Volume 11 Issue No. 1 A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research JANUARY 2010

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The Philippines has the right tools,proper environment, motivatedentrepreneurs, and knowledgeable

scientists to advance biotechnology, saida high-ranking official of the Departmentof Agriculture (DA).

DA Undersecretary SegfredoSerrano said that biotechnology ortechnology based on biology, agriculture,food science, and medicine, remains an“uncharted territory” which the countryshould cash in on. “We should exploitbiotechnology. It's the big market of thefuture,” he said before an audience ofbiotechnology stakeholders convened bythe DA Biotech on 28 January 2010.

The problem, however, saidUndersecretary Serrano, lies on thepropensity of many Filipinos to showgreat enthusiasm on the beginning of aproject followed by an abrupt loss ofinterest or follow-through later. “Thetruth is, we need political will to supportour resources, no matter how meager itmay be,” he said.

“The DA Biotech ProjectImplementation Unit (PIU) convened itsstakeholders for a consultation meeting tothresh out priority R&D projects it willsupport this year and seek out possible

RP is ideal for biotech,DA official saysRP is ideal for biotech,DA official says

collaborations with their institutions,”said Dr. Candida Adalla, director of DABiotech.

These stakeholders includeagencies within the DA such as theBureau of Agricultural Research (BAR),Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources (BFAR), Philippine RiceResearch Institute (PhilRice), PhilippineCarabao Center (PCC), Bureau ofAnimal Industry (BAI); NationalAcademy of Science and Technology(NAST), state universities and colleges(SUCs), and private organizations suchas the SPA Association of thePhilippines, Biotechnology Coalition ofthe Philippines, and Chamber of HerbalIndustries of the Philippines (CHIPI),among others.

“For 2010, one of the thingswe want to do is to harness biotech indeveloping the bio-industry for naturalingredients. We will also supportapplied biotech projects for improvingyield, resistance to pests, and adaptationto climate change,” said Dr. Adalla.

Consistent with the DA'sagenda, some of the R&D and capacityenhancement efforts that the DABiotech will prioritize for 2010 include

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What’s inside...

the strengthening of the DA BiotechIncubation Facility for natural ingredients,processing of rice bran to produce highvalue edible oil, bench-scale productionof from brown seaweeds formedicinal purposes, biotech-basedtechnologies for conservation of shrimp,multi-location field trial for open-pollinated variety Bt eggplant,commercialization of bunchy top virus-resistant high-yielding abaca, anddevelopment of animal disease diagnosiskits.

fucoidan

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

Key officials of the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR)conducted its “Year-End Review

and Planning Workshop” to effectivelyaddress the most critical challenges andissues in the agriculture-fishery sector andto come up with strategic plans for theyear. The activity was held on 28-29January 2010 in Tagaytay City.

The two-day event was specificallyanchored on three important undertakings:to review and examine accomplishmentsin 2009 in relation to the bureau'sperformance targets; to plan majoractivities critical to the implementation ofprograms for year 2010; and to identifyadjustments or corrective measures inorganizational policies and systems thatare needed to enhance and achieve BAR'soverall productivity.

“I believe BAR was able to deliverits expected outputs. While we are still a

BAR holds year-end review and planning workshop

small institution, we were able to workon major initiatives and activities thatare equivalent to what biggerorganizations were able to accomplish.”These were the words of Dr. NicomedesP. Eleazar, director of BAR, as hesummarized the bureau's performance in2009.

The Director emphasized howyear 2009 could be taken as a milestonefor BAR's overall organization andmanagement of research anddevelopment (R&D). “BAR effectivelyresponded to the Medium TermPhilippine Development Plan (MTPDP)pronouncement of agribusinessdevelopment as the main thrust ofagriculture and fisheries development. Italso took advantage of the positiveAFMA evaluation of R&D especially inthe adoption of its Community-basedParticipatory Action Research (CPAR)

projects as model farms and its NationalTechnology Commercialization Program(NTCP) as the key to ensure thetechnology support to agriculturaldevelopment,” he stressed.

Dr. Eleazar added that like otherorganizations, BAR is confronted withburgeoning challenges that would shakeand possibly undermine the stability ofthe sector. This is best seen in thechallenges of mitigating the negativeeffects of climate change. It is againstthis backdrop that he underscored theimportance of executing propervisioning and careful planning.

After hearing the openingremarks and marching orders from thedirector, heads and technical staffmembers of various divisions and unitsof BAR presented their 2009accomplishments and plans for 2010.(Rita T. dela Cruz)

Key officials and staff of BAR pose for a photo op during theCY 2010 BAR Annual Review and Planning Workshop in Tagaytay City.

PHOTO: NDELROSARIO III

RP is ideal for biotech, DA official says ........................16 new high-yielding corn varieties ............................... 2BAR and Optiserve prepare to fully ..............................3BAR funds new CPAR project in Laguna .....................4BAR, UPLB and partners forge ties ............................. 5PCA-implemented project on coco .............................. 6Stakeholders’ Workshop on ..........................................7Ubi Festival staged anew in Bohol ...............................7Experts convene at BAR for Biofuel ........................... 8BFAR pushes organic aquaculture ............................. 9Technoguide on rubber diseases ................................10Malunggay leaf stalks are nutritious too ....................11ISU grad students visit BAR ........................................12Info material on sustained implementation ...............12US biotech advisor says climate change...................13PCC on its quest for vibrant Philippine......................14NOGROCOMA: Making RP self-sufficient..................15BAR holds year-end review and planning..................16

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF USM

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BAR hronicleCBUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

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Managing Editor/Layout:Consulting Editors:Writers:

Reproduction/Printing:Circulation:ACD Head:Adviser:

Rita T. dela CruzManuel F. Bonifacio, PhD and Victoriano B. GuiamMarlowe U. Aquino, PhD, Edmon B. Agron,

Rita T. dela Cruz,Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez, Miko Jazmine J. Mojica,

Mariko M. Ramos, and Amavel A. VelascoRicardo G. Bernardo and Anthony A. ConstantinoVictoria G. Ramos and Ma. Angeline E. San DiegoJulia A. LapitanNicomedes P. Eleazar, PhD, CESO IV

Raymond Patrick L. Cabrera,Don P. Lejano,

ISSN 1655-3942Copyright Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture 2009.For subscription and inquiries please contact us: Tel.Nos +63 2 928-8505, 928-8624, 920-0234 locals 3012,3026,3027 with email at: Articles are also available online, visitacd@bar.gov.ph. http://www.bar.gov.ph

BAR CHRONICLE is published monthly by the

Applied Communication Division of the Department

of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research,

RDMIC Building, Visayas Avenue, cor. Elliptical

Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1104 Philippines.

This publication provides regular updates on DA-

BAR’s activities as the country’s national coordinator

for agriculture and fisheries R&D. It also highlights

features and news articles concerning NaRDSAF-

member institutions.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Researchers from the University ofSouthern Mindanao (USM) havedeveloped six new high yielding

white corn varieties resistant to stalk rotand ear rot diseases.

Fabiola Alejandro,Efren Magulama, Milagros Malinao, andDr. Naomi Tangonan,

“High Yielding White Maize VarietiesResistant to Bacterial Stalk Rot and

Ear Rot,” was conducted. Thisaimed to

In the study, the researchersdiligently screened thousands of corngermplasm materials to identify geneticmaterials with resistance to the BacterialStalk Rot (BSR) and Fusarium Ear Rot(FER) diseases and to be used in the

Fusarium

Stalk rot and ear rot are the mostserious and widespread corn diseases thatcan cause severe crop damage and yieldlosses to farmers. Stalk rot, manifested bypremature plant death and plant lodging,is caused by two species,and Ear rot ischaracterized by the appearance of salmonpink to reddish-brown discoloration on thecaps of individual kernels and is causedby species

USM researchers and plantbreeders, namely,

reported that thereis no effective control yet(pesticide/fungicide) for stalk rot and earrot. However, breeding strategies, such ascombined plant genetic resistance withhigh yielding trait, could be a logicalapproach for achieving long-term controlof these major diseases. Thus, the study,

develop high yielding whitemaize varieties resistant to bacterial stalkrot and ear rot.

