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NEWS & EVENTS

Aug 24, 2021

Agri chief recognizes DA-BAR’s milestones in 34th year anniversary

Agriculture Secretary William Dar lauded the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)’s milestones during the week-long celebration of its 34th anniversary on 24 August 2021 in Diliman, Quezon City.Dar graced the event by delivering an inspirational message recognizing the bureau’s efforts over the years saying that, “rising above the adverse effects of the pandemic is a very difficult task [in itself], but as the agency’s founding director, I cannot be more proud to see how DA-BAR evolves and adapts to the changing needs of its stakeholders.”The banner programs of the bureau were highlighted during Dar’s inspirational message, such as the National Technology Commercialization Program and the Community-based Participatory Action Research program.Dar also mentioned the successful implementation of the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agriculture, popularly known as MAYA program, during the pandemic which was coordinated by DA-BAR.He also noted how the bureau remained committed despite the pandemic, by handling the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness program as initiated by DA. The program aimed to encourage the youth to engage and venture in agriculture and fisheries.Lastly, Dar challenged DA-BAR to start conceptualizing about the future agriculture that the country needs to have one generation from now.“Sama-sama nating itaguyod ang isang Pilipinas na may sapat na pagkain at mga magsasaka’t mangingisdang may maunlad at masaganang buhay sa kabila ng pandemya,” Dar ended. 

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Aug 27, 2021

DA-BAR marks 34th anniversary; underscores R4D response amid pandemic

As the bureau continues to elevate research for development (R4D) response for resilient agriculture and fishery food systems amid the pandemic, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) celebrated its 34th anniversary on 24-27 August 2021 in Diliman, Quezon City and livestreamed at the bureau’s official Facebook page.With the theme “BAR@34: Pagdiriwang para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita ng mga Magsasaka at Mangingisda,” series of activities were conducted during the four-day event led by DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio Mamaril.In his opening remarks and Director’s report, he underscored how the bureau responded to challenges brought by the pandemic and how it adapted to the ever-changing landscape of the agriculture and fishery R4D by recalibrating its strategies. “Last year’s story of resilience is only a small fraction of the similar but intertwined narratives that [DA-]BAR has been in its 34 years of existence. Circumstances and people may have been different but the attitude and response have stayed the same. The bureau continuously works hard to improve the implementation of its budget and we have remained relevant to our stakeholders. The professionalism, cooperation, and support of the bureau’s staff and our partner research institutions have all contributed to what the bureau is today and how the bureau will fare in the years to come,” he said.Further, director Mamaril discussed the bureau’s significant accomplishments in 2020 through its funded programs, activities, and projects, as well as their alignment to DA’s core strategies: modernization, industrialization, consolidation, and professionalization. Specifically, notable R4D funded technologies and support services were highlighted—reflecting significant contribution to productivity and profitability improvements, farm-level application, among others.DA-BAR assistant director Joell Lales led the announcement of the bureau’s adherence to ISO 9001: 2015 standard. As certified by TÜV Rheinland, the bureau maintained its ISO certification after successfully passing the Second Surveillance Audit (remote) on 5 August 2021.Assistant director Lales concluded the celebration. “Diyan nakikita ang katuturan ng research for development—na hindi lang tayo puro sa papel lang o mga report. Iyan ay may pinatutunguhan o pinakikinabangan, [and] that is the essence of this celebration.Ako, sa ngalan ng bureau, ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat po ng nagtulungan para dito: sa lahat ng ating kawani mula sa baba hanggang sa mga opisyales, and of course sa ating direktor na napaka-supportive sa lahat ng ating ginagawa,” DA-BAR assistant director Lales said during his closing message. 

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Jun 29, 2021

Genetic improvement, biosecurity measures among top research priorities for livestock, poultry

Genetic improvement of animals, and enhancement of biosecurity measures against economically important diseases were among the top research priorities identified during the National Consultation Workshop for Livestock and Poultry on 28-29 June 2021.Profiling and evaluation of feeds and feedstuff; standardization of organic and non-organic livestock production, post-production, and facilities; and market study and value chain analysis of animal products and by-products were also in the list.The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Agricultural Research spearheaded the event to update and harmonize the bureau’s livestock and poultry research for development (R4D) agenda and programs of the department.Key DA offices participated in the said activity including the Office of the Undersecretary for Livestock, National Livestock Program (NLP), Bureau of Animal Industry, Philippine Carabao Center, National Dairy Authority, and National Meat Inspection Service.The consultation workshop paved the way to identify and validate research gaps that need to be immediately addressed by the participating agencies.The activity was also used as an avenue to present the roster of adaptive technologies, tools, and practices generated under the livestock and poultry R4D programs of the different participating DA agencies.The outputs of the consultation workshop will be used as baseline for prioritization for 2022-2023 for endorsement to the DA-NLP and DA-Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries. 

