The country’s state universities are potential contributors to economic development. They are the ones who link government programs in agriculture, technology transfer and trade to the communities in the countryside.
In a study on how can state universities develop an enterprise and reforms to building viable livelihoods among poor communities, by Rowena DT. Baconguis of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Laguna, it was found that assistance from state universities have successfully created enterprises in the communities.
Aside from providing education to improve people’s lives, state universities are also required to engage in extension intervention activities that enable them to help community members become more efficient in their livelihood activities.
The research investigated the extension activities of five state universities and 21 enterprises in Calabarzon.
The research was presented in the last 17th Conference of the Science Council of Asia, jointly organized by the Science Council of Asia and National Research Council of the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology (DOST-NRCP), an agency which promotes and supports basic and problem-oriented researches key to providing solutions to national issues and problems.
The innovations undertaken or promoted by the 21 enterprises were examined and among them 16 enterprises were created because of Universities’ assistance, while four existing businesses managed to improve, and one enterprise was revived.
It is interesting to note that while most enterprises that were created are in the food industry, such as processed food, condiments, cooked food, processed milk products, food supplement, and processed fruit drink (juice and wine), the existing businesses that were improved are mostly farm-based.
However, although majority (19 out of 21) of the enterprises cited an increase in income attributed universities’ support, only eight of the 19 managed to market their products, recoup its capital and earn continuously even without the universities’ marketing and technical assistance. The rest struggle to keep afloat by deriving modest profits. Geraldine Bulaon-Ducusin, S&T Media