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Luffa, also known as organic scrub made from dried fruit of sponge gourd (local
name: patola) is a widely-used material for body cleansing and hygiene (Stuart
2015). Aside from body scrub, this tropical fruit is also favored as a vegetable added
to local cuisines such as Chinese misua, sinigang and broiled meat (Alejandro 1985)
.Patola is an annual herbaceous vine that produces yellow flowers and oblongoblanceolate fruit ca. 20 to 25 cm long (Stuart 2015). As a cultivated plant, it grows in
many countries in Asia and Europe (G.J. Jansen et.al. 2016). The fruit is used as
food, in folkloric medicine (e.g. dewormer, laxative and treatment for hemorrhoids),
an ingredient in making pesticide in China as well as in making hats due to strong
cellulosic fibers(Stuart 2015). At present, the price of patola ranges from P40.00 P50.00 per kilogram (AMAD 2012). Utilization is widespread in both large scale and
small farms due to its low cost production input, growth suitability in humid countries
and high tolerance to pest and diseases.
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In the Philippines, two of the most essential staple foods are rice and corn
(Jamias 2014). In fact, corn is widely-consumed than rice among rural communities
in Cebu province as a whole (Gerpacio et.al. 2004) . Anecdotal reports showed that
the recent global climate change affected a significant portion of corn harvest in both
large scale and small scale corn producers in the island, emphasizing on poor corn
quality and low production(EPA 2016) . Reports also suggest that low corn quality
resulted to depreciation of corn prices thereby resulting to low profit and net gained
(PSA 2016). Such incident is largely attributed to poor assimilation of water from
natural sources, infrequent rainfall in hottest months and insufficient water input
because of low water supply (PSA 2016). Therefore, the search for material that
would increase the water retention potential in the soil where corns are planted is an
urgent concern.
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This research conceptualized the idea that if the strong cellulose fibers can be
converted into a hat as reported by other studies, similar fibers can probably be
utilized as well in making a water absorbent medium that could be placed under the
soil prior to sowing of the corn seeds. The researchers hypothesize that if we can
increase water content in the soil, in addition to natural rain and irrigation water we
can possibly solve the prevailing problem of the corn farmers in the province.
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Therefore, this study proposed the utilization of luffa as the water absorbing agent
that would supplement water requirement of the corn plants. Furthermore, this study
is also essential considering that one of the known livelihood of Bogo City residents
is pintos production (a kind of native delicacy made from corn). Hence, maximizing
corn growth and productivity will also translate to sustainable pintos production and
profit.
Name:
Guide Questions:
1. What is main topic of paragraph 1?
2. Why do you think the author included those details found in paragraph 1?
3. What is the problem raised on paragraph 2?
4. What is the researchers’ idea according to paragraph 3?
5. What would be the benefit that is stated in paragraph 4?