AT LEAST two major programs of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) is expected to contribute to the country’s Bayanihan Act by distributing food and non-food products in COVID-19 affected communities and frontline hospitals.
Some P1.1 million worth of products which were produced under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) and the Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT) Programs will be distributed in selected areas of the country.
The ATBI products valued at P840,000 that were generated by startup incubatees include upland and lowland vegetables, mushroom products, herbal teas, various natural juices and concentrates, detergents, disinfectants and hand-washes, poultry and goat products, and seedlings of herbal plants.
These products are the outputs of technical trainings and trial runs of the incubatees that were originally intended for product testing and market validation which had been put on hold because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
ATBI Program’s partner-agencies to be involved in the distribution include different state universities and colleges in the various parts of the country.
Nearby communities and frontline hospitals near these state universities are the target beneficiaries of the product distribution and will be closely coordinated with the concerned local government units.
The SciCAT partner-agencies and cooperating farm tourism sites are located in the various provinces.
Products generated by the SciCAT farm tourism sites include organic rice, papaya, duck eggs, and upland and lowland vegetables.
These products valued at P260,000 were produced in the demonstration areas within the farm tourism sites that showcased various DOST-PCAARRD generated technologies.
In a related development, the DOST-PCAARRD recently turned over its stock of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on vegetable production to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
This is supports the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program’s Urban Agriculture Project, which aims to disperse vegetable seeds to households nationwide.
A total of 1,000 copies of production guide IEC flyers of pole sitao, patola, tomato, ampalaya, and cucumber were shared to DA-BPI.
These flyers will be distributed together with the vegetable seeds to households and other recipients.
Aside from these flyers, DOST-PCAARRD will be sending electronic copies of its IEC materials to DA-BPI for dispersal and greater reach.
“Through these IEC materials, we hope that Filipinos will have a better appreciation of urban agriculture and have the skills and knowledge on growing their own food,” said Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director.
DA’s Urban Agriculture Project aims to secure safe food for families in the urban areas especially while strict quarantine is being implemented due to COVID-19.
PCAARRD is one of the sectoral councils of the DOST, which is mandated to formulate policies, plans, and programs for science and technology-based R&D in the different sectors under its concern.
It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors the national R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
AT LEAST two major programs of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) is expected to contribute to the country’s Bayanihan Act by distributing food and non-food products in COVID-19 affected communities and frontline hospitals.
Some P1.1 million worth of products which were produced under the National Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) and the Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT) Programs will be distributed in selected areas of the country.
The ATBI products valued at P840,000 that were generated by startup incubatees include upland and lowland vegetables, mushroom products, herbal teas, various natural juices and concentrates, detergents, disinfectants and hand-washes, poultry and goat products, and seedlings of herbal plants.
These products are the outputs of technical trainings and trial runs of the incubatees that were originally intended for product testing and market validation which had been put on hold because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
ATBI Program’s partner-agencies to be involved in the distribution include different state universities and colleges in the various parts of the country.
Nearby communities and frontline hospitals near these state universities are the target beneficiaries of the product distribution and will be closely coordinated with the concerned local government units.
The SciCAT partner-agencies and cooperating farm tourism sites are located in the various provinces.
Products generated by the SciCAT farm tourism sites include organic rice, papaya, duck eggs, and upland and lowland vegetables.
These products valued at P260,000 were produced in the demonstration areas within the farm tourism sites that showcased various DOST-PCAARRD generated technologies.
In a related development, the DOST-PCAARRD recently turned over its stock of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on vegetable production to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
This is supports the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program’s Urban Agriculture Project, which aims to disperse vegetable seeds to households nationwide.
A total of 1,000 copies of production guide IEC flyers of pole sitao, patola, tomato, ampalaya, and cucumber were shared to DA-BPI.
These flyers will be distributed together with the vegetable seeds to households and other recipients.
Aside from these flyers, DOST-PCAARRD will be sending electronic copies of its IEC materials to DA-BPI for dispersal and greater reach.
“Through these IEC materials, we hope that Filipinos will have a better appreciation of urban agriculture and have the skills and knowledge on growing their own food,” said Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director.
DA’s Urban Agriculture Project aims to secure safe food for families in the urban areas especially while strict quarantine is being implemented due to COVID-19.
PCAARRD is one of the sectoral councils of the DOST, which is mandated to formulate policies, plans, and programs for science and technology-based R&D in the different sectors under its concern.
It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors the national R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.
It also allocates government and external funds for R&D and generates resources to support its program. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
