College of Agriculture and Food Science
activated. updated.
August 1-31, 2017 Official Publication of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science
CAFS extensionists join
ATIs consultation
T he members of the Committee on Extension and
the Unified Extension Program of the College of
Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), headed by Dr. Mafeo
B. Bejo, participated in the consultation workshop held last
August 24 at Dioko Farm Resort, San Pablo City, Laguna in
response to the invitation of the Agricultural Training Insti-
tute (ATI).
The workshop was aimed to revalidate the agriculture
and fisheries training and extension (AFE) strategic plan to-
wards the formulation of the regional AFE plans, program
and activities (PPA).
Dr. Andrew G. Gasmen, chief of the Policy and Planning
Division of the ATI Central Office, presented the national
extension agenda and programs (NEAP) for 2018-2022.
The NEAP addresses the need for a unified and harmonized
extension service among the extension providers. The state
universities and colleges (SUCs), as one of the stakeholders
in the NEAP, is mandated to primarily focus on the im-
provement of the capability of the LGU extension service
by providing training programs, technical assistance, exten-
sion cum research activities, monitoring and evaluating the
local government units extension programs, among others.
Mariel Celeste C. Dayanghirang, ATI Region 4-A assis-
tant director, presented ATIs thematic areas, namely: en-
hancing access to AFE knowledge products and services;
strengthening competitiveness and capacities of the agricul-
ture and fisheries sector; expanding partnerships in advanc-
ing excellence in agriculture and fisheries extension delivery;
scaling up agriculture and fisheries extension innovations;
and improving enabling environment and quality of govern-
ance.
In the workshop proper, the participants prepared a
summary of their proposed plans, programs and activities
for 2018-2022 based on the ATI thematic programs. This
wish list of projects will be consolidated by ATI for revali-
dation with the concerned SUCs and to be submitted to the
ATI central office for possible funding through an
approved grant system to be launched in 2018.
Other SUCs represented in the workshop were Cavite
State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University-
Siniloan, University of Rizal System, Southern Luzon State
University-Quezon, and Polytechnic University of the Philip-
pines-Mulanay, Quezon. (Imelda M. Gesmundo)
Volume 6 No. 8
Soybean farmers
visit CAFS
T welve soybean farmers from Regions II, IV-
B, VI, IX and CARAGA visited CAFS last
August 9 through the soybean team of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research
(DA-BAR).
At the Institute of Plant Breeding, they were in-
troduced to the SNAP Hydroponics technology, a
different kind of producing veggies and herbs that
uses water and a nutrient available only at IPB. From
soil less technology, they were also toured at the
production site of the famous corn grits from IPB
Corn Variety 6. They were oriented on how the ce-
real is processed into grits using the machine devel-
oped at UPLB, how it is being prepared into different
delicacies including its benefits to ones health.
At the Dairy Training Research Institute (DTRI),
a power point presentation about DTRIS history, its
function, some dairy products developed by DTRI,
training courses being offered and its contribution to
the dairy industry was conducted. Likewise, the
demo area of forages which serves as source of feed
for ruminants was also shown to them. They also
toured the dairy farm, a learning laboratory for ani-
mal science and veterinary medicine students.
The farmers also visited the processing plant of
the Institute of Food Science (IFST) where different
processing equipment are housed and where IFST
major students conduct their research work. Private
industries also avail of the services of these equip-
ment at very minimal fee. The farmers were also
treated to a taste test of the wines being processed
in the institute, like passion fruit, guyabano and big-
nay. With the pleasant aroma and flavor of these
wines, some of the visitors could not resist buying
some bottles as pasalubong.
The farmers are actually participants in the 13th
Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and
Product Exhibition at DA-BAR, but opted to have a
one-day visit to CAFS for them to see, experience
and learn some of CAFS products, technologies and
services. The said visit was facilitated by the legumes
division of IPB under its project leader, Dr. Elmer E.
Enicola. (IM Gesmundo)
Page 2
IPB conducts training on
crop research methods
T en participants from different institutions
and state universities/colleges in the country
attended a training course on crop research method-
ologies and laboratory techniques conducted by the
Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) last August 21- 25.
Funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Devel-
opment (PCAARRD), the week-long course provided
the participants with essential working knowledge on
the different methodologies and laboratory tech-
niques in conducting research projects in their re-
spective agencies.
Topics discussed by IPB researchers included
basic and practical approaches in crop research, field
plot and blocking techniques, research design and
analysis, applications of in-vitro gene banking, tissue
culture techniques, laboratory biosafety standards and
requirements, diseases and antibody/nucleic acid-
based detection of plant pathogens, mutation breed-
ing, and biochemical/molecular characterization of
crops.
A field trip to Hortanova Farms of East-West
Seed Company and Lipa Agriculture Experiment Sta-
tion, both in Lipa City, Batangas, was conducted for
the participants to learn the activities being done by
these institutions. (Laureano B. Lanosia, Jr.)
DTRI director & forage
expert train farmers
on forage production
D r. Amado A. Angeles, director of the Dairy
Training and Research Institute (DTRI), and
Menandro M. Loresco, ruminant nutrition expert at
DTRI, served as trainors for the farmers during the
Regional Training and Capability-Building on Forage
Establishment, Utilization and Management for Resili-
ent Livestock Production held at the Cagayan State
University (CSU) Lal-lo Campus last August 16-18.
Dr. Angeles discussed the principles and practices in
feed formulation and feeding management for rumi-
nants. He also presented the more advanced feed
technology, the total mixed ration (TMR) which pro-
vides complete nutrition in every bite.
Loresco , a specialist on forage production and
conservation, discussed pasture establishment, forage
production and feed preservation for small and com-
mercial livestock operations. He also supervised the
practicum on pasture establishment and silage making
during the two afternoon sessions.
CAFS Monthly Newsletter
The regional training was participated by almost 80
farmers from Region II. Also present were some faculty
and staff from CSU-Piat campus, Nueva Vizcaya State
University and Quirino State University, and some em-
ployees of the municipal agriculture offices in the area.
Dr. Angeles considered the training as timely in
view of the current challenges on ruminant production
(e.g. low milk and meat production). There is a pres-
sure in the academe to take a pro-active role to in-
crease farm productivity, he said. Directly engaging
the farmers is a straight forward approach to know
their needs and thereby propose solutions to improve
their farm practices and subsequently their standard of
living, he concluded. (Menandro M. Loresco and Myrna S.
Galang)
DTRI personnel taught
living the Gung-Ho Way
Work together! This virtue was emphasized to
the faculty and staff of DTRI by Pastor Jojo Y.
Baldo during the Gung-Ho seminar held last August 30-
31 at the College of Veterinary Medicine building.
Sponsored by PHILCHEMA, in cooperation with
the Lighthouse Leadership Institute, the two-day activity
was aimed to impart to the participants led by DTRI
Director Angeles the concept of Gung-Ho, a Mandarin
word honghe which literally means work together.
This seminar is deemed very timely as DTRI needs
the best efforts from its staff to work together with its
new director in view of the restructuring of the College
of Agriculture, now College of Agriculture and Food
Science. Pastor Baldo explained that the seminar is a
Personal Life Management program. He emphasized that
people think of changing humanity, but nobody thinks
of changing himself. It is therefore hoped that with this
activity, the participants would be part of those who
believe that the inner transformation of their lives is a
goal worthy of best effort. The seminar involved lec-
ture/discussion, video viewing, singing, short prayers,
sharing of experiences and team building games. There
were no dull moments for two days among the partici-
pants. Everybody participated in all the games, some
were seriously talking or listening during the processing
of games and group activities, laughed aloud when jokes
were cracked and some cried in some parts of the
seminar, especially towards the end of the session.
