The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management-National Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Center for Hillyland Pedo-Ecological Zone (BSWM-NSWRRDC-HILLPEZ) forged a research for development (R4D) partnership project on integrated nutrient management for soil and tomato productivity on17 December 2021 at the center in Brgy. Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal.
Aligned with DA-BAR’s initiative to assist and strengthen the R4D programs of DA-BSWM on soil fertility and crop productivity, the project titled, “Development of Integrated Nutrient Management Strategy for Improving Soil and Tomato Productivity,” is funded by the DA-BAR.
The project shall package an integrated nutrient management strategy for tomato in collaboration with the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-University of the Philippines Los Baños and tomato growers. Specifically, it intends to quantify the effect of integrating chemical fertilizers, organic amendments and microbial inoculants on soil properties and growth of tomato.
Through integrated nutrient management strategy, balanced fertilization can be achieved to enhance soil fertility, hence, increase tomato productivity.
DA-BAR director Dr. Junel B. Soriano and assistant director Joell H. Lales; and DA-BSWM director Engr. Pablo M. Montalla and NSWRRDC-HILLPEZ chief Joven P. Espineli led the MOA signing. Joining them to witness are the key officials and staff of the two bureaus.
Director Soriano, in his message of support, emphasized the bureau’s continuous search
for collaborations to implement relevant R4D programs in support to the attainment of the DA’s vision for a productive and profitable agriculture sector. He also encouraged the various centers of the DA such as the NSWRRDC to have programs that are responsive to the needs of the farmers and the industry, and be scalable to reach more beneficiaries.
Further, he highlighted the DA-BAR’s focus on strengthening policy development through the R4D projects’ outputs under the Research to Policies for Development and Extension (R2P4DE) approach.
Serving as the implementing agency, NSWRRDC-HILLPEZ is a Research and Development Center mandated to undertake applied and location-specific researches in hillyland pedo-ecological zones—showcasing cost-efficient, socially acceptable and environment friendly soil and water management technologies in hillyland pedo-ecological zones.