StenocarpellaPectobacterium.

Fusarium .

Fusarium

6 new high-yielding corn varietiesresistant to corn diseases developed

development of the desired corn varieties.

Researchers say that the use ofthese new varieties is a more reliable,

After four years of rigorousbreeding works, six new maize varietieswere developed - three composite varieties(USM Var 16, 18, 28), two syntheticvarieties (USM Var 24, 26), and onehybrid variety (USM Var 30h). Thesevarieties have already passed theevaluation and were approved forcommercial release by the National SeedIndustry Council (NSIC).

economical, effective, and environment-friendly disease control measure forbacterial stalk rot and ear rotdiseases. It was therefore recommendedthat these varieties be promoted anddisseminated to all corn growers in thecountry.

Fusarium

A paper entry based on thisresearch won the second best paper(research category) in the 2009 NationalSymposium on Agricultural ResourcesResearch and Development (NSARRD)ofthe Philippine Council for Agriculture,Forestry and Natural Resources Researchand Development (PCARRD). This

aims to recognize thesignificant contributions of individualsand institutions in the agriculture,forestry, and natural resources sectors.

The project was funded by theBureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)under the leadership of Dr. Nicomedes P.Eleazar through its research anddevelopment grant program which aimsat to address the current needs andproblems of the agri-fisheries sector.(Edmon B. Agron)

annual activity

For 50 years, one cooperative hasstood fast to its mission of makingthe Philippines self-sufficient in

onions. The National Onion GrowersCooperative Marketing Association(NOGROCOMA) is one of the longest-lived cooperatives in the country, renownedeven abroad. In fact, it is among the 24locally-owned food businesses that gotincluded in the US business book titled“

The publication was a project ofthe Wallace Center at Winrock Internationaland the Business Alliance for Local LivingEconomies funded by the Bill and MelindaGates Foundation and the W.K. KelloggFoundation. The 24 case studies discussedthe strategies, challenges, triple bottom lineperformance, and replicability of thecommunity food enterprises in the UnitedStates and other countries in the world.

In 1954, NOGROCOMA wasborn, through which the Gozon family'sconcern for the onion industry grew evenmore. Then Congressman Jesus Ilaganorganized the NOGROCOMA andsponsored the law banning the importationof onions. This law created the climate ofgrowth for the onion industry. At present,Dulce Gozon serves as the cooperative'sChairman and CEO.

The coop has 206 members in thetown of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija wheremost of the area is planted with onions.Besides producing red creole and yellow

Community Food Enterprise: LocalSuccess in a Global Marketplace”.

NOGROCOMA:NOGROCOMA:Making RP self-sufficient in onionsMaking RP self-sufficient in onions

granex, members of the cooperative havealso learned to intercrop. Onion, aseasonal crop, is intercropped with riceand corn. The cooperative's membershave also diversified into pepper,cucumber, shallots, and indigenousvegetables.

As published in the book,NOGROCOMA offers an array ofservices from seed purchasing at areduced price to loan access to coldstorage facilities to political advocacy andtechnical assistance, among others.

The first two decades saw a lotof success for the cooperative. Domesticsales grew steadily, hence, improving thelives of its farmer-members. Domesticsufficiency was achieved by the country.Philippine onions even reached as far asJapan, Singapore, and United States.

But triumphs do haveaccompanying challenges. In the case ofNOGROCOMA, onion production, highcost of inputs, labor costs, technologicalimprovements, global competition, makeup the list of constraints. However, thecoop has been able to manage and facethese challenges. As a way to addressthese pressing issues, Gozon thought ofinnovations such as Integrated PestManagement (IPM). This is a techniquewherein soil nutrients are built up withoutthe use of expensive chemicals.

True enough, they were able toboost onion production in the country andthe lives of its farmer-members. Gozon

observes that as her economic status grewstable, the finances of her fellowcooperative members became stable aswell. A majority of the members were ableto send their children to college and arenow proud parents of doctors and otherprofessionals, have a decent house to livein, and a car of their own.

Some of the active members of thecooperative were sent to Japan, Taiwan,and United States to learn techniques ononion production to be globally-competitive.

The Department of Agriculture(DA) provided NOGROCOMA a financialgrant for the establishment of nurseries.This helped the cooperative meet therequirements of Japan. Over the last 25years, the volume of onion exports to Japanhas increased, reaching as much as 2,000tons. Globalization stopped exports asChina offered lower prices. NowNOGROCOMA is on the threshold ofreviving the exports to Japan.

DA, through thehas also

helped the cooperative in marketing andbranding. The support is through theproject, “Onion Technology Utilization andDissemination” aimed at establishingtechno-demonstration areas in selectedsites.

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For more information on the book, “Community FoodEnterprise: Local Success in a Global Marketplace” logon to http://www.communityfoodenterprise.org

Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR),

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by Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez

January 2010 Issue

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To efficiently attain the goals ofagribusiness development andimprove the national performance of

agriculture and fisheries in the country, theBureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) hasadopted and is promoting a computer-baseddecision support system (DSS) known as e-Pinoy FARMS to systematize themanagement and coordination of ruraldevelopment projects anchored on research,development and extension (RDE).

The e -Pinoy FARMS is a web-based system used to generate, send,receive, store, and process electronic data.It allows farmers, researchers, andextension workers to interact with eachother to identify farm-specific productionproblems and solutions, document practicalknowledge, access market-related data, andshare relevant information to supportdecision-making.

Through this computer-basedDSS, BAR can build-up its information-driven, knowledge-based resourcemanagement to effectively address R&Dneeds, hence, enabling BAR and the DA'sresearch system to meet the challenges ofinnovation and technologycommercialization in agribusiness for thepresent and for the future.

In its development as a vitalresource, the first phase of the project,which is e-Pinoy FARMS for agriculture,was implemented in 2006 under theleadership of Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar ofthe Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)in partnership with Optiserve Technologies,Inc., the program developer of e-PinoyFARMS.

The e-Pinoy FARMS foragriculture was deployed nationwide in 16Regional Integrated Agricultural ResearchCenters (RIARCs) to complement thecoordination, monitoring and evaluationrequirements of the Community-basedParticipatory Action Research (CPAR) andthe National TechnologyCommercialization Program (NTCP) ofBAR for agriculture-related projects.

“With advances in its developmentand an improved database system, the e-Pinoy FARMS is about to take-off on itssecond phase this time for fisheries,” saidCheryl Marie Natividad, CEO of Optiserveduring a seminar-workshop conducted atBAR on 19 January 2010.

Melissa Resma, head ofInformation Management Unit of BAR

BAR and Optiserve prepare to fullyactivate for fisheriese-Pinoy FARMS

said that software applications for e-PinoyFARMS on fisheries have been installedin almost all Regional Fisheries Researchand Development Centers (RFRDCs)nationwide except for five regions,namely: Calabarzon, Bicol, WesternVisayas, Central Visayas, and WesternMindanao.

Optiserve, as the technologyprovider and consultant of this project, iscurrently conducting a systems roll-out inall regions, including the remaining fiveregions, to enhance their technicalcapability and to delineate functionalroles and complementation between andamong partners to ensure effectiveimplementation of e-Pinoy FARMS forfisheries.

