- Intensification of the Community-based participatory Action Research Program (CPAR)
To design and implement en integrated production management system in the community, BAR in collaboration with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) develops and implements an innovative approach to RDE, the Community-based Participation Action Research or CPAR which is one of BAR's flagship programs. With this approach, the Bureau enjoys the active participation of the community to sensitize them to the value of information-based decision-making. Through this, the community is empowered by organizing their production management systems. BAR clearly recognizes that to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sector, a new production systems modality must be instituted and this can be done through an integrated information management system complemented be an equally effective knowledge management system.
The participatory nature of CPAR intends to focus on the holistic orientation of the overall management of production system. This includes: farming systems development, resource management orientation, community-based, whole farm and whole family systems approach, and its complementation and integration. These processes are instituted through a farm model framework that focused on participatory community-based resource management systems.
During the FY 2007, BAR has started implementing the CPAR for the 10 poorest provinces to come up with developmental RDE programs following the CPAR approach and anchored on the DA's priorities as well as on the Hunger Mitigation Framework.
As of FY 2008, BAR continually coordinates 89 CPAR projects covering 299 CPAR sites nationwide involving a total of 3,100 direct beneficiaries of CPAR grant funds - 2,789 of which are belonging to 177 farmer associations - and 3,946 other adoptors who are indirect beneficiaries of CPAR funds.
- Commercialization of Appropriate Technologies (The National Technology Commercialization Program - NTCP)
NTCP was established by the BAR as one of its flagship programs in 2005 to ensure that technologies are strategically placed and transferred to areas and communities that most needed them. It ensures that transformation of agriculture and fisheries from resource-based to technology-based industries.
It highlights research and development (R&D) breakthroughs and mature technologies generated and developed by R&D institutions. It serves as a vital tool for the development of enterprises and the improvement of agriculture and fisheries-related industries anchored on appropriate activities emphasizing technology transfer, promotion, adoption, utilization and commercialization.
NTCP complements the CPAR program serving as the entry point for technology transfer as it serves as on-farm technology demonstration and assessment arena for potential suitable technologies for the communities. Attention is given to the strengthening of a market-driven approach for holistic and integrated development.
After four years of implementation, the NTCP can finally be described as focused and committed towards enterprise development and agribusiness ventures. As of date, the Bureau commercialized a total of 70 technologies, and has undergone 17 technology commercialization activities since 2006.
NTCP proved its maiden activities to be proactive and dynamic to the challenging trends in global and domestic agriculture and fisheries development. Some of the notable technologies commercialized so far are: Garlic, sweet sorghum, sea urchin, oregano, biofuels-cassava, fruit wines, queen pineapple.
- Support to Basic and Strategic Research
Basic researches are any experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new insights on the underlying foundations of physical and biological phenomena and observable events, without any predetermined application or use in view.
Support is given to the conduct of basic or upstream research aimed at addressing emerging issues/concerns on R&D. this type of research will later serve as fundamentals to research applications and us underlying principles vital to technology generation. Current focus is on agricultural biotechnology researched covering both modern and traditional biotechnology.
Strategic researches are those that compare the performance of promising technologies with that of the farmers' practices conducted in their own farms.
Support is likewise given to the conduct of on-farm researches to verify developed agricultural technologies and help in hastening the process of technology transfer in a specific area.
- Establishment of Agribusiness Development Projects (ADP's) in Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCs) and other R&D stations
APDs aim to demonstrate the profitability of new/appropriate technologies suited to the conditions in the region. They serve as educational facilities to tech farmers and other clients on modern technologies in agriculture; improve the credibility of the RIARC and strengthen the strategy of teaching by example; demonstrate good agricultural practice (GAP) and generate income to support R&D activities of the RIARCs. ADPs also seek to accelerate the transfer of new technologies from the research stations to rural communities.
ADP is operated like a true enterprise and as a technology show window for the community.
They are established in vacant, underutilized, and unutilized areas of R&D stations to showcase new technologies and farming systems for agribusiness enterprises.
This supports the DA's Goal 1: Develop at least 2 million hectares of new lands for agribusiness in order to contribute 2 million out of the 10 million jobs targeted.
In support to the FIELDS program of PGMA, BAR is promoting the use of organic fertilizer through its ADP project on Bio-Organic Fertilizer Production.
The bio-organic fertilizer production facilities are located in the RIARCs, where the organic fertilizers are to be produced and tested on experimental fields. The RIARCs shall promote the adoption of bio-organic fertilizer production technology to LGUs and Farmer Cooperatives and Associations. Once the technology is transferred to the farmers, they will be able to manufacture and sell their own organic fertilizer with the use of organic farm wastes. Thus providing the farmers an additional source of income, lower production cost as well as increased produce.
