The Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga continuously strives for improvement and innovation in agriculture that would increase production and create a sustainable livelihood for the farmers through research.  

Hence, DA-Caraga’s Research Division conducted a Research and Development Review on the research from the different agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) that will fit to the needs of the farmers and agriculture in Caraga Region.

A total of 16 papers were presented during the Annual Inter-Agency Research and Development Review on October 19-21, 2022 at Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

A research paper review is done annually to refine and evaluate completed, ongoing, and new projects of the agency. Most research proposals that were presented are on soybeans, rice, and corn, high-value crops, feed and fertilization, and mechanization.

DA-Caraga said that the proposal is being reviewed to align it with the agency’s banner programs major thrust and projects that would contribute to the achievement of DA’s goals.

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

Among the papers presented was the Design Fabrication Compacting Machine (Cacao) by Engr. Analy L. Solania, which bagged 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 cost 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 they will be submitted to the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) as the research funding agency. The ongoing projects will also be revised, and present the progress to the concerned technical team.

The panel of evaluators was composed of 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)