Volume 10 Issue No. 2 A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research FEBRUARY 2009

BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

BAR BINHI AWARDEE (2007)Agricultural Newsletter of the Year

hronicleCVisit our official website at http://www.bar.gov.ph

ISSN 1655-3942Department of Agriculture

RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Ave.,cor. Elliptical Rd.Diliman,Quezon City 1104PHILIPPINES

Entered as second class mail at the Quezon City Central Post Office under permit no. 753-01 NCR

NEWS

BAR hronicleCDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BAR ALBUM

FLORENDO AWARDEE (2003)Outstanding Information Tool for Print

Over 7,000 farmers benefitfrom BAR’s CPAR projects

The Community-basedParticipatory Action Research(CPAR), one of the banner

programs of the Department ofAgriculture-Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (DA-BAR), is alreadyproviding benefits for 7,046 farmer-beneficiaries all over the country.

To date, 89 CPAR continuingprojects are being implemented in 16regions through the Regional IntegratedAgricultural Research Centers (RIARCs)as well as through local governmentunits (LGUs). With funding support fromBAR, these projects are being conductedin close coordination with the nationaland regional research implementingunits, academe, and members of thecommunity.

Implemented in 299 CPARsites/barangays, the 89 CPAR projectsare distributed among all DA-RegionalField Units (RFUs).

Participating in CPAR-relatedactivities are 3,100 farmer-cooperatorswho follow the interventions and adoptthe technologies and innovations in theirown farms. Ninety percent (2,789) aremembers of farmers' associations or

Farmer-cooperators from one of thesuccessful CPAR projects in Region 2.

cooperatives while only 10 percent (311)are non-members.

With the benefits that CPARbrought to the community, other farmerswitnessed the increase in production andprofit potential from the farms; hence,

they opted to adopt the technologies intheir fields too. Aside from the farmer-cooperators, a total of 3,946 farmers havealso adopted the CPAR technologies intheir farms bringing it to a total 7,046beneficiaries.

The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) has funded 82projects on agriculture and

fisheries through the NationalTechnology CommercializationProgram (NTCP), an endeavor closelysupported by Department of Agriculture(DA) Secretary Arthur C. Yap since itsinception in 2005.

The projects cut acrossagricultural crops, fisheries, andlivestock sectors that were carefully

82 NTCP projects supportedfor agribusiness development

turn to page 6�

chosen in an effort to maximize theresearch outputs of scientists andresearchers by bringing packages oftechnologies (POTs) to farming and ruralcommunities.

On crops, some of thepromising completed projectsimplemented in the different parts of thecountry include the mass production andcommercialization of locally-developedsweet tamarind variety comparable to the

turn to page 7�

JLAPITAN

The Bureau of Agricultural Research(BAR) with the OptiserveTechnologies, Inc meet for a re-

orientation on the e- FARMS® for theDepartment of Agriculture (DA) Visayasand Mindanao Clusters.

Among the centers visitedincluded the Autonomous Region forMuslim Mindanao Integrated AgriculturalResearch Center (ARMMIARC), CentralMindanao Integrated Agricultural ResearchCenter (CEMIARC) , Northern MindanaoIntegrated Agricultural Research Center(NOMIARC), CARAGA IntegratedAgricultural Research Center (CARIARC),Southern Mindanao Integrated AgriculturalResearch Center (SMIARC), CentralVisayas Integrated Agricultural ResearchCenter (CENVIARC), Western VisayasIntegrated Agricultural Research Center(WESVIARC), and Eastern VisayasIntegrated Agricultural Research Center(EVIARC).

Updates on the e- FARMS®Community-based Participatory ActionResearch (CPAR) Monitoring andEvaluation System were installed by theteam including modified data fields,customized reports, and new module-Fund

Pinoy

Pinoy

This served as anoffshoot activity for held in Luzon in 2008.

BAR, Optiserve re-orientson e-Pinoy FARMS® CPAR M and E

Visayas, Mindanaoclusters

Management.Optiserve Chief Executive

Officer Cheryl Marie U. Natividad andProject Coordinator Eduvigis S.Angeles presented and briefed theparticipants and the Regional CPARteam on the profiling guide manual forthe e- FARMS® CPAR M and E.

The e-Pinoy FARMS©software is a unified farm managementsystem designed for the country'sstakeholders, namely: farmers'organizations, cooperatives, andagribusiness enterprises for the effectiveand efficient recording of baseline data,business transactions, and operations.

As a methodologicalrequirement of BAR's CPAR, themonitoring and evaluation system aimsto improve the documentation process

Pinoy

of CPAR. The implementation willenable the bureau to systematicallyinstitutionalize CPAR and empower thetargeted beneficiaries on informationgenerated by research, development, andextension (RDE) services.

“This is a system of monitoringthe progress and the actual impact ofCPAR projects on the farmers and theircommunities. This will be a viable toolin evaluating the CPAR projects onwhether they may be graduated into anagribusiness venture,” Ms. Ching said.

Representing BAR during there-orientation meeting were InformationManagement Unit (IMU) head MelissaA. Resma and software programmers,Rueth T. Cabral, Rafael S. Umbrero, andDarlene Y. Rontas. (Ma. Eloisa E.Hernandez)

ARMMIARC

SMIARC CARIARC

CEMIARC NOMIARC

Over 7,000 farmers benefit from BAR’s CPAR...............

82 NTCP projects supported for agribusiness...............

Eleazar visits STIARC to assess status..........................

BAR supports two LGU-led projects...............................

102 new and continuing CPAR projects.........................

BAR trains proponents on project financial...................

South Cotabato farmers trained on SSNM.....................

Increasing economic value of seaweeds........................

CABI officials visit BAR....................................................

Rubber farming reached MIMAROPA..............................

Flowers made available all year round...........................Ornamental fish breeding seen as answer.....................TechCom projects on sweet sorghum............................BAR seminar series highlights climate change.............NFC project on virus-tolerant tomato.............................BFAR Region 1 updates RIRDEAP on fisheries.............CRGM orientation for CAR conducted............................Safe food and pesticide-free veggies.............................3rd O! May Gulay announcement....................................

BAR, Optiserve re-orrients Visayas................................

In this issue...

e-Pinoy FARMS/IMU TEAM PHOTOS

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NEWS

RITA T. DELA CRUZmanaging editor/layout

MANUEL F. BONIFACIO, PhDVICTORIANO B. GUIAM

EDMON B. AGRONMARLOWE U. AQUINO, PhD

RAYMOND PATRICK L. CABRERARITA T. DELA CRUZ

RODOLFO L. GALANGCHRISTMAS B. DE GUZMANMA. ELOISA E. HERNANDEZ

HERNANI LAPIDDON P. LEJANO

consulting editors

BAR Chronicle is the official monthly publication of the Department of Agriculture-, mandated to ensure that agricultural researches are coordinated

and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture. This publication provides regular updates onDA-BAR’s activities as the country’s national coordinator for agriculture and fisheries R&D. It alsohighlights features and news articles concerning NaRDSAF-member institutions.

