UPLB-CA marks 98th year

The UP Los Baños College of Agriculture (CA), one of the first three units of the University of the Philippines, celebrates its 98th year with weeklong activities on March 6-10. Theme of the event is Agri-entrepreneurship towards a pogressive economy.

Festivities start with a com-memorative ceremony at the foundation site along the Natio-nal Highway near the Los Bañ-os Central School where the first 12 students of the College had their class in tents on June 14, 1909. A recognition program follows for outstanding stu-dents and staff of the col-lege. Certificates will also be granted to donors of under-graduate scholarship grants. The Nelia T. Gonzalez Award of Excellence will be presented in the areas of research, extension and administrative servi-ces. New retirees and newly appointed professor emeritus will also be honored.

An agri-trade fair cum exhibits and techno-demonstration will be staged at the newly established CA Agri-Park. This is a one-stop shop for CA-gene-rated products, technologies and services, and showcases the College of Agriculture’s accom-plishments in agricultural research and extension

Other specialized settings include the transgenic garden, biofuel garden and indigenous vegetable garden. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the theme park has a restobar which serves recipes using organically grown vegetables. it also caters to visitors who may opt to go fishing at the tilapia fishponds near the restaurant. 

Farmers’ field days will be held on March 7-8. There will be free consultation with experts as well as technology forums on insect pest management, biody-namics in crop production, new crop varieties and duck ranger for increasing rural income.

The annual Pinoy Rodeo will be held on March 9-10 at the Beef Cattle Corral of the Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster. Events include calf lassoing, bull whipping, calf wrestling, halter making, post making and piling, casting down of large cattle, and the two- and four-man carambola. March 9 attrac-tions are technology demonstra-tions on dairy and meat pro-cessing, as well as caponizing of cockerel, earnotching, pig castration and dairy milking.

CA’s 98th anniversary celeb-ration is open to students, teachers, farmers and the general public. Entrance to the agri-trade fair and exhibits as well as attendance to the technology demonstrations is free of charge while 50-percent discount will be given to visitors of the theme gardens. – Deng Maunahan, PAJ News Service