News > TechCom to add value to agriculture; SACY underlines four factors for successful TechCom implementation
TechCom to add value to agriculture; SACY underlines four factors for successful TechCom implementation
21 August 2008
Rita T. dela Cruz
Technology commercialization (TechCom) is critical in adding value to agriculture particularly in developing commodities and products, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said at the opening program of the "2008 Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Commercialization Forum and Exhibit" and "21st Anniversary Celebration of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)". The event was held at the SM Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on 21 August 2008.
In his impromptu address Yap said, "Critical to the development of the rural sector is TechCom wherein value-adding plays an important role particularly in providing income to farmers. By increasing the uses and values of our agricultural products, we are also targeting to improve incomes of our farmers. And this is the way to boost the rural sector in terms of development and income."
He cited some of the pressing issues besetting the agriculture sector today. Yap stressed that being the Secretary of Agriculture today, the two most important and valid questions to ask are: What did you do to contribute to the growth of agriculture in the country? What did you do to improve the income of the farmers?
"Today, the demand for agriculture sector to deliver is high. It has added pressure to the government that the Department of Agriculture has to walk a very tight rope promoting agriculture while monitoring the supply and profit. That is why TechCom is very critical. We have to have something different to offer."
Corollary to his earlier point, Yap cited four important factors that come to mind when one talks of technology commercialization. These are: market research, research and development (R&D), extension, and capital.
"Market research is important because it determines what the market wants and monitors what the competitors are doing." In view of this, DA has established various trade desk offices to specifically conduct market research. This is cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
"After knowing what the market wants, we need R&D to enable the industry to generate new products necessary for agricultural productivity." Specifically, Yap instructed BAR to forge ties with the center of excellence in the region that have the technical expertise and competence to conduct research in the field. "We need to push BAR into developing partnership with regional and localized centers and even state colleges and universities that have technical capability that can be utilized," Yap reiterated.
Another important aspect in technology commercialization that Yap enumerated is Extension. With the devolvement of extension to the local government units, Sec. Yap revealed his frustration of how difficult it is now for DA to control as to which the direction the agricultural extension is heading.
The last and most important factor according to Yap is Capital. "At the end of the day, the question will boils down to one thing: Will it be funded?" he said. As a success story, he sampled the case of Mr. Lito Arenas of LA Trading who started as a mango picker to now one of the biggest exporters of mangoes in the country. "All this would have not been possible if he was not able to get sufficient funding support from the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF)," he further noted.
ACEF is a funding facility aimed at supporting those whose livelihood depends on the country's primary sector such as agriculture which enables farmers and fisherfolk, cooperatives and agribusiness entrepreneurs to compete in an extremely competitive and increasingly globalized agriculture market.
In conclusion, Yap encouraged those in attendees to support the TechCom programs of DA through BAR. 
