Experts share research findings to sustain aggie productivity

By Reynaldo E. Andrea

Contributor

Some 30 scientists and high-caliber researchers who are members of the Fulbright Philippine Agriculture Alumni Association (FPAAA) came to the University last month to share their findings in agriculture and fisheries research which might help sustain the region’s farm productivity and entrepreneurship.

FPAAA members are those who have been awarded scholarships in various universities in the country and abroad under the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF). Their presence here was part of this year’s National Conference on Agriculture and Fisheries by FPAAA and the celebration of its 10^th year anniversary of promoting agricultural modernization in the country.

A total of eight mature technologies on agriculture and fisheries, including three development workshops were discussed and undertaken so that local farmers and fishermen who will follow them might increase their production and get higher profit.

The theme of the conference – Sustainable agricultural productivity and entrepreneurship through science and technology – had a great impact in reinforcing the national government’s vision of enabling the farmers and fishermen expand opportunities in both the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The association has long been a partner of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in agri-fishery development in pursuing the agency’s vision of sustainable agriculture and agri-entrepreneurship using the members’ expertise.

Dr. Esmeralda S. Cunanan, PAEF executive director, said the conduct of this activity is a milestone that serves as a “testimony of the FPAAA’s commitment of sharing their researches and spread their expertise to various stakeholders in the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the country.”

In the past, the fulbrighters have consistently undertaken different scholarly and socioeconomic activities with the intent of wanting to help the government’s modernization efforts in agriculture by the DA.

It is recalled that a memorandum of agreement was signed in December 15, 1999 between the DA and the PAEF that marked the beginning of the Fulbright Philippine Agriculture Scholarship Program.

“Through this program, the FPAAA members continued to improve their researches and extension works in order to help attain agricultural sustainability in the country,” Dr. Cunanan said adding that this year’s conference is a fitting commemoration of the association’s 10-year of existence as it continues to go reach its professional and scientific goals and “to stop at nothing to sustain the country’s growth and development.”

Likewise, Batac City Mayor Jeffrey Jubal C. Nalupta was happy in welcoming the PFAAA members because he knew that their presence “will once again level up and revolutionize the agriculture and fisheries industries in Ilocos Norte.”

“For a paramount agriculture-based economy like the one in the province, we stand to get the most out of this conference,” he said adding that the topics discussed in the plenary sessions have been tailor-fit to the particular needs of the province.

The mayor also received certified seeds and samples of bio-fertilizer products from the FPAAA to be distributed to local farmers for this coming planting season.

Meanwhile, the application of the eight mature technologies that have been shared by the former Fulbright scholars in Ilocos Norte farms will surely add to the development and modernization of agriculture and aquaculture industries in the province that are already translating jobs in the countryside and giving substantial income to the farmers.

Records from the provincial government show that agriculture, which is one of the economic powerhouses in the province has contributed much in combating poverty as shown by its reduction from a staggering 24 percent from the last three years to only 9.9 percent this year.