KABACAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) — The SOCCSKSARGEN Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC) has committed to intensifying technology transfer to help more farmers and fishermen in the region.
Josephine Migalbin, director of SOXAARRDEC, said the consortium ensures that the results of research are given much attention so they can be put to good use.
“Siyempre, bilang mga researchers at mga technology generators, we do not only generate technologies for ourselves or for institutions conducting the research, but whatever technology is generated, dapat ma-transfer ito doon sa ating mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda,” she stated.
(As researchers and technology generators, we must be able to transfer technologies to our farmers and fishermen.)
The consortium, supervised by the Department of Science and Technology, prioritizes nine commodities in the region that would help uplift the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors.
“So, ang mga tinututukan na mga priority commodities ng SOXAARRDEC at ng mga member institutions ng consortium, ito ay ang banana, cacao, corn, rice, we have also of course the rubber, then we have livestock and poultry, meron ding coffee, siyempre tuna at saka ‘yung tilapia,” Migalbin added.
(SOXAARRDEC prioritizes these priority commodities, such as bananas, cacao, corn, and rice, as well as rubber, livestock, poultry, coffee, tuna, and tilapia.)
The director emphasized that, with the help of researchers and technology generators from the consortium’s research institutions, the technologies generated are transferred to farmers and fishermen.
Migalbin explained that the consortium puts a premium on the agriculture industry, noting that it plays a vital part in the nation’s economic progress.
“We would like, of course, to come up with a transformative na pamamaraan upang ito namang ating mga farmers; at the end of their farming activities, masabi nila na agriculture is still the lifeblood of the nation, na mayroon talagang pera or kita sa farming,” she said.
(We would like to come up with a transformative way for our farmers so that, at the end of the day, they will still think that agriculture remains the lifeblood of the nation and that there’s really money in it.)
One of the beneficiaries of the consortium is the Pacao Organic Farmers and Producers Association (POFPA) in Barangay Pacao, Alamada.
Through SOXAARRDEC’s Kaagapay ng Magsasaka sa Krisis at Kalamidad program, the association received interventions to improve their organic farm.
Also, members of POFPA were capacitated to further strengthen the promotion of organic agriculture.
Migalbin said that through the Southern Christian College in the municipality of Midsayap, a consortium member institution of SOXAARRDEC, techno demos and techno clinics were conducted to equip association members as well as farmers in the area with more knowledge on organic farming.
These capacity-building sessions complemented the agricultural inputs provided by the consortium.
Currently, members of the POFPA are earning from the interventions given to them by selling organic vegetables and fruits, as well as organic fruit juices and wines, herbs and spices, vinegar, turmeric, coffee powder, and many others.
“Mahalaga ang tulong ng SOXAARRDEC, lalo na during pandemic kasi limited ang galaw. Malaking tulong ang ginawa ng SOXAARRDEC sa mga farmer, lalo na ang binigay na seeds kasi sa duration ng pandemic, mayroong napagkukunan ng pagkain,” Referendo Abrenilla, president of POFPA, said.
(SOXAARRDEC has greatly helped farmers during the pandemic by providing seeds, so the food supply is still abundant.)
Abrenilla lauded the consortium for its continued efforts to help farmers, especially those practicing organic farming. According to him, organic agriculture is not only important in the field of food security but is also vital in protecting the environment and safeguarding the health of consumers. (SJDM – PIA Region 12)
