Bicol agri school building new R&D facility

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has signed an agreement with the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) for the construction of a new plant genetic research facility with an estimated cost of P5 million.

The agreement, signed by BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar and CBSUA vice president for research and development Josephine Cruz, covers the construction of a two-story building composed of science laboratories on phytochemical screening, clinical plant science, DNA testing, tissue culture, and seed testing and planting materials, National Science Museum and training Center.

The project,  which would be funded under the bureau’s Institutional Development Grant program, is seen to be instrumental in assisting Bicol-based agriculturists and farmers on productivity and biodiversity conservation.

In approving the project for funding, BAR is pushing for the collaboration  between the University of the Philippines Los Baños and CBSUA on two international research projects which list traditional tomato, eggplant, pepper germplasm, rice, yam, taro, and sweet potato as target crops.

The Department of Agriculture is promoting improvements in plant technology to ensure the availability of clean and high-yielding planting materials to farmers.

This is meant to prevent the spread of diseases in crops that lead to losses and disturbed supply chain.