Enero 7, 2021
Tatlong teknolohiya sa pagtatanim at pagpaparami ng mataas na uri ng niyog ang inilunsad kapwa ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) at Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) ng Department of Agriculture (DA), nitong nakaraang National Coconut Planting Day.
Bilang bahagi ng DOST 20 in 2020, ang National Coconut Planting Day ay kinilalang isa sa 20 innovative technologies, na naimplimenta at pinondohan ng DOST kasama ang kanilang mga kabalikat na ahensya at institusyon na tunay na lumikha ng malaking bagay sa buhay ng mamamayang Filipino at mag a angat sa kalagayang pang ekonomiya ng bansa.
Kabilang sa mga featured sa nasabing aktibidad ay ang coconut hybridization program, macapuno embryo culture technology, at coconut somatic embryogenesis technology (CSet).
Ang CSet ay isang mass propagation protocol gamit ang plumular tissues ng high-yielding tall, dwarf, at hybrid varieties ng coconut. Naitala ng proyekto ang multiplication rate approximated sa 200 hanggang 300 plantlets per plumule, sa mga responsive varieties. Ipinamamalas nito ang kakatwa at halatang pagbabago kontra sa prosesong “one seedling per nut” na karaniwang sistema ng pagpaparami.
Ang CSet ay iniimplimenta ng DOST-PCAARRD at ang kanyang mga kabalikat na institusyon, PCA-Albay Research Center, PCA-Zamboanga Research Center, UPLB, UP Mindanao, Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF), at Visayas State University (VSU).
Ang coconut hybridization program, sa kabilang dako ay nagtatatag ng mga hybridization farms sa ilang lugar na maraming itinatanim na niyog sa bahagi ng CALABARZON. Nagkakaloob rin ito ng S&T-based performance assessment of the mother palms of the hybrids sa diverse ecological conditions.
Ang mga materyales sa pagtatanim ng niyog na tinatayang makakasakop sa 500,000 hectares sa lupang agrikultural ng bansa ay nilikha buhat sa pagtutulungan ng DOST-PCAARRD at PCA.
Ang sabayang pagtatanim ng niyog ay ginanap sa Regions 1, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, at Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Ang ceremonial coconut planting ay ginawa rin sa Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB) nitong December 8, 2020. Ang mga uri ng niyog na itinanim ay PCA 15-10 hybrid (Tacunan Dwarf x Laguna Tall) at Laguna Tall na nilikha sa pamamagitan ng CSet.
Ang nasabing seremonya ay pinangunahan ni Dr. Edna A. Anit, Crops Research Director of DOST-PCAARRD kasama si Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang, IPB UPLB Director at Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr., UPLB Chancellor na nagbigay ng mga mensahe. Kabilang sa mga dumalo ay sina PCA Administrator Mr. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., DOST CALABARZON Regional Director Dr. Alexander R. Madrigal, DA Undersecretary Evelyn G. Laviña,
Former DA Undersecretary Dr. Cristino M. Collado, DA-PCA Deputy Administrator for Research and Development Ms. Erlene C. Manohar, at National Scientist Emil Q. Javier.
May virtual program rin na isinagawa sa opisyal na pagsisimula ng National Coconut Planting Day kung saan ang naging tema ay, “Modern Technologies: Key to Coconut Productivity.”
“I am happy that we have many collaborations with PCA including this initiative, the VCO trials in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the project with DOST CALABARZON on macapuno, among others,” ayon kay DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña sa kanyang mensahe.
“DOST will continue to provide support to the national coconut industry in terms of developing technologies derived from R&D,” dagdag pa ni de la Peña added. Iginiit pa nito ang kahalagahan ng pagbababa ng mga teknolohiya sa mga komunidad ng magsasaka upang maraming makinabang rito.
Nagbigay rin ng mensahe si DA Usec. Laviña para kay DA Secretary William D. Dar. Nilinaw niya ang mga kasalukuyang ginagawa ng DA, sa pamamagitan ng PCA, patungo sa “masaganang ani at mataas na kita (abundant harvest and high income).”
Samantalang nagkaloob rin ng kanyang mensahe ang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food na si Senator Cynthia A. Villar. Ibinahagi niya na na aprubahan na ang Bill No. 1396 o ang “Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act,” na may mandato na ibenta ng gobyerno ang P75 billion of coconut levy assets sa susnod na limang taon upang makalikha ng pondo na magagamit sa industriya ng niyog sa bansa. Buhat sa detalyeng galing kina Sharie Al-Faiha A. Lubang, Rose Anne M. Aya, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services.///MJ Balaguer, +639053611058, maryjaneolvina@gmail.com -30-
DOST-PCAARRD offers GALING PCAARRD: Kontra CoViD-19 program
In answer to the recent pandemic outbreak of Corona Virus Disease (CoViD-19), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) initiated the GALING PCAARRD Kontra CoViD-19 Program.
