.::. BAR Chronicle .::. A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Vol. 1 No. 9
May 1-15, 2000
CSSP 30th annual scientific conference-paving the way for new discoveries and advances in crop research
by Rita dela Cruz

In line with Crop Science Society of the Philippine's thrust to continuously provide avenues for new ideas, discoveries and advances in the field of agricultural crop research, CSSP held its 30th Annual Scientific Conference. The event was held on 2-7 May 2000 at the PhiliRice-NTA Center, Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte. The theme of this year's conference is "CSSP at 30: Facing the Challenges of the New Millenium."

This year's conference was attended by two-hundred and sixty-six participants from the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Cotton Development Authority, National Tobacco Administration, Mariano Marcos State University, University of the Philippines at Los Baños, National Research Council of the Philippines, International Rice Research Institute, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, and officials from the provincial government of Ilocos Norte. Four plenary sessions, 12 scientific sessions, fellowship night, farmers' and traders' forum, and awards night were held during the week long conference. Presented during the plenary sessions were four papers addressing different issues on agriculture as Filipinos face the challenges of the new millennium. A discussion on the role of the private sector in biotechnology opened the plenary session. The paper entitled Private Sector Biotechnology Initiatives in the Philippines and ASEAN Regions was presented by Dr. Paul S. Teng, biotechnology director of Monsanto Philippines, Inc. Other papers presented were: Addressing the Nutritional Quality of Crops by Dr. Elsa Bayani of the National Nutrition Council; Mechanization in the New Millenium by Dr. Rey C. Castro; and Philippine Agrciultture under Liberalized Global Trade by Dr. Mercy Sombilla, a policy economist in IRRI. A total of 71 scientific papers were presented during the scientific sessions. The topics discussed were on plant breeding and genetics; socio-economics; plant physiology and biochemistry; posthravest handling, processing and utilization; crop protection; soils and plant nutrition; and crop production and management. The presentors of the scientific studies provided the participants an introduction and overciew, methodology, policy implications and preliminary results of their technologies.

A fellowship night was held at the MMSU poolside, building rapport and harmony among the participants. Batac Mayor Elena Nalupta graced the event. Likewise, MMSU President Dr. Saturnino M. Ocampo Jr., PhilRice Execuive Director Sabtiago R. Obien, Administrators Eugenio D. Orpia Jr. (CODA) and Antonio M. De Guzman Jr. (NTA), and Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Mariano R. Nalupta Jr. delivered speeches.

A total one-hundred ninety-one farmers and traders from Kalinga Apayao, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte participated in the Farmers' and Traders' Forum. This forum highlighted the financing opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs wherein farmers can avail of seeds and planting materials at the right time and quantity, and postharvest handling of vegetables and fruits. Mr Albert Gudoy of Cooperative Rural Bank, Mr. Rustico Pinili of PhiliRice, Mr. Florencio Dadiz of Hybrid Rice Seed Grower, Dr. Emma Ruth V. Bayogan, and Mr. Roberto Sarabia. Mr. Pinili, the speaker in the forum, advised the farmers and traders to combine old and new farm practices in their endeavor to improve agricultural production. BAR Director Eliseo R. Ponce delivered the inspirational message during the awards night. Dr. Ponce emphasized the need to develop more technologies and to allozate more resources in developing these new technologies. To achieve this, he added the farmers as the main players in agriculture should be the focus of research and development. He also emphasized the need to make hard and effective decision on which crops to produce in order to attain food security and global competitiveness.

Three finalists in the Best Paper Competition were also given awards. The best paper came from PhilRice, Enhanced Generation and Development of Elite Breeding Lines from Traditional Rice Variety Wagwag by Nenita V. Desamero, Yolanda A. Dimaano, Cecilia L. Diaz, Jonathan M. Niones, Grace B. Amar, Rodante E. Tabien, and Philibert S. Bonilla. The paper from IRRI, Towards Construction of a Physical Map of the Rice Genome by Alma C. Sanchez, Binying Fu, Jason Talag, Sibin Yu, Reycel Maghirang, Jessica D. Rey, Catherine Aquino, Josefina Mendoza, Gurdev S. Khush and Zhikang Li placed second. The third placer was a paper from the Institute of Plant Breeding, Physiological Mechanisms of Drought Resistance in Mungbean by Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo and Restituta P. Robles.

On the other hand, the 2000 Achievement Awards were conferred to Dr. Ofelia K. Bautista for the field of Education; Dr. Stanley C. Malab for Research Management; Dr. Gerardo A. Santos for Research; Dr. Justino R. Arboleda for Technology Development. Honorary Fellows titles were bestowed on Dr. Fe Divinagracia-Laysa and Dr. Ma. Concepcion Claudio Lizada. This year's distinguished service awards went to Dr. Abella C. dela Viña and Dr. Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza.