SURIGAO DEL SUR --The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga spearheaded the Annual Inter-Agency Research and Development Review on October 19 to 21, 2022 at Cantillan, Surigao del Sur as another intitiative of the agency to continuously strive for agricultural improvement and innovation to increase production and create a sustainable livelihood for farmers through research. 

Siixteen research papers were presented by the different government agencies, local government units, and state universities and colleges tailored fit on the needs of the farmers and agriculture demographic in Caraga region.  Most of the presented research proposals are reseraches on soybeans, rice, and corn, high-value crops, feed and fertilization, and mechanization.

DA-Caraga said that reserach proposals  are being reviewed to ensure alignment  with the agency’s banner programs, major thrust and projects that will contribute to the achievement of  DA’s goals.

The agency also emphasized the pressing need to invest in more scientific research to improve productivity, livelihood opportunities and ensure global food security amid agricultural challenges such as climate change, yield losses, and diminishing natural resources

The Design Fabrication Compacting Machine (Cacao) of Engr. Analy L. Solania  bagged  the first place in Best Research Proposal. Her study aims to design, fabricate, and evaluate the performance of a 2-in-1 Pyrolyzing and Briquetting Machine.

Meanwhile, the Field Validation of Simulated Values of Mechanized Corn Production by Reynan P. Mamalis ranked first place in Best Research Paper. This ongoing project intends to quantify the increase in the yield and reduction of production costs attributed to mechanized land preparation and mechanized planting method.

The agency emphasized that the proposals are yet to be revised based on the findings and recommendations given by the evaluators before submission to the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), the research funding agency. The ongoing projects will also be revised and progress will be presented  to the concerned technical team.

The distinguished evaluators were Dr. Tomas M. Austral, Jr., Animal Science Expert; Dr. Raquel M. Balanay, Socio-Economic Expert; Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Entomology Expert; Nic Oswald M. Borines, Plant Breeding Expert, all from Caraga State University (CSU); and Engr. Rene Q. Morales, Agricultural Engineering Expert and Chief of DA-Regional Agricultural Engineering Division. (Lovely Joy L. Saludez, DA-Caraga/PIA-Surigao del Sur)