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NEWS & EVENTS

Oct 28, 2021

Plant health management shared in DA-BAR webinar

Plant health management for quality planting materials was shared during the webinar of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) on 28 October 2021 via Facebook live.Dr. Fe Dela Cueva, expert on Plant Pathology from the University of the Philippines-Institute of Plant Breeding, said that plant health management through precision diagnostics ensure the production and distribution of disease-free quality planting materials.Further, she explained that plant diseases reduce the quality of food and threaten food production. “That is why ensuring disease-free quality planting materials is a key element in crop production through monitoring plant health, early detection of pathogens, and identification of major disease-causing organisms by reducing the spread of diseases, facilitating effective disease management strategies, thereby, increasing crop yield.”This can be achieved, first, through the development of pathogen detection protocols through nucleic acid-based detection or antibody-based detection on various fruits (banana, guava, tamarind, rambutan, durian, duhat, cashew, mangosteen, and lanzones); on vegetables (cucumber, tomato, bitter gourd, eggplant, squash, lady fingers); on root crops like sweet potatoes; and ornamental crops. Second, through diagnosis and indexing of important diseases of various crops and mass propagation and distribution of healthy planting materials to different DA-Regional Field Offices (RFO) and local government units in the regions.And third, through collaboration with various institutions, including technical staff from DA-RFOs, provided knowledge through capacity building and training on disease diagnosis and plant micropropagation.Dr. Dela Cueva, in her parting message, reminded that plant health monitoring is an important aspect of crop farming, and with the available information on plant diseases, appropriate control measures were recommended to ensure the plant health and the production of clean planting materials. 

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Feb 04, 2022

R4D institutions in Central Luzon work on battling animal viral diseases

In line with the efforts to manage and further combat and eradicate the animal viral diseases in Central Luzon, the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) convened a meeting with various research for development (R4D) institutions in Central Luzon to synchronize research efforts on 4 February 2022 via Zoom.PSAU is currently undergoing a study aimed to diagnose, using molecular techniques, African Swine Fever Virus in swine, New Castle Disease and Avian Influenza viruses in poultry, Tilapia Lake Virus in tilapia, and White Spot Syndrome virus in shrimps.Funded by DA-BAR, the implementation of the project is in collaboration with DA-Central Luzon, Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL), Bureau of Animal Industry, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional offices.During the said meeting, Jacob Anderson C. Sanchez, PSAU project leader, provided project updates and explained the detailed methodologies used in the experiment. DNA sequence results collected from samples in Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac were also discussed.Dr. Milagros R. Mananggit, chief of the RADDL-Integrated Laboratories Division, committed to continuously provide specimen from RADDL-Central Luzon that can be used for the research project.In order to harmonize such efforts, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between PSAU and DA-Central Luzon including other key offices on 3 September 2021. One provision in the agreement is that DNA/RNA specimens, including positive samples in RADDL will be sent to PSAU for subsequent laboratory tests and DNA sequencing.Thus, RADDL performs its mandate by providing laboratory and diagnostic services while PSAU complements the RADDL through research services. The said study is being conducted in the established Animal Disease Diagnostic Research Facility funded by DA-BAR to help in providing fast and accurate diagnosis of pathogenic viral diseases of swine, poultry, and fisheries in the region.

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Oct 21, 2021

Revitalizing the Kapeng Barako through smart demo farm

Aimed at revitalizing the Kapeng Barako industry in Batangas Province, the Batangas State University (BatStateU) conducted the inauguration and launching of the BARAKO coffee nursery and smart demonstration farm on 21 October 2021 at the Pueblo Farms, Pueblo Subd., Rosario, Batangas and via Zoom.BARAKO or Batangas Actions towards Revitalization and Acceleration of Kapeng Barako Industry is a project funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), and in partnership with public and private agencies. Through massive seedling propagation and dispersal and establishment of a smart demo farm, the project intends to increase the productivity and capacity of Kapeng Barako growers in the province. This can increase the area of Barako plantations and barako coffee production in the coming years, hence, achieve optimum yield and health of coffee trees.BatStateU president Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo shared the university’s commitment in the production and propagation of Kapeng Barako in Batangas. “Rest assured that our R&D will always be with us in promoting high-value crops in the province,” he added.DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril, in his message, looks forward to the success of the project and in helping the coffee farmers in Batangas through the provided funds. “This is a seed money, alam natin na if we are going to put value, we will be able to accomplish per proposal then this is really a worthy undertaking of the university,” he said.Messages of support, commitment, and partnerships were also shared by key personalities from the local government units, farmer groups, and partner agencies from the private and business sectors.Dr. Romel U. Briones, project leader, facilitated the turn-over of coffee seedlings to farmer groups led by Batangas Province Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas.The project targets to identify and involve at least 300 coffee farmers in seedlings dispersal, capacity building, and trainings on propagation and production of Kapeng Barako. 

