A one-day synthesis workshop was conducted toward the closing of the Technology Commercialization on Wheels (TCOW) project implemented by the College of Development Communication in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).
The workshop, which was held on February 9, 2017 at the Drilon Hall of the SEARCA Building in UPLB campus, sought to gather information on good practices noted during the rollout of the project to pilot communities, identify rooms for improvement, and encourage stakeholders to reflect on lessons learned in order to enhance the implementation of similar activities in the future. Results of the workshop would serve as bases for identifying municipalities where the TCOW may be rolled out for its second phase.
Among the participants of the synthesis workshop are the provincial and municipal agriculturists of the 13 pilot areas, farmers/stakeholders, and personnel from various institutional partners who taught project beneficiaries how to maximize livelihood opportunities from their agricultural products.
In her opening remarks, project leader and dean of the UPLB College of Development Communication Ma. Theresa H. Velasco noted that TCOW has affected the lives of farming and fishing communities in Quezon and Albay through its “Roll out to Communities,” where a total of 905 farmers, fisherfolk, and other members of community-based organizations, from 165 barangays, learned innovative agricultural technologies. UPLB Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., for his part, committed the University’s support for projects, such as TCOW, which advances the lives of the people in the community, as articulated in his message delivered on his behalf by Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Serlie Barroga-Jamias.
The event was also graced by UPLBFI Executive Director Casiano S. Abrigo, Jr., and DA-BAR Technology Commercialization Division head Anthony B. Obligado, representing DA-BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.
Focus group discussions during the workshop revolved around the technologies best appreciated and later adopted by the participants, stories of change attributed to the TCOW rollout, significant contributions by the project to the community, and inventory of challenges faced, problems overcome, and solutions that addressed these issues.
TCOW is an initiative to improve local agricultural conditions and enhance the social marketing appeal of agricultural commodities by introducing through a mobile exhibit truck packages of technologies (POTs) to areas that most need them. The project links community stakeholders with the scientists, microfinance institutions, marketing specialists, and other sectors that can help them commercialize POTs related to their respective local commodities.
The project was piloted in the municipalities of Infanta, Lucban, Tiaong, Dolores, Mulanay, San Narciso, Calauag, and Tagkawayan in the province of Quezon and in Tiwi, Guinobatan, Manito, Malilipot, Legazpi City in Albay province. Among its institutional partners are the following: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Animal Industry, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, Southern Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center, Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center,Southern Luzon State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, and Bicol University. (with reports from KAC Anarna)
Text from University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Development Communication