BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

HIPs to boost agricultural productivity
Loiuse Hazel Sanidad

October 1999
Special Issue

Food security is a major priority of the present administration. The government aims to ensure food on the table for every Filipino family. This can be achieved through increase in agricultural productivity. Therefore, the need to implement high impact projects on agriculture and fisheries is deemed important.

Under the coordination of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), senior scientists, farmer/fisherfolk representatives and scientist-administrators gathered to assess the High Impact Projects (HIP) of the different networks last July 30-31, 1999 at Anne Raquel's Mountain Resort in Pampanga. The HIP's were first presented on July 14 at SEARCA, Los Banos and a final evaluation was undertaken in the same venue last July 22-23, 1999. Technical evaluators conducted the two latter evaluations.

HIP for corn focused on the development and enhancement of special corn types and varieties and corn-based technologies. Two other projects are devoted to the development of human resources involved in the corn production.

Most of the Coconut HIP emphasized on the study of coconut products and projects related with the Maunlad na Niyugan Tugon sa Kahirapan Program. One project talks on the use of biotechnology for accelerated coconut replanting and breeding.

Improved quality of eggplant, formulation of strategies for production of all-season tomato and promotion of vegetable consumption to Filipinos for improved health are the man thrusts of HIP for Vegetables.

HIP on ornamentals promoted primary ornamentals (orchids, chrysanthemum, roses and anthuriums) and packaging of environment and human friendly pest management.

High Impact Projects on fiber focused on the socio-economic aspect of the fiber industry, marketing and promotions for variable fiber manufacturers, and improvement of village post-harvest processing machines and gadgets.

Fruits highlighted in the HIP are banana, durian, carabao mango, pomelo and calamundin. Most of the projects deal with combating pests and diseases and enhancement of productivity of the given fruits.

HIP on aquaculture talked on genetic variability of milkfish and strategies to alleviate seaweed diseases. On the other hand, HIP on livestock and poultry talked on organic production of chicken, embryo transfer for cattle, and increasing of beef productivity.

HIP on soil and water management delved on upland soils for agriculture and forestry, assessment of soil and water behavior under natural and human-induced conditions, and the socio-economic aspect of irrigation systems.

Biotechnology HIP's focused on Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), biological control of pests and diseases, ad policies pertaining to technology transfer.

Agriculture and Fishery Engineering HIP talked on survey analysis on national agricultural and fishery mechanization needs and AFMA implementation enhancement through agricultural and fishery engineering standards.

These HIP's will be beneficial to the farmers, fisherfolks and to the whole RDE family. They promise increased production of a commodity and generation of added income. These projects also assure employment opportunities, improved product quality and human resource development. With their implementation, they guarantee an improved and globally competitive Philippine agriculture and fisheries sectors.