RRDCC Chair addresses partners. Dr. Romeo R. Quilang welcomes CVARRD partners as Dr. Lucresio Alviar (DA-RFU 02), Mr. Cesar Frias (ACD-PCARRD) and Dr. Patricio S. Faylon, PCARRD Executive Director looks on during the Investment Forum for Peanut conducted last October 29, 2009 at BPK Hall, PCARRD Los Banos, Laguna
“Our peanut in the valley is worth your investments and now ready to
make business with you”
Those were the striking words of
CVARRD RRDCC Chair Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, as he addressed the crowd during the
investment forum for peanut held last October 29, 2009 at BPK Hall, PCARRD, Los
Banos Laguna.
The forum was held as an answer
to the call to create a concrete and well structured support system for peanut
in region 02. CVARRD considered the Investment Forum as its first initiative in
making things big for peanut producers in the valley. Major output of the forum
was the crafting of a peanut industry roadmap for the region.
Five papers were presented during
the forum which provided insights on the various perspectives on peanut
production, processing and marketing.
Speakers include Mr. Elmer
Enicola, University Researcher from IPB-UPLB who discussed the Global Peanut
Situation as well as its Opportunities; information from his presentation put
it that the Philippines
registered big bulk of imports from India
and China
as raw materials for various peanut products processed in the country.
According to him, such high numbers could be considered as an opportunity for
domestic producers to expand production and cater to the bulk of imports
incurred by the country.
Ms. Rose Mary Aquino of DA-CVIARC
who provided highlights of peanut production in region 02, which set the
regional overview of peanut production in the valley.
Dr. Rustico Santos, DOST R02
Consultant, explained the concept of the required pillars in establishing an
industry for peanut in his presentation on Community-Based Peanut Industry,
which was already piloted in Jones,Isabela as a brain child project of DOST
R02.
On the other hand, important
input was presented by Magsasakang Siyentista Roger Salvador with his
presentation on the local peanut production as perceived by a lay farmer.
According to him, production could be said as a perfected venture for them as
technologies introduced and adopted during the STBF Projects yielded
significant results in increasing their yield and income. Such fact could be
translated to a steady supply of raw material for the industry.
The processing and marketing
aspect was presented by Prof. Cesar Frias of ACD-PCARRD who pioneered the
Techno Mart concept. He presented that the model for the valley’s peanut
industry was a demand-driven, demand-pushed supply chain. He furthered that the
demand for peanut is there especially for confectionary varieties such as Asha
and Namnama or the “big nuts”.
Lastly, the Peanut Service
Station (PSS) presented by NTA- FTI-FDC Center Chief Alberto Cariso Jr.
answered the gaps earlier identified as issues in the industry establishment.
In his presentation, Cariso underscored that the PSS will house the post
production processing needed for peanut which include drying, sorting, grading,
aflatoxin test and so forth for the produce to fetch higher prices and with a
seal of quality.
The PSS will be a collaborative
project of LGUs, line agencies and CVARRD member agencies.
Dr. Quilang summed it up that “ Now, that the technologies and practices
are at hand, together with the needed social force, and the help of the
business sector, we could say that the machinery needed to create a viable peanut
industry is already set”
After the forum, positive results
had signified by the various stakeholders which was translated to a meeting set
on the 3rd week of November to discuss the operationalization of the
Peanut Service Station.
The activity was well attended by
CVARRD partners which include PCARRD represented by Dr. Patricio Faylon and Dr.
Arturo Arganosa, DA-RFU 02 with Regional
Technical Director Dr. Lucresio Alviar as
representative, Isabela State University with Dr. Romeo R. Quilang, Landbank of
the Philippines, NAFC, GMA-HVCC Program, LGUs of Jones, Benito Soliven and
Echague, Isabela with their Magsasakang Siyentista MS Rodrigo Reyes, and MS
Roger Salvador.
This forum was part of the Peanut
Techno Mart Project set for CagayanValley as a joint venture
with DA-R02 and DOST R02.
The Cagayan Valley Agriculture
Resources Research and Development (CVARRD) Consortium, housed at the Isabela
State University (ISU) is one of the 14 regional consortia of PCARRD-DOST
mandated to set directions in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources
sectors (AFNR) in region 02.
Techno Gabay Program transcends boundaries: Batanes welcomes 2nd FITS Center
by Vanessa V. Carriedo
Even seas were conquered by the
Techno Gabay Program in Region 02, as CVARRD launched its second FITS Center
in the charming islands of Batanes last September 16, 2009, and the 58th
FITS Center in the valley.
The Provincial Government of
Batanes under the leadership of the Hon. Telesforo Castillejos hosted the FITS Center.
