In an effort to elevate agriculture and fisheries development in Ilocos Norte, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) are crafting a decentralized and unified research for development and extension (R4DE) program.
To realize this, MMSU and the DA-attached agencies convened in a workshop at the University Center for Flexible Learning on April 26-27 to map out the Rainfed Agriculture and Fisheries R4DE Program in Ilocos Norte.
The initiative aims to improve the institutional capability of MMSU and DA in rainfed agriculture R4DE, thus raising their profile in the national and global research community. It focuses on five flagship areas: location-specific technological innovations, bioenergy, natural resource management, province-led agri-fishery extension, and international cooperation.
As lead agency, MMSU commits its physical and human resources to facilitate coordination and program work. President Shirely C. Agrupis assured, “the university will maximize its resources to provide quality research, extension and development service to the people.”
MMSU will collaborate with Ilocos Norte-based agriculture agencies, such as the DA-Ilocos Norte Experiment Station, Agricultural Training Institute, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Carabao Center, National Tobacco Administration, and the Philippine Fiber Development Authority. The provincial government, through the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Network (INAFES), is also supporting the program.
Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, MMSU vice president for RDE, said the provincial collaborators will later on come up with program proposals under the guidance of the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research. These will then be integrated and packaged into one R4DE program to be submitted to DA Secretary William Dar for approval. Once approved, the provincial program management will start.
DA-BAR Assistant Director Joell N. Lales said the agency will provide financial support to the program, while DA Regional Field Office I OIC-Technical Director Florentino Adame vowed to commit their technical expertise and resources to attain the program’s goals.
INAFES Director Juan Alfonso Augustus Jose also expressed willingness to pursue collaboration with the concerned agencies, allot counterpart funding, and provide other support as needed in the program activities.
DA-BAR Senior Technical Advisers and INAFES Volunteer Advisors Rex Navarro and Santiago R. Obien, second MMSU President, also committed to help the provincial agencies in realizing the unified R4DE program.
Prior to this, the partner-agencies conducted on March 18 a consultation meeting on strengthening a rainfed agri-fishery Regional Research for Development and Extension Network (RRDEN) in Ilocos Norte. This program is pursuant to Rule 81.14.3 of the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, mandating the DA to develop and maintain a network of regional and provincial collaborators to undertake regional R4D programs under the guidance of DA-BAR. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)
Source: https://www.mmsu.edu.ph/news/da-mmsu-develop-rainfed-agri-fishery-r4de-program
