Archives

Vol. 7 No. 2
Feb. 1-28, 2006
Central Visayas CPAR project evaluated
by Marlowe U. Aquino, Ph.D.

Immediately after the Intellectual Property Awareness Seminar-Workshop held in Cebu on 15-16 February 2006 for DA-Regional Field Unit staff and guests from the state universities and colleges and local government personnel, the DA-Central Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CENVIARC) Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) projects were evaluated.

Three projects conducted in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol were evaluated.  The evaluation is part of the regular activities of DA-CENVIARC to ensure that there is continuous exchange of experiences and discussion of lessons learned during project implementation.  On the part of BAR, the results of the evaluation will be used as input in improving the strategies of CPAR as well as its complementation with the Technology Commercialization projects particularly Agribusiness Systems Development.

The projects evaluated were: a) CPAR High Value Vegetable Agribusiness Development Project in Dalaguete, Cebu; b) CPAR Corn-based and Ubi-based Cropping Systems in Guindulman, Bohol; and c) CPAR Green Corn and Grain Corn-based Cropping Systems in Dauis, Bohol.  It was noted by the evaluation team that the CPAR projects focused more on on-farm research and little on marketing and processing because of limited technical capabilities of the implementers.  Specifically, this was observed in the CPAR ubi-based cropping system in Guindulman, Bohol.  Farmer-participants cannot market their produce because of the inconsistencies in tuber color and quality.  According to the farmers and researchers, this was due to lack of tuber planting materials.  It was suggested that the research component of CPAR would further test the utilization of tuber as planting materials and compare it with the vines and plantlets.

In general, the CPAR projects implemented by the DA-CENVIARC with the provincial local governments of Cebu and Bohol and farmer organizations are gaining momentum in the two provinces. Markets are being identified and other support services will be provided.  Furthermore, strategies to improve the CPAR into a more commercialized venture through enterprise development were introduced as part of the commercialization activities for the different commodities.  The provincial local governments and DA-CENVIARC will continuously address the technological and market needs of the farmers in the two sites.

February 1-28 2006 Articles:

:: CPAR boosts seaweed production in Bicol
:: Tissue culture restores small scale banana industry
:: Sec.Panganiban approves NTCP guidelines
:: Tissue culture restores small scale banana industry
:: BAR awards IDG to strengthen fisheries R&D center in Bicol
:: DA advised to streamline core functions
:: Duck egg production strengthens agribusiness development in Region 5
:: TCU conducts seminar on community-based strategies for watershed management
:: Central Visayas CPAR project evaluated
:: We have the best tasting fruits in the world but...
:: Assessing commodity-specific industries: A step to commercialization
:: Getting water to the farms cheaply