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Feb 24, 2022

DA-BAR convenes stakeholders; prepares NAFMIP formulation for R4D

In line with the ongoing efforts of the DA to formulate the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP), the DA-BAR conducted the Stakeholders Consultation Workshop for NAFMIP Research for Development (R4D) Sector on 24 February 2022 via Cisco Webex.NAFMIP will serve as the sectoral guide for other agriculture and fisheries development plans, sector-wide goals, outcomes, and outputs.“The preparation for this will be guided by the Transformative Planning Frameworks and Strategies, particularly the OneDA Reform Agenda which is the holistic approach to agriculture and fisheries, as well as the DA New Thinking/Food Security Framework,” DA-BAR assistant director Joell H. Lales said in his opening message representing DA-BAR director Dr. Junel B. Soriano.To ensure participation of relevant stakeholders, key officials and representatives from the government, academe, private sector, and non-government organizations were invited to participate.With 179 participants, the activity consolidated the identified R4D interventions that would address various sectoral constraints as well as capitalize on existing sectoral opportunities for the concerned commodity groups (Crops, Livestock and Poultry, Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries).The output of the stakeholder activity will serve as input in drafting the sector plan’s logical framework for the DA-led National Planning Workshop.  Further, DA-BAR commits to harmonize the NAFMIP outputs with other plans, agenda programs, and roadmaps of the department.

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Feb 23, 2022

DA-BAR, R4D institutions launch projects; seal partnership agreements

Anchored on the bureau’s formulated strategies and programs, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), together with partner research for development (R4D) institutions, launched R4D projects and sealed partnership agreements in February 2022 in Zamboanga del Sur and Cagayan Valley.DA-BAR continues to collaborate with partner institutions, state universities and colleges, and organizations to initiate R4D projects and activities that will help farmers and fisherfolk in adapting to generated technologies and integrating community livelihood.“We are here to continuously provide support, technical assistance vis-à-vis guidance on how we can improve R&D in general and for us to develop more technologies for our farmers and fisher, not just to develop but hoping that they are using these available technologies,” said DA-BAR director Junel B. Soriano during the MOA signing at Cagayan State University (CSU).The bureau also signed a memorandum of agreement with selected key officials of DA-Zamboanga Peninsula to officially start the Yamang Lupa: Sustainable Community-Based Research for Development and Extension Livelihood Enhancement, Upliftment, and Prosperity (YL: SCALE UP) Program in Zamboanga del Sur. The event took place on 2 February 2022 at Guillermo Hotel, Pagadian City.The YL: SCALE UP Program is expected to cover a million hectares of rainfed areas in the country. Its goal is to establish innovative and sustainable agriculture through enhanced YL Program approaches and strategies resulting in an increase in yield and income of farmers by at least 15 percent by 2025.Furthermore, DA-BAR team launched an R4D project that will develop web-based applications to modernize crop production practices for SMART crop production and marketing in Zamboanga del Sur that will improve the quality of life of those in the agricultural sector on 3 February 2022 at the ACC Convention Hall in Pagadian City.DA-BAR team and DA-Cagayan Valley select key officials also attended the launching of the DA-High Value Crops Development Program funded project aimed to develop a Zero Energy Cooling Chamber (ZECC). The technology will help farmers reduce the ambient temperature and maintain high relative humidity appropriate for on-farm storage of fruits and vegetables with zero electrical energy cost. The event was held on 22 February 2022 at Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC), Ilagan, Isabela. Aimed to develop improved varieties of traditional white corn, and to determine the effectiveness of alternative plant protein source for feed formulation in swine and chicken,  the bureau and DA-CVRC’s partnership in two R4D projects was sealed through a MOA signing on 22 February 2022. Further, the bureau inked an agreement with the CSU for their project, that aims to assess the target market and preferred blend of Caoffee (cacao and coffee) product, on 23 February 2022. 

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Jan 19, 2022

DA-BAR forges partnership with Bauertek Corp.

Aligned with the bureau’s goal to ensure that the products and technologies developed are directed towards maximum utilization and commercialization, DA-BAR inked a partnership agreement with Bauertek Corp. on 19 January 2022 at the DA-BAR, Quezon City. DA-BAR director Dr. Junel B. Soriano and assistant director Joell H. Lales led the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Bauertek Corp., represented by its General Manager, Richard Nixon Gomez.Noted as a momentous feat, director Soriano described the signing as a significant step forward for the bureau and its stakeholders–signifying the start of a partnership that is geared toward establishing purposeful investments. Anchored on the inclusive and transformative research for development and extension agenda, the bureau chief also furthered that this engagement will fortify and intensify the contribution of the bureau's research endeavors to economic recovery. Further, the partnership will also pave the way to firm up the capacities of its researchers, farmers, and fisherfolks.DA-BAR assistant director Lales, in his message, highlighted the bureau’s efforts to constantly seek ways and means to improve and extend its resources. Driven by the goal to strengthen all agriculture and fisheries research for development initiatives, the DA-BAR continues to widen its networks and forge partnerships with different agencies, research institutions, SUCs, and private companies such as Bauertek. Such efforts will provide implementing agencies and farmer cooperatives and associations an avenue to acquire needed knowledge, materials, and overall assistance relevant to the conduct of their research.Bauertek Corp. is a company engaged in research, manufacturing, and development of food supplements and pharmaceutical products. It envisions better health for the community through delivery of quality products, materials, and services. Specifically, the company offers technical assistance to its partners through identifying and sourcing materials as needed in their undertaking. Additionally, Bauertek also extends its services to handling necessary regulatory compliances. 