Bureau ofAgricultural Research (DA-BAR)

FERDINAND DAX C. LORENAMIKO JAZMINE J. MOJICA

ELLAINE GRACE L. NAGPALAAMAVEL A. VELASCO

RICARDO G. BERNARDOANTHONY A. CONSTANTINO

writers/contributors

reproduction/printing

JULIA A. LAPITANVICTORIA G. RAMOS

MARLOWE U. AQUINO, PhD

NICOMEDES P. ELEAZAR, CESO IV

circulation

head, ACD

adviser

For subscription and inquiries please contact:Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture

3/F RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Ave., cor. Elliptical Rd., Diliman, Quezon City 1104 PHILIPPINESTelephone No.+63 (02) 928-8505 local 3026-3027 Fax: (02) 927-5691 or (02) 927-0227e-mail:Articles are also available online. Please visit us at:

Applied Communication Division

acd@bar.gov.phhttp://www.bar.gov.ph

NEWS

2 BAR hronicleC February 2009 Issue BAR hronicleC 15

BAR hronicleCDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The official monthly publication of DA-BAR

photo from www.worldofpangasius.com.vn

BAR DirectorNicomedes P.Eleazar visited

the Southern TagalogIntegrated AgriculturalResearch Center(STIARC) on 9February 2009 toassess theoperationalization ofe-Pinoy FARMS® inthe region. He waswelcomed bySTIARC ManagerDigna P. Narvacanalong with the CPAR Regional Team andother staff-members at STIARC in Lipa,Batangas. Accompanying him in the visitwere BAR technical staffs Amavel A.Velasco of the Research CoordinationDivision (RCD) and Darlene Y. Rontas ofthe Information Management Unit (IMU).

Six months after its launching inSta. Maria, Pangasinan, the implementationof the project titled, “Establishment of thee-Pinoy FARMS® for a Sustainable andProfitable Agriculture and FisheriesCommunity-based Initiatives in allRegions”, is now in full swing. Among theregions involved in CPAR implementation,the e-Pinoy FARMS® of STIARC has theprivilege of being the first to be visited bythe director.

The bureau recognizes the need toadapt an advanced Information Technology(IT) system embodied in e-PinoyFARMS® to systematize the process

Eleazar visits STIARC to assessstatus of e-Pinoy FARMS®

documentation of CPAR, one of BAR'sbanner programs.

With e-Pinoy FARMS®, CPARstakeholders are able to capture thewhole process, consolidate multi-locationdata, access mission-critical reports, andshare information in real-time to supportthe decision-making process across theorganization for effective management ofresources. This in turn enables farmersand their organizations/associations toeffectively organize and manage vitalresources for sustainability and achievethe goals of agribusiness development.

The CPAR Regional Team,headed by STIARC Manager Narvacan,briefed the director on the status of dataencoding in the region. Their databasewas filled with the data gathered from theParticipatory Appraisals (PRAs)and on-going CPAR on . Thelanzones

Rural

director expressed interest on theindustry and cited its potential

as an export commodity. He encouragedthe region to work on its shelf life andimprove its packaging through theNational Technology CommercializationProgram (NTCP), another bannerprogram of BAR. He also stressed theimportance of having farmers'cooperatives in CPAR- and NTCP-supported projects.

The group proceeded to visit theproduction site of the regions'Agribusiness Development Project (ADP)on the production and commercializationof bio-organic fertilizer.

After visiting STIARC, Dir.Eleazar proceeded to MIMAROPA-RIARC office for a briefing on the statusof its e-Pinoy FARMS®. (

lanzones

Amavel A.Velasco)

STIARC Managers Ms. Digna S. Narvacan (left, first photo) for IV-A and Dr. Louella Lorenzana (third from right, secondphoto) for IV-B present to BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar the operation of the e-Pinoy FARMS® in their regional stations.

AAVELASCOAAVELASCO

Staying fit and healthy iseverybody's concern. One needsto have regular exercise and the

proper diet. But what if the foodavailable in the market, especiallyvegetables and fruits, still containchemicals or pesticides and thereforeare not safe?

The Bureau of Plant Industry(BPI) through its national crop researchand development centers in Baguio,Davao, Laguna, and La Granja is nowdoing analysis and promotingpreventive measures including newways of growing crops the safe way toaddress this concern. The BPI has theresponsibility of assuring the public thatvegetables, including fruits that arelocally produced and found in marketsare safe, clean, fresh, and in goodcondition.

Pesticide-free fruits andvegetables are those grown without theuse of pesticides and non-organicfertilizers and is one safe way ofagriculture. Usually, produce canbegiven this label even if the farmer isnot organically-certified or is unable toafford the certification process. Withthis certification, the farmer or producerdeclares to consumers that the producthas integrity.

Trained chemists and technicalexperts of BPI are doing regularlaboratory testing and providingassistance to enlightened farmers andconsumers on safe food awareness.Technical assistance included properagricultural practices and management.Enlightened farmers are those who usedto be heavy users of fertilizers andchemicals in their farming operations.A change of farming attitude andknowledge resulted to the shift to safetyconsciousness in farming activities andoperations.

Lately, the staff of the BPI-Baguio particularly the Pesticide

Safe food and pesticide-freeveggies and fruits seen in markets

Analytical Laboratory (PAL) conductedfield spot checking and randomsampling of vegetable produce in thedifferent provinces of Cordillera. Sincesummer is fast approaching, theprevalence of insect pests and diseasesis a common sight. Some vegetablefarmers are believed to use excessivechemicals and/or pesticides to combatthis problem. However, with theassistance extended by BPI-Baguio,the Department of Agriculture –Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR), Benguet State University (BSU)and the different local government unitsin the region including concernedfarmers association and organizations,the practice has changed to theproduction of good, chemical- orpesticide-free vegetables and fruits inthe Cordillera farms.

These agencies havecollaborated and organized the taskforce that regularly monitor andevaluate the different vegetables andfruits produced by the Cordillerafarmers as to the use of chemicals andpesticides. Since its creation a decadeago, there was an observable rate ofdecrease of excessive chemical use asfarmers became enlightened and shiftedtheir farming operation by following thegood agricultural practices. Otherfarmers with clean and newly operatedfarmlands now practice organic farmingwhich is becoming a new direction ofCordillera agricultural development.

With these developments andconstant monitoring and evaluation bythe task force, consumers and tradersare can now be assured of safe andpesticide-free vegetables and fruitsfound in local markets and evensupermarkets in nearby provinces, citiesand even Metro Manila whosevegetables and fruits come mostly fromthe Cordilleras (

).Marlowe U. Aquino,

PhD

To show its support for the celebrationof the National Nutrition Month, theDepartment of Agriculture (DA) is

hosting the CookingContest. This is a cooking contest aimed toencourage households in the urban areas(most especially the youth) to cookaffordable and nutritious food using localagriculture products. This activity is designedto develop vegetable recipes that are easy toprepare, affordable, and delicious.

The contest is open to all publichigh schools from the National CapitalRegion (NCR) represented by two studentsfrom one section in a participating school.Only one team per school is allowed.Previous first and second prize winners of the

Cooking Contest are no longereligible to join. Contestants who were notselected or did not win may join this year.

