DA-led forum to present 5 new technologies

Eight commerciable technologies generated by government-supported research projects will be presented at the Second Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum to be organized by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) on Aug. 8-12.

The five-day forum is the main highlight of the observance of the 18th anniversary of BAR, DA’s research agency established in 1987 "to ensure that all agricultural research is coordinated and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture."

BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar said the theme of the forum is "Teknolohiya Tungo sa Masaganang Agrikultura, Pangisdaan, at Industriya". The activity will be held at the DA-BAR Research and Development Management and Information Center (RDMIC) on Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City.

New Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban and Rep. Benasing Macarambon Jr., chairman of the House committee on agriculture and food, have been invited to deliver the opening program messages on Aug. 8.

The new technologies to be presented at the forum are on crops, livestocks and fisheries.

Also to be reported are updates of DA-BAR programs, among them the newly launched National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) and the Community-based Participatory Action Research (CPAR).

The NTCP, coordinated by BAR’s Dr. Marlowe Aquino, aims to boost the productivity and profitability of agriculture and fisheries in the country.

Its thrust, is to expedite the utilization of mature technologies in farmers’ fields to augment their income and transform agriculture into a market-driven sector. Mature technologies refer to innovations that have been assessed to be suitable to the needs of farmers and ready for adoption.

CPAR is BAR’s flagship research program.

Other fields to be covered by the forum are geographical information system (GIS) in agriculture and fisheries technology, marketing strategies, knowledge management strategies, organic agriculture, plant genetics and resources, organic fertilization, and rice production without chemical fertilization.

The resource speakers will come from government institutions and agencies and the private sector, who will share their experiences in their respective fields.