The e-Pinoy FARMS forfisheries aims to operationalize research-extension linkages among the majorstakeholders - fisherfolk, localgovernment units (LGUs), private sector,and the non-government organization(NGO) - through an active partnershipbetween RFRDC and the RegionalFisheries Training Center (RFTC). It shallalso enable RFRDC to document andprocess CPAR project managementincluding fisherfolk/cooperators'registration into the development ofresearch program; to keep track of theirtechnology application and productionpractices; to monitor the progress/

implementation throughout the project lifecycle; to keep a record of transactionsevery quarter to determine to enterprise/agribusiness development; and to store allsorts of information related to community-based resource management.

Among the key result areas(KRAs) for e-Pinoy FARMS in fisheriesare: establish a data repository ofcommunity-based coastal and inlandresources, and fisherfolk production-relatedactivities that will be available toorganizations, community-basedassociations, LGUs, field workers, andother government agencies in support ofresult-oriented decisions; facilitate thecollection and submission of accurate dataat ground level to aid BAR and partners inplanning and budgeting; and improve thedata gathering methodologies andprocesses of BAR by establishingelectronic communication protocols andstandards to allow verification ofinformation anytime.

In the seminar-workshop, BARDir. Eleazar said that the information-basedsystem is very important for BAR todevelop more research-driven agribusinessand sustainable development initiatives inthe future. “We need to fully operationalizethis project for the implementation ofCPAR this year. We need to improve ourdatabases for us to upgrade to the nextlevel,” Eleazar said. (Edmon B. Agron)

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

PHOTOS: EAGRON

BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar highlights the importanceof information-base system in the decision making ofBAR to develop more research-driven agribusiness andsustainable development initiatives in the future.

CEO of Optiserve Technologies Cheryl MarieNatividad presents the e-Pinoy FARMS®Model establishing the DSS for information-driven agriculture and fisheries management.A

fter the successful implementationof the Philippine Carabao Center(PCC) – National Impact Zone

(NIZ) project in Nueva Ecija for the past 10years, it is time to expand operation tobenefit other local carabao farmers in thecountry. Gradually, PCC is utilizing thegains and lessons learned from the NIZproject for application in other provinceslike Pampanga, Tarlac, Aurora and later onin Laguna, Cavite, and Pangasinan.

Approved in 2008, the KR2-funded project shall bring to fore the releaseof 2,000 purebred Murrah buffaloes fromBrazil to qualified cooperative members ofthe above-cited provinces. Quality breederbuffaloes shall be selected from the batch tocomprise the elite herd as source of superiorgenetic material. This latest infusion arrivedon 15 January 2010 and is currentlyundergoing quarantine and acclimatizationat the Lomboy Farm, the newly developedquarantine facility of PCC. This componentforms part of the overall goal of enhancingdairy buffalo entrepreneurship.Establishment of milk collection facilities atthe village level that shall encourage qualitymilk production is one of the relevantaspects of the project complementary to thecontinuing capability and organizationaldevelopment of existing dairy cooperativeswithin the impact zones.

Qualified cooperatives andindividual farmer-trustees have beenidentified and those have undergone socialpreparation and technical training on dairyproduction management. Final evaluation of

PCC on its quest for vibrant Philippinedairy buffalo enterprise development

requirements that shall serve as farmers'equity is currently underway with partnerLGUs. The dairy buffaloes from Brazil arescheduled to be turned-over to farmer-trustees after a 45-day quarantine period.This is in time for PCC's 17 anniversarycelebration on 22-26 March 2010.

In addition, initial social researchstudies will be simultaneously conductedto understand better the social factors thataffect the members of dairy communitiesand program carriers, and the realm of thedairy buffalo industry. These shall harnessNIZ as it models the various facets ofdairy enterprise development.

KR2 is a Japanese Governmentassistance in the form of farm inputs, such

th

as fertilizers, that are monetized by thePhilippine Government to financeagricultural projects.

PCC, as it journeys furtherafield with its commitment ofestablishing viable dairy enterprises indairy communities shall bring with itthe technologies that will sustain thevibrant strokes in the dairy buffaloindustry. As it strides towards this goal,PCC is strongly supported by variouspartners from varied spheres of R&D.In its own capacity, BAR has signifiedits support through institutionaldevelopment and technologycommercialization. (

)Liza G. Battad,

PhD Marlowe U. Aquino, PhDand

US biotech... from page 13

technology freely available but you justcan't take an insect-resistant corn from theUS, for example, and bring it to thePhilippines. There should be a regulatoryreview and approval for these things,”Bobo explained. He likewise gaveimportance to having access to privatesector investments in R&D andtechnology. He said that a system shouldbe in place for private-public sectorpartnerships to make it work.

Then again, Bobo's belief is thatwhen technology is available, farmers willbe willing to pay for it. Thus thegovernment eventually does not need tospend for it since it is likely to bechallenged particularly in a developing

country such as ours.Citing the previously widely-

circulated Stern Review on the economicsof climate change, the InternationalAssessment of Agricultural Science andTechnology for Development (IAASTD)highlighted the fact that while there is arange of activities that could beundertaken to reduce agriculturalemissions, it is not necessarily the casethat they will be adopted simply by virtueof the fact that they appear to make sense.

“Farmers are unlikely to adoptpractices that will benefit society as awhole if they alone have to bear the cost.Even low cost mitigation options will notbe adopted if the farmer must pay to

undertake work from which widersociety gains most of the benefit.Government must intervene toovercome this 'market failure' and toencourage adoption of mitigationoptions and introduce wider measuresto help reduce emissions.”

The Climate Change Actrecently signed by President GloriaArroyo on the other hand, is onlyfocused on crafting and implementing“a national adaptation plan to helpPhilippine agriculture and othervulnerable sectors cope with the worsteffects of altered weathered patternstriggered by global warming”. (MikoJazmine J. Mojica)

PHOTO: ACONSTANTINO

January 2010 Issue January 2010 Issue

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The Community-based ParticipatoryAction Research (CPAR) hasreached the city. This time, it's

Calamba City in Laguna.The Bureau of Agricultural

Research (BAR) funded a new projecttitled, “CPAR on Green Corn-YellowCorn + Legumes Integrated FarmingSystems in Barangay Bunggo, CalambaCity”. Although Calamba is one of theurbanized city in Region IVa(CALABARZON), large areas in itsuplands are still devoted to agricultureand are mostly planted with corn andvegetables.

Project Leader Avelita M.Rosales of the Department of Agriculture-Southern Tagalog Integrated AgriculturalResearch Center (DA-STIARC) said thatthe project aims to integrate legumes withcorn for greater production. “The

BAR funds new CPAR project in Lagunaintegration of legumes with two kinds ofcorn will be like shooting three birds withone stone. The upland area is dependenton rain and is only being planted fromFebruary to May. Planting of legumes canincrease the farmer's income, maximizethe utilization of the land during thefallow period and will add nutrients in thesoil, “ Rosales said.

The main goal of the project is toimprove the land productivity and increasethe farmers' income through low- costtechnologies. The project is expected toboost the farmers' income by at least 15percent after two years of implementation.

“But it does not end there sincethe project has an environmental principlebehind its conceptualization,” Rosalesadded. Integrated farming, according toher, promotes biodiversity and boostsecosystem productivity. “In an integrated

system, residues are recycled, the waynature works. The total farming systemwill be enhanced by this recycling ofnutrients, leading to interdependencewithin the system and becoming moreecologically sustainable.”

STIARC is implementing theproject in collaboration with the Officeof the City Agriculturist in CalambaCity and the Office of the ProvincialAgriculturist of Laguna.

Intended beneficiaries of theproject are the members of theCalamba Upland FarmersMultipurpose Cooperative.

STIARC has another on-going CPAR project in Polilio, anisland municipality in Quezon locatedthirty kilometers off the north-easterncoast of the province. (Amavel A.Velasco)

CHIPI President Lito Abelardepraised government agencies and privateinstitutions alike that are doing their ownresearches with regard to natural healthproducts but noted a lack of consensus ofwhat researches to prioritize.

“We are proposing for the craftingof a national research agenda for thisparticular sector so we could see it to itsearly commercialization. We think that theproblem is in the supply chain. Forexample, we need a lot of naturalingredients that we mostly import atpresent because we cannot just simply buydirectly from farmers. The missing link isthe supply chain,” he said.

Abelarde called for a strong linkbetween researchers and the industry to fillthe gap in the timely commercialization ofnew technologies. He, likewise, specificallyadvocated for research on ampalaya,glucosamine, and polycosinol for itssignificance in the health industry.

According to Abelarde, only theactive ingredient charantine from ampalayaknown to help blood sugar control hasstandards set for its use. He said there areother active ingredients from ampalaya thathave not been fully explored. On the otherhand, glucosamine, naturally present in theshells of shrimp, draws a significantattention from the medical community forevidence of its effectiveness againstosteoarthritis while polycosinol comesfrom a natural mixture of sugar cane waxthat has cholesterol-lowering effects.

RP is ideal... from page1

In line with theserecommendations and several others fromthe biotech stakeholders, Dr. Adallamentioned the pending enactment of theBioindustry Development Act of 2009 thatwill push for stronger policies on biotechdevelopment and its growth in the country.

According to this bill (SB 3140),“the Philippine Bioindustry Research andDevelopment Center will be established toensure innovative and competitive bio-based technologies. It will hold contractresearch and provide technical services tothe public, manage a bio-tech researchfund to support off-site research and willbe equipped with state-of-the-artfacilities.”

Dr. Adalla also mentioned therecent meeting of Agriculture SecretaryArthur Yap with the heads of Commissionon Higher Education (CHED) and DOST

about strengthening the capability ofscience and technology in the country.“When the discussion went toupgrading laboratory equipment andservices, one of the suggestions thatwere supported strongly by theseleaders was to make an inventory of allthe equipment available particularlythose which were given as grants tonational and academic researchinstitutions.

“If we pool them together,who knows that maybe we already haveit all around. Nonetheless, we still needto come up with a critical mass ofscientists and technology developerswho are capable of using thisequipment and who are willing to stayin the country to see the industrythrough these developments,” Dr.Adalla said. (Miko Jazmine J. Mojica)

At a special presentation to anaudience composed of someofficials and staff from the

Department of Agriculture (DA), USSenior Advisor for Biotechnology Jack A.Bobo drew attention to the role ofagriculture in climate change.

“Climate change is the next bigthing in agriculture,” said Bobo during hisbrief lecture when he visited the DA officeon 21 January 2010 to meet with itsofficials.

In his presentation, he cited someof the most recent studies undertaken byrecognized international organizationsrelated to agriculture and climate changesuch as the UN Food and AgricultureOrganization (FAO), Inter-governmentalPanel on Climate Change (IPCC),International Food Policy ResearchInstitute (IFPRI), and World Bank.

“If the IFPRI is saying thatweather variability due to climate changewill result in 27 percent decline in globalproductivity by 2050, this means that wehave to double or triple our currentproduction by that time in order to meet thedemands of a ballooning worldpopulation,” said Bobo.

Accelerating agriculturalproductivity, however, means high costs ofadaptation. Bobo cited IFPRI's report thatsaid, “aggressive agricultural productivityinvestments of US$7.1–7.3 billion areneeded to raise calorie consumptionenough to offset the negative impacts ofclimate change on the health and well-being of children.” Out of this figure, atleast $1 billion for research and irrigationefficiency is required for South Asia alone.

Bobo cited reports that saidagriculture and land-change emit 31percent of greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions, most notable of which arecarbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, andmethane. “Tree burning and decompositioncontribute to GHG emissions.Deforestation contributes to soil erosion,which reduces agricultural productivity,”he said. According to recent reports ondeforestation, more than 80 percent of theworld's forests, where 80 percent of life onEarth can be found, have been destroyed.

Bobo likewise pointed to soilerosion and degradation as major

Impact of climate change on agriculture

US biotech advisor says climate changeis the next big thing in agriculture

PHOTO: COURTESY OF http://photos.state.gov

contributing factors to the decline ofagricultural productivity. “Soildegradation has reduced agriculturalproductivity by 13 percent in the past 50years especially in Central America andAfrica. Each year, 12 million hectares –enough land to grow 20 million tons ofgrain and an area the size of Greece – arelost to desertification which leads toaccelerated soil erosion.”

Moreover, Bobo brought up theimpending water crisis concern asagriculture accounts for 70 percent offreshwater use worldwide. “Competitionwith cities and other sectors such asmining for water will grow over time. In20 years, about two-thirds of globalpopulation will live in cities.”

In order to address the impact ofclimate change on agriculture, Boboadvocated for appropriate climate policy,investment in R&D and technology fromboth the private and public sectors.

“Issues such as food safety, foodsecurity, and drought surround everymajor policy issue when tackling climatechange but, if we will notice, 90 percentof policy on climate change is aboutenergy. Climate policy should take intoaccount the need to support global foodsecurity by promoting synergy betweenfood security research and climatemitigation and adaptation research,” hesaid.

Bobo quoted the IPCC when heemphasized the role of technology inclimate change mitigation. “Recent trendsin both public and private energy fundingindicate that the role of 'technology push'in reducing GHG emissions is often

Sensible solutions

overvalued and may not be fullyunderstood. Ultimately, it is only bycreating a demand-pull market rather thansupply-push that technologicaldevelopment, learning from experience,can develop advantageous economies ofscale in production and related costreductions can result.”

Bobo stood by funding foragricultural technology for reducing inputsthat contribute to GHGs as a way thatbenefits the farmer and the consumer at thesame time. “Farmers want, and are willingto pay for new technologies that reduceinputs as this increases income or lead toreduce cost. As a result, the environmentand the public receive a benefit at noadditional cost, he said.”

Moreover, Bobo stressed theimportance of investments in agriculturalresearch which will deliver high ratesreturn in all regions of the world. He saidthat agricultural technologies are availabletoday should begin making a differencewith respect to mitigation and adaptation.Some of the areas of R&D and technologydevelopment he identified as crucialincluded reduced fertilizer use, droughttolerance, increasing yield gains, plantvariety protection and patents.

Although positive aboutaddressing the impact of climate change toagriculture, Bobo cautioned that not allclimate mitigation and adaptationstrategies, and technologies will enhanceglobal food security. According to him, thisis where appropriate climate policy shouldcome into play.

“There are a lot of calls to make

Some caveats

US Senior Advisor forBiotechnology Jack A.Bobo stressingthe role of agriculturein climate change.

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The University of the Philippines LosBaños (UPLB) conducted a “RegionalPartnership Action Planning for

Regions IVA and IVB” under the Bureau ofAgricultural Research (BAR)-fundedprogram titled, “Collaborative Research,Development and Extension Services(CRDES) for Food Security: The Case ofRegion 4A, 4B and 5”. The activity, whichserved as the occasion for UPLB resourcepersons to explain the whole concept of theCRDES program and formalize RDEcollaboration among the involvedinstitutions, was held on 21 January 2010 atLIMA Park Hotel, Lima Technology Centerin Malvar, Batangas.

Fostering a collaborative framework,the UPLB CRDES Program ManagementUnit also initiated during the activity tworegional MOU signings among BAR, the twoDA-Regional Field Units (Rregions IVA andIVB), the Provincial Local GovernmentUnits (PLGUs), and State Universities andColleges (SUCs) in Region IV. The heads ofthe partnering agencies/institutions assignatories to the undertaking promised toensure their utmost cooperation inconducting the extension services and relatedaction research of the program, and to focuson building and sustaining collaborativerelationships among the differentstakeholders of the rice industry.

Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco ofUPLB opened the activity with a messagehighlighting the conceptualization of theprogram and the importance of extensionservice delivery and technology transfer tofarmers as keys to addressing food security,specifically, rice self sufficiency. He hopedthat, through the program, a strong

BAR and UPLB forge ties with Regions 4A,4B for CRDES Program for food security

BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (fourth from left) and UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco (third from left) sign the Memorandumof Understanding with partners from Regions IVA and IVB for the project, “Collaborative Research, Development and ExtensionServices (CRDES) for Food Security: The Case of Region 4A, 4B and 5”.

BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (fourth from left) and UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco (third from left) sign the Memorandumof Understanding with partners from Regions IVA and IVB for the project, “

PHOTO: PCABRERA

partnership and exchange of knowledge andinformation for the rice industry's successwill be generated. Meanwhile, BARDirector Nicomedes P. Eleazar emphasizedthat the role of UPLB and the projectshould be focused on four concerns whichare to: provide technical assistance to theregions, to work with BAR in theimplementation of its Community-basedParticipatory Action Research (CPAR)Program (rice-based farming system),implement capacity building programs forthe LGUs and SUCs, and provide areas tobe used for seed production activities.

Dr. Agnes C. Rola provided anoverview of the CRDES program, sheexplained the program framework while Dr.Jose E. Hernandez reported the initialactivities it has accomplished since the startof implementation in August 2009. With themain objective of ensuring and sustainingfood self-sufficiency through collaborativeRDE partnership and capacity building,they explained that the program is anchoredon four major components: 1) QuickResponse Studies, 2) Capacity building ofand partnerships with LGUs, SUCs andCSOs, 3) Functional FIELDS supportservices such as diagnostics, seeds and soilfertility, and 4) Collaborative fieldresearches (Socio-economics, policy andgovernance research). These componentsare expected to enhance the study sites'geophysical aspect, resources, access totechnologies, institutional arrangementsand governance which will contribute inachieving provincial rice self sufficiency.They noted that the project functions as acatalyst for collaboration and that the LGUsand SUCs are the main implementers.

Two separate regional partnershipaction planning were conducted. An opendiscussion was facilitated by the UPLBCRDES Program Management Unit, theparticipating DA RFUs, LGU representativesof Quezon, Laguna, and Mindoro and theSUCs such as Occidental Mindoro StateCollege and Quezon National AgriculturalSchool shared their agricultural activities andtheir impact on their respective provinces.These were considered by UPLB asimportant input to strategically assessing andidentifying the needs of the provinces and inpreparing their appropriate action plans. Alsoderived from the discussion was theidentification of the training needs of theSUCs and LGUs in agricultural developmentplanning, database management, andmonitoring and evaluation.

After the action planning, Dr. Rola,as the CRDES program leader,acknowledged and thanked all theparticipants from the DA RFUs, LGUs andSUCs for their participation. She encouragedthe participants to continuously support theprogram and work together towardsachieving food self- sufficiency. In closingthe activity, Dr. Domingo E. Angelesdescribed the project as having an enlargingeffect because the collaboration willempower and capacitate the partneringinstitutions. He reminded the participants notto neglect the farmers as partners in thecollaboration since after all, they are themain beneficiaries of the initiative.

The MOU signing and actionplanning for Region V next and is tentativelyscheduled on 9 February 2010 in Naga City.Arrangements are still being finalized by theUPLB CRDES Program Management Unit.(Raymond Patrick L. Cabrera)

Students of the College of Agriculture and Graduate School of the Isabela StateUniversity (ISU) - Echague Campus, Isabela went on a three-day learningenrichment through study tour or wherein the Bureau of Agricultural

Research (BAR) was one of the agencies visited on 20 January 2010.The activity was intended to enrich instructional/teaching methods and

techniques where both the graduate students and faculty members could acquire andexchange scientific knowledge, teaching strategies towards the stimulation anddevelopment of the students' analytical ability, critical thinking and independentlearning.

The visiting graduate students from ISU composed of Agricultural TrainingInstitute (ATI) scholars and faculty members. ATI offers scholarships for degree andnon-degree training in agriculture and fisheries under its Expanded Human ResourceDevelopment Program (EHRDP) which aims to accelerate social progress andpromote total human development.

The ATI scholars visited the various institutions and research agencies thathave state-of-the-art facilities that are crucial for advanced research studies inagriculture and related fields.

On behalf of BAR, AppliedCommunication Division (ACD) welcomed the participants. They were joined in byProgram Development Division chief, Dr. Carmencita V. Kagaoan and ResearchCoordination Division chief, Salvacion M. Ritual. They briefed the attendees on theR&D thrusts and the priority programs of BAR in line with the bureau's vision toprovide a stable and progressive future for the Filipinos through excellence in researchand development in agriculture and fisheries. They emphasized that BAR seeks totransform the agriculture and fishery industries into technologically-based enterprisesthat place value on information development and management.

The scholars also visited the R&D Technology Commercialization Centerthat showcases R&D generated technologies and breakthroughs supported by DA,through BAR, under its two banner programs, the Community-based Participatory

Action Research(CPAR) and theNational TechnologyCommercializationProgram (NTCP).

lakbay aral

(Ma. Eloisa E.Hernandez)

Julia A. Lapitan and Rita T. dela Cruz of the

The Marine Science Institute (MSI)of the University of thePhilippines (UP) Diliman has

developed an information material onPhilippine Marine Sanctuary Strategy(PhilMarSaSt). This is a result of aprogram, “Enhancing SustainableFisheries through Improved MarineFishery Reserves (MFRs)” incollaboration with UP Los Baños, UPVisayas and the Zamboanga State Collegeof Marine Sciences and Technology.

The publication presents thevision, goal, objectives of thePhilMarSaSt. Also, the strategies,programs and action agenda were laiddown. As published in the book, thestrategy is based on the principle ofcommunity-based participation matchedwith the political will of good governanceof local governments with the support ofnational agencies and non-governmentorganizations.

The Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) provided support in thepublication of the material under itsScientific Publication Grant (SPG)program which aims to promoteexcellence in research and developmentby providing financial support to differentscientific and professional societies,researchers and editors of organizationsunder the National Research andDevelopment System for Agriculture andFisheries (NaRDSAF). Through SPG, itenables them to publish their researchoutputs that are relevant to the agri-fishery sector. The United NationsEnvironment Programme/GlobalEnvironment Facility-South China SeaProject likewise provided support to theproject.

Through a series of nationwideconsultations, PhilMarSaSt wasformulated in 2002-2003. Participatoryresearch initiatives with a range ofstakeholders around the country were alsoconducted using the concept.

PhilMarSaSt was proposed inresponse to the need to manage themarine ecosystems, sustain fisheriesutilization, and assure the equitableallocation of its benefits in perpetuity.Also, it shall provide a policy frameworkfor the improvement of the effective andsustained implementation of MarineReserves.

PhilMarSaSt envisions asustainable development of the coastaland marine ecosystems in the Philippines,equitably providing the life-givingbenefits of marine resources to thecommunity. (Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez)

ISU grad students visitBAR for Lakbay Aral

Info material on sustainedimplementation of MarineReserves published

PHOTO: EHERNANDEZ

Don Lejano of ACD andIra Olivia Garcia of TCUbrief the visitors fromISU about BAR’s R&DTechCom Center.

PHOTO: EHERNANDEZ

Heads of PDD, RCD and ACD orient the ISU graduate students on the R&D programsand priorities of BAR during a brief orientation meeting held at BAR.

January 2010 Issue January 2010 Issue

NEWS NEWS

6 11BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC

The Philippine Coconut Authority(PCA) has developed new coconut-based products to reduce poverty

incidence in coconut-growing communities.According to Erlin Manohar, project leaderof the Bioversity International projecttitled, “Coconut-based ProductDiversification to Reduce Poverty inCoconut-Growing Communities in SelectedAreas,” this research endeavor hopes todevelop innovative and relevant localtechnologies that highlight the uses of thedifferent parts of the coconut tree such askernel, shell, husks, water, sap, wood, andleaves. “Each part provides an alternativelivelihood to farmers to augment theirunstable production and insufficient incomefrom basic coconut farming,” she said.

The project is funded by theBureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)under a restricted fund to BioversityInternational for the International CoconutGenetic Resources Network (COGENT)and implemented by PCA.

Based on the action researchconducted, before the start of the project,farmers relied on copra production alone.After four years of intensive project

PCA-implemented project on coco technologiesto reduce poverty and address climate change

facilitation andcoordination, PCAsucceeded in bringingabout productdiversification fromcoconut wine( ), coconutsap sugar, organicfertilizer and mats madeof coco coir to controlsoil erosion in somedenuded and erodedareas of the country.These coconut productspassed extensivetechnologicallyadvanced proceduresand processes which areimportant in terms ofproduct quality,standards and operatingprocedures. Theirpromotion could now beexpanded further fortechnologycommercialization toincrease the coconutfarmer's productivityand profitability.

PCAhas alsoimproved theexistingcoconut-based cropping systemof farming communities throughthe integration of livestock (goatand native chicken) and foragecrops using free-range and opensystem, and the intercropping ofhigh value crops, such asvegetables, rootcrops, otherforage crops, legumes and corn.Farmers have establishedcoconut nurseries in key areas assource of quality plantingmaterials which will bedistributed to the expandingcoconut areas projected tosupport the on-farm agrodiversity conservation strategy ofPCA, local government units,and coconut farmers'organizations.

In relation to theadverse effects of climate changein most coconut growing areas inthe country, PCA is optimisticthat the results of the project willoptimize the operation of

lambanog

coconut farming and, thus, see thecoconut farmers through difficult times.Technologically-driven initiativesdeveloped, the project lessons learnedand experiences gained will aid thedifferent stakeholders in working closelyand address the ill effects of climatechange while utilizing availablecommunity resources. With the entry ofthese new coconut technologies that havemade a difference in the livelihoods ofresource-poor coconut communities, thecoconut farmers are further expected tobecome socially motivated andeconomically stable to improve theirliving conditions.

Given these accomplishmentsand research outputs, PCA is positiveabout the state of the coconut industry in2010. The new products, approaches andstrategies to be shared with more farmersand communities make possible moreeffective and efficient coconut farmingand sustainable development of coconutcommunities in the country. (

)Marlowe U.

Aquino, PhD

More often than not, when werefer to malunggay (

), we only mean theleaves or immature greed pods whichwe use for cooking and othernutritional and medicinal purposes.Leaf stalks are often thrown away. Butdid you know that the stalk has just asmuch nutrition as the leaves?

According to a Technology-Advisory Notes produced anddisseminated by the Crop Agronomy,Nutrition and Farming Systems of thePhilippine Coconut Authority(CANFARMS-PCA), the stalks, likethe malunggay leaves, also containsubstantial amounts of valuable macro-and micro-nutrients.

In terms of macronutrients,potassium (K) is highest in malunggaystalks. In fact, for every 10kg of driedmalunggay stalks, there are 293 g ofpotassium. Other macronutrientspresent are calcium (191g/10kg),nitrogen (185g/10kg), chloride(65g/10kg), sulphur (45 g/10kg),magnesium (23g/10kg), phosporus (19g/10kg), and sodium (7g/10kg).

Meanwhile, for itsmicronutrient contents, the stalk wasfound to be rich in iron, boron, zinc,manganese, and copper. For every10kg of dried malunggay stalks, thereare 436 mg of iron, 170 mg of boron,112 mg of zinc, 100 mg of manganese,and 37 mg of copper.

Moringaoleifera

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

PH

OT

O:R

BE

RN

AR

DO

MALUNGGAY LEAF STALKS

are nutritious too – studyMALUNGGAY LEAF STALKS

These results were revealedin a study titled, “MineralMacronutrients, Micronutrients andOther Elements in Leaves ofMalunggay Plant Sampled in SomeLocations in the Philippines”conducted by Severino S. Magat, Ma.Cecilia M. Raquepo, and CarmencitaD. Pabustan of CANFARMS-PCA.The group separately analyzed thenutrient contents of the leaves (leafblades) and leaf stalks of themalunggay for the purpose ofoptimizing its nutritional andmedicinal uses and also to understandthe other elements present inmalunggay which may be beneficialor toxic at high concentrations.

According to Dr. Magat,malunggay has been well recognizedas a practical and highly nutritionalplant and food source and yet vitalinformation on its macro- and micro-nutrient contents is scarcely foundand identified in current IEC

materials.With the Technology-Advisory

Notes, consumers and other interestedstakeholders can now be provided witha more updated data and informationon the elemental and nutrient contentsof the plant. “To some extent,this initiative confirmed andstrengthened earlier reports on thehigh-nutrient content of malunggay.More so, we are being reminded thatbefore we throw away the leaf stalk ofmalunggay, let's consider that it stillcontains substantial amounts ofnutrients.” Magat concluded.

Moringa

(Rita T.dela Cruz)

--------For more information or for a copy of theTechnology-Advisory Notes, please emailDr. Severino S. Magat, program leader ofthe Crop Agronomy, Nutrition andFarming Systems of the PhilippineCoconut Authority (CANFARMS-PCA) atsev_magat@yahoo.com

Did you know that the stalk has just

as much nutrition as the leaves?

In terms of macronutrients, potassium (K) is highestin malunggay stalks. In fact, for every 10kg of driedmalunggay stalks, there are 293 g of potassium.

PHOTO: EAGRON

January 2010 Issue January 2010 Issue

NEWS NEWS

10 7BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC

The first stakeholders' workshop todevelop the project, “Partnershipsfor Biodiversity Conservation:

Mainstreaming in Local AgriculturalAgricultural Landscape” for GlobalEnvironment Facility (GEF) fundingwas held on 14-15 January 2010 inQuezon City. Representatives from theDepartment of Agriculture (DA), Bureauof Agricultural Research (BAR),Department of Environment NaturalResources Regional Offices, UP LosBaños, Department of Internal LocalGovernment, Haribon Foundation,PhilConserve, CI Philippines, Flora andFauna International, and other nationalconservation NGOs gathered to level-offon the project concept, confirm baselinesituation, and agree on the projectstrategy.

The proposed project aims toassist local government units (LGUs) incritical biodiversity areas of thePhilippines to better incorporate theconservation and sustainable use ofbiodiversity resources in theirdevelopment planning. Three projectoutcomes that are expected are: 1)national systems and policies support the

Stakeholders' Workshop on “Partnershipsfor Biodiversity Conservation” conducted

conservation of biodiversity in localdevelopment planning, particularly forkey sectors such as agriculture; 2) localgovernment units encompassing at least800,000 hectares in five key ecosystemshave the tools and capacities to integratesustainable management intodecentralized government structures; and3) threats to biodiversity reduced across atleast 10,000 sq. km of landscape in fivekey biodiversity areas. The identified sitesare in Luzon, Palawan, Negros-Panay,Mindoro, and Mindanao.

Through a series of sub-workshops and discussions, the groupproposed several revisions on the projectdocument. To enhance the standards andcertification schemes to promotebiodiversity-friendly production systemsfocusing on agricultural production,wildlife breeding, and minor forestproducts, several agencies were proposedto be included such as the Bureau of Foodand Products Standard. BAR, on the otherhand, plans to focus on the development,promotion and utilization of indigenousagricultural products such as indigenousvegetables, tropical fruits, indigenousrice, and local herbs and spices. An

operational community-based seedsupply system and protocols for productdevelopment and effective marketingsystem will help develop commercially-acceptable indigenous agriculturalproducts. In each of the seven pilotdemonstration sites, the expectedoutputs, sub outputs, indicators and themeans of verification have beensubstantiated including the endemicplants and animals that need to beconserved. Improving the capacities, notonly of the LGUs but the nationalagencies as well for conservation andnatural resource management, plays a bigrole in accomplishing the objective of theproject.

