To promote and encourage youth to engage in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) opened its doors to 23 outstanding students from Philippine Science High School (PSHS) regional campuses in CALABARZON, Bicol, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Ilocos for the Science Immersion Program (SIP). It was held from June 24 to July 12, 2024 at DOST-PCAARRD, Los Baños, Laguna.
Anchored to the SIP of PSHS, the three-week immersion focused on science and technology (S&T) and research and development (R&D) activities such as mentoring sessions, S&T enrichment activities, and R&D immersion site visits. These implementation strategies aim to enhance the participation of PSHS students in the AANR sector and encourage them to become the next generation of S&T leaders.
Comprehensive learning experience
The first week of the immersion program consisted of lecture sessions from the AANR subsectors that covered topics such as crop science, environment and natural resources, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and climate change. Lecturers were distinguished experts from the Council of the Elders (COELs) and the DOST-PCAARRD R&D network..
The mentees also visited the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC) exhibits and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) Los Baños for their first R&D field trip. During this visit, they were introduced to AANR R&D and technologies.
Participants during the goat milking experience at the Small Ruminant Center in CLSU. (Image credit: Frances Efraim T. Valdez, SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Hands-on activities and field visits
The mentees participated in hands-on experiences, such as planting parsley in Tagpuan and harvesting lettuce at DA-BPI’s Indoor Cultivation System (ICS), providing practical insights into modern agricultural practices..
To deepen their understanding of climate change and the environmental and natural resources sectors, the participants, guided by their mentor Dr. Rogelio Serrano, also visited the Makiling Botanical Garden and the Geographic Information System (GIS) Laboratory at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Forestry. They also engaged in R&D hands-on activities at DOST-PCAARRD-funded project sites in Brgy. Concepcion Banahaw, Sariaya, Quezon.
In collaboration with the UPLB Institute of Agroforestry, the mentees also immersed themselves with community farmers in Mt. Banahaw, whose primary livelihood is upland farming.
The mentees then visited the R&D sites in Central Luzon State University (CLSU), which was done in partnership with Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC).
Participants experienced production of mushroom spawn bags in Techno Village, Cabisuculan, Nueva Ecija. (Image credit: Frances Efraim T. Valdez, SERD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Sites visited included the Keeping A Modern Agricultural Landscape through Integrating CLSU-Generated Technologies (KAMALIG), Ramon Magsaysay Center for Agricultural Resources and Environmental Studies (RM-CARES), Small Ruminant Center (SRC), CLSU Itik Pinas farm, Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTRMD), Freshwater Aquaculture Center (FAC), Techno Village, and ICCEM museum.
Each site prepared hands-on research activities where the mentees experienced farming activities such as fishing, feeding, planting, egg harvesting, goat milking, and tilading making. These practical experiences enriched their understanding of various agricultural practices and technologies.
The mentees also participated in an aquaculture R&D immersion at DOST-PCAARRD-funded project sites in Sampalok and Yambo Lake in San Pablo, Laguna. Led by their mentor, Dr. Blesshe Querijero, and Prof. John Vincent Pleto, who is also the leader of the project, “Development of Models for Assessment and Monitoring of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo.”
Among the activities conducted were water sampling, water quality measuring, and data collecting from boat rafts. They further explored developments in aquaculture at the University of the Philippines Los Baños Limnological Research Station.
The mentees also visited the Dairy Training and Research Institute (DTRI) and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in UPLB, where they observed livestock animals and learned about dairy sector research.
S&T enrichment and career guidance
For these activities, the participants experienced a microbusiness simulation game for youth entrepreneurship in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UP ISSI) and Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (DSIK) Philippines. This interactive board-based game promotes critical thinking and financial literacy in effectively managing microbusiness.
The final week included career counseling, research mentoring, and exposure to S&T success stories, enriching students' knowledge of S&T developments and guiding them on potential careers in the AANR sector.
Celebrating achievements and fostering future leaders
On July 12, 2024, the Socio-Economics Division (SERD) of DOST-PCAARRD wrapped up the activity through a completion exercise attended by DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for R&D Juanito T. Batalon. He highlighted the role of the youth in the future of the nation’s food security and sustainable development. He noted that young people’s innovation, commitment, and enthusiasm are pivotal in advancing the AANR sector.
The 23 students received certificates of completion and participation during the graduation ceremony. Moreover, special awards were given to selected students with exemplary performance in the capsule proposal writing, slogan-making, and AANR examination.
The youth science program is one of the Council’s interventions to address the declining interest and lack of engagement among the youth in the AANR sector. By nurturing future leaders in AANR, DOST-PCAARRD ensures a sustainable future for the industry and the nation's food security.