Published September 21, 2024 by Campus Information Office
Cagayan State University-Gonzaga (CSU-Gonzaga) was awarded a ₱5 million grant from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) to fund a new research initiative aimed at enhancing the availability of quality planting materials for selected horticultural crops in the province of Cagayan. The project, titled “Increasing the Availability of Quality Planting Materials of Selected Horticultural Crops Through Tissue Culture Propagation in Cagayan,” will focus on the tissue culture propagation of Lakatan bananas, pineapples, and lowland potatoes.
The project plans to establish two nurseries accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), with a production capacity of at least 30,000 planting materials annually starting from the first year. Accreditation is expected by the project's second year.
An inception meeting, held on September 13 at the MABRIC Conference Hall, marked the official launch of the project. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including project leaders, researchers, beneficiaries, and local government units (LGUs) from various municipalities such as Gonzaga, Sta. Teresita, and Sta. Ana.
In his opening remarks, CSU-Gonzaga CEO Dr. Froilan A. Pacris, Jr. highlighted the campus's research achievements, including a recently completed project on Swine Multiplier in June 2024. He emphasized the campus's collaborative spirit, referring to the CSU community as “Tangkiran,” which continuously strives to create impactful research and extension projects.
Dr. Pacris also provided attendees with a detailed overview of the new horticulture project, discussing its background, methodology, expected outputs, and plans for sustainability. In addition, DA-BAR representative Ms. Hannah Nicole Silva outlined coordination strategies between the funding agency and CSU to ensure smooth project implementation.
Local Government leaders, including Buguey Mayor Honorable Lucerio Antiporda III, along with various farmers' associations and cooperatives, expressed their full support for the project, acknowledging its potential to improve the local agricultural sector.
Notable attendees included CSU officials such as former President and current university consultant Dr. Urdujah G. Alvarado, Dr. Ana Marie Cauilan, Vice President for Internationalization, Partnership, and Resource Mobilization and Dr. Verdict Gonzales, Faculty Representative to the CSU Board of Regents.
Online and onsite participants from the Department of Agriculture, DA Regional Field Office 2, and various farmers' cooperatives also showed their support by signing a tarpaulin symbolizing the commitment to the project's success.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Alvarado met with CSU-Gonzaga's student leaders, encouraging them to document their plans and develop proposals for future projects. As a consultant to the university, she pledged to help source funds to bring these student initiatives to life.
The project's overall aim is to empower the region's agricultural community by providing access to quality planting materials, boosting crop productivity, and ensuring sustainable horticultural practices across Cagayan.
For more updates on campus activities and accomplishment, visit the Official website of CSU-Gonzaga through this link: https://gonzaga.csu.edu.ph/
Photos: Office of the Campus MIS