BAR charts 7-pt R&D agenda

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – A Department of Agriculture bureau has charted a seven-point agenda to strengthen the government’s research and development (R&D) system.

The agenda were charted under the leadership of Dr. William C. Medrano, who was appointed director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) last Feb. 17.

Established in 1986, BAR is mandated to "ensure that all agricultural research is coordinated and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture. It shall tap farmers, farmer organizations, and research institutions, especially the state colleges and universities, in the conduct of research for the use of DA and its clientele, particularly the farmers/fishermen and other rural workers."

Before being appointed BAR director, Dr. Medrano, 45, was vice president of the Isabela State University (ISU) and director of the Cagayan Valley Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (CVARRD), one of the 14 government regional R&D consortia.

In leading the charting of the seven-point agenda to make the country’s R&D more responsive to the exigencies of the times, Dr. Medrano stressed:

"BAR shall institute bold and urgent steps in making R&D significantly contribute to Secretary Luis Lorenzo’s goal of increasing income of farmers and fisherfolk, generating more jobs, greater food sufficiency, and stable food prices in basic commodities."

Following are the seven-point agenda:

•Appropriate more resources on the conduct of applied and on-farm researches (OFR) following the Farming System perspective to fast-track technology promotion and adoption to create immediate impact on farmers and fisherfolk.

• Support priority high-impact R&D projects that have direct bearing on the development of small and medium enterprises and, more important, on the income-generating capabilities of resource-poor farmers and fisherfolk.

Accordingly, said BAR, this will focus on the six basic commodities that Secretary Lorenzo has given emphasis: rice, corn, coconut, sugar-cane, vegetable, and aqua-culture.

• Develop and strengthen collaboration among existing R&D systems, consortia, networks, and state colleges and universities at the national and local levels to enhance sustained growth in agriculture.

•Strengthen the capability of DA R&D system and foster active partnership with the local government units (LGUs) and other concerned institutions in the regions.

• Institutionalize the planning and implementation of an integrated and unified R&D agenda of both DA-BAR and two research agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), namely: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) and Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), both based in Los Baños.

• Develop mechanisms using information technology (ICT) and other means to enhance decision-making and technology adoption.

• Advocate policies that promote sustained growth in agriculture and develop strategies to increase investments in R&D by both government and private sector here and abroad.