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NEWS & EVENTS

Jan 08, 2024

Soriano recaps 2023 bureau reforms and accomplishments, lay downs plans for 2024

DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) director Junel B. Soriano delivered a State of the Bureau Address during the first Flag Raising Ceremony of the year on 8 January 2024 at DA-BAR Grounds, Quezon City.In his address, the director gave a recap of the accomplishments as well as challenges that the bureau has faced in 2023. “In the previous year, we have established several reforms to ensure that the bureau’s service delivery is continuously improving and evolving even in the midst of challenges. These include adaptive strategies and innovative ways that are geared towards providing responsive solutions to the challenges faced by our farmers and fisherfolk,” he said.Likewise, an audiovisual presentation highlighting the bureau’s 2023 major programs and activities was presented. Among the notable accomplishments include the packaging and dissemination of the updated Grants Manual, launching of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Research For Development and Extension 2023 to 2028 Agenda, enhancing of the Agriculture and Fisheries Resources, Research and Extension Development Network guidelines, scoping and appraisal activities, as part of the PARTNERS approach, and conduct of the National Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Exhibition, BAR Scholar’s Fellowship night, and Sustainable Challenge Awards.The said AVP highlighted how the bureau continuously advocates programs, expand, connect, communicate technologies, acknowledge partners, and most importantly learn from each activity.Moving forward to F.Y. 2024, director Soriano underscored some of the reforms and plans that he has laid out for the bureau.“We envision a more strengthened DA-BAR with an improved service delivery through the proposed BAR Restructuring….Consequently, the bureau will continue its pursuit of a harmonized R4D and extension service through the OneRDEAP. We also aim to improve our budget planning and fund utilization which will allow us to propose for a larger chunk of funds in the coming fiscal years.Director Soriano also acknowledged the bureau staff for their dedication, resilience, and hard work. “The bureau has undergone several impactful changes over the previous year, but one thing was evident in all those– that the bureau management and its staff has remained steadfast and resilient as ever,” he said. 

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Dec 15, 2021

DA-BAR plans programs, projects, and activities for 2022

To ensure sustainable contribution to the development of the agriculture and fisheries sector, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) conducted the 2022 Performance Commitment Review (PCR) Target Setting cum Second Management Committee (ManCom) Meeting on 13-15 December 2021 at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Tagaytay City and via Cisco Webex. DA-BAR director Soriano laid down his directives to ensure that the results of the strategies formulated will translate to positive and sustainable impact to the primary stakeholders.Further, to ensure that the performance measure, targets, and accomplishments for next year are aligned to its organizational strategies and core functions, ManCom members discussed the target setting as well as other relevant concerns, activities, and plans. Director Soriano, in his message, also acknowledged the officials and staff for his insightful but very productive first months at the bureau. Former DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio Mamaril (now DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards director) graced the activity and enjoined the staff to continue developing automated systems and share these to other DA bureaus and agencies. He suggested strategies in enhancing the various programs of the bureau to attain its targets and ensure its sustainability.Other topics discussed were the Inclusive and Transformative Research for Development and Extension (R4DE) Framework, medium and long-term plans of the bureau, Yamang Lupa Sustainable Community-based Action R4DE for Livelihood Uplifting and Prosperity Program, and the upgrading of Regional Research and Development Extension Network and Technology Innovation Management Service Centers.DA-BAR assistant director Joell Lales, in his closing message, instructed the planning and report officers of all divisions to submit the agreed performance measures and targets. He reminded everyone to continually stay focused and committed to the bureau’s mission and vision.The three-day activity was attended by the heads of the divisions, sections and units. 

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Nov 25, 2021

Soybean production and pastry recipes shared in a webinar

Viewed live by 68 people, soybean production and pastry recipes developed by Quirino State University (QSU) were shared during the monthly in-house webinar of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research on 25 November 2021. QSU director for extension and professor Dr. Fredisminda M. Dolojan led the discussion of soybean production and pastry products developed by the university.Through a series of soybean projects implemented by QSU, 70 farmer-members of Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative were trained on the package of technology for soybean production. Among them, six farmers served as contract growers of the project with six hectares of production and demonstration area. Dr. Dolojan reported that, as part of the project, Quirino farmers adopted the NSIC SY08 variety which resulted to a yield of 2,800 kilograms per hectare; planting density of 40-60 kilograms of soybean seeds per hectare; minimum tillage by creating furrows or manual planting using Jabber planter; usage of seed inoculant, Bio N, as well as carrageenan foliar fertilizer.With the research grant that QSU received, they were able to develop various pastries using soybean flour such as pandesal, loaf, banana bread, butterscotch, and nuggets.Four adopters were trained to commercialize these products. They were also trained on simple record keeping to track the return of expenses.Soya butterscotch, soya nuggets, and soya banana bread recipes and product demonstration were shared. QSU forged a memorandum of agreement with Far East Broadcasting Company Philippines through the 1143 DZMR radio station to share and promote the various soya products. QSU holds a weekly demonstration on the processing in the program Magandang Umaga Mommy which airs from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. “The Soya Team of QSU is willing to share these technologies on soya production and products, you may visit us at the Extension Training Services Department or contact us through mobile number (0917) 653 2478 or email fredisminda.dolojan@ qsu.edu.ph,” ended Dr. Dolojan. 