It was a joint undertaking with the Department of Agriculture (DA), DOST, and
the Batanes State College (BasCO) as the Partner Member Agency. The Center
identified rootcrops as its primary commodity. It is in consonance with the
fact that the islands of Batanes are very well known for the sweet potato, yam,
gabi and other rootcrops.
With the rolling green hills and
the sea at the background and by the warm aura of the Ivatans, Hon. Governor
Telesforo Castillejos led the community as they signified their great gratitude
in the establishment of the center. He said that the FITS Center
is a testimony of the island's helm's commitment in improving the agriculture
sector in the area through provision of information and technologies in the
center. DA thru Mr. Celso Batalliones on the other hand promised that the
agency, who hosted the first FITS center in the area (DA-IAROS) will be a big
brother to the newly established one. BasCo's Vice President for Research and
the same time the PMA Team Leader, Dr. Roger Baltazar pledged a full support in
the implementation of the centers identified services for the farmers and other
stakeholders.
Dr. Edmundo C. Gumpal, CVARRD
Director posed a great challenge for the newly established center, for it to
produce a product known solely to Batanes. He furthered that with the signified
interest of the local government, the FITS center will go a long way in its
realization of services. Prof. Perlas Pascua, the TGP Coordinator, encouraged
the local farmers to use the center as often as they could as she underscored
that its establishment was truly for them.
With this new developments in the
area, the PLGU and other stakeholders are crafting a plan to chart specific
activities lined up for the FITS Center to deliver, one of which is the weekly
showing of technologies in videos coupled to various entertainment stints.
Also, present during the
launching were Vanessa Carriedo, RACO Coordinator, Alexander Ritua, RMIS
Coordinator, Ms. Priscilla Nanub, PLGU-PAO, and Dr. Albert Tabiles,
PLGU-Provincial Veterinarian.
CVARRD holds 21st Regional Symposium on RDE Highlights
by Vanessa V. Carriedo
The Cagayan Valley Agriculture and Resources Research and
Development Consortium (CVARRD) recently conducted its 21st Regional Symposium
on RDE (research, development and extension) Highlights at the Department of
Agriculture (DA)-Agricultural Training Institute in San Mateo, Isabela. This year's theme is
"Upscaling local farmers'productivity through R&D initiatives."
Twenty studies, consisting of 11 papers for the research
category and 9 for the development category, competed during the symposium.
Evaluating the entries were PCARRD's Dr. Arturo S. Arganosa of the Technology
Outreach and Promotion Division and Dr. Johnny Batalon of the Crops Research
Division. Completing the panel were Dr. Hermana K. Banciles of the Quirino
State College, and Mr. Ryanwil Baldovino and Ms. Maureen Bonna Ines of the
Philippine Rice Research Institute.
Winners all
Winning the top honor in the research category was the paper titled: "Diversity
studies and utilization of indigeneous vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
isolated from citrus plantations" by Jonar I. Yago, et.al of the Nueva Vizcaya
State University (NVSU). The paper dwelled on the diversity indexing of the
identified fungi and the mass propagation of such for dissemination to citrus
plantations.
The second placer was the paper from Cagayan
State University
by Junel Guzman titled: "A GIS-based decision support system for solid waste
recovery and utilization in Tuguegarao
City". This paper focused
on the creation of a model for a solid waste recovery system for local
government units.
Coming in third was DA-Regional Filed Unit (RFU) 2's "Fertility mapping,
profiling, and database building of corn clusters in Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya and
Quirino" by Generoso M. Oli, et.al.
In the Development category, the paper on "Science and Technology Based Farm on
Peanut in Region 2" by Rose Mary Aquino, et.al of DA-RFU 2 was adjudged as the
best. The paper underscores the benefits and income of following the
recommended package of technologies in peanut production as showcased in the
Magsasaka Siyentista farms under PCARRD's Techno Gabay Program.
Placing second was the paper on "Rural enterprise development through
innovative goat production systems" by Jonathan N. Nayga et.al of the Isabela State University.
Finally, the third place was the paper titled "Achieving institutional
development through seed production and processing" by Agustin B. Lunag of
NVSU.
Incidentally, CVARRD's Symposium on RDE Highlights not only recognizes outstanding
research and development (R&D) works but also honors the men and
women behind these notable endeavors.
Moreover, the symposium also serves as a venue for healthy discussions and
assessments in bringing about quality R&D in Region 2. More importantly, it
is a testimony of the growing R&D culture in the valley.
TS Center
in the charming islands of Batanes last September 16, 2009, and the 58th
FITS Center in the valley.
