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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. 

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Feb 22, 2022

Shiitake production on woods highlights in-house webinar

Shiitake production on woods highlighted the DA-BAR in-house webinar on 22 February 2022. Dr. Maribel S. Bacena of Nueva Vizcaya State University served as the resource person.Dr. Bacena said that the shiitake production has a 265.24% return on investment with eight months to recover based on their 2018 BAR-funded research project. The method of production was ideal for upland communities with temperature ranging from 17 to 27°C and water temperature of around 7°C.Alder tree, an introduced species in the country, was the ideal wood media to be used. She stressed that although cutting down trees is prohibited under law, there are certain species like the Alder tree that do not require Cutting Tree Permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.To start the production, wood branches were gathered and cut at uniform length, ideally 1.2 meter for easier handling. Holes were drilled on the wood with a 30 centimeter distance, 1 cm width, and 2.5 cm depth. At least 1 gram of spawn will be inoculated per hole, then cover with candle or foam.Planted wood branches were piled to help mycelia grow. Proper distance should be observed for good ventilation and maintenance. The wood branches should be turned upside down every two to four months to even out the moisture content.After approximately eight months, the wood branches should be soaked in water for 48 hours and then incubated to stimulate growth. The branches would then be piled in a place where the mushrooms have the space to grow without external disturbance. Pinheads would pop out from the bark; hence, Dr. Bacena stressed the importance of its proper management. Once the mushrooms were fully grown, it should be harvested using clean materials and delivered to the market within 13 hours. Wood branches should be given at least one month to rest before soaking it again for another round of production. Dr. Bacena emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean environment for the production of shiitake production to prevent contamination. 

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Nov 03, 2021

Soriano takes over DA-BAR leadership from Mamaril

Dr. Junel B. Soriano ceremonially took over the leadership of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) from Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril during a welcome program for the newly appointed director on 3 November 2021.“I consider this noble task ahead of me not only as a responsibility but also as a privilege to be working with you all. To me, change in leadership does not mean a change of culture, program, and everything. I rather initiate improvement than change. That’s my direction in terms of leadership,” said Dr. Soriano in his first speech as DA-BAR’s director.As former professor at the Isabela State University and as a farmer himself, Dr. Soriano found this new opportunity as a means to bring down the theoretical information and knowledge from research and the academe to the farmers and fishers on the ground.“I am committing myself to really embrace all opportunities and to [work] with you more productively and more efficiently, for our farmers and fisherfolk,” he pledged.During the program, Dr. Mamaril’s almost one year of service to the bureau was also recognized through the presentation of a certificate and simple token of appreciation.On behalf of the bureau, DA-BAR assistant director Joell H. Lales said, “[We would like to] express our most profound appreciation to director Choy Mamaril for being so generous and patient to share his insights, knowledge, and experience as a researcher himself.”Dr. Soriano likewise expressed his gratitude towards Dr. Mamaril for serving as the bureau’s director for the past year.In his final remarks as the outgoing DA-BAR director, Dr. Mamaril expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards the bureau’s staff for supporting his decisions for the betterment of the organization.“Hindi lahat nangyayari nang madalian. There is always hardwork behind. And also there is this God’s blessing more than anything else. I consider BAR, I consider all of you, as blessings in my life. I will cherish this not in my mind, not in my memory, but all of these are in my heart. Salamat po!” Dr. Mamaril ended.Dr. Mamaril served as the director of the bureau from 3 November 2020 to 24 October 2021. Under his leadership, the bureau's organizational structure was streamlined to better serve its clients. He also impressed upon the staff and officials the importance of upholding integrity, accountability, commitment, and professionalism.He initiated the online book fair, Libreng Libro sa BAR, featuring 143 books on agriculture and fishery research for development technologies. He also strongly pushed for the automation of the bureau’s operational processes as well as the development of information systems of other relevant data that are useful for the stakeholders.Following the official appointment of Dr. Soriano as the DA-BAR director, Dr. Mamaril returned as the director of the DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. 