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Archives
January 1-31, 2007
Sweet sorghum to play major role in RP's drive for energy independence and agri job promotion
by Rita T. dela Cruz
“Sweet sorghum is going to be a major player in the country's drive towards energy independence because of its many uses.”
Thus, declared Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap at the Technology-Investment Forum on Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production, held on 17 January 2007 at the Fernando Hall, Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.
The investment forum was conducted and organized by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization based in India that does innovative agricultural research and capacity building for sustainable development with a wide array of partners across the globe, including the Philippines.
“With sweet sorghum, nothing is wasted, Secretary Yap said, “From sweet sorghum comes the biofuel that will produce the energy to support our drive for energy independence. From its grains to its stalks, everything is utilized as human food, feeds, and forage.”
Recently, talks on biofuels drew worldwide attention and recognition owing to the increased economic activity and the ever-growing population that have resulted in an unprecedented exhaustion of our primary energy demand specifically for industrial and transportation uses.
Secretary Yap noted that the timing was right, because every country is now paying attention to the issue of energy and alternative energy sources.
The newly-enacted Biofuels Law signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 12 January during the recently concluded ASEAN Summit, is the most important legal mechanism that would support the adoption of biofuels as a viable alternative, he stressed.
The DA official further said that the production of sweet sorghum will also provide opportunities for the country particularly in creating more jobs for the agriculture sector. The implementation of the law will boost the biofuel industry since many private investors will be putting up the ethanol refineries in the country.
ICRISAT Director General William D. Dar, a former DA Secretary, also said: “Through an established pilot plant for the ethanol production, we aim to link established sweet sorghum distilleries with the local farmer-producers. This way, continuous production and generation of income are ensured.”
It is hoped that through the technology-investment forum, concerned stakeholders will become aware not only of the potentials of sweet sorghum as alternative source of biofuel but also for the public to know that the technology is ready for adoption and that support equipment and facilities are already in placed.
This concurs to what Secretary Yap had earlier said that the technology is available and that funding and support are ready. According to Dr. Dar, the sector has lots of opportunities that must be taken full advantage of, given that the technology is available, the machineries and equipment for support to process these raw materials are there, and that the private sector is willing to invest. 
January 1-31 2001 Articles:
:: PGMA supports sweet sorghum for bioethanol
:: DA sets direction in support to BioFuels Law
:: Dr. Marlowe U. Aquino presenting MISD plans for 2007.
:: High-yielding crops from China tested for Philippine soil; adoption of super sweet corn and soya bean considered
:: Chinese scientists visit RP for agri-sciences cooperation
:: Scientists from ICRISAT visit MMSU sweet sorghum pilot-sites
:: Linking SCUs in commercializing technologies
:: Sweet sorghum to play major role in RP's drive for energy independence and agri job promotion
:: New livelihood opportunities for farmers in watershed areas
:: BAR programs address poverty-stricken areas
:: BAR sets new R&D directions; focuses projects for poorest provinces
:: e-Learning program: A convergence for A/F development
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