CHED to mobilize agri schools amid feared food shortage

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will mobilize state universities and colleges (SUCs) specializing in agriculture education to intensify food production capabilities in response to concerns of a looming food shortage.

CHED executive director William Medrano said officials of SUCs specializing in agriculture and fisheries courses have been ordered to assist farmers in their respective communities to improve farming technology towards improved crop management and better harvests.

Medrano added SUCs have also been asked to look into the possibility of activating idle lands in their control for farming and food production.

“Our agri state universities and colleges have large tracts of land that they can now use for farming so that they can contribute to the national effort to boost food production,” Medrano said.

CHED Commissioner Saturnino Ocampo said SUCs can help boost food production by coordinating with local government units to educate farmers on efficient farming techniques.

“We will encourage SUCs to emphasize their functions in extension so they can help local government units in training farmers and fisherfolk to produce more food items,” Ocampo said.

He said CHED wanted to address concerns over food supply shortage by doing its part in tapping SUCs to use agricultural technology to produce other sources of foods like hybrid rice, root crops, leafy vegetables, and fruits.

Ocampo said he will discuss the mobilization plan for food production with the Philippine Association of State University and Colleges (PASUC) president Dr. Lauro Tacbas and Acting Deputy Executive Director Jimmy Soria on Thursday.

CHED presently has SUCs developing food specialty products.

Among these food-producing SUCs are Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC), Mindanao State University (MSU), Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU), Isabela State University (ISU) and Central Luzon State University (CLSU).

The respective schools specialize in rice, vegetables, mango, small ruminant and tilapia production.

Medrano guaranteed that funds are available to support the SUCs who would want to utilize their resources.

“With regard to the source of funds there will be no problem for our SUCs. We have the UNLAD and TechComm (Technology Commercialization) Program Funds and others,” Medrano pointed out.

He said there are around 40 SUCs funded by the CHED’s UNLAD and TechComm.