BPI-Los Baños marks its 88th anniversary

 

 

 

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA - The Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Baños National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center (BPI-LBNCRD PSC) celebrated its 88^th founding anniversary on November 20-21, 2019.

This year’s theme “Masiglang Agrikultura para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita ng mga Magsasaka” befitted the center’s vision of increasing farmers productivity and profitability,  alleviating poverty through crop research, production of high quality seeds and planting materials and transfer of developed technologies.

Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, BPI Assistant Director, stressed that one of the keys to the center's success is collaboration and good relationship with other government agencies such as DOST-PCAARRD, DA-BAR and the international partners like KOPIA.

BPI Director George Y. Culaste congratulated the center for its accomplishments, especially in the development of new varieties of various lowland vegetables, like mungbean, tomato that will help the farmers achieve “masaganang ani at mataas na kita”.

Dr. Myer G. Mula, Program Director, Special Area for Agricultural Development and Special Adviser, BPI-Research and Seed Systems represented DA Secretary William D. Dar during the event. Dr. Mula shared the vital role of the centers and BPI as a whole in generating and promoting relevant technologies to increase farmers' productivity and attain food security. He added that for the third quarter of 2019 the agriculture sector grew by 2.87 percent under the current leadership of Secretary Dar.

 

 Flora A. Jarilla,  Dr. Herminigilda A. Gabertan, Center Chief of BPI- LBNCRDPSC with guests of honor Dr. George Y. Culaste, BPI-Director; Dr. Woon Goo Ha, Director of KOPIA Center, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Director, DOST PCAARRD; Atty. Bernardo Soriano, Assistant Regional Director DOST IV-A. Mr. Glenn Gerald F. Panganiban, BPI-Assistant Director and Dr. Myer G. Mula, Program Director, Special Area for Agricultural Development and Special Adviser, BPI-Research and Seed System.

 

A few of the highlights of the celebration were the unveiling of Technology Commercialization Center (TCC) Marker and S&S Plaza Goes Scicat Project 3 signage.  TCC is a project funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research  established to strengthen technology promotion and production support activities of the center, showcase developed variety of quality seeds with NSIC  certification and to have a convergence facility for all BPI technologies.

On the other hand, the Seeds and Seedlings (S&S) Plaza is a joint project of BPI-LBNCRDPSC and DOST-PCAARRD under the program Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism (SciCAT). 

            The program also highlighted the contributions of the men and women who worked tirelessly and passionately to achieve the Center’s mission. The most outstanding employees were given recognition. Flora A. Jarilla is the most outstanding employee for Research for varietal development of mungbean;  Mr. Benito M. Sojor for Seed Production while Mr. Eleuterio M. Buctuanon for Administration. 

 

 The anniversary was packed with significant activities that would affect or influence the farmers, students and other stakeholders. Aside from the field tour that showcased the Center’s bountiful landscapes, farmers’ fora were also arranged. Agripreneurship, Good Agricultural Practices, Vegetable Grafting Technology, Mungbean Production were among the topics. 

The event was attended by more than 300 participants from CALABARZON LGUs (Cavite: Alfonso; Laguna: Cabuyao, Kalayaan, Pakil, Pagsanjan, San Pablo, Siniloan;  Batangas: Nasugbu; and Quezon: Pagbilao, Tiaong)  and junior high students from Colegio de Los Baños, LB National High School-Batong Malake and LB National High School-Community.

 

 

 

 

 

Guests and officials with employees and stakeholders in a photo opportunity