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How far would a researcher go to conduct an experiment and finish a study? Moreover, how far would she go to finish a research study in agriculture when she knows well that she will receive no more than a meager compensation from the government and probably also a little recognition for doing it?

If you were the researcher, would you give up most of your weekends including holidays just to gather data for your research? Would you juggle a day’s job, a doctoral degree study, and the seventh month of your pregnancy at the same time? Would you put up an experimental poultry house in your backyard to be able to monitor it 24 hours until the research period is finished? Would you loan from different financing institutions and mortgage your house and lot to finish your study?
This researcher did all of these and yet there's no sign of her stopping or taking other profession to earn a bigger income to support a big family. Dr. Jovita M. Datuin, a researcher specializing in livestock development, is a picture of a joyful woman who does not regret a single decision she made just to follow her passion to extend applicable and sustainable technologies developed through research to farmers in the countryside.

As a scholar of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Agricultural Support Services Project, she was able to finish her master’s degree in Animal Science major in ruminant production at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Nueva Ecija in 1986. After her MS degree, her inherent interest in sharing her expertise was manifested when she requested to become a part-time instructor at the Virgen Milagrosa Educational Institution (VMEI, now Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation) at San Carlos City, Pangasinan while she was assigned at the Operations Division of the DA Regional Office. Early on, she had been aware of the limited funds for research and development (R&D) especially on livestock researches which is expensive and laborious. Hence, she learned to partner collaborative researches with VMEI.

When she was designated manager at the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research System (RIARS) at Tebag, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan in 1989, her skills in research and development work were honed and tested as she was also assigned as project leader for Livestock R&D in DA Region I. Moreover, she began to get more involved in extension work as resource speaker. “Weekends and holidays became regular working days for me just to gather and analyze data for my research,” said Dr. Datuin. It didn't take long before her dedication paid off. She first received recognition for her research works as BAR's AFMA Best Paper Awards during its National Research Symposium (NRS).

After 18 years of continuous service to the government, she was granted a scholarship by the DOST-PCARRD to take up her doctoral degree in Animal Science, major in animal nutrition. “Soon after the delivery of my seventh baby, I went back to finish my studies and research work at the CLSU.” recounted Dr. Datuin.

The goodness of heart may be running in her entire family who supported her all the way to follow her passion. “The BAR and DA-RFU I assisted me in my financial needs to finish my dissertation but since my research required me to put up an experimental poultry house that I had to monitor 24/7, I had no choice but to put up one in our backyard and mortgage our house and lot to cover the expenses. My family was behind me all the time, supporting me in my every decision,” said Dr. Datuin.

Equipped with an even wider knowledge and experience both technical and practical, she was assigned as breeding station manager at the DA-Integrated Satellite Station III, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan in 2002. True to her steadfast commitment to agriculture and rural development, she organized the first Regional Duck Festival in the country that showcased new technologies related to ducks. She also gave lectures and hands-on demonstration on how to make quality salted eggs, duck leche flan (custard), and duck burger. She believes that these value-added activities are good sources of additional income to rural farm families.

Dr. Datuin's involvement in the collaborative research of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and PCARRD on Crop-Livestock System Research and Extension Network (CASREN) developed her interest in conducting researches on goats aside from her previous concentration on ducks. Her commitment to the project, “Enhancing Smallhold Goat Production in Region I” in 2003, which was implemented in over 25 sites across the region was recognized as one of the Best R&D AFMA Papers when she presented it in 2005 at the BAR's 17th NRS.

From time to time she is tapped as resource speaker to promote Technology Commercialization on the Production of Quality Salted Eggs at BAR. She is also closely coordinating with the Duck Raisers Association of the Philippines.

She considers her development of quality salted duck eggs for export and the commercialization of goat production as the highlights of her career on livestock R&D. Among the numerous awards that credited her performance is the Best Project Proposal Award given to her during the graduation of the International Poultry Training Course at the Barneveld College, Netherlands in 1994 for her paper on the establishment of a smallholder poultry production unit for a sustainable livelihood project. At the national level, from 1990 to 2005, she bagged seven awards for her papers presented at BAR's NRS, among others.

Her current designation as chief of the Livestock R&D in Region 1 and concurrent assistant manager for support services of the Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC) in Bacnotan, La Union have not tied her down exclusively to these assignments. At present, she is also the project leader of BAR's Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) on Goat Agribusiness Development Project in six sites of Region I, and most recently, a special order from the Agriculture Secretary for her to seat as member of the Duck Industry Road Map technical working group.

A positive mental attitude and unwavering dedication to her field of expertise is what makes Dr. Datuin deserving of recognition. She said she always uses her conscience in undertaking any activity she gets her hands on and believes that agriculture development in the country could be done by unleashing the great potential of farmers as leaders in their communities.

“Right now, we need more responsive and dynamic government public servants with the dedication and passion to promote agricultural development.”

"The government and the private sector should work hand in hand to promote and sustain the development of agriculture for both crops and livestock. We should maximize our natural resources and skills to attain this goal and at the same time protect our environment. These must be done now, we can't afford to delay. We should not wait for other nationalities to help us do it,” said Dr. Datuin stressed.

Source:
This article was based on the study, “Reproductive Biotechnology in Water Buffaloes in the Philippines: Recent Developments and Future Perspectives” by Eufrocina P. Atabay of the Philippine Carabao Center, National Headquarters and Genepool, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.