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2 Aciar-Pcaarrd projects support PHL banana and mango industry

Two projects on banana and mango funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (Aciar) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Pcaarrd) are expected to support the fruit industry in the country.

Identified as priority commodities in the Harmonized National R&D Agenda for 2017-2022 and DOST-Pcaarrd’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP), banana and mango are among the fruit crops being studied under the “Aciar-Pcaarrd Horticulture Program on Fruits and Vegetables.”

Titled “Integrated management of Fusarium wilt (FW) of bananas in the Philippines and Australia,” the project aimed to reduce the impacts of FW and improve the productivity and viability of banana plantations managed by smallholders.

The accomplishments in the project include the identification of mesh-wire boot as the most effective scrub in removing soil to limit the spread of disease inoculum; report on the economic feasibility of growing Giant Cavendish tissue-culture variant 218 in infested area; and the conduct of the Mindanao-wide banana symposium participated in by 140 banana growers and agricultural extension workers.

The second project, titled “Research and development of integrated crop management for mango production in the southern Philippines and Australia,” intended to reduce product losses due to pests and diseases, decrease inputs costs and improve quality and yield of mango to increase growers’ profit.

The project’s accomplishments include the identification of parasitoids as potential natural enemies of cecid fly; demonstration and training on canopy management in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur; and the conduct of a national survey on best practices in nine major mango growing areas in the country. In a message, Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, director of the Crops Research Division of DOST-Pcaarrd, expressed the council’s commitment to support Aciar in its future R&D activities on banana and mango.

Accomplishments for the two-year duration of the projects were presented during the end-of-project review held in Cebu City by implementing agencies, including the University of Southern Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, Southern Philippines Agri-business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology and Provincial Agriculturists Offices in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

Dr. Bob Williams from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland, and Dr. Avelino D. Raymundo, professor emeritus from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, served as the external reviewers.

Dr. Richard Markham, Aciar Horticulture Research Program manager, said research has to be done in the spirit of enquiry and exploration. He added that it could also sometimes mean taking risks and making mistakes.

Banana expert Dr. Agustin Molina Jr. also attended the review and recommended to provide science-based information and policies to policy-makers in order to help advance the banana industry.

DOST-FPRDI testing labs support the forest-based and related industries

Mr. Freddie M. Ordinario conducts a test at the FPRDI Plywood Testing Laboratory.

The country’s furniture, pulp and paper, and plywood industries have found a partner in their bid to make it in the world market - the FTL or FPRDI Testing Laboratories of the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI)

Certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) thru the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), the three laboratories (one each for furniture, pulp and paper, and plywood) conducted 1,394 tests for 515 customers last year, and earned an income of about Php 4.07 million.

According to the FTLs’ Quality Manager Ms. Adela S. Torres, “Having their products tested by an ISO-certified lab ensures our clients that they get consistently valid results, and gives them the credibility they need to access new markets overseas, maintain their presence in old markets, and meet the demands of certain government agencies.”

Customers who had their products assessed by an ISO-certified lab no longer need to have them re-tested since the standards used by these facilities are globally recognized. This saves time and money for exporters.

“One of the the FTLs’ long-time clients is the government’s Department of Budget and Management’s Procurement Service (DBM-PS),” relates Torres. “ The Service requires all its suppliers to submit samples of their paper products to DOST-FPRDI. Only those companies that pass the tests will qualify for public bidding. This centralized and direct purchase by the PS saves the government about 30% in the cost of its paper supplies.”

For furniture products, on the other hand, only firms which meet the FTL’s evaluation can take part in the public bidding process of the Department of Education.

The FTLs are ran under the DOST’s OneLab project, a platform which gives broader and more efficient public access to all of the Department’s testing services.

DOST-FPRDI also offers wood identification, chemical, physical and mechanical, and bio-energy testing services for forest-based and related products and is currently working for the eventual ISO-accreditation of these. (Rizalina K. Araral, April 2, 2018)

2018 DOST NSTW ORDA ng NAST kasado na

APRIL 18 2018- Pag identify ng mga fault lines sa mga pulo ng palawan at samar ang isa sa maraming silbi ng isa sa mga paper presentations nang isa sa mga awardees ngayon sa gaganaping DOST NSTW outstanding research and development awards o ORDA .

Ayon sa “the second phase of the philippines taiwan integrated geodynamics project” ni Dr Carla B Dimalanta. Ang kanilang research ay sa Palawan at Samar pa lamang.

Inihalintulad nila ang kapuluan ng pilipinas sa isang jigsaw puzzle at inaalam nila ang kasaysayan sa kung paano nabuo ang kapuluan. Bahagi ng pag aaral ay nakita nilang parts ng mainland asia ang palawan at ang samar ay buhat sa malayong timog malapit sa australia.

Malaking bahagi ang silbi ng pag aaral sa buhay ng karaniwang tao lalo tungkol sa disaster management. Sa pagsasaliksik nila kung matapos lahat ay maari nang makita ang mga lugar na maaring magkaroon ng pagkilos sa mga faults. Pagbuo ng mga sinkholes at pagputok ng bulkan.

Kabilang sa mga dumalo ay si acc. Ruben Villareal at TAPI Director Edgar Garcia na nagyanong kung paano makakatulong ang lanyang ahensya sa bahagi ng patents sa nasabing pagsasaliksik.

Ang presentasyon ni Dr Dimalanta ay sa bahagi nh Basic Research na may premyong php 200,000 at pararangalan sa july 11 2018 world trade center. Photo and text from/// michael balaguer, 09333816604, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.