JAN.

15, 2012 DATE

NR # 2649B
REF. NO.

Invest more on research and development, solon urges govt

A lawmaker today urged the government to invest more in agricultural research and development (R&D) to open more labor opportunities and boost the countrys economic development. Agriculture continues to be the backbone of the Philippine economy, a major industry employing almost half of the total Filipino work force, said Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), principal author of House Bill 3044 or the proposed Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer Act of 201l. Biazon said inspite of the extension efforts made by government agencies and institutions and assistance of non-government organizations, Filipino farmers continue to adopt old and traditional farming ways instead of new technologies that make large new agribusiness farms in the country highly productive and profitable. We observed that small farm holders and tenant farmers have continued to depend on the traditional subsistence level of farming systems, Biazon said. Biazon said the problem could also be traced, among others, to the low investment in research and development, inadequate generation and ineffective transfer of agricultural technologies as primary reasons why majority of small and marginalized farmers have remained technologically outdated and economically powerless. With the rapid increase in population can ill-afford to tolerate this state of affairs to continue, otherwise, the country may not be able to produce or even import the needed food to feed its people, Biazon said. The nations strength and productivity necessitates the empowerment of the majority of its farmers and the promotion of the development of cutting-edge agricultural technologies to the sector globally competitive, Biazon insisted. Biazon said R & D cover all organized activities designed to search for new knowledge or modify existing ones, development new methods and techniques of operation, tools, equipment or types of organisms through the application of a scientific method. The bill provides that all government agencies and institutions, including local government units, farmers and non-government organizations that are engaged in R & D, training and extension activities in agriculture shall be organized and formed into an Integrated System of Agriculture Technology Generation and Transfer (ISATGaT)

JAN. 15, 2012 DATE

NR # 2649B
REF. NO.

It shall be organized into hierarchical and interlocking councils at the national, regional and provincial levels. The national and regional councils shall be concerned with both the technology generation and transfer activities while the provincial councils shall be concerned with technology transfer activities. The components of the System (ISATGaT) will include the Department of Agriculture, Institutes and Centers for Agricultural Research Development and Training, Local Government Units, State Universities and Colleges and Farmers and NonGovernment Organizations. Biazon said the bill also provides for the interlocking roles of involved government agencies, State universities and colleges and non-government organizations to promote an efficient and cohesive research development program. (30) dpt