Cash prizes will be awarded forfirst, second, and third place in eachcategory:

- P20,000 + trophy + exposuretrip to Baguio for the whole section(maximum of 50 students plus 2 teachers) +special prize for the school

- P15,000 + trophy + exposuretrip to Tagaytay for the whole section(maximum of 50 students plus 2 teachers) +special prize for the school

- P10,000 + trophy + specialprize for the school

will receive a consolation prize of P5,000.

Submit fully accomplished entryform and school's endorsement on or before10 July 2009. An electronic copy of therecipe should also be sent via email at

or on disk. Only recipessubmitted electronically in accordance withthese rules will be eligible for consideration.

Teams who will qualify for thesecond round will be informed via phone callor email.

3rd O! May Gulay

O! May Gulay

First Prize

Second Prize

Third Prize

Finalists

secyap@gmail.com

----------

For further information, please contact:

DA 3rd O! May Gulay Cooking Contest Secretariatc/o Ms. Mariko RamosBureau of Agricultural ResearchRDMIC Building, Elliptical Rd. cor Visayas AvenueDiliman, Quezon CityTel. No: 928-8624 loc. 2123Telefax: 920-0219Email: secyap@gmail.comWeb: www.bar.gov.ph

ANNOUNCEMENT

DA 3rd O! MAYGULAY CookingContest

February 2009 Issue

NEWS NEWS

14 BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC 3

BAR supports two LGU-led projects onhigh-value veggies for commercialization

orientation forCRGM CAR conducted

Two LGU-led projects on high-valuecrops promotion andcommercialization were recently

completed through a counterpart fundingof the local governments of Ormoc City,Biliran Province and the Department ofAgriculture's Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (DA-BAR).

The two projects were conductedseparately by the two local governmentunits (LGUs) through the City AgriculturalServices Office in Ormoc and the Office ofthe Provincial Agricultural Services inBiliran, respectively.

The Ormoc project, was led byMs. Imelda T. Remollo, OIC-CityAgriculturist, had the Ormoc Federation ofVegetable Growers as the farmer-beneficiaries. Through the project, thefederation was able to establish a“bagsakan”/trading center that caters to thevegetable demand of Ormoc City. They arealso aiming to supply the vegetabledemand outside Ormoc such as TaclobanCity, other parts of Leyte, and possiblyCebu. Ms. Remollo also attested to thesuccess of a former OFW who decided toget into vegetable production through thisproject and is now making a profitablebusiness out of it.

According to Ms. Remollo,although Ormoc City is a vegetableproducing area in Leyte, engaging farmersin its commercial production was difficultbecause it was hindered by high cost ofinputs, pest and diseases, and weakmarketing approaches. Hence, the projectwas implemented to assist vegetablegrowers in the production of new lines ofpromising vegetables.

The Ormoc Federation ofVegetable Producers, composed of 76farmer-cooperators from 21 barangays,participated in the season-long (4 months)technology demonstrations conducted inBrgys. Dolores, RM Tan, and San Jose.

The proponent tapped East WestSeeds Company to provide technicalsupport on the production management ofthe promising lines of vegetables such asampalaya, tomato, eggplant, and sweetpepper. The seeds used for the project werealso sourced from the company.

In another endeavor, the LGU ofBiliran, through the Office of theProvincial Agriculturist, implemented aproject on the promotion of sustainable

agricultural development in four selectedmunicipalities in Biliran which the LGUconsiders as agricultural developmentzones.

The three main components ofthis project include the establishment of anursery and scion grove, high-valuevegetable production, and cutflowerproduction. Of the three activities, theexternal evaluator tapped by DA-BAR toreview the project saw the establishmentof the provincial nursery and scion groveas having the most impact for Biliran ingeneral. “We are grateful that this projectpushed through because now our farmerscould finally avail of quality graftedplanting materials in our own provincewithout having to source them from otherprovinces,” said Mr. Corsino Jadulco,project leader for that component.

The proponents of the twoprojects are expected to come up withproduction management guides and otherinformative materials to aid in thecommercialization of technologies thatthey disseminated to farmer-beneficiariesin their respective localities.

The two projects were fundedthrough the coordination of DA-BAR'sTechnology Commercialization Unit(TCU) which facilitates provision ofsupport to the projects under the NationalTechnology Commercialization Program(NTCP) supported by DA Secretary ArthurYap. (Miko Jazmine J. Mojica)

Mr. Romo, a farmer from Brgy. San Vicente in Ormoc,during a hands-on pest monitoring in his farm.

Season-long vegetable production training for farmer-beneficiaries of the DA-BAR-LGU project in Ormoc.

LGU-ORMOC PHOTO

LGU-ORMOC PHOTO

Twenty-five participants from LocalGovernment Units (LGUs), privatesector and non-government

organizations (NGOs) from the differentprovinces of the Cordillera AdministrativeRegion (CAR) attended the CompetitiveResearch Grant Manual Orientation(CRGM) orientation on 19 February 2009at the Hotel Veniz, Baguio City.

Mandated to fund, coordinateagricultural research and developmentactivities and develop partnerships withlocal and international researchorganizations, the Bureau of AgriculturalResearch conducted the said activity toorient the LGUs, NGOs and private sectorthat implements research and developmentactivities on reviewing proposals projectmonitoring and evaluation activities asrequired in the CRG manual.

Dr. Cameron Odsey, ProjectDirector of the Cordillera HighlandAgricultural Resource Management(CHARM) project welcomed theparticipants in behalf of DA-CAR DirectorCeasar Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Dr.Carmencita V. Kagaoan, head of BAR'sProgram Development Division led theorientation by discussing the overview of

the CRGM. Other items discussed werethe implementing guidelines of the RDEgrant system, specific guidelines for theprivate sector and NGO, format on thepreparation of proposals and theguidelines on project monitoring andevaluation. The revised set ofguidelines on how to avail of grants forthe Community-based ParticipatoryAction Research (CPAR) projects forthe LGUs and NGOs were alsodiscussed.

The CRGM is a programdesigned by the bureau intended tostrengthen the system of coordination,

monitoring of projects in agricultureand fisheries. It provides theguidelines, rules and procedures toaccess funds and implement R&Dprojects.

CRGM is a component ofthe Diversified Farm Market IncomeDevelopment Program (DFIMDP), aWorld-Bank supported project thruthe Department of Agriculture. Itcommenced last 2004 and is orientedto stimulate rural growth and farmerincomes by enhancing thecompetitiveness of agriculture andfisheries. (Ellaine Grace L. Nagpala)

Dr. Carmencita V. Kagaoan of BAR providesthe overview of the CRGM to attendees.

EGNAGPALA

EGNAGPALA

EGNAGPALA

February 2009 Issue February 2009 Issue

NEWS

4 BAR hronicleC

photo from www.worldofpangasius.com.vn

NEWS

BAR hronicleC 13

Investing in strengthening further therole of R&D and its impact at thefarmers' level, the Bureau of

Agricultural Research (BAR) approved 102new and continuing Community-basedParticipatory Action Research (CPAR)projects for 2009.

