DA eyes agro eco-tourism at research station

FILE: (PNA photo)

DAVAO CITY — The Davao Region Upland Agriculture Research Station (DARUARS) will soon convert its 429-hectare property into an agro eco-tourism area.

This was announced by Department of Agriculture (DA) 1I Assistant Regional Director for Research and Regulations Angelina Pancho, saying the construction of the R&D building in the area starts the many developments in the area.

She said part of the planned development includes: Sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), establishment of building for goat production and development of creeks for fish production.

“This [429-hectare property] has a big potential to become an agro eco-tourism area. We can conduct research about climate resilient crops here and more buildings that can help the farmers as well as the IPs,” Pancho said Friday.

She also said with more buildings to be established, the more jobs will be generated which can help the indigenous people in the area.

Meanwhile, Digna Sandoval, head of Institutional Development Division of Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), said the Multipurpose R&D building is part of the Institutional Development Grant (IDG) by their agency in support to the regional stations under BAR.

DA-BAR funded the P4 million worth multipurpose R&D building which plays a vital role in providing farmers the means of access to the various farming technologies generated from the works of the R&D community.

BAR’s IDG program supports the acquisition of scientific and information technology equipment; including the establishment and renovation of R&D facilities of the National Research and Development System for Agriculture and Fisheries-member institutions.

During the groundbreaking on Wednesday, DA-BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar represented by Sandoval, stressed that BAR supported the R&D edifice to provide conducive working environment for the researchers.

Eleazar hopes that the building will serve its purpose of fostering an environment that will facilitate the easier adoption of new technologies that contribute more effectively to tackling the emerging challenges in agriculture, not only in this region, but in other places as well.

Pancho said the donated building will provide innovative generation and relevant information needed by the farmers. (Cherry Mae Palicte/PNA)