The Department of Agriculture's Cagayan Valley office in the Philippines has introduced an innovative solution to the perennial problem of vegetable spoilage: the ZEC-C, or Zero Energy Cooling Chamber. This simple yet effective technology extends the shelf life of freshly harvested vegetables, particularly tomatoes and eggplants. Necessity breeds innovation, and ZEC-C is a prime example of that.
Lowland vegetable production is a vital industry in Region II, but the perishability of these crops has long posed a challenge for farmers.
"My anxiety level rises around this time of the year, when farmers harvest their produce, especially vegetables like tomatoes. We constantly worry about hearing news of vegetables being dumped by the roadside," said Rose Mary Aquino, regional executive director for DA-Regional Field Office II. "We needed a solution to this persistent problem, and our Cagayan Valley Research Center delivered ZEC-C."
ZEC-C provides farmers with a sustainable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient storage system that extends the freshness of their harvests, reduces waste, and improves profitability.
The development of ZEC-C took two years and involved a collaborative approach that brought together researchers, farmers, cooperatives, and agribusiness partners. A team of technology developers, which was led by principal technology author Mary Jane Ibarra of the Cagayan Valley Research Center in Iligan City, had conducted trials comparing various walling materials, including coconut coir, charcoal, and a bricks-and-sand mix. The trials in Aurora and Roxas in Isabela found that charcoal insulation effectively lowered temperatures by 5-10 degrees Celsius, and maintained humidity levels of 85-90 percent that are ideal for vegetable storage.
Aquino noted that ZEC-C preserved tomatoes for up to 21 days and eggplants for up to 5 days, based on freshness, firmness, and color. Other vegetables, such as bottle gourd (upo) and sponge gourd (payola) stayed in excellent condition for up to 6 days.
A ZEC-C unit capable of storing 500 kilos costs approximately P45,000, with reduced costs for larger capacities. An economic analysis showed a return on investment of at least 71 percent for tomatoes and 32 percent for eggplants over a 5-21 day storage cycle.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. commended the DA-RFO II for this initiative, which supports the government's goal of enhancing food security while helping farmers increase their income.
"This is the kind of creative thinking we need to modernize agriculture, increase farmer profits, reduce waste, and improve food security," said Secretary Tiu Laurel.
The ZEC-C technology launch and transfer are scheduled for later this March at the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Trading Center, where two units with one-ton capacities will be awarded. Additional units with capacities ranging from 200 kilos to one ton will be distributed to other towns in Isabela.
For more information:
Department of Agriculture Philipines
Tel: +63 (2) 8928-8741
Email: osec.official@da.gov.ph
www.da.gov.ph