Research Utilization

PAUL ICAMINA

The prospect of planting mango has been made sweeter to farmers.

Multi-location research has identified natural control for common pests and diseases as well as other interventions benefiting mango, a highly valued crop that brings income to small farmers and dollars to the nation’s coffers.

The Philippines is the world’s seventh leading mango producer. Fresh mango is the leading dollar earner, consisting 59 percent of total mango export, followed by dried mangoes, mango puree, juice concentrates and mango juices.

Mango production dropped by 10 percent during the fourth quarter of 2017. The decline was attributed by the National Statistics Authority to farmers who were discouraged to conduct flower induction activities due to the occurrence of intermittent rains in the Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur). 

Frequent rains also led to lesser fruits developed during the flowering stage in Northern Mindanao, especially in Misamis Occidental.

The top mango producers last year were Zamboanga Peninsula (where a fourth of national production came from), followed by Caraga (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur) then Northern Mindanao.

These provinces will benefit most from a project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Department of Science and Technology.

Mango is one of the priority commodities listed in PCAARRD’s National R&D Agenda and is included in the ACIAR-PCAARRD Horticulture Program on Fruits and Vegetables.

The project aims to improve the quality and yield of mango in order to reduce product losses due to pests and diseases and decrease production costs. It aims to prevent the decline in production and quality of fruits attributed to pests and diseases.

The research is geared towards improving fruit quality by developing effective insect control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions. Adoption of sustainable IPM practices could improve quality and yield of mango and increase farmers’ income by 156 percent.

Another target is to improve fruit size and yield by optimizing nutrition and canopy   management. The project initiated a demonstration and training on canopy management in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur.

Spraying trees with plant growth regulators (PGR) could also reduce the incidence of blossom blight compared with multiple sprays of fungicide and could give higher average yield per tree. Auxin, cytokinin, gibberellic acid and salicylic acid were the PGRs used in the study.

PGRs are potential controls for mango fungal diseases, according to Dr. Virgie Ugay of USeP.

PGRs, commonly known as plant hormones, are chemical substances that promote the growth of plant cells, tissues and organs. Auxins, for example, stimulate cell elongation and influence root initiation and the development of auxiliary buds, flowers and fruits.

Ultimately, the research project aims to improve mango farmers’ livelihoods and profits by developing and implementing an integrated management package of “best practices.” A national survey in eight major mango growing areas of the Philippines was completed and is expected to provide information as foundation of “best bet” management guidelines.

Butch Guino

MARAMAG, Bukidnon—The Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development hosted its first Farmers Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda featuring advances in the technology on bamboo and goat production.

Director Marita A. Carlos, Applied Communication Division head of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development, represented PCAARRD executive director Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora in the event’s opening Wednesday.

Carlos and Dr. Maria Luisa R. Soliven, NOMCAARRD RRDC Chairperson and Central Mindanao University President, kicked off the two-day program that includes technology forums on bamboo and goat, technology matching, farmers’ forum and business coaching being held at CMU Convention Center.

Booths of the 19 members of NOMCAARRD showcasing their respective products and technology were set up inside the convention center.

In his message to the event as relayed by Carlos, Ebora said the staging of FIESTA here may become instrumental in promoting engineered bamboo and goat production technologies as well as other value adding initiatives that will provide Filipinos with better livelihood options.

He also hopes that FIESTA can provide the link between technology generators, farmers and fisherfolk, and micro, small, and medium enterprises towards achieving more competitive and profitable business ventures for the country’s agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sector.

During the press conference, citing NOMCAARRD, Carlos pointed out the need for all to work together to achieve the goal of science and technology researches in reaching Filipinos and ultimately uplifting their life.

“We have engineered bamboo technology being developed here to produce bamboo products as high-end construction materials, which is very promising,” she said.

Carlos and Soliven also unveiled the new logo of NOMCAARRD.

Topics to be discussed in the event are goat production technology, smallholder goat-raising, bamboo production technology, prospects of engineered bamboo, and village-level establishment of bamboo nursery, among others.