Sixteen (16) RIARCs and eighty-four (84) ROSes are expected to benefit from the project.
As of FY 2008, ADPs in all regions are all on-going: A total of 19 sites in 16 regions are already benefiting from the bureau's program.
- Institutional Development Program
The IDG is divided into two: Human Resource Development (HRD) and R&D Facilities Development. Both programs cater to National Research and Development System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NaRDSAF) member institutions. NaRDSAF includes DA National (staff bureaus/attached agencies) and Regional R&D centers (DA-RIARCs/BFAR-RFRDCs), national and regional State Universities and Colleges (SUC's), and Provincial Technological Institutes for Agriculture and Fisheries (PTIAF's).
The program aims to enhance the capabilities of the NaRDSAF member institutions to efficiently and effectively implement and manage R&D programs/activities in agriculture and fisheries. This improves the quality of research outputs through state-of-the-art laboratory equipment in the international arena.
- Human Resource Development (HRD) Program
This is composed of Degree and Non-degree Scholarship Program. The Degree Scholarship program is for any R&D employees who wish pursue graduate studies (M.S. or PhD). Meanwhile, the Non-Degree Scholarship program covers assistance to the conduct of thesis/dissertation studies that address major problems and concerns in agriculture and fisheries. Field of studies include: crop science, veterinary medicine, fisheries, social science, farm resources, computer science and relevant fields. These programs are complemented with the Expand Human resource Development Program (EHRDP) being implemented by ATI. The EHRDP aims at providing quality education and training on science and technology to accelerate social progress and promote total human development. ATI serve as the Secretariat to the DA's Central Implementation Committee of EHRDP.
As of date, a total of 118 scholars were served through BAR's Degree Scholarship Program (62 PhD and 56 MS) since the program started in CY 2000. Out of these, a total of 74 already completed their studies (42 from PhD and 32 from the MS degree).
The non-degree program of BAR also provides financial assistance to researchers and scientists to enable them to attend specialized training (local or abroad), represent the country in collaborative R&D undertakings, or present research papers in international scientific fora. Financial assistance is also granted to scientists or research personnel who wish to engage in short-term basic research through postdoctoral or fellowship awards.
As of date, a total of 232 scholars were assisted since CY 2000.
Through BAR's Thesis/ Dissertation Assistance Program (TDAP), a total of 100 were granted support since the program started in CY 1998. The program's objective is to provide financial support to all members of NaRDSAF for the conduct of thesis/ dissertation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and their allied fields. The topic should be consistent with the goals of the AFMA and DA's MTDP.
- Research and Development Facilities Development Program
The program supports the acquisition of scientific equipment and information technology wares, construction and renovation of R&D facilities (office buildings, laboratories and experimental farms) and basic facilities of NaRDSAF member institutions. The program also includes the formulation of the Management and Operations Manual for the DA regional R&D centers and station development planning of the whole R&D system.
- Knowledge Management Program
The Knowledge Management (KM) program enhances information flow among stakeholders in R&D system to the policymakers, research administrators, extension specialist, general public and most especially, the farmers and fisherfolk.
To further broaden the stock of knowledge and information, the program provides publication grants to research institutions, DA staff bureaus and attached agencies, RFUs, SCUs, SEC-registered organizations and non-profit scientific organizations.
The grant covers support to the publication of proceedings of scientific meeting, refereed journals, research methodology manuals, book writing and co-sponsorship grant for scientific meetings.
The Bureau's KM program focuses on the gathering of R&D results and their translation into multimedia R&D information packages. ATI, in turn, through its Development Support Communication program takes over and disseminates these R&D information packages in support of planned extension and training programs and related activities of the institute.
Overall, the program focuses on technology and information dissemination from technology generators to users.
- Information Communication and Technology Program
ICT is the Bureau's response to AFMA's mandate to develop the R&D national information network. It aims to strengthen the knowledge management in agriculture and fisheries R&D through information technology. Likewise, Agriculture and Fisheries R&D information System (AFRDIS) aims to promote efficient and effective inter-institutional collaboration through coordinated planning and execution; information flow among stakeholders; and end-user involvement by facilitating access to information and knowledge.
The ICT Program is meant to support the information needed for the fulfillment of BAR's goal of making R&D in agriculture useful to farmers and fisherfolk. The advent of IT is made possible by the convergence of state-of the-art computer and telecommunication technologies that promote efficiency and effectiveness in the dissemination of R&D output among researchers and the general public via the information highway.