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Jul 30, 2021

Rice-duck farming offers promising result in open-source pump irrigated areas

A 2013 study conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Cagayan Experiment Station showed that the integration of duck in rice farming can increase yield to 36 percent and reduce golden apple snail (GAS) up to 95 percent, thus,  helping the control of weeds in irrigated rice. Today, the DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (DA-CVRC) promotes the same technology to Open-Source Pump Irrigated Areas in Ilagan and Tumauini, Isabela through a two-year project funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) on outscaling of rice-based farming system (rice+duck). Through a webinar organized by DA-BAR on 30 July 2021, Gemma G. Bagunu, senior science research specialist and project leader from DA-CVRC, discussed the rice-duck farming system they introduced to 150 farmer cooperators that resulted to 121.9 percent of return on investment compared to 67.24 percent in rice production alone (2020-2021 dry season). According to Bagunu, ducks are good “weed manager” and eat GAS which means less labor in weed management and less pesticide and insecticide application.  Rice production practices Farmer-cooperators planted NSIC Rc480 at the rate of 40 kilogram per hectare with a spacing of 20 x 20 centimeter to allow enough space for the ducks to walk. Other practices include two to three healthy seedling per hill, plowing (once) and three times harrowing of field at one week interval. Rice crop manager is used as basis in nutrient management and five centimeter depth of irrigation water is maintained to control weeds.  These practices are under the nine key checks recommendation in PalayCheck System. The rice paddy is enclosed in a poultry net to prevent the ducks from escaping while grazing.  Release of ducks and its care and maintenance In a 1,000 square meter, 20 heads (200 heads per hectare) at two to three months old muscovy ducklings were released in the field after 30 days from transplanting until the heading stage of the rice. Ducklings were grazed in rice paddies in the morning and evening. At flowering stage, ducks were removed and provided with house and pond. Ducks were fed with fermented feed formulation using azolla, golden apple snail mixed with rice bran and other leguminous crops/forages to supplement their feeding requirements. Arcadio Garcilian, one of the farmer-cooperators from Lapogan, Tumauini, experienced the benefit of integrating duck in his rice farming. Arcadio revealed that the integration of duck has significantly reduced GAS and weeds in his farm. From five heads of duck as starter in the project, he has now grown the flock into 150 heads. In terms of yield, he recorded a higher yield of 5.4 tons per hectare  the NSICRc480 for 2020-2021 dry season with duck integration.With the growing number of ducks in the community, the researchers also introduced value adding activities such as ready to eat duck viands, selling of ducklings and meat, and its eggs

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Jul 06, 2021

SUCs showcase role in technology development for agriculture food systems

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agriculture Dialogue and Information Network Groups Program Office and the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), spearheaded an online symposium about the role of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in developing technologies for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems on 6 July 2021 via video conferencing.Titled as “Advancing Innovations and Science-based Farm Production Systems: The Role of State Universities and Colleges in Modernizing, Industrializing, and Professionalizing Philippine Agriculture Food Systems,” the webinar provided an avenue for possible collaborations between SUCs, DA, and private sector for the betterment of the agriculture and fisheries sector.“The SUCs in the country have been partners of the government and the private sector in developing available tools in various segments and in the value-chain such as crop varieties, animal breeds, farm inputs, and other technologies—including value-adding food products,” DA Policy Research Service director Noel Padre said.As one of the major partners of DA in its pursuit through its strategies under the Food Security Framework, Dr. Tirso Ronquillo of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges and Dr. Edgardo Tulin of the SUC-Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines were tasked to present a list of salient contributions that were aligned to the agri-fishery sector’s modernization, industrialization, and professionalization. It was emphasized that food system technologies and innovations will be instrumental to achieving the sustainable development goals.“To realize our goals, we must apply a whole of nation approach wherein a diversity of stakeholders will be involved— including voices that are seldom heard, and provide an important opportunity for participants to debate, collaborate, and take action towards a better future,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar emphasized.During his ways forward and closing message, director Mamaril shared that he was happy with the participation of the attendees and that the online symposium is one of the fora that the bureau had really enjoyed.

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Jul 19, 2021

Mamaril underscores wider outscaling of farming system

In his visit to a project site in Candelaria, Quezon, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril underscored the wider outscaling of farming system by encouraging farmer beneficiaries to continue the roll-over scheme even beyond the set protocol; hence, benefitting more farmers.As part of the regular activities of the bureau to ensure that the set objectives of the projects are met, director Mamaril and technical staff Juan Nikolas Paller monitored the project titled, “Outscaling of Coconut-based Farming System (Coconut + Soybean + Vegetables + Native Chicken” on 19 July 2021.The project implemented by DA-CALABARZON aimed to help coconut farmers of Barangays San Isidro, Kinatihan I, Pahinga Sur and Sta. Catalina Norte in Candelaria, Quezon to ensure sustainable production and availability of food commodities through utilization of mature and sustainable technologies for coconut-based and high value crops with integration of native chicken.With 46 farmer-cooperators to date, each farmer-cooperator has at least 5,000 square meters coconut area as demo or experimental area wherein around 1,600 hot pepper seedlings and 1,700 okra plants were grown. Also, around 2,500 square meters were devoted to soybean production. Each farmer-cooperator was given a module of native chicken consisting of 10 pullets and two roosters. From the produced, same number will be returned by the cooperator which will then be transferred to farmer adopters. The project is now in the process of transferring the native chicken modules to adopters.Farmer cooperators of the said project as well as with the “Outscaling of Rice-based Farming System (Rice-watermelon-vegetables)” project in Sariaya, Quezon visited the Lowland Vegetables Technology demonstration area at the DA-Quezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station (QARES). Dubbed as “Lowland Vegetable Derby,” director Mamaril also had the chance to see the new and common varieties of pinakbet vegetables showcased by partner seed companies during the said event.Director Mamaril also visited the DA-Quezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station wherein various food and non-food products from cacao, coconut, coffee, sapinit, and other indigenous fruits are promoted in the Technology Commercialization Center.  These are among the funded projects of the bureau through its National Technology Commercialization Program. During the said visits and monitoring activities, director Mamaril emphasized farm-level application for the generated technologies and the need to ensure sustainability of the project. 