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Nov 04, 2021

Farmer’s training and field day showcase crop-livestock integrated farming system

Aimed to showcase, transfer, and disseminate technologies on crop-livestock integrated farming system, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-CALABARZON conducted a farmers’ training on 3-4 November 2021 at Barangays Bucal 3 and Garita, Maragondon, Cavite followed by a farmers’ field day on the second day.The technologies are part of the project titled, “Outscaling of Integrated Rice-Based Farming System (Rice-Rice+Duck)” funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research being implemented by DA-CALABARZON research division. The project aims to increase rice production and farmers’ income through updated rice production package of technologies (e.g. rice crop manager, PalayCheck, integrated nutrient management, and intergrated pest management), hence, ensure sustainable production and availability of food.       With four rice cluster areas serving as project sites, each site was provided with duck housing or shelter for 100 ducks and 10 drakes each FA site (total of 550 heads) as counterpart of the Regional Livestock Banner Program. Fifty farmer cooperators served as beneficiaries with a total of 50 hectares rice fields.According to Elizabeth Gregorio, project leader, the use of ducks as an alternative to chemical pesticides helps not only in improving the quality of grains in a safer manner but also for the health and safety of farmers. “This is also considered as an agri-business enterprise approach, wherein integration of ducks will provide additional income to the farmers through production and selling of fresh eggs, incubation to produce and sell ducklings, and egg processing or value adding technologies,” she added.Also, farmers were taught with strategies on reducing the incidence of pests particularly rice black bug and golden apple snails through biological control measures as component of integrated pest management technology.During the two-day training, the farmer cooperators and two farmer adopters of the project were equipped with proper techniques on the management and maintenance of the incubator for duckling production and duck egg processing technologies. The outscaling of rice-based farming system was adopted from the matured technology of the Community-based Participatory Action Research on Rice-Rice+Duck in Tanay, Rizal (CY 2014) that noted a 30 percent increase in income versus the farmers’ practice. Also, through utilization of PSB RC 18, 82 and 240, yield per hectare increased by 14.5 percent. The integration of duck also recorded a reduction of the pest infestations. 

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Nov 29, 2021

Formulating, strengthening policies underscored during agrobiodiversity project steering committee meeting

Formulating plans and strengthening policies and legal frameworks towards future replication and scaling up of agrobiodiversity technologies and promotion in the country were underscored during the Eighth Project Steering Committee Meeting of the “Dynamic Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agro-biodiversity in Traditional Agro-ecosystems of the Philippines” project, or the ABD Project, on 29 November 2021 via Zoom.This was stressed by both Engr. Ariel T. Cayanan, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-Fisheries Mechanization and DA-BAR director Junel B. Soriano, PSC chairperson and new co-chairperson, respectively. They expressed their hope that the project would support farmers by “providing the best opportunity to upscale their livelihood and derive economic and food security benefits from agrobiodiversity and ecosystems conservation practices”.The ABD Project is implemented by the DA through the Bureau of Agricultural Research and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).The PSC agreed during the meeting on the no-cost extension of the project until June 2022. Among the activities to be accomplished include pursuing the approval of policies that would institutionalize the promotion of the dynamic conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity at the national and local levels. The project will also expand its coverage to all barangays in Hingyon and Hungduan in Ifugao and three additional barangays in Lake Sebu in South Cotabato.“The highlight of the project has been the significant progress of the policy-related advocacies--to strengthen policy and legal frameworks defining a national approach to agrobiodiversityand guiding the designand implementation of the corresponding activities at the national and local levels,” Kati Tanninen, new FAO Representative in the Philippines said.Funded by Global Environment Facility through FAO, the project aims to enhance, expand, and sustain the dynamic conservation process in traditional agroecosystems through knowledge sharing, peer to peer training, and creating new markets for local agrobiodiversity, including traditional rice varieties. The ABD Project began its implementation in 2016. It has provided community seed banks in each of its 17 pilot barangays, as well as farm and enterprise tools and equipment. It also conducted various capacity building activities to the farmers towards enhanced entrepreneurship and to encourage them to cultivate local agrobiodiversity. 

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Nov 16, 2021

DA-BAR inks MOA for R4D partnership projects

Aimed at strengthening partnerships and ensuring the efficient management and implementation of projects, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) inked a Memorandum of Agreement with various research for development (R4D) partner institutions for the implementation of R4D partnership projects on 15-16 November 2021 at 4/F Conference Hall, RDMIC Building, Quezon City.The R4D partnership projects include development of decision support tools, conduct of benchmarking and assessment studies, and field verification trials for crop and fisheries production technologies. Notices to Proceed were also awarded to various partnership projects on technology business incubation for agriculture and fisheries ventures.“As part of my vision to harmonize and improve the services of the bureau, I envision to create and implement strategies focused on transforming research outputs and outcomes to policies for development or “Research to Policy for Development (R2P4D),” DA-BAR director Dr. Junel B. Soriano said during his welcome message.Further, he hopes that technologies are fully utilized when enabling environments are established through enactment of responsive and appropriate policies.Dr. Mary Jocelyn V. Battung, J.H. Cerilles State College president; Engr. Pablo M. Montalla, DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management director; Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, Visayas State University president; Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, Mariano Marcos State University president; and Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, Isabela State University president led the ceremonial MOA signing. Other key officials, researchers and staff from the said institutions and from DA-BAR also witnessed the event. Acknowledging DA-BAR’s support, the key officials of the R4D partner agencies also pledged their support to the bureau’s vis-à-vis the new management’s vision.  As partners for development, they further challenged their colleagues to come-up with researches and products that are responsive to the needs of the farmers.DA-BAR division heads during the event likewise presented and discussed the bureau’s major programs and research priorities, and their respective division’s organizational function and structure. In closing, DA-BAR assistant director Joell H. Lales emphasized the importance of crafting policies in mainstreaming the outputs of research. 