ANCHORED on his advocacy to continuously support small farmers and their families through the transfer of productive technology, no less than Dr. Aladino C. Moraca, president of Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, presented the technology on Organic Muscovado Sugar and processing of value-added products from muscovado.
Connected with the CPSU’s Small Scale Community-based Natural Muscovado Sugar Production and Marketing project, the presentation provided vital information on various sugarcane varieties, organic production, post-harvest processing, as well as insights in relation to the technology.
At least 34 farmers participated in the activity as Moraca demonstrated the preparation of muscovado sugar – from the extracting of juice from sugarcane to cooking.
Moraca explained that providing farmers with the right technology is CPSU’s crusade towards reducing the emigration of farmers from the countryside to the urban areas.
The technology was presented by Moraca during the Western Visayas Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (WESVAARRDEC) Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) at the Capiz State University in Roxas City recently.
The FIESTA aims to showcase research and development technologies produced by the consortium member agencies in Western Visayas in the field of agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
This year’s FIESTA of WESVAARRDEC showcased for the second time the darag native chicken, mango, bamboo, muscovado sugar, and green mussels following the conduct of its first FIESTA in November 2017.
As a technology promotion and transfer platform, this year’s FIESTA features the different technologies on the said commodities through technology pitching and matching, techno fora, and technology demonstrations.
Among the technologies featured included ethbotanical dewormer for free range darag native chicken production, supplemental feeds for native chicken, long line mussel production, and good agricultural practices in muscovado sugar, mango and bamboo production, which need to be disseminated for adoption and commercialization.
The WESVAARRDEC FIESTA also paved the way for the launching of three important initiatives: the Panay Darag Breeders Association; Agri-Aqua Technology Business Center at the CapSU Dayao Campus; and the launching of the new WESVAARRDEC logo and Knowledge Management Center Data Bank System Portal.
The Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) initiated FIESTA, an event-based modality, to facilitate the flow of technology from the laboratory to the market.
FIESTA showcases regional AANR technologies, innovations, breakthroughs, and products to target audiences and stakeholders through a mix of communication and promotion strategies.
The most important objective of FIESTA, though, is to effect the interaction among technology generators, adopters, and potential investors to enhance the transfer and commercialization of technologies.
This is in keeping with DOST-PCAARRD’s objective to make science work not only for the benefit of the country’s farmers but also for its micro, small, and medium enterprises.
As such, FIESTA provides a venue for a gathering and exchange of ideas and concepts among researchers, technology adopters, and other interested parties towards making technology transfer more useful, adoptable and relevant./PN