- e-Pinoy FARMS ©
The establishment of a unified community-based participatory monitoring and evaluation system for agriculture and fisheries development is necessary to encourage the active involvement of key players and stakeholders in the overall implementation of the community-based initiatives coordinated and managed by BAR.
More specifically, the application of the e-Pinoy FARMS © in the monitoring and evaluation of projects is the best mechanism that would generate, process, package and develop interventions necessary for effective and efficient research and development management.
Through this mechanism, it is envisioned that the BAR projects will enhance the information and knowledge management of the Department of Agriculture through research and development interventions. The information will be shared and exchanged between and among key players and stakeholders in research and development, training and extension, policy advocacy, marketing and agribusiness, regulatory and development management.
The e-Pinoy FARMS © aids in the transactional activities of priority commodities from production, processing, and marketing. Furthermore, it will provide an avenue that would make agriculture and fishery products more productive and encourage more profit for farmers and fisherfolk. As a result, the information derived from the e-Pinoy FARMS will support the DA's overall goal of making agriculture business.
- Commodity Production Resources Management System (C-PREMS)
Expanding from the gains and experiences of the Onion-PREMS using systematic information and communications technology management, the Commodity - Production Resources Management System (C-PREMS) was developed and operationalized to address the different priority commodities of the DA Banner Programs. The C-PREMS provides a unified information system for the agriculture sector. Patterned from the proprietary e-Pinoy FARMS © platform, an enterprise resource management system developed by Optiserve, it capacitates small farmers' organization to optimize the use of community-based resources available for its members.
The C-PREMS is an integrated and unified information system that enables ground level data to be generated, integrated and consolidated, processed and packaged, and eventually disseminated for sustainable agriculture and fisheries development. This will be managed by key players and stakeholders that require active involvement and location-specific interventions in research, development, training and extension including marketing and regulations through information-sensitive decision-making. This is a transactional system that transforms data into information vital to production, processing and marketing activities for an integrated enterprise and stable agribusiness ventures.
Furthermore, it aims to recognize the need for an information-sensitive management system to allow the farmers and their cooperatives to effectively manage the commodity value chain. Hence, shall make agriculture a business activity and contribute to becoming a globally competitive agriculture sector. The system shall proactively respond to the issues affecting our farmers on importation, mismatch of information between supply and demand, price fluctuation, and more so on opportunities for a successful venture with these commodities.
- AgFishTech Online
In support to the FIELDS program of the government and to effectively manage and communicate R&D outputs through an information system database, the AgfishTech Portal was initiated by BAR. This is a web-based knowledge portal which contains relevant information on the production of the Department of Agriculture's flag commodities including crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. This virtual one-stop-shop is intended to benefit farmers, fisherfolk, stakeholders or individuals who are interested to go into agribusiness.
- Biotech Online
Biofuel Information is an online information exchange portal which serves as a gateway on the latest developments and R&D initiatives on biofuel feedstocks specifically designed as a knowledge base for farmers, researchers, investors, and the general public. It focuses on the cultural management and processing of feedstocks to biofuel and contains other relevant information such as industry profiles of large biofuel producers, researchable areas, and the latest news and events.
BAR through its ICT/AFRIDIS Program create a coordinated and favorable environment for cooperation, partnership and information exchange in support of ATI's extension and training programs. BAR acts as a virtual repository of R&D information and provides access and serves as a gateway to all ATI centers and extensionists across a well-coordinated network of R&D and Extension institutes.
- Intellectual Property Management Program
The IP management program of BAR ensures that intellectual properties (IPs) are given proper protection through registration with the Intellectual Property Office. It acknowledges and gives due recognition to creators of technologies and arts that would eventually benefit the society through the R&D results generated.
Ultimately, effective IP management strengthens the R&D system in promoting further creativity, facilitating transfer of technology, promoting business enterprises, encouraging market access, attracting foreign and local investments, and promoting fund back flow to R&D.
- Agriculture and Fisheries Policy Research Program
With this program, BAR implements/coordinates with researchers/scientists of leading SUCs and other concerned institutions in the conduct of research impact assessments and policy research pertaining to agriculture and fisheries. The Bureau collects and processes primary/secondary data and information, monitors and evaluates the country's agriculture/fisheries situation including market issues, and provides recommendations on the development of comprehensive strategies addressing emerging problems and concerns. It formulates policy recommendations on scientific innovations and technology use to help promote the goals of the Department of Agriculture.
