Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo stressed the value of stronger alliances towards optimizing outcomes in research and development, particularly for the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources sectors.
This was during the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Council’s Recognition and Awarding Ceremony in commemoration of its fourth anniversary at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on June 22, 2015.
Montejo remarked that alliances within the National Agriculture Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Network (NAARRDN) should focus on improving the lot of the country’s farmers and fisherfolk, the country’s poorest sectors.
Quoting a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2013 report, Montejo said that poverty incidence among fishermen is 39.2 percent and 38.3 percent among farmers.
“Since the agricultural sector employs 47% of the Filipino workforce and accounts for 12% of Filipino gross domestic product (GDP), agriculture is a crucial sector for reducing poverty,” Montejo said.
Montejo challenged the NAARRDN to make the country an agricultural powerhouse by generating valuable and productive technologies, pushing the development of globally-competitive agriculture and aquatic-based products, and at the same time creating dynamic roll out strategies.
Montejo also encouraged the NAARRDN to optimize the use of information and communication technology-enabled services to provide quickly the farming communities with scientific knowledge that will increase their productivity and income.
In a call to continually improve the share of the agricultural sector to the total economy, Montejo urged the NAARRDN to provide the farmers with productive and worthwhile technologies to increase the value of the country’s primary products.
Towards this end, Montejo commended PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Programs (ISPs) where it has prioritized 34 agricultural commodities.
PCAARRD will showcase eight leading technologies in its centerpiece exhibit themed Strategic Industry Program for Agri-Aqua Growth (SIPAG) ni Juan during the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on July 24 to 28 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. The NSTW will have the theme Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Competitiveness.
To optimize R&D gains and benefits, Montejo also encouraged the R&D community to adapt to the challenges brought about by climate change and an agriculturally-hostile environment beset by erosion, flooding, and drought.
Addressing this concern, Montejo cited the ingenuity of the small farm reservoir (SFR), a smaller version of the small water impounding project (SWIP), both of which are spearheaded by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management since the early 1990s.
The water impounding facility features an earth dam structure used to trap, harvest, and store rainfall and water runoff, and therefore, reduces flooding and siltation and increases groundwater recharge. The technology assures farmers of available water for irrigation during the dry months and enables higher as well as efficient crop production. It also provides and improves other farm endeavors such as livestock raising and fish culture.
With the water impounding facility, as an example of a simple, yet ingenious research and development endeavor, Montejo said that the NAARRDN should be more circumspect in appraising the realities and circumstances in the country’s agricultural landscape and in providing the opportunities for the best advantage of every Juan.
Finally, Montejo urged the NAARRDN to continually value dedication and hard work as PCAARRD has aptly captured in its tagline SIPAG ni Juan.