Affirmed by its ISO 900:2000 certification, the Council continued to make progress in its S&T anchor programs, integrated R&D, biotechnology, and R&D results utilization efforts.

The S&T anchor program on mango addressed technological bottlenecks in production, particularly disease management, postharvest handling, and flower induction. Policy and trade-related issues in mango marketing were also given answers.

Other new technologies and knowledge generated in 2004 were from projects that included research, development, and extension project for smallholderbanana growers in Luzon; packaging techniques for acrrots and cabbages; cultivating indigenous vegetables; diagnosingabaca diseases; using environment-friendly methods to control spder mites that wreak havoc on coconuts; commercially producing makapuno seedlings; interventions for improving swine and poultry, beekeeping of Aetas in Kanawan in Morong, bataan; natural dye research in Aklan; bamboo production; sustaining the raw materials for the furniture and handicraft industries; minimizing off-site impacts of pesticides in two Southern Tagalog watersheds; and the farming systems' evolution toward sustainable agriculture and rural development in Nueva Ecija.

Biotechnology-based R&D work on banana, mango, papaya, livestock, and forest tree species continued to make headway. Policy advocacy for biotechnology awareness was also high in the agenda in 2004.

It also provided technical support to a University of the Philippines Diliman study, which concluded that successful extension delivery depends on strategic leadership and commitment of the local executive in sustaining the devolved tasks. SImilar suport was provided on a project that looked into the agribusiness suply chain of small agricultural producers in Mindanao.

In terms of knowledge and technlogy diffusion, the Council relied on its Techno Gabay Program which with its various modalities. Nineteen more Farmers' Information and Tcehnology Services centers were launched in 2004.

PCARRD made use of its technology assessment protocols for better technology promotion in the regions. It assisted micro, small, and medium enterprises in packaging proposals. By way of sending resource persons, it lent support to intellectual property management in the national agricultural research system.

The Council was also focused in its community commitments on protecting soil
and water resources as well as generating livelihood opportunities.

Among the natural resource management initiatives included the post-mission activities of the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program; Mapawa watershed project of the Management of Soil Erosion Consortium; Trichoderma-based compost and organic fertilizer production; and the sloping land management project on the conservation farming villages in Batangas and Camarines Sur.

On generating livelihood opportunities, the Council worked with the International Livestock Research Institute and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in helping Mindanao farmers test and adopt appropriate livestock technologies. The gains from the Crop-Animal System Research and Extension Network project, where more farmers have adopted the integrated approach to goat production, also continued. It also began a rural enterprise development on goat production in Nueva Vizcaya.

Meanwhile, with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Council led a cross-country assessment of the sustainable parasite control in small livestock in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Sustained linkages and partnerships with local and international organizations drew up nearly P40 million in fund support. The amount went to agencies implementing R&D projects.

On human and institutional resource development, PCARRD had its hands full in supporting the secretariat, regional consortia, and the country at large. Part of its management strategy has been the continuing education and award system
for the regional consortia and the secretariat.

This year, the Council invested P16.6 million in the 14 consortia for their operations. It assisted 78 agencies in their AIHRs and sectoral/commodity reviews. R&D papers presented in these reviews and retrieved for the PCARRD database totaled 1,593.

The Council also continued to produce information, education, and communication materials, including 50 publications and 218 press releases. It conducted 30 field/live interviews on radio and released 98 radio clips aired over 15 radio stations. Three events were aired on television. Also included in its
information dissemination initiatives were 4,011 clients received; 2,449 individuals briefed; and two exhibits produced.

PCARRD also continued to fine-tune its strategic plans and programs on
information and communication technology such that the delivery of e-based
knowledge and technology for the secretariat and the regional consortia was
optimized.

In keeping with its quality management system, PCARRD boldly went into
rationalization mode. Its plan was guided by three principles––effectiveness,
efficiency, and accountability—essentially addressing the President’s ten-point
agenda and the Medium-term Philippine Development Plan.

With the rationalization, the Council realigned its Corporate Plan 2005–2010 to
focus on four key strategic programs, namely: knowledge and technology
generation; R&D results utilization; policy research and advocacy; and R&D
governance.

An offshoot of the impending changes that began in 2004 was the need to craft new policy directions for 2005. Among other plans, the Council will aggressively take a proactive stance in its coordinative role in R&D results utilization. The Council will also explore innovative means to better execute the programming and allocation of funds for R&D in the AFNR sectors. And it will continue to advocate measures to improve the level of investments and the institutional environment for S&T in AFNR.