With a total budget of P20,219,480, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) approved three extension projects of Cavite State University (CvSU) for implementation this year.
The first approved project entitled “Enhancing the Agri-Aqua Food Value Chain through Smart Technologies towards Food Resiliency in the New Normal in CALABARZON” will be implemented under the leadership of Engr. Gerry M. Castillo, Director of the National Coffee Research, Development and Extension Center (NCRDEC). The project aims to enhance the food value chain for coffee in the region towards improving agricultural productivity, competitiveness, efficiency, and inclusive food sustainability. It hopes to benefit community-based farm enterprises, technology-based startups/spinoffs, and coffee farmers, cooperatives, associations, traders, and retailers in CALABARZON by implementing key approaches to strengthen the network of stakeholders and processes, increasing volume of production, improving quality of produce, and ensuring sustainable food value chain for coffee.
Also given a thumbs up is the second phase of the Science for Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT) dubbed as SciCAT AVENUES or Access to Value-adding and Engaging iNnovations towards sUstainability of agri-Education and agri-tourSim. It aims to provide avenues in imparting science-based technologies through farm development and technology application in a sustainable way. This project will capacitate Silan AgriFarm and other interested individuals on agri-tourism management, transferring package of technologies, building strong partnerships for sustainable farm tourism services, promoting digital tourism as a marketing strategy, developing tour packages that comply with health protocols, increasing generated income from the production of fresh processed agricultural products, evaluating clients’ feedback as design support mechanism towards continual improvement, and securing Department of Tourism (DOT) accreditation a farm tourism site. Dr. Lilibeth P. Novicio, Professor III of the College of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Natural Resources (CAFENR) will handle the project.
Meanwhile, the DOST-PCAARRD-CvSU Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI) Project was also approved for its second phase of implementation under the supervision of Dr. Almira G. Magcawas, CvSU Director for Extension Services. The project will continue to build a sustainable program that supports the government’s efforts on revitalizing the economy of the country by equipping the incubatees with basic knowledge in agriculture, food technology, marketing, accounting and business management and provide them with facilities and equipment that will support their business operations; assisting in the creation of innovative and sustainable agri-business through the development of cost-effective way to link the research base knowledge of universities and incubates; and assisting in growing the business of the continuing incubatees into a more profitable and sustainable venture by introducing additional technology that will complement their operations and helping them build their market base through customer acquisition among the institution’s linkages. (MMHerrera)