CPAR is one of the bannerprograms of BAR under the leadership ofDir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar which isimplemented in 16 regions through theRegional Integrated Agricultural ResearchCenters (RIARCs) as well as the LocalGovernment Units (LGUs). With fundingsupport from BAR, the projects areconducted in close coordination with thelocal government units (LGUs), nationaland regional research implementing units,the academe, and members of thecommunity.

Implemented at the baranggaylevel, the 102 CPAR projects are distributedin all DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs) and

102 new and continuing CPARprojects approved for 2009

Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources-Research Outreach Stations(BFAR-ROSes). Forty of these projects arein Luzon, 24 in Visayas, and 38 inMindanao.

CPAR is a government initiativedesigned to reach out to the members ofthe community through various technologyinterventions. Farmers are presented withbetter opportunities and strategies toincrease their incomes. As CPAR farmer-cooperators, the farmers are provided farminputs, livestock, technical assistance, andtechnology interventions to increaseproduction and profit. Re-dispersal androllover of benefits sustain the CPARproject ensuring extension to morecommunity beneficiaries.

Among the technologyinterventions introduced through CPAR,are crop diversification, poultry andlivestock production, and use ofappropriate and improved varieties,applying organic fertilizers, implementing

Integrated NutrientManagement (INM),Integrated PestManagement (IPM)and other culturalmanagementpractices.

With CPAR technologies,farmers are taught how to apply effectivetotal farm productivity within the contextof a sustainable production system andfarming system approach. Farmers areable to maximize the use of their landsand ensure available and at the sametime, affordable food for the familythrough the integration of high valuecrops and vegetables and livestock andfishery productions in the system.

Since its inception in 1999,CPAR is already reaping benefits for7,046 farmer-beneficiaries all over thecountry. One of them is Carlos Gamiao, afarmer-adopter of CPAR project in Brgy.Cabisera 10, Ilagan, Isabela. In a recentproject documentation exerciseconducted by BAR, Gamiao testified howhis life changed after adopting CPAR.

He said “

.” (Our income from sellingvegetables helped us a lot. We now havemoney to buy meat and provideallowance for our children. Indeed,CPAR project is really good)

Talagang malaki angnaitulong sa pamilya ng naibebentanaming mga gulay. Kumikita kami ngpambili ng karne, pang-allowance saanak. Talaga palang napakaganda ngCPAR project

(Rita T. delaCruz)

Our income from selling vegetables

helped us a lot. We now have money

to buy meat and provide allowance

for our children. Indeed, CPAR project

is really good.

“

”

JLAPITANJLAPITAN

courtesy of NBN’s MAG AGRI-TAYO

The Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources-Regional Fisheries Office(BFAR-RFO1) conducted a

workshop to update the Regional IntegratedResearch, Development, and Extension onAgenda and Programs (RIRDEAP) forfisheries at the Regional MaricultureTechnology Demonstration Center(RMaTDeC) in Lucap, Alaminos City,Pangasinan on 11-12 February 2009.

The workshop was primarilyaimed to discuss the problems in the fisherysectors of the region and consequently drawup solutions through research including theidentification of priority commodities.Participants were the members of theFishery RDE Regional Network 1composed of representatives fromPangasinan State University, MarianoMarcos State University, Don MarianoMarcos Memorial State University, IlocosSur Polytechnic College, University ofNorthern Philippines, Philippine Councilfor Aquatic and Marine Research andDevelopment (PCAMRD), and the localgovernment units (provincial and localfishery officials); researchers from BFAR-RFO I; and Fisheries Zonal Centercoordinators. Representing the Bureau ofAgricultural Research was Mr. AmadorMacabeo, coordinator for Region 1 ofResearch Coordination Division.

Ms. Amanda Galang, OIC-RMaTDeC, gave the welcome remarksduring the opening ceremony while BFARRFO 1 Regional Director Nestor D.Domenden delivered the keynote message.He stressed the importance of holding theactivity and recognized its significance toeconomic development particularly insustaining the smooth flow of goods. In histalk, Dir. Domenden also emphasizedseveral issues for research such as creationof jobs, increase in income, lower prices ofcommodities, and Hazard Analysis andCritical Control Points (HACCP)compliance while considering the capacityof the environment to produce. He stressedthe importance of drawing up of solutionsrelated to fishery production problems suchas low profitability, marketability ofproduction, competitiveness andconsideration to pre-production phase.“The assistance of the RDE Network 1members would be essential in drawing upmechanisms to respond to productidentification and non-reliability of supplyas affected by the socioeconomic aspects ofdevelopment,” he said.

Highlights of RDE Network Iaccomplishments for CY 2008 was

BFAR Reg 1 updates RIRDEAP for fisheriespresented by Ms. Rosario Segundina P.Gaerlan, Regional Fisheries Research andDevelopment Center (RFRDC) manager.

Prior to the workshop on theidentification of issues besetting thefishery sector and prioritization ofresearchable areas, inputs from the ZonalCenter I was presented by Dr. Jinnie R.Mamhot, director of the Fisheries ZonalCenter. The presentation covered thenational R&D framework supported byPCAMRD including the status andresearch potentials of the prioritycommodities like sea cucumber, tuna, andseaweeds. Dr. Mamhot also includedrelevant information on the issues andresearchable areas related to climatechange and the production of biodieselfrom fishery resources.

The second day of the activitywas utilized in updating the RIRDEAPfor the three sectors which are capture

fisheries, aquaculture, andpostharvest/marketing. Participants weregrouped into these three sectors (thesocioeconomic sector cut across the threesectors). The output of the first workshopand copies of the RIRDEAP for Fisheriesof Region I (CY 2006-2010) served as theworking materials for the workshop.

Ms. Gaerlan facilitated theworkshop on refocusing of the RDENetwork I goals for 2009. After a series ofdiscussions, the lineup of activities to beimplemented for RDE Network I wasmade. These include: “lakbay aral”planning workshop, training onIntellectual Property Rights for FisheriesResearch and Development (R&D),training of harmonization of gender andR&D, R&D Review (proposed to be heldon May), and review of research proposalsfor submission to BAR for fundingassistance.

cum

(Christmas B. de Guzman)

February 2009 Issue February 2009 Issue

WORKSHOP

PROPER

BFAR-RFO1 PHOTO

BFAR-RFO1 PHOTO

NEWS NEWS

6 BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC 11

The Regional Integrated FisheriesResearch Center (RIFRC) RegionV headed by Ms. Aida S. Andayog

has developed four new innovativeproducts derived from seaweeds withhuge potential for increasing its marketvalue and creating an enterprise in theBicol region.

The products developed areseaweed jam, seaweed pickles, seaweedtart, and seaweed infant food which aresimilar to the commercially available

products.These products were showcased

during a project visit at the RIFRCResearch Outreach Station (ROS) inCabid-an, Sorsogon by a group from theBureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)on 17-18 February 2009. The group, ledby Joell H. Lales and Ferdinand Dax C.Lorena of the Planning Unit, conductedthe visit to foster RDE collaboration andto intensify ties with the region.

According to Ms. Andayog,these products, though newly-developed,have competitive advantage in the marketconsidering the uniqueness of theproducts, taste, and nutritional value.They can also add on to the list of One-Town-One Product (OTOP) productsfrom the Bicol region alongside pili andabaca products. OTOP is a priority

Gerber

Increasing economic valueof seaweeds in Region 5

program of the government to promoteentrepreneurship and create jobs bypromoting a specific product or servicewith competitive advantage in each cityand municipality of the country.

