COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) received P1.5 million in research grant from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) central office during the three-day product exhibition held recently at SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City.
The ARMM’s Agriculture department (DAF-ARMM) booth was recognized as the best by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The booth showcased distinct agricultural products that included water hyacinth organic fertilizer, marang jam, marang ice cream, adlay coffee ice cream, organic rice, adlay-based delicacies processed in Maguindanao, and local delicacies such as dudol, tinagtag, panganan sising and putri mandi.
DA’s Region IV-B, or Mimaropa, was awarded second place and received P1 million worth of research grant while DA Region IV-A, or Calabarzon, received P500,000 also in research grant.
With the theme “Teknolohiya ng Pansakahan at Pangisdaan: Tulay sa Mas Maunlad na Pilipinas Patungo sa Pandaigdigdigang Kakayanan”, the activity was held in line with the 11th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition and as part of the 28th anniversary celebration of the agricultural research bureau.
This year’s anniversary celebration focused on the global competence of Philippine products and technologies generated from research and development (R&D). DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, former secretary William Dar, and BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazer graced the opening and viewing of the product exhibition.
To highlight breakthroughs and provide new perspectives on technology commercialization, the forum-exhibit showcased agricultural R&D of more than 90 exhibitors from the DA’s bureaus and attached agencies and regional field offices, as well as R&D partners such as state universities and colleges, international organizations, and the private sector.
Tong Abas, manager of the DAF-ARMM Integrated Agricultural Research Center, said his office will pursue development of the Marang-flavored ice cream and Marang jam. “Marang is abundant in ARMM and if the product will be highly favored by the public, then this will help boost the economy in the region,” Abas added.
DAF-ARMM Secretary Makmod Mending Jr. affirmed that the regional government will support the newly introduced ice cream flavors. The DA central office, however, advised ARMM exhibitors to submit business plans for their products.
The event also opened opportunities for agri-preneurs and entrepreneurs to capitalize on various R&D technologies that were already developed and generated and for the farmers and fisherfolk to showcase their own products as well as for the private sector to adopt these technologies on a commercial scale.
Among the highlights of the event was the launching of the 2015 BAR Primer, an audio-visual presentation that narrates the bureau’s vision, mission and mandate as the country’s national coordinating agency for agriculture and fisheries R&D.
In line with the event, BAR also staged “It’s Soy Time”, a soybean cooking contest with 27 partner-exhibitors from state universities and colleges as participants. The activity highlights the culinary competencies of the participants while further promoting the utilization and consumption of soybean through food creation. (Bureau of Public Information)
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