IAARD researchers visit BAR

29 June 2008
Rita T. dela Cruz

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) led by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar welcomed a team of researchers from the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD) for a briefing on 29 June 2008. The activity was part of the exchange study visit between Indonesia and the Philippines.

IAARD is the R&D arm of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture which aims to generate responsive agricultural innovation suited to the dynamic of rural areas and the needs of their beneficiaries. One of its missions is to create, engineer, and develop high technology, which is strategic, location specific and make policy recommendations for agricultural sector. Likewise, the Institution hopes to enhance the efficiency and acceleration of dissemination of technology and information to the beneficiaries and develop national and international collaboration and linkages in terms of science and technology and improve IAARD's role in the agribusiness sector and agricultural development.

The Indonesian team was headed by Dr. I Made Mahardika, research manager and project finance officer. With him were Mr. Ir Sumanto, senior researcher and project officer; Ir Subagio, head of Economics; and Ms. Ir Roni Nurhastuti, head of agricultural services.

The team was presented with the BAR Story, a documentary about BAR's history, mandate, and R&D directions and priority programs, including Dir. Eleazar's eight-point strategy.

The study visit was conducted to improve the R&D activities of both countries specific on food crops, vegetables, fruits, ornamental, and estate crops which are the focused commodities of IAARD.

The Indonesian researchers stayed in the country for a week, visiting primary research institutions in the Philippines and help them gain information and familiarize themselves with various activities and priority programs of the Philippine agriculture. After visiting the Bureau, the delegation visited the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Optiserve Technologies, Inc for a briefing on e-Learning. Other research institutes visited were University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH), Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), Science and Technology Park, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE), and Central Luzon State University (CLSU). The group also visited Mr. Lito M. Arenas' Pangasinan Tropical Fruit Multi-purpose Cooperative (PTF-MPC) in Manaoag, Pangasinan; Mr. Toto Barcelona's Harbest Vegetable Seed Breeding Center in Paniqui, Tarlac; and interviewed successful goat farmers in Balungao and Sta. Maria, Ilocos Norte with the help and technical support of Dr. Jovita Datuin, manager of the Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center (ILIARC).

Other BAR key officials who also attended the briefing were BAR Asst. Dir. Teodoro S. Solsoloy, PDD Head Carmencita B. Kagaoan, RCD Head Tito Z. Arevalo, MISD Head Marlowe U. Aquino, IRU Head Victoriano B. Guiam, and technical staff members, namely: Rudyard R. Roxas of IRU, and Rene Cris P. Rivera of PDD.