Agriculture

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently conducted a mentorship program on communicating agriculture and fisheries research for inclusive and sustainable development (CAFRISD) for research and information officers from Department of Agriculture (DA) attached agencies and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional offices.

The second batch of trainees bring to 34 the total number of agricultural and fisheries professionals who trained under the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) Mentorship Program: CAFRISD that the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research commissioned SEARCA to implement. The first batch of IKM mentees completed the program in September 2018.

Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., chair of SEARCA Governing Board and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor, said SEARCA is sharing its KM practices and strategies through the IKM Mentorship Program, which helps maximize the gains and potential social benefits of DA’s research projects.

This was affirmed by DA-BAR Executive Director Nicomedes Eleazar who said, there is a need to address the gap in disseminating agri-fishery researches to the public.

Dr. Eleazar encouraged the learner-participants to welcome the knowledge and skills they will gain from the session to address the lapses in science and research communication.

The mentorship program conducted a pre-test assessment of the 18 new trainees to track their knowledge gains throughout the three face-to-face sessions, with the second and third sessions slated in February, and May 2019.

Faculty members of UPLB College of Development Communication served as mentors and facilitators.

SEARCA has been a staunch partner of DA-BAR in capacity building and research programs. Completed programs from 2011 to date alone include capacity building programs on responding to climate change through R&D in agriculture, knowledge management, and technology management in Southeast Asia; as well as strengthening research project development and management for Agri-Pinoy agricultural development, strengthening DA’s National Technology Commercialization Program, and strengthening agricultural research and development towards ASEAN integration. SEARCA also conducted for DA-BAR a comparative study on technology management. An Invitation To Contributors

We are inviting contributors to write articles for Agriculture Magazine. We want stories about people in farming who have practical and doable ideas. They could be in the production of crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, ornamental horticulture and others.

Feature stories should be accompanied with appropriate color photos for more impact. We also encourage experts to write how-to articles on various agri-topics. We are also looking for research results that could be helpful to those engaged in any form of farming, small-scale or otherwise.

To those who wish their manuscripts to be returned, if not accepted, please enclose a self-addressed envelope with sufficient stamp. Manuscripts not accepted for publication without return postage will be disposed after one month. All original contributions exclusive to Agriculture Magazine will be paid for at competitive rates.

Send your contributions to:

The Editor Agriculture Magazine Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. Muralla corner Recoletos St. Intramuros, Manila or at agriculture@mb.com.ph