The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) has bared the science and technology interventions that resulted in the improved production of Bicol’s “Tree of Hope”.
Project leader Dr. Lester M. Narvaez demonstrates asexual propagation techniques to plant propagators on March 8–9, 2021 as part of the project, “Enhancing Pilinut Propagation and Distribution System” (BUCAF, Guinobatan, Albay/DOST-PCAARRD)
The DOST-PCAARRD bared the launch of websites— Pili Information System and Marketplace, which serves as an e-commerce site for pili products and knowledge bank for all updates on the local pili industry.
The two websites were developed by Partido State University (ParSU) and are now available for public access.
The Pili Information System can be accessed at http://pili-nicer.parsu.edu.ph/, while the Pili marketplace can be accessed at http://pilimarketplace.parsu.edu.ph/home.
The launch of Pili Information System and Marketplace is one of the notable outputs of Pili Research and Development (R&D) Center under the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) of the DOST.
Under the program, 80 farmers from Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Masbate have also been trained on pili asexual propagation by experts from Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF).
The DOST-PCAARRD also noted that BUCAF also developed five newly improved designs of pili sorter, depulper, cracker, testa remover, and oil extractor to assist the farmers in pili processing.
It said the upgraded BUCAF’s Plant Pathology Laboratory facility equipped the research team to conduct quality standard procedures for pili nuts diagnosed with Tayangawon disease.
"Currently, BUCAF is in the process of identifying pili varieties/accessions with promising characteristics. They have initially characterized 140 trees in the province of Albay and processed collected samples of pili nuts and kernels,” the Council said.
“Bio-fertilizer protocol for early growth stages of fruit-bearing pili nut trees is underway.”
The DOST-PCAARRD also cited that the team from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) has almost completed the map of pili farms in the region
“More than 4,000 pili farms across the Bicol region were surveyed,” it said.
The outputs were presented during the Annual Program Review of the DOST Accelerated R&D Program for Capacity Building of Research and Development Institutions and Industrial Competitiveness: Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) titled, “Pili Research & Development Center” via video conferencing. This is in preparation for the third year implementation of the Pili R&D Center.
The Pili R&D Program is spearheaded by the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCAARRD) Consortium Director Marissa N. Estrella and is monitored by DOST-PCAARRD.