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Vol. 1 No. 9
May 1-15, 2000
BAR unifies national and regional RDE networks
by Mary Charlotte O. Fresco

The Regional Program Division (RPD) of BAR recently held two interface workshops to further strengthen the linkage between the national and regional RDE networks. The Visayas-Mindanao-wide National and Regional RDE Interfacing Workshop on Agriculture RDE Program was held on 25-26 April 2000 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City. The Luzon-wide National and Regional RDE Interfacing Workshop was held on 9-10 May 2000 at the Bureau of Soil and Water Managements Auditorium in Quezon City.

Though conducted separately, the two workshops generally aimed to ensure the implementation of the "One System, One Program" thrust of DA R&D.

National and regional commodity team leaders, core technical team members, RIARC managers, R&D directors and scientists from regional partner state colleges and universities gathered in this important activity to ensure the coherence of the regional RDE programs with the national thrust identified in the National Integrated Research Development and Extension Agenda/program (NIRDEA/P). Aside from this, the workshop ensures the relevance and responsiveness of RDE programs to the needs of the region and to prioritize RDE activities to be implemented by RDE regional networks. Lastly, it aims to strengthen the linkage and complementation of the national, regional and provincial RDE networks. Among the interfacing activities involved are integration of agenda and programs, program planning, implementation monitoring and evaluation.

BAR Director Eliseo R. Ponce, the resource speaker for both events emphasized on the importance of "working together" of the nationl and regional RDE networks to generate more relevant and effective programs to ensure self-sufficiency and food security in the country.

He also pointed out the complementation of the national and regional RDE networks in the integration of agenda and programs will help eliminate unnecessary activities by addressing more region-specific problems and needs.

As part of the workshop, Dr. Ponce emphasized the roles of the national network as partner in the integration of RDE programs including identification of priority regions and their respective priority commodities and assisting priority regions in the formulation of projects based on the Regional Integrated research and Extension Agenda/Program (RIRDEAP). The National networks are also responsible for the evaluation of projecyt proposals of their priority regions.

Regions were grouped based on the commodities under the Agrikulturang MakaMASA banner programs.

Dr, Ponce also emphasized the need for the creation of Regional Commodity Networks with members coming from the DA and partner SCUs based on the following identified areas:

• Grains (rice and corn)
  
• Ornamentals and vegetables
  
• Fruit trees and Plantation crops
  
• Livestock and Poultry>
  
• Socio-economics
  
• Agricultural Engineering, Soil and Water Management
  
• Special Concerns (Rootcrops, Fiber and Coconut)

As part of the Interface workshops, Dr. Ponce stressed that regional RDE networks should identify five to six priority commodities. Research projects on the priority commodities will be implemented in the next two-three years based on the following criteria:

• Urgency of the problem
  
• Extent of expected impact/output
  
• Immediate utility of research output
  
• Preparedness of the proponent to systematize planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

A commodity team leader is assigned to every regional RDE network to identify and prioritize R&D projects. These projects are reviewed, validated and then endorsed by the national team leaders, once these conform to the thrust identified in the NIRDEA/P. Based from the endorsed prioritized projects, the regional RDE networks will prepare the detailed proposals for the collegial/peer review or by the national team leaders.

For an effective planning and implementation of regional programs, funding allocation shall be based on the priority R&D activities/commodities of a concerned region. According to Dr. Ponce, 60 to 70% of R&D funds will go directly to the region while 10% of the funds will be used in conducting networking activities.

The interfaced RDE programs are for implementation starting 2001.

May 1-15 2000 Articles:

:: CPAR Mindanao-Visayas projects evaluated
:: BAR-WINROCK opens new opportunities for smallholders
:: CSSP 30th annual scientific conference-paving the way for new discoveries and advances in crop research
:: Interregional RDE project underway
:: Corn-based farming systems project conducts farmers' field day
:: BAR unifies national and regional RDE networks
:: The CPAR: an approach to rural development

::: More May 2000 articles :::