Three new facilities for research and development (R&D) funded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) have been inaugurated at the Isabela State University (ISU) in Echague, Isabela on December 12, 2019.

The opening of the establishments intended for cacao processing, cattle artificial insemination research and training, and climate change R&D support was led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar together with the DA Cagayan Valley Regional Office and ISU officials.

“Newer strategies must be developed to accelerate the unlocking of potential of the (agriculture) sector,” Dar said.

According to the Secretary, R&D must be targeted and in line with the DA vision of increased productivity, lowered production cost, and increased income of farmers.

As such, he challenged the R&D center directors to ensure that their projects remain relevant to the needs of the stakeholders in the region.

He also urged the center directors and the university officials not to repeat the same strategies done in the past to avoid another stagnant growth in the sector. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)