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Archives
February 1-28, 2007
Quisumbing shares key elements to establish successful research org
by Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez
 Strong political will, provision of an enabling environment, and establishment of a research endowment fund.
These are the three key elements for the establishment of a successful and sustainable national research organization as shared by Dr. Edgardo C. Quisumbing during the 2nd Seminar Series for this year conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) on 9 February 2007 at the RDMIC Lobby, Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.
Dr. Quisumbing, a former deputy executive director of the National Fisheries and Agriculture Council (NFAC) and assistant secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), was the resource person on the topic, “Establishing Agricultural Research Capacity: Experiences from Selected Developing Countries.”
The DA strengthened its research capacity through the Agricultural Support Service Project (ASSP) financed by the World Bank. Under ASSP, an Agricultural Research Office (ARO) was established to pilot a research priority setting, coordination, and management system within DA. By the completion of ASSP, BAR was established.
Based on his experiences gained in working in many developing countries (Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), there are three key elements in the establishment of a successful and a sustainable national research organization.
A strong political will is the top consideration. Institutions should be freed from the political tug-of-war by various departments.
 “This political will should ensure that the powers and responsibilities of the institutions are clearly defined,” Dr. Quisumbing stressed.
The second is the provision of all enabling environment for research. This includes attractive terms and conditions of service, incentives for outstanding achievement, adequate research infrastructure and laboratories.
Thirdly, Dr. Quisumbing stressed that there should be sustainable funds provided in a timely manner.
“The research endowment fund should be considered to supplement funds made available through the normal budgetary process,” he added.
Dr. Quisumbing also mentioned that a strong political will would lead to a necessary enabling environment for the institution to function. Such enabling environment includes the establishment of an organizational structure with highly trained and motivated staff to develop, implement and manage the national agricultural plan.
In conclusion, he encouraged agriculture agencies to devote a large percentage of their efforts on adaptive, problem-oriented research on-farms and on-stations to address constraints to production of major crop-livestock production systems and to some extent second-generation problems of distribution and marketing.
Dr. Quisumbing, a Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee in 1978 for the Outstanding Achievement in Agricultural Development, is a former Agricultural Research Scientist in World Bank (1986).
He was credited for playing a major role in the establishment and strengthening of agricultural research systems in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sudan, and for fostering and promoting effective mechanisms in the collaboration of the research system with the agricultural extension services and agricultural universities. He was also recognized for the improvement of agricultural support services in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe. 
February 1-28 2007 Articles:
:: BAR, PhilRice, SEARCA boost RP agri through systematic analysis of productivity growth
:: DA sets 10 priority commodities for 2007 Philippine agri and fishery
:: ACAP ensures support to DA programs
:: Program leader of USDA’s RDE agency visits BAR for possible R&D collaboration
:: BAR sets 2007 National and Regional technology Forums
:: DA-BAR, ICRISAT, and UPLB sign MOU for sweet sorghum project
:: Quisumbing shares key elements to establish successful research org
:: BAR sets guidelines in availing of CPAR grants
:: BAR centralizes linkage in R&D info system
:: PEN commits support to DA programs
:: BAR sets new R&D directions; focuses projects for poorest provinces
:: BAPNET in 2007: On the trail of an elusive banana killer
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