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Archives
January 1-15, 2001
Fruits program area research planning and prioritization: a background analysis
 The
fruits considered in this study are banana, pineapple,
mango, papaya, citrus and durian. In statistical publications
of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, banana, pineapple,
mango and citrus are classified as "major crops"
while the rest are under "other crops".
Fruits contribute significantly to GVA,
employment and foreign exchange earnings not to mention
the unvalued non-marketed goods and services provided
by multi-purpose fruit species. Fruits have considerable
potential both in domestic and foreign markets.
However, R&D support for fruits is
limited as is true for agriculture as a whole. Within
the fruits sector, R&D budget allocation is inconsistent
with commodity-specific economic distribution. Regional
R&D centers like those in Mindanao receive too little
research budget despite its importance as a fruit-producing
region. With some exceptions, R&D facilities and
manpower are inadequate. Research incentives are limited.
All these affect the performance of R&D institutions
and should form part of the recommendations for comprehensive
reforms in fruits R&D.
There are quite a number of technologies
and fruit crop varieties that have been developed and
reported. However, these have not been fully utilized
and examined due to inadequate extension activities.
As a whole, private sector support for
fruits should be provided in terms of increased budgetary
outlays for direct research cost, development and commercialization
of the resulting technologies, and disseminating these
to users.
There is a need to continuously involve
the private sector in order to make R&D relevant
and responsive to their needs and encourage them to
provide feedback on the performance and needed refinements
of technologies.
 Public
support to RDE should also be in terms of complementary
support services, facilitatory mechanisms to reduce
business costs, favorable policies, market information
and linkaging and infrastructure.
Public programs for enhancing environmental
awareness at various points like production of raw materials,
postharvest, processing, packaging and waste management
should be initiated. Issues on the internalization of
externalities associated with private sector activities
and product certification are already emerging and should
be integrated in the fruits RDE agenda.
(Lifted from the
"Fruits Program Area Research Planning and Prioritization:
Background Analysis" paper by Dr. Isabelita M.
Pabuayon) 
January 1-15 2001 Articles: ::
Panganiban is new DA secretary
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BAR to hold strategic planning workshop
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DA R&D management committee created
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SGP-NSC and CGEF board strategize plans for 2001
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INIBAP project to benefit Filipino banana farmers
::
Fruits program area research planning and prioritization: a background analysis
::
BAR's research management info center soon to rise
::: More January 2001 articles :::
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