MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (December 15, 2025) — Researchers and farmers held the 37th Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights (RSRDH) from Nov. 27 to 28 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) to coordinate research and field applications aimed at strengthening agriculture and livelihoods

The two-day event, organized by the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (NOMCAARRD), highlighted tilapia, coffee, and rice, the region’s priority commodities for varietal improvement and technology upgrading to meet market requirements.

It brought together government agencies, research institutions, and farmer partners to present research results, demonstrate technologies, and support the application of innovations at the farm level.

NOMCAARRD Director Maria Estela B. Detalla said the consortium supports technology adoption for tilapia, coffee, and rice through coordination with local government units and field-based programs. These include municipal rice demonstration farms, community tilapia grow-out sites, and coffee rehabilitation programs implemented by LGUs with farmer groups to apply research outputs.

“The symposium featured field-tested technologies, practical demos in tilapia farming, rice production, coffee rejuvenation, and on-site consultations to guide farmers and fisherfolk to adopt new practices,” Detalla said.

Also, the event presented ongoing programs such as tilapia pond and hatchery management, rice varietal improvement under the Rice Industry Strategic Enhancement (RISE) program, and integrated coffee development covering intercropping, tree regeneration, and tissue-culture propagation.

“Our technologies focus on these crops and species. Involving farmers ensures research meets real needs and delivers practical benefits. This year, the symposium introduced the Regional Institution on Research and Development Product and Technology Exhibit, showcasing tools and practices that farmers and entrepreneurs can adopt or commercialize,” Detalla added.

Department of Science and Technology Deputy Executive Director Melvin B. Carlos said that research should translate into social and economic outcomes.

“Resilience is not just bouncing back. It is reducing risks, recovering quickly, and moving forward stronger,” Carlos said, citing climate disruptions and market challenges such as fluctuating farmgate prices, oversupply during peak harvests, and rising production costs.

Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan said the symposium serves as a venue for aligning research with field requirements.

He said this is done by matching technologies with farmers’ priority needs, including improved fish strains, higher-yielding and stress-tolerant rice varieties, improved coffee planting materials, disease management approaches, and cost-efficient production systems.

“It strengthens agriculture and natural resources through collaboration and innovation, showcasing breakthroughs that benefit farmers, fisherfolk, and rural communities,” Pacamalan said.

He also cited developments such as faster-growing tilapia strains, saline- and drought-tolerant rice varieties, and laboratory-enhanced coffee seedlings.

NOMCAARRD also held a media conference to help link research outputs with community applications.

DA-10 Senior Science Research Specialist Mae Odimyrl Morales reported updates on rice research, including traditional lines, saline-tolerant varieties, and RISE technologies.

NMACLRC Chief Kersten Pagalan presented coffee initiatives. “We are rejuvenating old coffee trees and intercropping with coconut to help farmers increase income,” Pagalan said, adding that improvements in the tissue-culture laboratory support the production of planting materials.

SCIECOMM Cluster Coordinator Lucerne M. Razalo said that partnerships support research output dissemination. “Media amplifies knowledge and strengthens collaboration, ensuring scientific work delivers real benefits to communities,” she said. (LGDB, GIP/PIA-10/Bukidnon)