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NEWS & EVENTS

Jan 17, 2024

Web applications introduced to farmers of Zamboanga del Sur

The J.H. Cerilles State College in Zamboanga del Sur has completed a project focused on improving crop production and marketing for local farmers through developed web application tools. Funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), the project aimed to make life better for local farmers by using web tools to improve their crop growing methods. Dr. Jerry B. Superales, the project leader, shared specific goals, including determining soil quality, understanding limits of crops due to soil and weather, and creating maps showing where crops can grow well. The project also made web tools for smart farming and selling crops, giving real-time data about soil, crops, and fertilizer recommendations.The project's findings indicated that the whole province has different soil types and pH levels. The maps and web tools made by the project helped farmers easily get information about their soil. These tools let farmers choose the right crops for their land, learn about soil quality, and make decisions based on weather, making farming more efficient and resilient.With the completion of the project, recommendations and ways forward were considered. These include sharing information with farmers, customizing fertilizer use based on soil needs, and organizing training for farmers to use the web tools and maps effectively. The DA-BAR also suggested making the data input process simpler for farmers and expanding the mobile app to become a direct market platform for consumers.The project was presented during the review of DA-BAR-funded projects under Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act research for development on 17 January 2024 via Google Meet, facilitated by the Program Monitoring, Evaluation, and Linkaging Division.

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Jan 20, 2023

DA-SCEC holds meeting; seeks higher DA career scientists nominations

The recently reconstituted Scientific Career Evaluation Committee (SCEC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) held a meeting on 18 January 2023 at the Crop Research Biotechnology Center, DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija to discuss the terms of reference of the committee and evaluate the applicants for possible conferment to the Scientific Career System.Focused on encouraging more DA employees to apply and be career scientists, the need to re-orient DA operating units on the processes and significance of the scientific career system and thereby enjoin them to create, in their respective units, an SCEC where initial screening and coaching of applicants shall be undertaken, was also underscored in the meeting. Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Scientist IV and chief of the Training Division of DA-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), as the newly designated committee chairperson, presided over the meeting and was joined by DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research director Joell H. Lales, as the co-chairperson, members of the evaluation committee, and secretariat. In his opening message, DA-SCEC chairperson Dr. Santos expressed his humble appreciation of the opportunity to lead the committee. DA-SCEC co-chairperson Lales, as the former chairperson of the committee, formally introduced and welcomed Dr. Santos as the committee chairperson. He also expressed his appreciation to the new chair and committee members for accepting the call to be part of the reconstituted committee.Dr. Roel R. Suralta, Scientist III and director of the Crop Biotechnology Center, DA-PhilRice; Dr. Ofero A. Caparino, Scientist I and OIC-assistant director of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization; and Dr. Danilda H. Duran, Scientist I and head of the Reproduction and Physiology Section of the DA-Philippine Carabao Center, in their capacity as committee members, put forward recommendations  to further systematize the screening and evaluation process. Plans to enhance the DA guidelines, in line with those of the Scientific Career Council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-SCC) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) were also discussed by the group. Dr. Leny C. Galvez, Scientist I and head of the Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory of the DA-Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, also serves as a committee member.The DA, through the SCEC, hopes to boost the participation of DA researchers to the SCS and give due recognition to their role in agricultural development. Created in 1990, the DA-SCEC is tasked to conduct the screening and evaluation of documents submitted by the nominated applicants from DA units; conduct validation of accomplishments and other relevant functions of the applicants based on the guidelines set by the DOST-SCC and CSC; and recommend qualified applicants to the DA secretary for endorsement to the DOST secretary. 

