"There is science in raising native pigs and producing robusta coffee," said Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Villar encouraged the participants to engage in raising native pig and producing robusta coffee and to make it as a livelihood or enterprise. He said that it is important to learn the science behind its production.
Villar said this during the Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture Aquatic and Resources Research and Development (CorCAARRD) Yookah Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA).
Held on June 27-28, 2019 at the Kalinga State University (KSU) in Tabuk City, Kalinga, CorCAARRD's Yookah FIESTA showcases R&D gains on native pigs and robusta coffee.
According to Villar, the Yookah FIESTA aims to underscore the economic and cultural importance of native pigs and robusta coffee in Kalinga.
He also recognized the R&D initiatives of KSU, Benguet State University (BSU), Marinduque State College (MSC), and Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) in the native pig program, which PCAARRD supports. He noted that DOST-PCAARRD, in particular, invests on R&Ds on commodities that would have great impact to the country’s farmers and the community.
FIESTA is a technology promotion, transfer, and commercialization platform initiated by DOST-PCAARRD. CorCAARRD is one of the 16 R&D Consortia of the Council.