Diffun, Quirino—The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) has granted P16.5 million to Quirino State University for the implementation of research and development projects.
“Four research proposals earned the nod for funding assistance by DA-BAR under the leadership of [our] President, Dr. Hermenegildo F. Samoy Jr. and Vice President for Academics, Research and Extension Dr. Elizabeth T. Carig,” a statement from the university said.
DA and QSU partnered in the program dubbed as “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Laban sa COVID-19.”
QSU submitted to DA-BAR the project proposal titled “Support to Mass Production of Vermicompost in the Province of Quirino,” which was approved with a grant fund amounting to P2,990,206.40.
The project aims to develop and improve soil amendment technologies for vegetables and fruits. The project is expected to be implemented over a period of one year, which started in July 2020 until June 2021.
In addition, the ALPAS Program was also earmarked with P3.5 million for the implementation of the project titled “Support to Mass Production of Mushroom in Quirino Province.”
This project aims to support and contribute to the availability and accessibility of Pleurotus and Volvariella Volvacea mushrooms as alternative food.
ALPAS is scheduled to be carried out for a span of one year in collaboration with DA-Regional Field Office, Quirino Experiment Station, and the Municipal Agricultural Offices.
“We hope to expand the volume of mushroom production through the production of fruiting bags and straw spawn using the mushroom facilities of the Quirino State University and Quirino Experimental Station mushroom laboratory” said Dr. Fredisminda M. Dolojan, the Project Leader.
Along with the ALPAS funded projects, QSU submitted a project proposal titled “Technology Utilization and Commercialization of Tissue-Cultured Banana in Quirino Province” to DA for funding assistance through its Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Program.
This was eventually approved for implementation, with a grant fund amounting to P5 million. Project implementation initially started last July and is expected to be completed by June 2022.
The project is expected to produce and commercialize tissue cultured banana using Package of Technologies developed by faculty and staff of the Research Development Extension and Training department of the university.
“We are expected to produce at least 10,000 saba and lakatan meriplants which are clean and disease-free” said Dr. Elizabeth Carig, the Project Leader.
“In partnership with two associations [or] cooperatives, grow-out nurseries shall be established where the meriplants shall be hardened, and eventually will be distributed to banana farmers,” she added.
The DA-ACEF program approved project proposal titled “Upscaling the Promotion and Commercialization of Soya Products in Quirino Province” for funding worth P5 million and will be implemented for two years since its launch in July 2020.
The project aims to upscale the promotion and commercialization of soya products, such as pan de soya, soya butterscotch, soya nuggets, and soya milk. It specifically seeks to organize soybean growers as suppliers of raw materials of soya products.