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Archives
May 1-31, 2007
BAR leads synergy meeting on sweet sorghum initiatives
by Maria Noriza Q. Herrera
 The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) held the 2nd Leveling-off and Synergy Meeting for the Sweet Sorghum Initiatives in the Philippines on 22 May 2007 at the BAR Conference Room., Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.
Dr. William D. Dar, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) director general, presided the meeting. With him were BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Vice President for Administration, Planning and External Linkages Heraldo L. Layaoen, and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Enrico P. Supangco.
The activity underscored the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Philippine Sweet Sorghum Initiatives (PSSI).
Other attendees were Dr. Artemio M. Salazar of the Institute of Plant Breeding-UPLB, Engr. Ari Luis dC. Halos of the College of Engineering And Agro-industrial Technology-UPLB, Prof. Rex Demafelis of UPLB, President Zosimo Battad of the Pampanga Agricultural Colleges (PAC), Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Dr. Santiago Obien of BAR, Mr. Leonardo Q. Montemayor of the Federation of Free Farmers, and Ms. Cheryl Marie Natividad of Optiserve.
 Among the specific topics discussed during the meeting were: 1) Updates on Sweet Sorghum Initiatives, 2) Sweet Sorghum presentation, 3) UPLB Biofuels Updates, 4) Draft Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Technical and Oversight Committees, and 5) Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation System for Sweet Sorghum.
Dr. Layaoen reported that MMSU is currently experiencing overproduction of sweet sorghum seeds and added that the establishment of seed storage facility which costs around Php 5M is urgently needed. He said that credit institutions are averse to extending financial assistance to private investors wiling to set up distillery plant utilizing sweet sorghum as biofuel feedstock.
Dr. Dar requested that more data should be made available to encourage both farmers and private investor participation.
On the other hand, Engr. Halos updated the upscaling project of sweet sorghum in the Philippines. He showed the Philippine map indicating areas where the projects will be implemented.
Dr. Dar was keen on the development of downstream processing and equipment system for anhydrous ethanol from sweet sorghum as part of the UPLB Biofuel Program, which Prof. Demafelis has presented. Dr. Dar suggested that UPLB repackage the proposal on ethanol research and training plant.
The group also commented on the draft TOR presented by Dr. Eusebio. Director Eleazar suggested the involvement of Mr. Marriz Agbon, DA Biofuels Program focal person, in the Oversight Committee and Mr. Rainier Pantua, rural infrastructure engineer, in the Technical Committee, respectively.
Lastly, the TWG was tasked with preparing the guidelines on the Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation System which will be further discussed in succeeding meetings. 
May 1-31 2007 Articles:
:: BAR celebrates Farmers and Fisherfolk Month; showcases 5 commerciable R&D technologies
:: 2nd Regional Techno Forum head starts in Luzon B Cluster
:: BAR and OptiServe collaborate for ICT community-based initiatives
:: Rillo wins 2007 Gawad Saka for outstanding agricultural scientist
:: BAR links with DLSU-Manila on ITMSI program
:: SMIARC intensifies RDE for all commodities
:: BAR conducts IP awareness and training workshop
:: BAR spearheads pre-implementation meetings on ludong and abaca
:: ICT to boost DA programs and services
:: Benefits from the ‘Queen’
:: Securing a sturdy ground for the duck industry
:: BAR leads synergy meeting on sweet sorghum initiatives
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