The products, oncecommercialized, will have the “firstmover” advantage in the market whichcan compete against other processedproducts not usually found in the regiontherefore assuring its market share andcompetitive edge relative to the price.

Given the products' marketvalue, the TechnologyCommercialization Unit (TCU) of BARassessed the project on 24 February 2009for possible support in terms of productdevelopment through packaging,processing, and nutritional tests. TCU isthe focal unit assigned by BAR tofacilitate the funding and monitoring ofviable technologies on agriculture andfisheries from the different R&Dinstitutions.

------------For further inquiries regarding theseaweed products, contact Ms. AidaAndayog tel. nos. (54) 477-3517 and(54) 477-7111 or emailbfar5@yahoo.com orasandayog@yahoo.com.

(Ferdinand Dax C. Lorena)

One of the most notablesuccessful CPAR projects islocated in Brgy. Ipil, Echague,Isabela in Region 2. The project,“Community-Based ParticipatoryAction Research Project in theRice-Based Farming System,”introduced the rice-mungbean-rice cropping pattern to farmer-cooperators which provided thema net income of P68,442 perhectare against the P10,000 netincome before the CPAR projectwas implemented in the area.

This was made possiblewith the introduction of variouscomponent technologies inproduction related activities.Farmer-cooperators were able toimprove their production andincrease their income. Among thetechnologies/interventions thatthey adopted were integratingvegetable crops into riceproduction, using high qualityseeds and organic fertilizers, andimplementing Integrated PestManagement (IPM) includingother cultural managementpractices such as plastic mulchingfor vegetables.

In Region 2 alone, thereare 16 CPAR projects; seven inIsabela, four in Cagayan, three inNueva Vizcaya and one each inBatanes and Quirino province.

In addressing the weakresearch-extension (R-E) linkage,CPAR aims to promote anintegrated productionmanagement system in thecommunity level whiledeveloping strategies for effectiveintegration of support services foragribusiness development.

On the part of BAR,implementing CPAR is seen as aneffective means to strengthen therole of research and development(R&D) in technology transfer andin production managementsystem. Through CPAR, theactive involvement of thecommunity, both in theidentification of the mostappropriate technologies that suittheir needs and management oftheir own farm resources, is beinginstitutionalized. (Rita T. delaCruz)

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FDLORENA

New product line from seaweedsdeveloped by RIFRC in Region 5.

Be worried, be very worried”warned Dr. Maria Victoria O.Espaldon, professor and dean of

the School of Environmental Science andManagement at University of thePhilippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB)as she lectured on “Climate Change inAgriculture; Impact and Adaptation atRDMIC Bldg., Visayas Avenue, Diliman,Quezon City on 26 February 2009.

This was the first of the seminarseries for 2009 organized by the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR). Attendingwere 80 participants from various attachedagencies and staff bureaus of theDepartment of Agriculture (DA) andrepresentatives from the private sector.Welcoming them was BAR Asst. Dir.Teodoro S. Solsoloy who stressed thesignificance of the activity and its impactto the agricultural R&D community.

The world has gotten warmer,revealed Dr Espaldon while enumeratingobservations and evidences that scientistswere able to monitor since the issue of“global warming” came about includingintense and longer droughts, increase intemperature and decrease in precipitation,increase in sea surface temperature, andfrequent heat waves, among others.According to her, carbon dioxide isamong the essential greenhouse gasses(GHG) that keeps the earth's temperaturebalance. However, excessive carbondioxide (CO2) in the air makes the earthwarmer resulting to the “greenhouseeffect”. In the long run, the increase ofaverage global temperature can lead tochanges on other weather and climateelements, such as winds, precipitation,atmospheric pressure, cloudiness or“climate change”.

Alarmingly, these climaticvariations can have adverse and diverseeffects such as reduction in agriculturalyield leading to increase in competitionfor food, decrease in the availability ofpotable and irrigation water due todroughts, increased risk of flooding, andfrequent occurrence of forest fires to namea few. But Dr. Espaldon said that, withproper mitigation and adaptationstrategies, the adverse effects of climatechange can be reduced.

During the seminar shementioned various mitigation measures tohelp reduce greenhouse gas emissions

”

BAR Seminar Series highlights climatechange and its impact to agriculture

such as using renewable energy likesolar, wind, biomas, tide, and hydro. Shealso cited Filipinized mitigationstrategies which she dubbed as“Solusyong Pinoy” such as the use ofcorn and sugarcane as biofuel (ethylene),coconut and jatropha for biodiesel,methane from dumpsites for biogas, andusing bicycles as transport alternative.

For the adaptation measures, DrEspaldon enumerated some adjustmentsin practices, processes, or structures onthe systems that could eventually beadopted in the projected changes of theclimate. On the terrestrial ecosystemsand forests adaptation, she suggestedbiodiversity and forest conservationactivities, efficient use of forestresources, prevention of forest fires,development and trials of better adaptedand fast growing plants, rehabilitationand protection of degraded lands.

Meanwhile, for the fisheriessector, she cited close monitoring andsurveillance of fish stock, and propermanagement and sustainable use ofmarine resources while combination ofcrops for intercropping and crop rotationto enhance productivity, diversification,integrated pest management, improvedland management, traditional agriculture,and agro forestry and judicious watermanagement in irrigation as essentialadaptation strategies.

She also mentioned the use of, a water savingdrip irrigation system

technology that delivers water through apipe distribution network consisting of amain pipe, sub-main, manifold andlateral pipes under low pressure andemission through small outlets ofdrippers or emitters into the soil,surrounding the crop to be irrigated.This technology can be used on anycrop, soil, and topography with limitedwater supply condition.

Concluding the seminar, shesaid that “Climate change affects notonly the welfare of the earth'secosystem, but also our health,livelihood, social systems and economy.The impacts will be felt for generationsto come, thus we must drasticallyreduce greenhouse gas emissions andfind ways to adapt to new realities of awarmer world” (. Edmon B. Agron)

“

Attendees and participants of the BAR seminarseries listen to the lecture on climate change.

Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon, dean ofSESAM-UPLB, serves as the resourcespeaker for the seminar on climate change.

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EAGRON

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The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR), in partnershipwith the Southeast Asian

Regional Center for Graduate Studyand Research in Agriculture(SEARCA), trained 76 proponents ofBAR-funded projects on thepreparation of the projects' financialviabilities.

The four-day training courseon the profitability of new productionand processing technologies wasconducted twice last year in Novemberwhile the third leg was conducted inJanuary this year for the projectproponents. BAR funded their projectsthrough the National TechnologyCommercialization Program (NTCP)which was initiated by AgricultureSecretary Arthur C. Yap.

BAR's TechnologyCommercialization Unit (TCU)requested its project proponents toparticipate in the training in an effort toinstitutionalize a uniform andcomprehensible format on the reportingof profitability analyses of projects for

BAR trains proponents on project financial viability;strengthens partnership with farmers and LGUs

all its funded-projects. The bureaubelieves that two significant outcomeswould surface in presenting an accurateestimate of the profitability of projectsbeing supported by the government.One, scarce resources are spent wiselyand two, projects with the highestbenefits and real economic potential areexplored and prioritized.