The next workshop is scheduledon 11 February 2010 to developimplementation arrangements, budgetand activity schedules. By June 2010,the project document will be submittedfor GEF Council approval.

The Protected Areas andWildlife Bureau organized the activityand were guided by UNDP consultantsled by Ms. Floradema C. Eleazar, Dr.Candido Cabrido, and Dr. Chito Miranda.(Mariko M. Ramos)

It's festival time! Various festivals inthe month of January were held in keyprovinces in the Visayas like the

in Aklan, g in Cebu, andin Iloilo. Not to be left out,

Bohol also celebrated the 10 edition ofits very own Ubi Festival which was heldin Dao, Tagbilaran City on 20-22 January2010.

The festival was held in relationto the project, “Ubi Commodity ChainInformation System (CIS) in the Provinceof Bohol,” which is being implementedby Optiserve Technologies, Inc. andsupported by the Bureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR).

Department of Agriculture (DA)Sec. Arthur C. Yap was present during thefestival, which carried the theme

as guest speaker duringthe opening program. He also facilitatedthe ribbon-cutting ceremony at the DaoSatellite Market.

Ati-Atihan SinuloDinagyang

“Industriya sa Ubi Palambuon, Hagit samga Bolanon,”

th

Ubi Festival staged anew in BoholMeanwhile, BAR

Director Nicomedes P. Eleazarsaid that “BAR is happy to seethe output of the Optiserveproject in Bohol in line with thepromotion of ubi as an importantcommodity in the country. It onlyproves that the Chain InformationSystem (CIS) is a effectivemethod to use in developing asustainable agribusiness venturein the province of Bohol.”

Highlighting thefestivity were the literary musicalcontest, poster-making contest,most promising ubi processedproduct contest, and a motorcadewhich kicked off at the ProvincialAgricultural Office (PAO) ofBohol. Also, ubi products were soldat low prices for the duration of theevent.

The staging of this 10 UbiFestival is aimed at promoting Bohol as

th

an agri-tourism province and to createmarket linkages between the ubi farmers/processors and consumers. (Don P.Lejano)

One of the identified problemsencountered by rubber smallholderfarmers is the occurrence of pests

and diseases. Diseases in rubber havealways been a serious factor that couldprevent and/or reduce the full yieldpotential of the industry. Moreover, with theintroduction of more high-yielding clones,the concentration of disease problems islikely to be aggravated. Hence, there is aneed to properly inform rubber farmers,particularly smallholders, on the variousprevailing diseases of rubber and to providethem with the latest approaches on how tomanage them.

Pursuant to the need to disseminatevital information necessary for successfulrubber cultivation in the Philippines, theUniversity of Southern MindanaoAgricultural Research Center of theUniversity of Southern Mindanao(USMARC-USM) in Kabacan, Cotabatohas recently published a “Technoguide onDiseases of Rubber and their Management”.The publication was authored by Dr. NaomiG. Tangonan, head of the Plant PathologyResearch Laboratory of the Crops ResearchDivision of USM with Jasmin A. Pecho andElaine Genevive G. Butardo also of USM.

Technoguide on rubber diseasesand management now in print

The publication wasmade possible through afunding support from theBureau of AgriculturalResearch (BAR) through itsScientific Publication Grant(SPG).

Rubber tree () was introduced to

Southeast Asia, including thePhilippines, as early as 1900's.But it was only in the 1950'swhen local private corporationsstarted establishing rubberprocessing plants in Mindanao.Currently, Cotabato is one ofthe major rubber producingprovinces in the Philippines.

Given its high-impactpotential to farmers and theeconomy, rubber is currentlyone of the top five prioritycommodities of the Departmentof Agriculture (DA). Asidefrom generating employment inthe rural areas and plantingrubber in idle hillylands and

uplands, rubber cultivationenhances environmental rehabilitationbeing an excellent plant species in thesequestration of carbon dioxide in the air.

Dr. Eugenio A. Alcala, rubberexpert and executive director of thePhilippine Rubber Board, Inc. (PRBI),expressed his enthusiasm for the timelypublication of the book. “Thistechnoguide is about the various diseasesand maladies affecting the rubber industryis a timely effort in providing the rubbersmallholders or planters of the latestapproaches combined with thefundamental principles essential to betterunderstanding of disease management,”he said.

He added that Dr. Tangonan andher group have made a “monumentalcontribution” in helping the growth anddevelopment of the Philippine rubberindustry.

According to Dr. Tangonan, thepublication which is a 54-page book-typetechnoguide, features commonlyencountered rubber diseases found in theleaves (bird's eyespot, anthracnose,leafspot, powdery mildew, and

leaf blights), in the stems ortapping panel (black stripe, pink disease,

Heveabrasiliensis

FusariumPhytophthora

and knob gall/stem bleeding), and in theroots (white root rot). The book alsoincludes diseases of rubber reported forthe first time such as the

causing shoot tip blight inbudded seedlings, stem canker, and barksplitting in mature rubber trees, andrecently, leaf spot/leaf fall caused by

affecting thefoliage. More important, aside from theenumeration of diseases, incidences andseverity, the publication also providemanagement options through diseasecontrol interventions as an integratedapproach to the management of thesediseases.

The book can be acquired fromUSM or from BAR for free. The USM isalso providing an e-copy of the bookthrough their website athttp://www.usm.edu.ph/rdpo/download/rubber-dcss-technoguide.pdf. The authorsand publishers are only requiring thatacknowledgement of the source beproperly attributed.

Phytophthorapalmivora

Corynespora cassiicola

(Rita T. dela Cruz)

---------For more information, please contact Dr.Naomi G. Tangonan of USM, Kabacan,Cotabato through telefax no.(63-64)2482610 or email at:ngtangonan@gmail.com orngtangonan@yahoo.com

Dr. Naomi Tangonan of USM explains the most devastatingwhite root fungus in rubber caused by Rigidoporus lignosus.

PHOTO: RDELACRUZ

January 2010 Issue January 2010 Issue

CPAR farmer cooperator, Nestor Deloy (left) withAgriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap (right) promotingubi crop and ubi powder. PHOTO: DOCO

NEWS NEWS

8 9BAR hronicleCBAR hronicleC January 2010 Issue

The Isabela State University (ISU)and the Cagayan ValleyProgramme on Environment and

Development (CVPED), in cooperationwith the Bureau of Agricultural Research(BAR), held the WOTRO BiofuelConsultative Workshop on 18 January2010 at the 2F BAR Conference Room,Visayas Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

“WOTRO is the NetherlandsOrganization for Scientific Research inthe Tropics. They are interested in findingout which biofuel feedstock crops havethe greatest potentials for marginal landdevelopment. Pursuing biofueldevelopment projects such as this one is asignificant response to the global call tomitigate climate change,” explained Dr.Mercedes Masipiquena of the IsabelaState University (ISU), co-applicant of theWOTRO project.

The workshop participants,spearheaded by Dr. Denyse Snelder ofLeiden University (The Netherlands),discussed the current direct and indirecteffects of feedstock production forbiofuels and tried to identify potentialfield work sites for biofuel research anddevelopment.

The group also discussed thecurrent investment set up, roles of nationaland foreign investors, and contracts withlabor regime of local farmers. Thepotentials of biofuel crops in agro forestrysystems and the current local policies onbiofuel production and land use planningwere also tackled in the workshop.

Experts from Gadjah MadaUniversity in Indonesia andrepresentatives from local stateuniversities and colleges (SUCs) and theDepartment of Agriculture's (DA)attached bureaus and agencies alsoparticipated in this one-day affair.

