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

Outstanding technologies identified in nat'l R&D week
by Laarni C. Anenias

October-December 2001
Volume 3 No. 4

Metarhizium, Bio N, SNAP hydroponics, and Genetically Multi-Ancestored (GMA) coconut farmers' variety may all sound so high-tech to an ordinary farmer, but not in the near future. Soon, these terms will become household names as our farmers will use these promising farm technologies to improve their production. These are some of the technologies identified and were symbolically turned over by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the farmers/fisherfolk during the Farmers-Fisherfolk Day on 5 October 2001 at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall. This event was part of the celebration during the National R&D Week on 2-5 October 2001, organized by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo receives the new gumamela hybrids developed by the Institute of Plant Breeding in UPLB from Biotechnology Network Chair Dawn Jamandre as DA USec. Ernesto Ordoñez looks on during the symbolic turn-over of technologies from the R&D networks.

Outstanding technologies
Along with Metarhizium, Bio N, SNAP hydroponics, and GMA coconut, a CD-ROM on "Knowledge-based systems for sustainable fisheries management" was one of outstanding technologies presented to the President. These were chosen from a list of technologies generated by our scientists.

Metarhizium is a fungus that can kill crop pests such as diamondback moth, cabbage worm, Asian cornborer, rice black bug, and nematodes. A group of researchers from the National Crop Protection Center in UP Los Banos (UPLB) discovered that this fungus can kill an insect pest two days after application. This fungus penetrates the insect pest's skin, multiplies in the blood, and secretes poison. According to the scientists, Metarhizium is safe on other insects and mammals. An application of the fungus only costs P250 per hectare and is applied twice, at a maximum, to ensure best results.

Bio N is a fertilizer supplement which contains bacteria that can convert nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form that can be used by rice and corn plants. According to researchers from the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, also in UPLB, rice and corn farmers can save P3,800 per hectare by using Bio N. A farmer will only need P150 to buy 5 packets of Bio N which is good for a hectare. Moreover, this supplement, according to them, can supply half of the chemical fertilizer recommendation for farms.

The Genetically Multi-Ancestored (GMA) coconut farmers' variety, as the name implies, is a "hybrid" from six ancestor coconuts: Laguna, Bago Oshiro, Baybay, and Tagnana - all local tall varieties; and West African and Rennel - both foreign tall varieties. The Philippine Coconut Authority's research initiatives on this variety started in 1977. It was only last year when the initial distribution of its seeds was made. Results of this 13-year research are worth the wait. This new variety yields medium to large nuts (1,529-2,848 grams) and starts to bear flowers at 2.5 years.

Pres. Arroyo receives a seedling of the GMA farmer's coconut variety from Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Carlos Carpio

Moreover, this new variety bears 52-88 nuts per palm, unlike old varieties which yield only 38 nuts per palm. It produces approximately 7,638-11,813 nuts per hectare, compared to the old varieties at 4,000 nuts per hectare.

SNAP hydroponics, is simply "planting without soil." The Institute of Plant Breeding, also in UPLB, introduced the SNAP hydroponics technology. This technology is a simple and cheap method of producing vegetables such as tomato, lettuce, cucumber, watermelon, cauliflower, broccoli, and celery; and can be done in a small space. Researchers stated that plants in hydroponics are healthier, fast-growing, and disease-free since vegetables are free from weeds and other soil-borne pests and diseases.

The CD ROM on "Knowledge-based systems for sustainable fisheries management," generated by the National Fisheries RDE Network, contains information that are relevant to fisheries management. Among the features of this CD-ROM are the Fisheries Code, National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, and other relevant fisheries laws.

Other highlights of the R&D Week
Aside from the presentation of technologies, the launching of the Agriculture and Fisheries R&D Information System (AFRDIS) was held. AFRDIS is BAR's information technology venture connecting all RDE networks, SCUs, and the regions to a central information system to enhance their information-sharing capacity. The AFRDIS' launching featured a videoconference between President Arroyo and selected farmers in Central Luzon.

Other main events during the week-long celebration are the National Research Symposium, where BAR awarded outstanding papers generated by local scientists. In the Unpublished Category, three major awards were given out: the AFMA Outstanding R&D Paper, AFMA Best R&D Paper, and AFMA R&D Paper. Under the Published Category were the DA Secretary's Award and the BAR Director's Award.

A day was also devoted to provide a forum for international research agencies to meet and discuss issues along this year's theme, "New Science and Tools for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation". Representing the various agencies during this year's International Agriculture Research Day were: International Rice Research Institute, Asian Vegetables Research and Development Center, International Center for Living and Aquatic Resources Management, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, International Livestock Research Institute, Center for Agriculture and Biosciences International, and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute/International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plant.

A Recognition Day was held to give due credit to the people who performed outstanding work in helping the Bureau advance R&D in the country. BAR staff and scholars, DA scientists, network team leaders, and members of the Senior Scientist Advisory Committee were all recognized for their invaluable support and contribution to the Bureau, and consequently, to the agriculture and fisheries sector.

BAR likewise gave Congressman Florencio Abad, from the lone district of Batanes, this year's Gintong Butil Award for his "strong support to the goals of BAR and concern for the development of agriculture and fisheries in the country while he was chair of the Appropriations Committee, House of Representatives."

National leaders such as Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Senator Manuel Villar, and Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Leonardo Montemayor, likewise, graced the week-long activities.

BAR plays a pivotal role in the development of the country's agricultural sector through its endeavors in national research and development. The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, more popularly known as AFMA, mandated it for this important task.