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Archives
May 1-15, 2001
BAR technical expert proposes scheme for
public-private sector partnership
by Mary Charlotte O. Fresco
 "In
meeting the challenge of the future global food security,
new partnership between the public and private sectors
is imperative to catalyze development in the agricultural
research system. This partnership will serve to optimize
and integrate the respective comparative advantages
of partners in their quest to achieve mutual objectives."
This was emphasized by Dr. Santiago R.
Obien, institutional development consultant of the Bureau
of Agricultural Research and former executive director
of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, in one of
the plenary sessions of the Asian Agriculture Congress
held at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel, Manila recently.
He noted that the promotion of agricultural
research is the noble goal of the public-private sectors
partnership to help the country meet its ultimate goal
of providing food security to its growing population.
Dr. Obien, while presenting the public
sector perspective, accounted the slow growth performance
of Philippine agriculture to inadequacy of R&D funds
for public sector in meeting the requirements of building
institutions, training scientists, and extension specialists
and providing support services to enable farmers adopt
modern technologies. Also, the financial funds coming
from international research institutions such as Rockefeller
Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
World Bank etc., to support national research systems
have been declining in recent years.
To address this concern, he proposed a
framework or basic approach to establish sustainable
partnership between the two sectors. These are: determine
the need, opportunities and nature of partnership; identify
potential partners and know their R&D capabilities
and assess their roles in adaptive research; develop
agreement on resource mobilization, sharing, allocation
procedures and management; and jointly develop guidelines
and procedures for managing resources and research activities.
Dr. Obien reiterated the pivotal role
of the private sector in providing funds and services
for agricultural research by empowering the producers
(through training), facilitating the commercialization
of agricultural technologies, and assisting in the development
of the agribusiness sector.
To ensure an effective synergy,their partnership
should be consistent with the national and the sectors'
development thrusts and their activities should be of
national significance particularly in economic development
and S&T promotion.
The new partnership scheme targets to
increase agricultural productivity and profitability,
ensure food security, reduce poverty and ensure equity
and environmental protection, achieve global competitiveness,
and strengthen research system.
Aside from private-public sector partnership,
other major themes highlighted during the Congress were
food security challenges, environment management and
biodiversity, and future technologies.
The Asian Agriculture Congress was participated
in by top agriculture scientists from all over Asia.
It was a venue for disseminating information on technological
advances, share solutions to common crop production
constraints, forge scientific cooperation, and foster
friendship among scientists to promote human welfare.
May 1-15 2001 Articles: ::
Farmers, private sector renew ties with BAR
::
PhilCorn institutional plan developed
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BAR technical expert proposes scheme for public-private sector partnership
::
CGIAR redefines role for 21st century
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A second look at biotechnology
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3 national team leaders take posts
::
PhilFruits establishment plan reviewed
::: More May 2001 articles :::
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