News > BAR institutes CPAR as effective development modality for agribusiness

BAR institutes CPAR as effective development modality for agribusiness

Rita T. dela Cruz

To encourage and enhance the development of enterprises and agribusiness ventures in the farming and fishing communities, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) instituted and is presently implementing an innovative approach to Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) called Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR) Program. This development strategy was strengthened through the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap as part of his initiatives to boost the agriculture sector through increased production and farmers' incomes.

CPAR is a location-specific research cum extension that deals with improved farming systems technologies for specific micro agro-climatic environment within province/municipality. It is a downstream research method that is focused on technology verification and adaptation/demonstration in the community. It also involves extension activities on the technology needs identified by the community.

Through this program, BAR enjoins the communities to be responsive, dynamic and systematic in their management of production. It is also the objective of the BAR to encourage communities to maximize the application of information-based decision-making. This is to ensure organized product management system towards the development of agribusiness enterprises and contribute to community empowerment and self reliance, motivating them to develop productive and profitable enterprises.

Too expedite the program, BAR is implementing policy guidelines in availing of CPAR grants which is being implemented by the DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs) through the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCs) and the Regional Fisheries Research and Development Centers (RFRDCs) in partnership with local government Units (LGUs) and organized agriculture/fisheries group (e.g. cooperatives, farmers associations, and non-government organizations).

To avail of the grant, the project must cover at least two barangay and that a common technology must be identified for the area, hence the "one project, one technology" approach. Likewise, the proponent must be willing to provide counterpart funds and the LGUs and NGO partners willing to provide resources (in cash or kind).

BAR is providing funds to support project activities for a maximum of two years. The proponent together with the partner institutions will make the necessary plan and mechanisms to sustain and/or expand the project beyond this period.

To maximize the impact of the project, site pre-selection is recommended based on a set of criteria. This is to ensure that the necessary support systems are in place and that partner institutions will be supportive of the project. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is done to ensure that the project addresses the existing needs of the community and recognizes the resources of the areas.

During the PRA, a community plan is formulated and the CPAR Action Plan is prepared taking into consideration the identification and selection of technology options for optimum utility, presentation and validation of technology options and relevant information to stakeholders, and agreement and packaging of CPAR projects that will include research and extension activities.

Once the project is approved, the CPAR team with the participation of the community will organize its project management system to facilitate project implementation and coordination.

Final approval of the CPAR project proposal is based on the guidelines set in the Community Research Grant (CRG) Manual and the existing needs and priorities of the area and in line with the thrusts and goals of DA.

To date, over 7,000 farmer-beneficiaries all over the country have benefited from the CPAR program with 89 CPAR continuing projects being implemented in 16 regions in 299 sites/barangays. Likewise, BAR has approved 102 new and continuing CPAR projects for 2009.