The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) exhibited one of its major S&T projects, the Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (SARAi), in the just concluded first Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) for 2024.
Hosted by DOST-MIMAROPA, representing the island provinces of Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, the event was held at the Calapan Convention Center in Oriental Mindoro.
For this kick-off event of the RSTW, DOST-PCAARRD chose to display the SARAi as the project aims to support the agricultural sector by developing science-based cropping systems, protocols, and long-term technologies to improve agricultural productivity.
Highlighted in the Council’s exhibit were the SARAi knowledge portal, Smarter Pest Identification Technology (SPIDTECH), and Banana Technology Application (BANATECH).
The knowledge portal provides access to farming management solutions through web and mobile applications. Some of its features are cropping advisories, weather forecast, rainfall outlook, among others.
SPIDTECH is a mobile application that can identify insect pests or diseases in rice, corn, coffee, cacao, banana, sugarcane, tomato, and soybean. Its major components include identification, a library, and remote monitoring of insect pests and diseases.
Moreover, BANATECH is a mobile app that determines the harvest date of 'Lakatan' & 'Saba' bananas.
The MAARRDEC exhibit. (Image credit: ACD, DOST-PCAARRD)
Aside from the Council, one of its regional R&D consortia, the MIMAROPA Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (MAARRDEC) also participated in the DOST-MIMAROPA RSTW 2024, together with other DOST agencies. The consortium showcased some of the S&T products of its 11 member-agencies.
The RSTW is the localized celebration of National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week that serves as an avenue to highlight the critical importance of science, technology, and innovation in society through a series of activities with participants from various sectors.
DOST-MIMAROPA’s RSTW 2024 celebration, themed “Siyensya, Teknolohiya, at Inobasyon: Kaakibat sa Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Kinabukasan,” also included technology fora, project visits, contests, and other activities.