CCARRD Holds 12th RSRDH and Rice TechnoForum

The Caraga Consortium for Agriculture, Forestry and Resources Research and Development (CCARRD) recently held the 12th Regional Symposium on Research and Development (RSRDH) and Rice TechnoForum at PhilRice-Agusan, Basilisa, RT Romualdez, Agusan del Norte on August 4-5, 2011.

The Branch Manager of PhilRice-Agusan, Mr. Abner K. Montecalvo welcomed all the presenters and the participants from the different provinces and municipalities of Caraga Region. He made mentioned in his welcome remarks that there are lots of challenges for Mindanao in terms of developing new technologies especially in the production of rice and other products that would benefit the farmers and other clienteles.

Dr. Rowena P. Varela, the Consortium Director, in her message, conveyed that the annual RSRDH is a gathering for sharing technical information derived from painstaking research to the end users - the farmers, other researchers and the general stakeholders. She emphasized on the aim of the symposium to evaluate what are the research findings, how the researcher/s derive the findings, how the technologies are developed, and how well the research results are disseminated such that the farmers can understand and apply the technology. In her remarks, she said that thorough critiquing of researches is one way to improve the quality of CCARRD outputs.

The RSRDH is an annual activity that brings together the researchers, the extension workers, the local government units, farmers, and other clienteles in forum. RSRDH establishes and fosters the future direction in research and development in Caraga that would benefit not only the scientific society but the community at large.

A total of 68 Researchers, Farmers, Research Technicians and Assistants, Faculty and Students from FSUU, PhilRice-Agusan, CSU, DENR-13, and LGU participated in the symposium. There were 6 papers competing for the Best Paper Award, 4 for the research category and 2 for the development category. The panel of evaluators were Dr. Jocelyn E.Eusebio (right), Director and Chief Science Research Specialist of PCARRD’s Crop Research Division; Dr. Elaine F. Lanting (middle), PCARRD’s Institutional Development Division (IDD) Director; and Dr. Marcelino U. Siladan (left), Science Research Specialist of PCARRD’s Program Development & Resource Generation Section (PDRGS).

The Research Paper entitled “In Vitro Induction of Polyploidy in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)” authored by Elizabeth P. Parac of CSU was adjudged as ‘Best Paper for Research Category’. The study entitled “Enhancing Support and Linkages to Farmers and Agricultural Extension Workers through PhilRice Farmer’s Text Center in Caraga” by Evanny S. Maamo of PhilRice-Agusan clinched the ‘Best Paper for Development Category’. The Best Presenter was Dr. Corsennie A. Mabayag of PhilRice-Agusan.

CCARRD is a research and development consortium based in the Caraga State University. Its primary goal is to foster partnership in the delivery of science and technology solutions in the area of agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) in Caraga Region. Its membership includes, DA-RFU 13, DENR-13, DOST-Caraga, NEDA-13, PhilRice-Agusan, FIDA-13, PCA-13, CSU, SDSSU, ASSCAT, SSCT, FSUU, BFAR-13, DA-BAR and its mother network is the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

Written by: Ms. Eve V. Fernandez