‘GALING’ or Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives towards National Goals, is also a Filipino term, which means Healing (from CoViD-19) and Excellence, which resonates with PCAARRD’s tagline, Excellence in AANR innovations. When pronounced with a slow accent, galing also means from, denoting that the technology offerings are from the various R&D initiatives of DOST-PCAARRD.
Through the GALING Program, DOST-PCAARRD aims to help alleviate the situation in CoViD-19 affected communities around the country through technology-information sharing, food product distribution, and provision of food production technologies and livelihood opportunities derived from its various R&D projects. These initiatives are in support to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, particularly in helping the country’s food security.
The GALING PCAARRD Program has three Components:
1.) Teknolohiya-Kaalaman para sa Pamayanan – sharing of technology and information through information, education and communication (IEC) materials, through various platforms
2.) Lingkod Alalay sa Pamayanan – Food product distribution to affected communities and frontliners
a.) Oyster mushrooms in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union
b.) Fresh fruits and vegetables in Cordillera
c.) Food products in Sultan Kudarat
d.) Duck eggs in Davao City and Sultan Kudarat
e.) Others
3.) Pagkain at Kabuhayan sa Pamayanan – Food production and livelihood projects such as:
a.) Gulayan sa Pamayanan – Urban gardening and Community/backyard vegetable gardening
b.) Manok at itlog sa Pamayanan – Village-scale chicken meat and eggs production system
c.) Tilapia para sa Pamayanan – backyard tilapia farming
d.) Others
GALING PCAARRD is an inter-agency program collaboration in different regions nationwide. It involves the 15 Regional Consortia – the PCAARRD in the Regions. Each Regional Consortium is composed of State Universities and Colleges, R&D institutes, regional offices and research institutes/centers of the DOST, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, and allied agencies of the R&D network.
While the country is on extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Components 1 and 2 have been ongoing and continuing. DOST-PCAARRD will continually inform us of their efforts through press releases, social media, and publications, which are all accessible via its dedicated web page, http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/portal/index.php/galing.
To further support the country’s goal of food security, DOST-PCAARRD is gearing its efforts towards provision of S&T based livelihood options through the projects under Component 3 for the people to produce healthy and nutritious food themselves even beyond ECQ.
As the saying goes, if you give a man a fish, he will eat today, but teach a man to fish and he will eat forever (Marita A. Carlos, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).
Mango production and citrus insect pest management projects awarded Best R&D Papers
This year’s outstanding research and development initiatives honored during the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD) were projects on improving mango production through S&T and an innovative insect pest management to control citrus rind borer (CRB) on Satsuma Mandarin.
Annually, NSAARRD recognizes outstanding contributions of individuals and institutions in improving the state of R&D in the country in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sector. NSAARRD recognizes two award categories: Best Research Paper and Best Development Paper.
Best Research Paper
The project, “Harnessing Entomopathogenic Fungi (EPF) for the Control of Citrus Rind Borer (CRB) (Prays endolemma Diakonoff) on Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu) topped this year’s contenders.
CRB is an insect pest that burrows into the fruit’s rind and flesh, making it unattractive and inedible. EPF, on the other hand, was identified as a biological control for CRB as it is the insect pest’s natural enemy. Using biological agents in insect pest management reduces or eliminates use of synthetic insecticides that are harmful to health and environment.
The project led by Dr. Jonar I. Yago of NVSU was implemented by the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) and the National Chung-Hsing University.
Bagging second place in said category is the project, “From Functional Genomics to Functional Applications in Cacao Production and Varietal Improvement,” implemented by Dr. Edward A. Barlaan and Dr. Emma K. Sales of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) and Dr. Antonio C. Laurena of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
Placing third place is the project, “Classical Swine Fever (CSF) Surveillance in Mindanao Towards its Control and Eradication” by Dr. Alan P. Dargantes of Central Mindanao University (CMU).
Development category
Best Development Paper Award’s first place was given to the project, “Improvement of Mango Production through Science and Technology Innovations and Support Mechanisms for Capacity Development in Bataan and Zambales.” This project was implemented by Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) and President Ramon Magsaysay State University and led by Dr. Hermogenes M. Paguia of BPSU.
The second place was awarded to the project, “Community-based Participatory Action Research on Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas (SCoPSA) in Barangay Divisoria Sur and Divisoria Norte, Maddela, Quirino” led by Ms. Chonalyn A. Pascua of DA-RFO 2.
The awards were conferred during the DOST-PCAARRD’s virtual S&T Awards and Recognition held on December 22, 2020. The event was livestreamed via the Council’s Facebook page. The Best Research and Best Development Paper Awards were among the awards conferred during the event. Other awards were Dr. Elvira O. Tan for published papers in agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources; Ulat SIPAG for professional media, and Ugnay for outstanding regional consortium (Rose Anne M. Aya, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services).
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