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Jan 25, 2024

WD Dar seminar kicks off, Regenerative Agriculture tackled

“Regenerative Agriculture (RA) is an approach, a paradigm in considering all these things relevant to sustainable development goals and the impacts of climate change… Resilience is much higher than sustainability.”This was among the highlights of William D. Dar, Go Negosyo’s senior adviser and Department of Agriculture’s former secretary, as he served as the first resource speaker of the relaunched seminar series of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) on 25 January 2024 held both virtually and at the Escaño Hall, RDMIC Bldg., Diliman, Quezon City.With its first topic, titled Regenerative Agriculture (RA): Feeding and Sustaining the World, Dar outlined the environmental effects of agriculture; main pillars, applicable technologies, and current efforts and initiatives of global partners and the Philippine government toward promoting RA. The RA’s applicable technologies include balanced fertilization, efficient irrigation, integrated pest management, precision farming, and molecular breeding.Dar furthered on the RA’s facet on dealing with climate resiliency, most particularly in attaining a sustainable world food system. “The new agriculture is also anchored on the sustainable development goals,” Dar said.As part of the presentation, several economic benefits of RA which include: enhanced resilience to drought and floods resulting to increased stable crop yields; reduced farmers’ dependence on costly farm inputs; improved soil fertility and crop health contributing to sustainable and increased crop yields; and promotion of economic value of food through production of healthy and nutritious products were highlighted.“Push R&D technological advancements and innovations to utilize or upscale regenerative agriculture,” Dar said as he urged the bureau and other stakeholders in the Research for Development in putting up an RA R4D program.The then DA-BAR seminar series was renamed to WD Dar Seminar Series in recognition of the valuable contributions of the bureau’s founding director, Dar. This was participated by the bureau’s technical staff and online viewers via streamyard and bureau’s official facebook page. 

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Jan 26, 2023

DA-BAR chief visits solar-powered irrigation system in CLSU

DA-BAR OIC-director Joell Lales, together with Research Program Development Division head Raymond Patrick Cabrera and other DA-BAR officials and staff, visited the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija to look into the mobile solar-powered hose reel irrigation system (SPHRIS) studied and established under the DA-BAR-funded project “Renewable Energy Powering Agriculture: Integration of Photovoltaic Technology with Farm Production System.”During the site visit, Dr. Edgar Orden, CLSU president, and Dr. Armando Espino Jr., vice president for Research and Extension and project leader, highlighted the practicality and performance of the mobile SPHRIS in providing cheaper, cleaner, and reliable crop irrigation in remote areas. Currently demonstrated in the CLSU grounds, the SPHRIS is a climate-smart technology that utilizes PhotoVoltaic technology–converting sunlight into electricity–thereby addressing uncertainties associated with fluctuating availability and price of diesel fuel. Composed of a hose reel and mobile solar-powered pump, the SPHRIS can be moved from farm to farm; thus, allowing reach to distant farms, as well as generation of areas to be irrigated for crop production. Moreover, the use of hose reel irrigation, as highlighted by Dr. Espino, increases irrigation efficiency as it “allow[s] for efficient distribution of irrigation water and eliminates conveyance losses when using canals or ditches.”The project collaborated with selected onion and rice farmers cooperatives and associations at Brgy. San Agustin, San Jose City and Brgy. Licaong, Science City of Muñoz, respectively, in testing the mobile system.Seeing the potential of the innovation and technology that the project has developed, DA-BAR director Lales encouraged the team to pursue further activities to ensure that significant R4D outputs such as this would be upscaled, especially to remote, rural areas of the region and beyond, to boost agricultural production and improve farmers’ incomes. Nearing its completion, the project targets to implement some modifications to the system, such as lowering the position of panels for easier transport and testing for other potential functions as a power source for small farm machineries. 

