Two Magsasaka Siyentistas (MS) or farmer-scientists of PCAARRD’s Techno Gabay Program, Andy Colte and Nestor Acosta, have their projects approved for funding by the Philippine-Rural Development Administration Alumni Association (PHILRAA).
Colte and Acosta are recipients of the Rural Development Administration (RDA)- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Exchange Scientists/Expert Mission Program.
MS Andy Colte from the Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC) visited Korea in 2008 and enhanced his knowledge on the proper application of nutrients and water management to improve farm productivity and income from cut flower production.
Upon his return to the country, he solicited technical assistance from the experts of the Benguet State University (BSU) and packaged a proposal on “Enhancing production of spray-type chrysanthemum through integrated crop management (ICM)”.
Colte’s project covers two phases: Phase 1 focusing on efficacy trial of BSU-PCAARRD organic solid fertilizer on chrysanthemum and Phase 2 on enhanced production of spray-type chrysanthemum through integrated crop management following the Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) modality.
On the other hand, MS Nestor Acosta from Bacarra, Ilocos Norte went to Korea in 2008 to observe the Korean organic farming technology in tomato production.
In collaboration with the technical experts from the Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC), they packaged a proposal on “Ensuring the year-round supply of quality tomato through S&T interventions”.
Tomato production both in the regular and off-season production in the Region 1 has been frequently threatened by unpredictable weather conditions. Thus Acosta’s project will explore the sustainability of quality and safe fresh market tomato production throughout the year. The project will apply S&T-based interventions particularly on the use of recommended varieties and organic fertilizer application, and prolonging the tomatoes’ shelf life.
During a meeting in PCAARRD, the PHILRAA Board of Directors requested technical assistance from PCAARRD in the review and evaluation of the proposal and in the monitoring and evaluation activity of the project. This agreement was formalized through a memorandum of agreement between PHILRAA, PCAARRD, HARRDEC, and ILARRDEC.
During the inception meetings, Julian Lapitan, acting president of PHILRAA, emphasized that the fund from RDA is intended to provide a venue for information and technology exchange/transfer and promotion in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources sectors while improving the productivity and livelihood of the farmers through adoption of relevant Korean technologies suitable under Philippine condition.
Lapitan is optimistic that with his active collaboration with RDA officials and the success of these projects by PHILRAA, there will be more funding in the future to support more alumni from other regions.
PHILRAA was established in September 2003 to sustain linkages between and among fellows and trainees from the Philippine national agricultural research institutions, organizations, councils, state colleges and universities, and RDA.
This initiative is a product of the RDA-PCAARRD Workplan of Cooperation under the Applied Communication Expert and Exchange Scientists/Expert Mission Program.