Entrepreneurship & Home Business

Culture of Angelfish

Posted by EPa in Fisheries

Angelfish is a freshwater ornamental fish with laterally compressed round body and elongated triangular shaped dorsal and anal fins.

It is a piscivorous species that prey on small fish and other macro-invertebrates. It is a hardy species and can attain a maximum size of 12-15cm in length. It is one of the species with high demand in the local and foreign markets.

Construction of Net Cages 

• Construct 20 units of 1m x 3m net cages.

Pond Preparation

1.   Drain the pond.
2.   Level the pond bottom and dry for 5 days.
3.   Apply fertilizer (chicken manure) at a rate of 1,500 kg/ha or 150 grams/m2.
4.   Fill the pond with water up to one meter depth after five days of fertilization.

Installation of Cages

• Install net cages in the pond by tying the top and bottom sides in the G.I. pipes.

Stocking

•   Measure and weigh angelfish fingerlings before stocking.
•   Stock the fish in cages early in the morning at 40 pcs/m2.

Feeding

Feed angelfish with commercial feeds (PO2) twice daily by broadcast method at the following rates: Culture period (mo.) = Feeding Rate (% body weight)

• 1st = 10
• 2nd = 5
• 3rd = 3

Formula for Daily Feeding Ration

Daily Feed Ration (DFR) = ABW x N x FR

• Where: ABW = ave. body wt. of fish
• N = total no. of fish
• FR = Feeding rate or

Breeding and Culture of Goldfish

Goldfish is a small member of the carp family (Cyprinidae). It is called goldfish because it started from a gold variety of silver carp. They lack barbell which distinguishes it from common carp with two barbells.

Goldfish is one of the earliest fish to be domesticated and still one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish.  It originated from China and introduced into Europe in the late 17th century. There are more than 100 beautiful varieties of goldfish at present which were developed by Korea, Japan, and China.

The average lifespan of goldfish in optimal conditions is 5-6 years but it may live for more than 20 years (the world record is 49 years).

Biology

• Goldfish are omnivorous and voracious eaters.
• They are egg-scatterers. Female lays adhesive eggs to breeding medium and male fertilizes the eggs (30 g breeder may lay 3,000 eggs).
• They spawn all year round, once every 15-20 days.
• They reach sexual maturity in 6-8 months old.
• They are sub-tropical species, live in freshwater with pH of 6-8, water hardness of 5-19 dGH and temperature range of 4-31 °C.

Species: Shubunkin, Oranda, Ryukin, Lionhead, Dragon Eye, Pearlscale, Bubble Eye, Common

Sexual Characteristics

• Female:  Edge of pectoral fin with teeth-like serration and is rough. Depressed urogenital opening
• Male:  Edge of pectoral fin is smooth,

How to Invest in the Philippine Stock Market

Posted by EPa 

If you are looking for an investment with high returns and low initial investment then putting your money in the stock market may be right move for you. Many people have made millions buying and selling stocks. However, many people too have lost money due to both ignorance and bad luck. To minimize the risk of loss, a person must have knowledge on how to invest in the stock market wisely.

You must first understand what the stock market is. The stock market is where shares of ownership of different companies are bought and sold. Since you become a part owner, you participate in the company’s earnings or losses. So while there is a greater chance of high returns, there are also risks. However, history has shown that over the long term, the profits in stock investments are better than fixed income instruments like time deposits or government securities.

There are two ways you can earn money on your stock investments. One way is through the appreciation of your stock’s price. The other

Portable Biogas Generator

Posted by EPa 

It is true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. In agriculture, farm wastes such as rice straw, bio-solids from vegetables, grasses, biodegradable feedstock, and manure do not immediately find themselves into the garbage as they could be potential alternative sources of fuel energy.

These agricultural wastes are being converted into biogas fuel through an anaerobic process. Biogas comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide which could be used as fuel for generating electricity at homes and farms particularly in remote areas in the province where electricity is limited. These could also be burned directly for cooking, heating, lighting and process heat, and absorption refrigeration.

One question remains. How to generate biogas fuel from these agricultural wastes?

Introducing the Portagas

The portable biogas generator or portagas was developed by a group of researchers from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) lead by Dr. Rogelio Concepcion and Dr. Gina Nilo with Mr. Alan Anida, Mr. Carlos Serrano, Ms. Leonora de Leon, and Mr. Victorcito Babiera.

The feasibility and development of the portagas were undertaken for five years, from 2001 to 2006.

According to Dr. Nilo, all common biogas generators have two main parts: digester (where the slurry is mix and fermented to produce the gas); and gas holder (where the gas is collected and connected to a burner for cooking or lamp for lighting).

Prior to the development of the portagas, BSWM developed four biogas generators.

The first ever model is an integrated batch type generator developed in 2000. It is called “integrated batch type” because the gas holder is not

Planting and Production of Annato Seeds

Posted by EPa in Plant-Crops

Annato or achuete is commonly grown in backyard gardens in the country. Seeds are used for dyes and food coloring, especially for butter. It is also used in making polishes for russet leather.

The dye is obtained from the pulp around the seed by soaking them in the water. The pigment that settles to the bottom is dried into cakes, usually 5 to 6 per cent of the weight of the seeds.

Annato is a small bushy tree 2 to 8 m high and 30 cm in diameter with stem color varying from green to red. Young twigs are covered with rust colored scales. Leaves are heart shaped and alternate. Fruits are dark red to green. The seed pods vary in size, maybe round or elongated with pointed ends, dry to brown color. These burst open to reveal bright orange to yellowish red color. The inside of the pod is divided into valves that contain 10 to 50 seeds.

Annato originated from tropical America. At present, it is abundantly distributed in the tropics and is common throughout the lowlands of the Philippines. In Latin America, the tree is interplanted with pineapple, papaya and cowpeas. It is used as living fence and firewood. Leaves, barks and seeds have medicinal uses. The bark is also a source of fiber.

Varieties

There are only two distinct varieties of annato growing in the country: the White flower with green fruit pods, and the Pink flower with purple pods. Seeds of both varieties are coated with red powder.

Soil and Climate Requirements

Annato grows best in both humid tropics, but can also thrive well in altitudes of up to 1,250 meters provided there is sufficient irrigation. A rich loan soil with adequate moisture is ideal for growing.

Seedbed Propagation

Annato is first propagated in seedbeds. Seeds should from freshly gathered pods and soaked in water before sowing in seedbeds. They may, however, be sown directly in the fields.

The nursery site should be under light shade. Prepare the beds by digging deeply and the seeds at a depth of 2.5 cm. Keep the distance between seeds at 10 cm. in a row and 25 cm. between rows. When the seedling have emerged, thin them or reduced their number to maintain a distance of 10 cm. within rows. In about four months, they are already for transplanting.

Land Preparation

Clear the land of the vegetation then plow and harrow twice. Prepare holes as early as 1-1/2 months before planting. Place them 5 to 7 meters apart. They should be about 25 cm deep and 30sq cm wide. Fill in a small amount of manure before putting in the seedlings.

Planting

It is best to transplant seedlings at the beginning of the wet season. Take care not to damage the roots. Keep them from exposure to the sun.

After planting, water them regularly for the next two weeks. Put temporary shades of banana leaves while plants are still young.

Pruning

When plants have grown a meter high, prune or cut the tips if they have not grown primary branches. Secondary branches that are improperly spaced and growing downwards should