After the training, TCU,through the assistance of its technicalstaff on agribusiness, started requiring itsproject proponents to submit theirrespective profitability analysespresenting two sides of analysis: onefrom the perspective of the proponentwho invested in the project, and thesecond from the perspective of thepotential investor who is interested ininvesting in the business.

On related developments, BARhas also formally reiterated to its projectproponents in its TechCom Program totap farmer organizations or cooperativesto ensure that technologies and researchresults are properly disseminated to theright communities and thus create a

significant impact on farm productivity andprofitability. TCU looks for this componentwhenever it conducts monitoring andevaluation the projects' progress.

In line with BAR's partnershipswith the local government units (LGUs) inthe development of agriculture andfisheries enterprises, two BAR-fundedprojects through NTCP with counterpartfund from LGU were completed in Ormocand Biliran provinces and have started tobear fruit.

The two LGUs likewise tappedfarmer-beneficiaries to establishtechnology demonstrations on theproduction and commercialization of high-value vegetables in their respectiveprovinces. Out of the counterpart funding,the Ormoc Federation of VegetableProducers was able to establish a“bagsakan”/trading center for theirvegetable produce. On the other hand, theBiliran LGU used the fund from BAR toestablish a provincial scion grove andnursery for the production of qualityplanting materials. (Miko Jazmine J.Mojica)

Evaluators from the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR), theBureau of Plant and Industry

(BPI), and the University of thePhilippines Los Baños (UPLB)conducted an annual review of theNorthern Foods Corporation (NFC)project titled, “Development ofProcessing Tomato Variety for TomatoLeaf Curl Virus (ToLCV) Tolerance” inBaguio City on 19 February 2009. Themeeting was conducted to review andevaluate the annual report/accomplishments of the project and tocertify its acceptability.

The NFC project with fundingsupport from BAR aims to develop andimprove a tomato variety that is tolerantto ToLCV and that is adaptable to localcondition with good processing qualities.

Mr. Norberto D. Mendoza, NFCvice president for operations and projectleader, and Ms. Raquel G. Dela Cruz,NFC lead breeder presented theaccomplishments of the projects. Mr.Mendoza reported that the project hasalready finished conducting the trialcrosses for the F3 (Nov. 2007-May 2008)and F4 (June 2008-October 2008)generations in Ilocos Norte and BaguioCity, respectively.

In the F3 generation, 40 linesexhibited tolerance to the virus and wereselected for F4 generation advancementincluding the two check varieties(susceptible and tolerant checks).

During the F4 generation

NFC project on virus-tolerantprocessing tomato variety reviewed

advancement, the selected lines oftomatoes were planted in two plastichouses and in the open field. The tomatoplants in the open field were totallydevastated due to typhoon inAugust 2008 followed by daily rainshowers mostly in the afternoon, leadingto the occurrence of late blight during thevegetative and fruiting stage.

Occurrence of whiteflies wasalso observed after fruit developmentstage. Mild infection in five entriesincluding the check variety,was observed. Symptoms of ToLCV

were also observedin the five entries.

InNovember 2008,seeds for each line

Karen

Ilocos Red

were extracted and planted for the dryseason in Ilocos Norte for the F5generation. For the trial crosses forthe F5 generation, it is hoped thatvarieties of good processingcharacteristics will be obtained toenable the project to proceed to the F6advancement. A virus-tolerant varietyis hoped to be generated which willbe planted for seed production.

In the concludingpresentation, Dr. Rodel G. Maghirangof UPLB, Ms. Josephine T. Garcia ofBPI, and Dr. Jesus R. Aspuria of BPI-BNCRDC commended the projectand endorsed its continuation. Theevaluators made severalsuggestions/instructions to furtherimprove the project. Among them

were: inclusion of the details ofthe procedures in the report,conduct F5 trial crosses inBenguet (simultaneous to theF6 trial cross in Ilocos Norte),using of rankings in thepurification and selection at F6and, possible sourcing of

and planting oftomato in BPI Baguio for wetseason.

inoculum

(Raymond Patrick L.Cabrera)

In the F3 generation, 40 lines exhibited tolerance to the virus and were selected for F4generation advancement including the two check varieties, susceptible and tolerant checks.

Fifty corn farmers from KoronadalCity and Tupi, South Cotabatoattended a training-workshop on

on 17-19February 2009.

The Phase 1 or Wet-Season wasfacilitated by the Department ofAgriculture-Regional Field Unit 12-Central Mindanao IntegratedAgricultural Research Center (DA-RFU12-CEMIARC), Agricultural TrainingInstitute, and the Local GovernmentUnits (LGUs) of Koronadal City andTupi.

The three-day activity wasdesigned as an experiential, practical,and interactive learning environment tobuild appreciation on the importance ofcorn development in the on-farm trails ofSSNM and help improve and sustainfarms productivity and profitability

Farmer Participatory Evaluation of Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM)for Maize in South Cotabato

Mr. Amador C. Macabeo inspects the F3generation of tomatoes at BPI Baguio.

RDELACRUZ

South Cotabato farmerstrained on SSNM for corn

through promising technologies or changesin existing practices.

The SSNM approach advocatesthe use of available organic nutrientsources and inorganic fertilizer in meetingthe nutrient demand of a high yieldingcrop. These generic principles areapplicable for both hybrid and open-pollinated maize varieties.

Over the traditional farmer'sfertilizer practice (FFP), the application ofSSNM tends to increase corn yield andrevenue by 12% or an average of two tonsper hectare. The net benefit per hectare ofland is higher by more than PhP5,000.00.

Experts from DA-CEMIARC andthe Bureau of Soils and WaterManagement (BSWM) served as resourcepersons in the workshop. Topics discussedincluded: (1) Soil Sampling and Analysisusing STK; (2) Corn ManagementPractices in SSNM; (3) Integrated PestManagement on Corn; (4) Farm Record

Keeping in SSNM; (5) SSNM DataCollections & Analysis; and (6) CornBy-Products for Organic Fertilizer.

Later in the year, theparticipants will attend Phase 2 or theDry-Season for field trials scheduled forSeptember of this year. (Ma. Eloisa E.Hernandez)

February 2009 Issue February 2009 Issue

BAR ALBUM

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BAR hronicleC 710 BAR hronicleC

Three key officials from the Centerfor Agricultural and BioscienceInternational (CABI) visited the

Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)on 3 March 2009 for possible futurecollaboration to address current keyissues concerning agricultural research.

The CABI officials were Dr.Wai-Hong Loke, regional director forEast and Southeast Asia; Mr. DennisRangi, development executive director;and Dr. Qiaoqiao Zhang, director for EastAsia. Meeting them were key officialsfrom BAR headed by Mr. VictorianoGuiam, head of the InternationalRelations Unit, Dr. Marlowe Aquino,head of the Applied CommunicationsDivision, Mr. Joell Lales, head of thePlanning Unit, and Ms. Salvacion M.Ritual, assistant head of the ProgramDevelopment Division.