Hoping to reap the benefits from themulti-million dollar organicaquaculture industry, the Bureau

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture(DA) hosted the “National Workshop onOrganic Aquaculture Production andProduct Marketing” in cooperation withINFOFISH at Dusit Thani Hotel, MakatiCity on 29 January 2010.

BFAR Director Malcolm I.Sarmiento said BFAR is now working onthe development of the organicaquaculture industry in the country in linewith the opportunities presented by thenational and international markets as wellas DA's long-term objective of achievingnational food security.

“We have long pushed for anational policy to switch from capturefisheries to fish farming or aquaculturebecause of its proven profitability andsustainability,” said Sarmiento. Accordingto him, to advance the aquacultureindustry in the country, an aquaculturemaster development plan, which includesorganic aquaculture, is underway.

“The master development plan onaquaculture includes provisions forbroodstock, technology transfer, credits,new farming systems, and new strains thatwill thrive in specific environments andresist diseases, among others.”

Sarmiento said that they intend toconsult with various stakeholders from thegovernment and private sectors on the planin order to come up with a well-packageddevelopment plan for organic aquacultureas well as to expedite its acceptance by theindustry.

Salmon, shrimp, and carp areconsidered to be among the mostimportant aquaculture species in the worldtoday. Black tiger prawn, catfish, milkfish,and tilapia are some of the species farmedin the country which are seen to havestrong market demand as organic products.Fishfin species, however, are reported tocommand a higher demand thancrustaceans, shellfish, or mollusks becauseit is considered more healthful and saferfor human consumption.

Sarmiento further said that,although aquaculture represents 47 percentof the total fisheries production in thecountry, organic aquaculture has yet to begiven the priority it deserves. “We need aconscious and deliberate effort to developorganic aquaculture in the country which

BFAR pushes organic aquaculture industry in RP

will stimulate the growth of the localeconomy due to the stable demand andhigh price that organic productscommand nowadays.”

He identified the country's longcoastlines and high production capacityas the country's best assets over otheraquaculture-oriented countries. Some ofthe countries that have started to gainheadways on organic aquaculture areThailand, Vietnam, China, India,Malaysia, and Myanmar.

In line with this, Sarmientocalled for champions of organicaquaculture from both the private andpublic sectors who will push for itsadvancement and who are willing tocomply with policy guidelines andstandards for competitiveness.

Meanwhile, in his welcomeaddress, INFOFISH Director S.Subasinghe said aquaculture productionnowadays account for 50 percent ofglobal fish production. “However, thiscontinues to be a challenge for thedeveloping world because of severalforces at work especially with regard tothe organic aquaculture industry.Problems can be as simple as knowinghow many fish you must stock in an areaand how you make them survive, torecord-keeping, certification of organic,price structure, and marketing,” he said.

He cited Thailand as a countrywhich has taken a lead role in organicaquaculture and the development of itsown standards for organic certification.

He also cited the experience ofINFOFISH on promoting organicaquaculture in Myanmar, Thailand, andMalaysia. “The reason why we choseMyanmar was because of its status as aleast developed country, Thailand for itsexisting technology, and Malaysia for itsbig market.”

With regard to organiccertification, the resource persons fromINFOFISH and Thailand's Departmentof Fisheries (DoF) who were invited totalk about organic aquacultureacknowledged the complicated processof certification and the high costattached to it.

“In most cases, if you want toexport organic products, you need morethan one certification for different targetmarkets. That is what actually makes theproduct expensive, not its productioncost,” explained Fatima Ferdouse, chief,Trade Promotion Division, INFOFISH.Ferdouse gave a lecture on the globaltrade in fish and fishery products andanother on the global market prospectsfor organic fishery products.

“Since organic certification isextremely expensive, fishfarmers shoulddo away with chemicals or practiceusing less chemicals first,” saidTaclochan Singh, chief, TechnicalAdvisory Services, INFOFISH. Singhlectured about the global status ofaquaculture and organic certification andeco-labeling.

PHOTO: MMOJICA

INFOFISH Director S. Subasinghe (left) gives his welcome address to participants during the NationalWorkshop on Organic Aquaculture Production and Product Marketing at the Dusit Thani Hotel, MakatiCity. Listening are: (L-R) BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento, representative from the US Embassy, andDr. Joebert D. Toledo, SEAFDEC AQD chief .

Experts convene at BAR forBiofuel Consultative Workshop

“This project is still in theplanning stage, hence, the consultativeworkshop. We are very lucky to bereceiving support from the Dutchgovernment, and if this WOTRO projectpushes through, the marginal lands herein the Philippines and Indonesia may beutilized into becoming productivebiofuel crops plantation, ” said Ira OliviaGarcia, BAR's Biofuels Coordinator.

Meanwhile BAR DirectorNicomedes P. Eleazar, expressed hissupport for the project. “We are glad tobe hosting activities such as this. BAR,being the focal agency of the researchand development (R&D) component ofDA's biofuels program, will continue tocoordinate and channel efforts of keyplayers and stakeholders for unifiedbiofuels plans, programs and activitiesin the country.”

BAR is supporting R&Dactivities to improve a biofuelproduction management system andprocessing or raw materials as source ofbiofuel and work with prospectivebusinessmen and investors who arewilling to contribute their share in thedevelopment of the biofuels secror.

Since its launch in the countryin 2005, BAR has supported R&Dactivities in the initial production ofsweet sorghum as feedstock forbioethanol production. Currently, thebureau is coordinating and funding 16projects all over the country 13 of whichare on varietal adaptability trials ofsweet sorghum implemented by theRegional Integrated AgriculturalResearch Centers (RIARCs).

Other crops being studied inthe Philippines as biofuel feedstocks arejatropha, coconut, cassava, sugarcaneand malunggay while for Indonesia it isjatropha and oil palm. (Don P. Lejano)

“The aim should not be toimpose organic aquaculture for thewhole nation but to go into nicheproduction since organic products arenow gaining a strong following amongthe increasingly health-consciousmarkets around the world. It would bebest, however, that the Philippinescome up with its own standards forcertification,” he added.

Ferdouse supported the ideaand said that the Philippines shouldlearn from Thailand which decided notto depend on private firms and createdits own national organic certificationbureau. A national certification bureauwill also ease the burden of thefarmers from the expensivecertification process usually chargedby private firms.

Although Europe remains tobe the largest producer of organicproducts in the world and has the mostnumber of private certification firms,Thailand has one of the mostadvanced technologies and capabilitiesin developing its organic aquacultureindustry besides having its owncertification bureau.

During the workshop, senioradvisors from Thailand's fisheriesdepartment gave lectures on organicaquaculture. One of them was Dr. LilaRuangpan who was recognized byINFOFISH as the mother ofaquaculture in Thailand. Dr. Ruangpangave three lectures, namely, organicfarming techniques, organic feed andfeeding, and techno-economicfeasibility of organic aquacultureproduction. Moreover, NirachaWongchinda gave a lecture onpostharvest handling, processing, andtraceability of organic fishery product.

INFOFISH was originallylaunched in 1981 as a project of theFood and Agriculture Organization(FAO) of the United Nations. Since1987, it is an IntergovernmentalOrganization providing marketinginformation and technical advisoryservices to the fishery industry of theAsia-Pacific region and beyond fromits headquarters in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. Fourteen countries arecurrently members of INFOFISHwhich are Bangladesh, Cambodia,India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea,Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka,Pakistan, Philippines, Papua NewGuinea, Solomon Islands, andThailand. (Miko Jazmine J. Mojica)

BFAR pushes... from page 9

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January 2010 Issue

PHOTO: DLEJANO

(L-R) Dr. Denyse Snelder of Leiden University, The Netherlands, Dr. Raquel Lopez of WorldAgroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Ira Garcia of BAR, and Ms. Racquel Utdo of ISU discuss thepotential field work sites for biofuel research and development in the country.