vegetable. But in terms of production and income that it provides to growers, it is a very valuable crop, indeed.

In terms of volume, the eggplant is number one among the vegetables produced in the country. The country ranks 7th among the world's top eggplant producers.

According to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development (PCARRD), the value of eggplants produced in the country in 1997 was P1.5 billion.

In 2003, according to a project report of the University of The Philippines Los Baños Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB), annual eggplant production hit P1.8 billion.

The area dedicated to the cultivation of this crop was about 18,000 hectares in 1997. By 2003, the area expanded to 19,000 hectares.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have identified the eggplant as a priority crop for research and development.

PCARRD studies showed that with proper cultural practices, farmers can harvest as much as 18,000 kilograms of eggplants from a hectare of land.

At a farm gate price of P10 a kilo, the gross is P180,000 per hectare.

Cost of production, PCARRD said, is P 92,123 per hectare. Thus in just one season, a successful farmer can rake in a net income of P 87,877 per hectare.

During a production glut, however, the farm gate price of eggplant plunges to P5 a kilo or even less. In this case, the net income for the producer scales down.

The national average wholesale price of eggplant is P 11.43 a kilo. There are times, however, that the farm gate price of eggplant goes as high as P15 a kilo, which bodes well for the farmers.

And there are times after as destructive typhoon or flooding, when eggplant sells for even higher at P50 a kilo. In December last year, selling prices rose to a record high of P80 a kilo due to a spate of typhoons and flash floods that hit some parts of Luzon.

Eggplant (Solarium melongena L.) is a highly fibrous vegetable that contains about 6 percent carbohydrates and one percent protein. It is a good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and Vitamin B.

A biennial solanaceuos crop, this plant is adaptable both in upland and lowland areas. It may be grown anytime of the year in almost all parts of the country.

The recommended varieties for eggplant production, according to PCARRD, are Dumaguete Long Purple, Bulakeña, Claveria KS and the preferred varieties are Casino, Long Purple, Sinampedro, Bureau, and Llamdo.

Other known varieties of eggplants used by growers include the Nueva Ecija Green, Jackpot Long Green, Black Ninja, Dingras Multiple Purple #1, Economic Garden Long Long Purple, UPL-Eg-s, Bingo, Batangas Long Purple, Pampanga Purple, Negros Purple, Simmeda, and native. The imported seed varieties are Black Beauty and Golden Gate.

A hybrid, called "Mistisa", was developed recently by a plant breeder of UPLB-IPB. This hybrid variety is resistant to shoot and fruit borers and to bacterial wilt.

Among the provinces, the top eggplant producers are: Ilocos region, 32 percent; Cagayan Valley, 26 percent; Southern Tagalog, 14 percent; Central Luzon, 10 percent; Western Visayas, 6 percent; Bicol, 3 percent; and the rest of the regions, 9 percent.

Per capita consumption of eggplant in the country has been placed at 2.27 kilograms a year, according to PCARRD studies.

Pointers

The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz City gave the following pointers to those who are interested to go into eggplant production:

• Produce the seedlings to be transplanted by sowing the seeds in seedbeds. But the seedbed must be sterilized first by using the recommended chemicals or by burning 3-4 centimeters thick rice hull on top of the intended seedbed. About 800 grams of seed are sufficient for one hectare.
• Harden the seedlings two weeks before transplanting. This can be done by watering only the seedlings when they already show signs of temporary wilting. The seedlings can be transplanted 30-40 days after emergence.
• Transplant seedlings at a depth of 4-6 centimeters depending on the height of the seedlings at one meter apart.
• Apply appropriate fertilizers such as chicken manure.
• Control insect pests and diseases using suggested pesticides, rate of application, and when and how to apply. (Known insect pests that attack eggplants are thrips, leafhoppers, aphids, mites and twig borer or fruit borer. The diseases include phomopsis, phythoptora rot and bacterial wilt. Shoot and fruit borers are considered serious pest of eggplant.)