Mr. Lales gave an overview ofthe bureau's plans and programs for theCABI officials. He also discussed BAR's

CABI officials visit BAR

thrusts and priorities putting emphasis onBAR's flagship programs – theCommunity-based Participatory ActionResearch (CPAR) and the NationalTechnology Commercialization Program(NTCP).

Meanwhile, Dr. Loke explainedthe role of CABI in agricultural researchand expounded on the activities that theirinstitution does to help alleviate povertyworldwide.

CABI and BAR officials furtherdiscussed the roles of both institutions indealing with major issues in agriculturetoday such as food security, climatechange, and global warming.

Dr. Aquino expressed thebureau's willingness to be in partnershipwith CABI.

CABI is a non-profitorganization which specializes inpublishing, research and communication.The Philippines is a CABI member since1993. (Don P. Lejano)

(L-R) Dr. Wai-Hong Loke, CABI regional director for East and Southeast Asia, Dr. Qiaoqiao Zhang,CABI director for East Asia, and Mr. Dennis Rangi, CABI development executive director.

famous Bangkok variety;development of special product linesfrom the medicinal oregano plantsuch as wine, tea, and vinegar;testing of postharvest technologyusing coir dust and evaporativecooling for off-season supply oftomato; production of high-qualitygarlic through the use of Giberellicacid; and enhancing the exportquality of fruits and vegetablesthrough Good Agricultural Practices(GAP) and application of postharvesthandling technologies.

The project on enhancingexports of fruits and vegetables alsostarted the full support of BAR to thefresh and processed mango exportventure of Mr. Lito Arenas, the nowsuccessful and prosperous mangoexporter and owner of LA Trading inPangasinan. BAR financed thesuccessful market reconnaissance ofMr. Arenas to Europe and his projecton using a German-based fabricateddrying system for the commercialproduction of dried mango fruitthrough the Pangasinan TropicalFruits Multi-purpose Cooperative. Inthe market reconnaissance to Europe,pickled mango was found to be aviable venture since processed foodhas less stringent requirements forexport than fresh produce.

Similarly, as part of BAR'scommitment to the National RubberDevelopment Program (NRDP),some of its funded and completedprojects on rubber through NTCPinclude the establishment ofbudwood gardens, nurseries, andtechnology demonstration farmsnationwide for the recommendedrubber clones, namely: RRIM 600,RRIM 712, RRIM 901, PB 217, PB235, PB 260, USM 1, PB 311, andRRIM 628.

To support the R&Dcomponent of the DA's BiofuelFeedstock Program for theproduction of sufficient amount offeedstock to meet the local demandfor biofuels, BAR's NTCP fundedseveral projects on thecommercialization of sweet sorghumfor wide-scale production and use notonly for fuel but as human food andanimal feed as well. This came aboutafter the feasibility study,commissioned by BAR also on theviability of sweet sorghum as energy

82 NTCP... from page 1

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Two technology commercializationprojects on sweet tamarind andsweet sorghum, both supported by

the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)in collaboration with the PampangaAgricultural College (PAC), wereshowcased in a technology forum andproduct exhibit on 11 February 2009 held atthe PAC Audio-Visual Center, Magalang,Pampanga. The activity aimed to expeditethe promotion and adaptation oftechnologies from research anddevelopment (R&D), specifically theresearch outputs initiated by PAC on thetwo “sweet” R&D projects: sweet tamarindand sweet sorghum.

PAC is known for its sweettamarind variety not only in Central Luzonbut also in other parts of the country. Theprojects titled, “Intensifying theCommercialization of the First PhilippineSweet Tamarind” and “Initiative to Promotethe Production of Sweet Sorghum and ItsUtilization as Human Food, Animal Feed,and Bio-Ethanol in Region III,” wereconducted by PAC to develop and come-upwith mature package of technologies(POTs) on the production, packaging,processing of sweet tamarind. These werefunded by BAR through its NationalCommercialization and TechnologyProgram (NTCP), one of its bannerprograms.

PAC's sweet tamarind, also knownas “sweet ” (after the late ProfessorAndres Aglibut of the University of thePhilippines Los Baños), has been proven tobe very sweet and is comparable to theBangkok variety. It is also an importantcrop because of its fruit and other parts thathave various food and medicinal uses.

On the other hand, sweet sorghumis a high value crop identified as a potentialsource of ethanol next to coconut andjatropha. Mainly considered as source of

aglibut

TechCom projects on sweet sorghumand sweet tamarind showcased

carbohydrates and protein, it is a goodsubstitute for corn as feed grain and isutilized as human food in the form of grainor flour.

Recognizing the significance ofthe two agricultural crops to address foodsecurity and improve human nutrition,sustainability and expansion of R&Dactivities on the enhancement of sweettamarind and sweet sorghum production isdeemed necessary to optimize theirpromising potentials as an evolvingindustry.

The initiatives of BAR inpartnership with PAC is specificallyintended to heighten sweet tamarindproduction and develop packaging andprocessing techniques for sweet tamarindproducts and promote the production ofsweet sorghum for human food, animalfeed, and bio-ethanol purposes in RegionIII through technology demonstration atthe farmers' level, trainings, trade fairs,

and exhibits.In relation, the techno forum and

exhibit, which was well-attended byfarmers, researchers, municipalagricultural officers, and local governmentadministrators, included a series ofplenary sessions focused on the:importance of sweet sorghum and sweettamarind as high-value crops, sweetsorghum production, sweet sorghum as apromising biofuel source, food utilizationof sweet sorghum at the household level,sweet tamarind production, and non-foodand food products from sweet tamarind.

Dr. Norman de Jesus, PACdirector for research and developmentdiscussed sweet sorghum production andemphasized that PAC has been conductingR&D activities related to sweet sorghumsince 2006. These include: varietal trials,fertilizer trials, ethanol production, animalfeeds production, and sweet sorghum-based food processing (e.g., sweetsorghum juice, sweet sorghum flour,sweet sorghum native cake).

Meanwhile, Dr. Estrella Zabalaand Prof. Regina Loria discussed thepotential of sweet tamarind providingalternative income for farmers throughlivelihood opportunities in foodprocessing (e.g., sweet tamarind vinegar,sweet tamarind jam, sweet tamarind juice)and developing sweet tamarind-basedbeauty products (like sweet tamarindsoap, sweet tamarind lip balm, sweettamarind foot scrub, and sweet tamarindspa salt, among others). (Christmas B. deGuzman)

CDEGUZMAN

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February 2009 Issue February 2009 Issue

ACD Asst. Head Julia A. Lapitan (2nd from right)represents BAR during the techno-forum and exhibitheld at PAC in Magalang, Pampanga.

Product displays during the sweet tamarind and sweet sorghum techno forum and exhibit. Visitors from CABI pose with BAR staff for posterity.

NEWS NEWS

8 BAR hronicleC BAR hronicleC 9February 2009 Issue

82 NTCP... from page 7

source, found it to be one of the mostpromising sources of biofuel feedstockin the Philippines.

Sweet sorghum is ranked in theworld as among the top five mostimportant cereals and was introduced inthe country by the India-basedInternational Crops Research Institutefor Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)alongside other pro-poor crops such aspigeon pea and peanut which arealso being commercialized in the countrythrough projects funded by BAR.