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Jan 25, 2023

DA-BAR, MIMAROPA agencies look into R4D collaborative projects

DA-BAR, DA-MIMAROPA, and Mindoro State University discussed ongoing and possible collaborative research for development (R4D) projects and activities in the region during a visiting and monitoring activity led by DA-BAR OIC-assistant director Dr. Anthony B. Obligado in January 2023 in Oriental Mindoro.Among the areas for possible collaboration are the priority commodities of the region, banana and calamansi. These include the need to address the supply and demand for planting materials through upscaling of tissue culture planting materials and promotion of offseason calamansi. The region is also looking into other commodities like cashew, native chicken, adlay, taro, OPV glutinous white corn, cassava, smoked fish, and the use of hydroponics fodder.Aside from future R4D projects, the group also discussed the ongoing DA-BAR funded project on rice-duck farming systems aimed to increase rice farmers’ productivity and profitability.The adoption of the technology increased the yield and minimized the inputs which resulted in increased income. Series of training were conducted to 60 farmers-cooperators with regard to mallard duck raising including management of housing, feeds, health, and breeding and also incubator making. Training on modern inbred/hybrid production which covered topics on PalayCheck system, RCM, NextGen and rice machine operations were also conducted as well as on integrated rice duck farming systems and farm record keeping.Dr. Obligado presented the DA-BAR R4DE programs and impact pathway during the DA-MIMAROPA Consultation Meeting for FY 2024 Convergence Planning and Collaboration and FY 2023 Implementation.The bureau is now towards the path of targeting R4D interventions in provinces of high poverty incidence and low agricultural productivity (eg. Romblon) through technology scaling programs to be implemented by DA regional field offices and partner state universities and colleges and in collaboration with farmer cooperatives associations.“DA-BAR will provide support to the development of innovative technologies that can be adapted by farmers and fisherfolk. These agricultural technologies are then scaled through strategies such as support for technology commercialization and agriculture and fisheries community R4D development programs to ensure the efficient delivery, access, and utilization of these strategies.  DA-BAR [shall] also provide support to Institutional Development and Capacity Enhancement programs as well as Policy Support,” he shared. 

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Jan 30, 2024

JR Escaño and ER Ponce Halls unveiled

To commemorate the contribution and legacy of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) late directors Dr. Jeminiano R. Escaño and Dr. Eliseo R. Ponce, the first and fourth floors of the Research and Development Management Information Center (RDMIC) building was renamed to JR Escaño and ER Ponce Halls, respectively, during a simple ceremony on 25 January 2024.Witnessing this momentous occasion were the DA undersecretary for bureaus Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, DA-BAR management and staff led by director Junel B. Soriano, and the families of Dr. Escaño and Dr. Ponce.Jovita M. Escaño, wife of the late Dr. Escaño, shared a message of appreciation on behalf of her son Jeminiano R. Escaño Jr., “The dedication of the DA-BAR hall in my father’s name is a reminder that if we set aside all our differences and work together, we can achieve greater and better things for the good of the community and for the country.” Dr. Escaño, as his wife shared, was a staunch advocate for collective action and cooperation of communities as a means for progressive change provided that they are given opportunities for self development and improvement.“Our dad’s service to agricultural research at the DA-BAR was part of who he was. He carried you with him in his memories and in the stories he told. I’m sure my dad is greatly honored today by your memory of him, but more importantly by the outstanding work that you continued to do at the DA-BAR, ” said Atty. Lezyl B. Ponce, daughter of Dr. Ponce, as she expressed her family’s sincerest gratitude for this commemorative action.Dr. Escaño took the helm of DA-BAR from 1 August 1996 to 14 July 1997. He institutionalized the implementation of the Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) as one of the banner programs of the bureau for more than two decades. The aforesaid is an extension modality and an innovative approach to research and development (R&D) that focuses on the verification, demonstration, and adoption of agricultural technologies at the community level. Through CPAR, the operations of the different Regional Integrated Research Systems were strengthened.He also led the  administrative management coordination of the R&D components of the Gintong Ani food production and security program, which aimed to sustain increased food production through productivity-enhancing measures.Meanwhile, Dr. Ponce served as DA-BAR chief  from 1 July 1998 to 15 February 2003. He paved the way for the implementation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act in the context of R&D; led the establishment and improvement of the National Research and Development System for Agriculture and Fisheries and the Agriculture and Fisheries R&D Information System which promoted inter-institutional collaboration through efficient and effective information flow and access; and established the Scientific Publication Grant System to support scientific and professional association and scientific fora for the publication of scientific journals, handbooks, books, and scientific proceedings.He also increased the visibility of the bureau in print media through the publication and distribution of BAR Chronicle and BAR R&D Digest, the bureau’s official newsletter and magazine that still stand to this day, as well as online through the launching of the BAR Online, the bureau’s official website.The RDMIC Building, where the bureau currently stands, was also constructed during his term. It was also during this period that  the Philippines, through DA-BAR, hosted the Annual General Meeting of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research on 28-31 October 2002. 

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