MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 19 (PIA) -- 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 at SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City on August
7-9, 2015.
The ARMM’s Agriculture and Fisheries 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).
Agriculture
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. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)
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