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

CERDAF approves 16 NIRDEAPs
by Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon

October-December 2000
Volume 2 No. 4

Sixteen out of 22 national research and development, extension (RDE) networks will start implementing their new agenda and programs as another year begins in 2001. This developed after the Council for Extension, Research and Development in Agriculture and Fisheries (CERDAF) approved their National Integrated Research Development and Extension Agenda and Program (NIRDEAP) last November.

The NIRDEAPs are based on the 'one system, one program' approach under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), which provides for a unified system of RDE priority setting and program implementation at the national and regional levels.

Approved NIRDEAPs include rice, corn, coconut, legumes, fibercrops, plantation crops, root crops, vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, livestock and poultry, capture fisheries, aquaculture, fisheries postharvest and marketing, biotechnology, and agricultural engineering. The remaining six networks are still to be presented and approved on the second CERDAF meeting on 2001.

The NIRDEAP embodies the integrated thrusts and directions for agriculture and fisheries RDE and contains priority programs for a five-year implementation period. As provided in the AFMA, the NIRDEAP was drafted by members of the National Research and Development System in Agriculture and Fisheries (NaRDSAF) and the National Extension System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NESAF) with inputs from the private/industry sector.

New NIRDEAPs
Rice
The new R&D program for rice will improve the synchronization of technology components, fill-up missing links of packaged technologies, directly address the pressing problems of farmers, avoid lag phase from release to adoption of technologies, expand multi-disciplinary assessment and formulation of research problems, and develop more location-specific technologies.

Corn
The Corn NIRDEAP will address the production and post-production problems and needs of three types of corn grown in the country, specifically, the yellow, white, and special types. Aside from these, issues on the socioeconomic dimensions of the producers and industrial sectors and further utilization of technologies/information by end-users will be explored.

Specifically, R&D projects on yellow corn will be based on the provisions and concept of the strategic agriculture and fisheries development zone (SAFDZ) of the AFMA. For white and special corn types, R&D projects will focus on the development of an appropriate farming systems approach and market strategies, respectively.

Coconut
The Coconut RDE agenda aims to make the coconut industry globally competitive, profitable for the stakeholders, yet ecologically-sustainable through efficient production, processing and marketing systems. This will involve five programs, namely: crop improvement, coconut-based farming systems, marketing and processing, research and development, socioeconomic and policy advocacy, health and nutrition, and institutional strengthening.

Legumes
Three main RDE themes will support the expansion of mungbean, peanut, and soybean production in the Philippines: quality seeds, improved production efficiency, and assured market. Thus, for the next five years, the Legume Program will focus on providing production, storage and utilization package of technology (to develop a dynamic legume industry), and develop new knowledge technology and products (to add value to legumes).

Fibercrops
The Fibercrops NIRDEAP addresses the raw material needs and development of the fiber-based industry such as cordage, pulp and paper, fibercraft, and textiles.

Plantation Crops
As the second most important commodity to oil, coffee is a priority crop for development under the Plantation Crops Network. Some of the priority projects include varietal improvement, coffee arabica and excelsa development program, and pest and disease management.

Root Crops
Expansion of the root crops industry requires more than technology development and transfer. Provision of adequate support services and favorable policies are vital to the development of the industry. The development framework focuses on enhancing productivity, farm efficiency, and product value through the development of relevant technologies, infusion of appropriate technologies, providing adequate credit, infrastructure and policy support, and by forging linkage among growers, markets, and users.

Vegetable
The vegetable industry will strive to increase its capability in supplying the needs of the local market and part of the export market through equitable, sustainable, globally-competitive and environment-friendly systems of production, post-production, and marketing technologies.

Fruits
Banana, durian, pineapple, and mango will be the focus for development under the fruits agenda and programs. The strategies will include the development of techniques to increase yield, productivity, farm efficiency, product innovations, and a closer link between production and market.

Ornamentals
The Ornamental RDE program covers three groups of commodity lines, namely: cutflowers, cut and containerized foliage plants and flowering pot plants, and landscaping materials. The industry's needs will be pursued along six themes: sustained productivity and increased profitability through cost-efficient production system; quality enhancement through post-production systems improvement; human and environment-friendly pest management systems; biodiversity conservation; investment strategies; and promotion of appropriate and sustainable technologies.

Livestock and Poultry
The agenda and program will anchor on three main themes: genetic improvement of animals, production management and animal health, post production technology and livestock development and policy technology promotion and capability-building.

Capture Fisheries
To effectively manage a sustainable fishery sector, the agenda and programs for Capture Fisheries will focus on two areas: integrated management of coastal and inland waters and offshore fisheries development.

Aquaculture
The Aquaculture NIRDEAP will have six major program themes: improvement of aquaculture systems, development of improved strains and new species for aquaculture, reduction of environmental impacts of aquaculture, establishment of database for aquaculture resources, formulation of appropriate regulations and policies for aquaculture and extension.

Post-harvest and Marketing
The research program was developed as a response to the issues and concerns raised in various consultations with the fishery industry members. The issues reflect the concerns of the whole fishery post-harvest sector from handling, processing, storage, marketing, and distribution. It is applied to priority commodities such as finfishes, crustaceans, mollusks, and seaweeds.

Biotechnology
The NIRDEAP is organized in accordance with four major objectives: improving productivity and profitability, protecting the environment, search for useful genes and providing scientific bases for regulation and policy decisions. The extension component includes promoting popular awareness and developing capability to provide services in relation to biotechnology.

Agricultural Engineering
The Agricultural Engineering NIRDEAP will anchor on the implementation of the National Agricultural Mechanization Plan to develop and promote appropriate agricultural engineering technologies. With the Mechanization Plan, the network is now targeting to increase the current farm power level to 1.0 hp/ha in the short term, and 4.0 in the long term.