C. Visayas research consortium wraps 

up Bohol exhibit on agri-tech adoption

Rey Anthony Chiu 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — A regional consortium of 24 institutions on March 24 terminated its three-day exhibit showcasing locally developed agricultural technologies and food products, as it pushed for wider adoption of research-based innovations among farmers and fisherfolk in Central Visayas.

The Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC) held its BIDA ASENSO exhibit from March 23 to 25 at Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City.

The event featured machinery, smart farming applications, newly developed food products, and post-harvest technologies for agriculture and aquaculture.

BIDA ASENSO stands for Bridging Innovations and Development of Agri-Aqua Natural Resources Advancing Science, Technology, and Enterprises for Sustainable Opportunities.

This year’s theme was “Research with Impact, Bridging Innovation, Community and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources.”

“We promote new products which are innovations through research and development from our consortium member institutions — from the academe, the Department of Agriculture, and other agencies that produce research-based products,” said CVAARRDEC technology transfer coordinator Margie Avenido.

The exhibit highlighted 12 of the region’s innovative products and machinery, with contributions from the DA-Agricultural Promotions Center, Palayamanan associations, the Philippine Carabao Center, Cebu Normal University, Green Gardens of Hope, Crabtastic, Negros Oriental State University, and Bohol Island State University.

Activities included technology pitching, farmers’ success stories, a product launch, and a series of science communication contests covering reels, event video highlights, Facebook posting, feature writing, information and education materials production, video testimonials, and vlogging — all centered on farmers, products, and agricultural innovations.

CVAARRDEC science communication coordinator Beverly Derita said research must be grounded in problems identified at the community level.

“What is important is for our researchers to go down to the grassroots, to the farmers and fisherfolk, to discover the problem where research could provide the solutions — and at the same time, farmers should be cooperative and collaborative,” Derita said.

She stressed that research without adopters loses its value, underscoring the exhibit’s role in closing the gap between innovation and practice.

CVAARRDEC is a member of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The consortium helps member institutions develop research proposals submitted to DOST for possible funding, covering agriculture, fisheries, aquatic resources, forestry, and the environment.

“We have the same goals to develop our agriculture sector, so we hope our farmers will adopt the existing technologies which our institutions have innovated — and that is why we are here,” Derita said. (RAHC/PIA Bohol)

Members of the Bohol Palayamanan Farmers Federation display locally produced farm products and Palayamanan farming technologies at their booth during the BIDA ASENSO exhibit at Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City. The three-day event, organized by the Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium, ran March 23 to 25. (Photo courtesy of Bohol Palayamanan Farmers Federation/ Facebook)