16 March 2012
No. 1510
State University and College (SUC) presidents and regional agricultural government officials from the Philippines, with ICRISAT DG William Dar and senior staff, during their visit to ICRISAT-Patancheru.
Strengthening ICRISAT-Philippines partnership
Scientific visit of academic and agricultural leaders to boost rainfed agriculture Long neglected in the past, rainfed agriculture is now getting a big boost in the Philippines. ICRISAT and the Philippines’ Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) have joined hands to implement a vigorous program that will make rainfed agriculture more productive, which in turn will enhance food, nutrition and energy security, and improve livelihoods of local communities in rainfed areas.
U
nder the new initiative called Philippine Rainfed Agriculture Research, Development and Extension Program (PHIRARDEP), a top-level delegation composed of ten State University and College (SUC) presidents and regional agricultural government officials visited ICRISAT on 12-16 March primarily to explore and map out joint agriculture research, development and extension
(RD&E) initiatives to revitalize rainfed agriculture in the Philippines. “ICRISAT’s scientific and technical support to the Philippines is part of the Institute’s global effort to contribute to food security and poverty reduction in countries that have marginalized farmlands,” said Director General William Dar. With proper technical and policy support and programs, rainfed to page 2 ...4