Agribusiness Management

A TRAINING on agribusiness management, value chain analysis, and leadership was recently conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

It was conducted a collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

The four-day training aims to instil value chain thinking and enhance leadership skills among PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) managers and technical staff.

This would help them in influencing the trajectories of the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (AANR) sector through effective engagement and in facilitating on-the-ground impact.

Dr. Melvin Carlos, the DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services (OED-ARMSS), emphasized the Council’s support on the on-going collaboration.

The knowledge acquired by the ISP managers and staff, he added, would be vital in improving the ISPs.

In connection with this effort, PCAARRD’s ISP manager for Legumes, Rolando S. Corpuz, cites the potential of the Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) as the future Soybean R&D Center under the DOST’s Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program, which aims to capacitate higher education institutions (HEIs) through upgrading, development, and acquisition of S&T infrastructure and establish R&D Centers that will cater to the specific needs of the regions.

This came after the country’s soybean industry is now threatened by tight competition with other crops such as rice and corn in terms of production area, which is further challenged by the present unfavorable supply chain and volatile prices.

The limited expansion of production and low utilization of soyfood also hinder the industry’s take off.

To aid this, the DOST-PCAARRD funded the research, “Improvement of Soybean in Surigao del Sur Through Enhanced Value Chains, Sustainable Seed Sector, and Better Varieties Under Different Cropping Systems.”

The two-year program, which is being implemented by the SDSSU, is the fifth component project of the Soybean R&D Program, “Improvement of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) for Better Nutrition, Higher Income and Enhanced Soil Health,” under the leadership of Elmer E. Enicola of the Institute of Plant Breeding – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB).

The project aims to enhance local soybean value chains by developing an improved soybean value chain model in Surigao del Sur.

It also aims to develop sustainable soybean production in the uplands through improved cropping system, seed system, and varieties.

Upland farmers in Tandag, Tago, and San Miguel in Surigao del Sur will be encouraged to include soybean in their cropping systems and store seeds of improved varieties.

Household members will likewise be encouraged to include soybean as food at home and as source of income from soyfood product processing.

Potential micro-entrepreneurs and consumers in urban areas will also benefit through soyfood processing seminars.

Soyfood-related enterprises will be promoted and technical assistance and linkages will be provided to different stakeholders.

Local government units will also be aided in their food sufficiency programs through the use of soybean in their health and nutrition campaign. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)