Convergence with state universities, colleges to maximize agricultural investment in Caraga

The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Caraga’s I-PLAN component held a scoping session with state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Caraga region on November 7-8, 2023, at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

The session aims to strengthen the component’s partnerships with research institutions, particularly in funding research on priority commodities in the region which will in turn serve as input for its Value Chain Analyses (VCA).

The VCA is a DA-PRDP tool used to maximize agricultural investments by providing analysis on how best to create value along the segments of the chain, resulting in benefits for various actors including producers, processors, traders, and distributors.

Representatives from the Caraga State University (CSU) Main Campus and Cabadbaran Campus, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT), and the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) Lianga Campus presented their proposals for research studies, which included the conduct of Rapid Market Appraisals on Mangrove Crabs and Lobsters and a Profiling of the Kaong Industry in Caraga.

I-PLAN Component Head Roberto R. Hipolao Jr. emphasized convergence as a crucial strategy in attaining the component’s objectives, further noting how the session marks only the beginning of DA-PRDP’s partnerships with research institutions in Caraga.

Moving forward, chosen studies will be funded by PRDP Caraga’s I-PLAN component, which will in turn serve as crucial input for the crafting of its VCAs on lobsters, crabs, and kaong.

The VCA is a DA-PRDP tool used to maximize agricultural investment by providing analysis on how best to create value along the segments of the chain.