In summary, Pastor Baldo emphasized that living the
Gung-Ho way means having: 1) healthy, life-giving mind-
set, 2) dynamic determination, 3) disciplined habits, 4)
purposed-driven life, and 5) healthy spirituality. Each of
these topics were discussed with sharing from the par-
ticipants. He was hopeful that, after the seminar, every-
one can say, Today and every day, I am going to be a
better version of myself. (MS Galang)
CAFS Monthly Newsletter
DTRI acquires new
dairy processing
equipment
A s part of the Dairy Training and Re-
search Institute (DTRI)s modernization
plan, the following equipment were recently ac-
quired:
Pasteurizer - equipped with a multi-section
plate-type heat exchanger with hygienic stain-
less steel flow plate capable of heating milk
up to 90oC
Homogenizer - designed with two-stage ho-
mogenizing arrangement with a maximum
working pressure of 175 bar
Cream Separator - a centrifuge type solid-
retaining model with a skimming capacity of
0.05% fat residual in skim milk.
In 2014, the Animal and Dairy Sciences Clus-
ter (ADSC) submitted a project proposal for the
upgrading of its dairy facilities at the DTRI to for-
mer Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz. This year,
Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. finally ap-
proved the release of some funds for this project
titled Modernizing the Dairy Production, Pro-
cessing and Quality Control Facilities of ADSC-
CA UPLB Towards a Globally Competitive Philip-
pine Dairy Industry.
With these equipment now installed, the
DTRI dairy processing plant now has a 500-liter
per hour processing capacity for research utiliza-
tion and production of better quality dairy prod-
ucts for consumers. (Angelo M. Tapia/MS Galang)
FEEDBACK
For comments/suggestions, just e- mail:
apolinariolantican@yahoo.com
Editor, CAFS Monthly Newsletter
AgriBookstore, IH Complex,
UPLB Campus, College, Laguna
We welcome articles from every CAFS constituent.
The College of Agriculture and Food Science
Monthly Newsletter
is published through the Office of the Dean,
College of Agriculture and Food Science, UPLB, College, Laguna
Advisers: Dean Enrico P. Supangco
Associate Dean for Instruction Tonette P. Laude
Associate Dean for Research & Extension Jocelyn D. Labios
Editor/Layout Artist: Apolinario L. Lantican
Contributors: Erlinda A. Balot, Myrna S. Galang, Imelda M.
Gesmundo, Laureano B. Lanosia, Jr., Menandro
M. Loresco and Angelo M. Tapia
Circulation Officer: Venecia B. Batain
Page 3
FOREIGN TRAVEL*
Dr. Merdelyn C. Lit, scientist I, Institute of Plant
Breeding (IPB); attended the workshop on Insect Re-
sistance Management of Genetically Modified Organism
in Hoa Binh, Vietnam; August 2-5
Dr. Gil L. Magsino, director, National Crop Protec-
tion Center (NCPC); served as resource person on
herbicide resistance, potential of gene and international
experience on establishing, implementing and monitor-
ing weed resistance management and best practices in
Hoa Binh, Vietnam; August 2-5
Dr. Christian Joseph R. Cumagun, professor, Insti-
tute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology
(IWEP); currently attending a research fellowship at the
University of Goettingen, Germany; August 15, 2017 to
August 14, 2018
Dr. Gina V. Pangga, associate professor, Agricultural
Systems Institute (ASI); presented a paper titled, Char
Quality Generated from Pyrolytic Cook Stove for Rural
Scale Production of Biochar at the International Con-
ference on Organic Agriculture in the Tropics in Yogya-
karta, Indonesia; August 19-25
Dr. Rommel C. Sulabo, professor, Institute of Ani-
mal Science (IAS); served as resource speaker for the
Peak Finishing Program of Elanco Animal Health in Ma-
laysia; August 19-26
Dr. Filma C. Calalo, assistant professor, ASI; attend-
ed a roundtable discussion on the establishment of the
Southeast Asian Rural Advisory Services as side event in
the 2017 Annual Global Forum for Rural Advisory Ser-
vices Meeting (GFRAS) in Jakarta, Indonesia; August 23-
27
*Prepared by Imelda M. Gesmundo and Erlinda A. Balot
Now Available
PhP100.00 only
On sale at
AgriBookstore
IH Complex,
UPLB
Tel: (049) 536-
2379