On livestock, upgraded goatproduction through Farmer's LivestockSchool on Integrated Goat Managementwas funded as well as the propagation ofgenetically-superior water buffaloesthrough production and embryotransfer. Moreover, the promotion andcommercialization of carabao-baseddairy products was also supported for thefull development of village-levelenterprises.

On fisheries, the developmentof products from the commerciable

Asha

in-vitro

Rubber farming is no longer limitedto Mindanao. Through the NationalRubber Development Program

(NRDP) of the Department of Agriculture(DA), other potential areas for theexpansion of rubber plantation were beingexploited.

With favorable climatic conditionsand fertile soils suitable for growing rubbertrees, the provinces of Palawan, Mindoro

Rubber farming reached MIMAROPA

Oriental, and Mindoro Occidental are nowinto planting rubber trees due to its highcommercial value.

Palawan now has 625 hectaresplanted to rubber with 58 hectaresproductive and the provincial governmentof Palawan through its ProvincialAgriculture Office (PAO) has embarked ina two-year “Plant Now, Pay Later”scheme in 2005 to encourage and assist

interested farmers and establish20,000 hectares of rubber in 10 years.

The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) has been at theforefront of these expansion activities.In 2007, BAR funded a five-yearproject tiled, “TechnologyDemonstration of RecommendedRubber and Nursery EstablishmentTowards Commercialization inPalawan” to produce quality plantingmaterials and establish adaptabilityand performance trials of highyielding clones.

In August 2008, anotherBAR funded project, “Developmentand Promotion of Rubber TowardsCommercialization in Oriental andOccidental Mindoro” was launched toestablish budwood gardens andnursery of five recommended clonesof rubber producing 10,000 qualityplanting materials. (Hernani Lapidand Rodolfo Galang)

seaweeds such as seaweed ,pickles, noodles, and chips were funded.There is likewise an on-going project onthe development of postharvesttechnologies on the and

seaweed species which arebeing screened for their bio-activecompounds. The appropriate technologyfor the grow-out of sea urchin, a delicacypopular in Japan, Southeast Asia, and theUnited States, was also given support.

The abovementioned projectsare just a few of the technologies andprojects funded by BAR through NTCPin its effort to develop agribusinessenterprises anchored on appropriateactivities for technology promotion,transfer, utilization, andcommercialization.

Since 2005, BAR has beenregularly conducting technologycommercialization exhibits and fora atthe national and regional levels to createawareness and to disseminate theseviable technologies where needed. InAugust 2008, it decided to hold the event

longanisa

halymeniaportiera

in SM Megatrade Hall to capture awider audience and showcase theproducts generated by our scientists,researchers, and farmer-cooperators.In line with BAR's plans to continueand strengthen the worthwhilecontributions of NTCP, moreprojects and activities related toagriculture and fisheries technologycommercialization are expected tobe funded this year.

The TechnologyCommercialization Unit (TCU) isthe focal unit assigned by BAR tofacilitate the funding and monitoringof the commercialization of viabletechnologies on agriculture andfisheries from the different R&Dinstitutions within DA, othergovernment agencies, stateuniversities and colleges (SUC),non-government organizations(NGOs), and local government units(LGU) involved in the developmentof the sector. (Miko Jazmine J.Mojica)

Expansion activitieswas made possible

through BAR-supportedprojects on rubber.

Flowers in bloom these days,including farm technologies usedand other products were properly

showcased in recent flower festival. In

the staging of the 14 PanagbengaFestival in Baguio City, variousactivities such concerts, street dancing,flower float parades, food and beveragesand a sampling of Cordillera culture andtourism activities were held for localand foreign visitors. The success of theevent would have been incompletewithout the flowers in bloom where ifnot for extensive research anddevelopment (R&D) activities onornamentals would have not beenpossible.

Ornamentals and cutflowerssuch as roses, calla lily, chrysanthemum,Malaysian mums, sunflowers,everlasting, daisies and other colorfuland bright flowers made their

th

Flowers made available year-round, thanks to R&D

appearance in the festival was the result,to a large part, of the work of researchersand farmers. Researchers from theBenguet State University (BSU)particularly the Horticultural Research,Development and Training Institute(HORTI) and Bureau of Plant Industry(BPI)-Baguio including privateornamental farms all worked together tomake use of ornamental researchoutputs. New technologies are nowutilized by cutflower communities withinBaguio City, municipalities of LaTrinidad, Tublay, Tuba, Itogon, andSablan in Benguet province.

The successful developmentand utilization of technologies forornamental and cutflowers, now used bythe different farmers including by thecutflower farmer's federation, has helpedcreate a stable and sustainable businessin the different farming communities

within the Baguio-Benguet area.Through the constant technical

support of BSU, DA-CAR, LGUs, BARand the farmers associations, and thecollaborative work of concernedstakeholders in the local ornamentaland cutflower industry, the flowerbusiness will become better astechnologies and products arecontinuously improved. This will alsowork to sustain the required supply offlowers, not only during the flowerfestival conducted annually during themonth of February but in otheroccasions where flowers are neededsuch as during weddings and otherspecial occasions.

With year-round productionnow possible and with good localpartnerships, these will make the flowerindustry a booming communityenterprise ( )Marlowe U. Aquino, PhD

The National Anti-PovertyCommission (NAPC) provided 18fisherfolk with a seminar on

ornamental fish breeding held in Brgy.Taloy Sur, Tuba, Benguet on 28 February2009.

The objective of the seminar wasto encourage the members of the TaloySur Fisherfolk Association to breedornamental fishes like koi, guppies,goldfish, flower horns, and the like intheir fish terraces as this could be anothermeans of income for them.

As of today, Mrs. Rosalina LuzLabotan, president of the Taloy SurFisherfolk Association, is the only onewho propagates ornamental fish as asource of livelihood. According to Mrs.

Ornamental fish breedingseen as an answer to poverty

Labotan,

NAPC and the members of theTaloy Sur fishing community agreed tohold another training this time onornamental fish propagation on March 21wherein the NAPC will provide fishbreeders (parent fish) to the fisherfolk.Marketing concerns of this new technologywill also be discussed.

“Dahil sa fish terraces, meron ngimmediate na pagkain para sa mesa angpamilya ko at mayroon pang extra napang-emergency. Maganda itongpagkakitaan ng pera.”

“May mga Koreano na

pumupunta dito para bumili. Minsannaman dumalaw dito ang mga Girl Scoutat sila mismo ang nanghuli ng isda.Enjoy na enjoy sila,”“Kaya ini-engganyo ko kayo na subukanang ganitong negosyo upang matikmanniyo rin ang tinatamasa ko ngayon.”

(Don P.Lejano)

said Mrs. Labotan.

The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) noted that these newtrends in agriculture, fisheries andtourism can be subject for further studiesto enhance the fisheries innovativesystem in the Cordilleras.

DA-RFU IVB PHOTOS

DPLEJANO

DPLEJANO

February 2009 Issue

Rosalina Luz Labotan explains why thereis money in ornamental fish breeding.