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The
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
identified strategies for agricultural development in the Philippines
during its 27th Policy Advisory Council (PAC) and 113th Board of
Management (BOM) meeting last 20-25 May in Canberra and Melbourne,
Australia.
Proactive
project formulation would concentrate mainly in the Visayas and
Mindanao areas.
The
Philippines-ACIAR collaboration is also planning to establish a
Center for R&D Excellence Networks in the two regions. This
is for strengthening horticulture and fisheries projects in Visayas
and Mindanao, respectively.
With
respect to this effort, the BOM approved the implementation of the
project, “Sea ranching and re-stocking sandfish in Asia-Pacific.”
The project would run for five years, with the country as the lead
implementer.
On
the other hand, the Philippines-ACIAR collaboration would propose
a project scoping visit to Northern Luzon as a national priority
concern. This would include project development supporting goat,
dairy animals, and duck-migratory birds programs.
With
the use of economic growth tactic instead of reducing poverty strategy,
the programs to be implemented would focus on increasing productivity,
marketability, and competitiveness of agricultural products. The
use of the technologies will be emphasized.
The
BOM approved the ACIAR Annual Operations Plan and Budget 2007-2008
for the country. This would involve additional funding from the
Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Program (AusAid).
Also
part of the PAC meeting was directing the Philippine R&D system
on major concerns like climate change, water resources for agriculture,
innovation systems, and market development in the trade liberalization
environment. (Pia Paula P. Mateo, S&T Media and Service)
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