Central Mindanao farmers embrace new dev’ts in aggie sector

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Farming technologies aimed at increasing production and modernizing agricultural practices in Central Mindanao were highlighted during the 12th Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights and Technology Commercialization Forum whose theme "Enhancing A Kowledge-based Economy Through Sustained Convergence of Research and Development Activities" set the tone for the meeting.

During the event, a technology clinic and farmer’s forum brought together research experts and farmers to discuss how new technologies can improve agricultural productivity and boost the income of farmers in Central Mindanao. Problems that could arise from the implementation of the new methods were also tackled. Participants are hopeful that these developments would lead to more fruitful farming enterprises in the region.

The studies were presented by research scientists from member institutions of the Cotabato Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CARRDEC), which organized the event with support from the USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region XII-Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center was the event host. CARRDEC is an umbrella organization that includes research and development institutions and government agencies.

CARRDEC president Dr. Virgilio Oliva noted that the "challenge of agricultural modernization is to make sure that research and development will respond to the need to make farm products more competitive in terms of price and quality, thereby promoting industry growth and improving our economy."

In his keynote address, Dr. Santiago Obien, consultant of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, said that "producing enough food for an expanding population without compromising the sustainability of our resource-base is everybody’s concern."

A former executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Dr. Obien stressed the importance of private and public sector partnership, especially when the government cannot fully fund the programs of research and development institutions that they normally support.

Breakthrough studies were presented, including 1) new technology for the production of durian for the export market; 2) integrated pest and disease management for citrus farms; 3) cheaper methods or producing planting materials for lakatan and cardava banana varieties; 4) identification and genetic fingerprinting of rubber trees; 5) lapu-lapu production using live tilapia and mullet fingerlings as feed in brackish water fishponds; and 6) hybrid rice commercialization.