Nine Filipino researchers in various fields of science, such as basic, applied, and social took home honors and P25,000 cash and Plaque of Recognition each on Wednesday as recipients of the 2017 National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Outstanding Achievement Awards. NRCP is one of the three sectoral planning councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Edd K. Usman

They are Maria Andrea L. Santiago, Asian Institute of Management (AIM), for Government, Educational and International Policies (Division I); Erna C. Arollado, University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) for Pharmaceiutical Sciences (Division IV); Ephrime B. Metillo, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), for Biological Sciences (Division V); Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, De La Salle University (DLSU), for Engineering and Industrial Research (Division VII); Florencia G. Palis, UP Los Banos (UPLB), for Social Science (Division VIII); Evangeline C. Amor, UP Diliman (UPM), for Chemical Sciences (Division X); Priscelina P. Legasto, former faculty member of UPD, for Humanities (Division XI); Gemma Teresa T. Narisma, Manila Observatory, for Earth and Space Sciences (Division XII); and Mildred A. Padilla, UPLB), for Veterinary Medicine (Division XIII).

The NRCP bestowed the awards during its Annual Scientific Conference and 85th General Membership Assembly (GMA) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City. DOST-NRCP said the awardees’ “research and scientific endeavors have resulted in various high impact innovations and breakthroughs.”

Meanwhile, NRCP also gave out Outstanding Institution Award with a Plaque of Recognition to the University of the Philippines (UP) Center for Ethnomusicology, UP Department of Geodetic Engineering and the Training Center of Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry, and UP Marine Science Institute.

NRCP also conferred to Gemino H. Abad the Member Emeritus Award, Humanities (Division XI). He also got a Plaque of Recognition. Participants in the event that revolved around the theme “Policy Research for Legislation” include researchers, innovators, scientists, and technologists.

Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV delivered the keynote message “R&D for Legislative Directions for Countryside Development” as he reiterated his strong support to the science community and the programs of the DOST. He chairs the Senate Science and Technology Committee.

At the conference, the agency displayed 64 technical posters crafted by Filipino researchers showcasing “science, technology, and innovations (STI) as effective and efficient tools that work for change.”

Dr. Michelle V. Paraso’s a monograph “Do Fishes Want Sex Change” Dr. Vachel Gay V. Paller’s monograph “Fish Parasites as Heavy Metal Absorbents” recently published by NRCP were also on display.

The National Library of the Philippines on February 18, 2018 granted copyright to the two monographs. NRCP funded Paraso’s and Paller’s research conducted to “support the goal of restoring the environmental integrity of Philippine lakes.”

Their projects are part of the priority projects under “SAKLAW” or Saklolo sa Lawa of NRCP’s National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA). As this developed, the NRCP has defined its priority research thrusts for 2017-2022 along the line of the Philippine Development Plan and the Harmonized National R&D (Research and Development) Agenda conforming with six NIBRA programs.

They are Sustainable Community (NRCP’s top-most prority); Inclusive Nation-building; Health Sufficiency; Water Security; Food and Nutrition Security; and Clean Energy.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Pena and the 13 members of the NRCP Governing Board head by NRCP president Christina A. Binag and NRCP executive director Marieta B. Sumagaysay led the red-letter day of delegates coming from various Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), as well as from other research institutions based in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Another highlight of the assembly was the election of NRCP’s regular members and new members of the Governing Board as well as the unveiling of the logo of the 85th GMA.

Another highlight of the assembly was the election of NRCP’s regular members and new members of the Governing Board as well as the unveiling of the logo of the 85th GMA.

MANILA, Philippines — Some 13 public high schools in Mati City, Davao Oriental have been installed with Department of Science and Technology (DOST) digital libraries with the help of the United Nations World Food Programme.

Aside from the 13 schools, the local government of San Isidro, also in Davao Oriental, was also provided the Science & Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks or Starbooks digital libraries, which contains tons of resources in text, audio and video formats from local and international sources, and all of which can be accessed even without internet connectivity.

The WFP had provided the funds for the 15 units of computer sets that were installed with Starbooks software.