WESVAARRDEC joins DOST-PCAARRD SIPAG FIESTA exhibits and bazaar

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo visiting the consortium's exhibit booth

The Western Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVAARRDEC)  joined the SIPAG FIESTA Exhibits and Bazaar held last March 2-4, 2016 at DOST-PCAARRD complex, Los Baños, Laguna. The activity was conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) to showcase the best of the Council's agri-aqua research and development (R&D) outputs generated from 2010 to 2016.

SIPAG stands for Strategic Industry S&T Program for Agri-Aqua Growth and FIESTA means Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda.

The event featured exhibits from the regional consortia and Los Baños Science Community as well as a Techno Forum on livestock, aquatic, forestry and natural resources, and crops sectors. The event also included technology demonstrations on artificial insemination on goat, use of portable milking machine in dairy buffalo, swine RFID and remote sensing, and organic farming.

4x4 sq. inches Laminated Bamboo Woven Coaster

WESVAARRDEC, as part of the regional consortia exhibit showcased the new technology on lamination and stiffening of bamboo woven coasters and panel boards featuring the authentic bamboo woven products of Maasin, Iloilo, the leading manufacturer of bamboo products in the region. Another commodity of the region showcased by the consortium was the food products from Aklan State University. These food products featured, the sago spread and maja de sago, were made using the sago flour produced from sago (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) palm.

From left: Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut (KMC Coordinator); Bethel D. Bacabac, 
Research Assistant; Dr. Noeni S. Nepomuceno, Consortium Director; Dr. Lelisa
Teodosio, ASU. On the right most is a professor from UPV visiting the 
consortiums booth.

Participants from the consortium were spearheaded by the consortium director, Dr. Noeni S. Nepomuceno, along with Dr. Reynaldo N. Dusaran and Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut as the consortium's new cluster coordinators in Technology Transfer Cluster and Knowledge Management Cluster respectively.

The SIPAG FIESTA Exhibits and Bazaar were attended by students, teachers, PCAARRD, partner agencies, farmers and fisherfolk, research and development workers, and DOST officials and staff. (BDB)

More Exhibit Photos

WESVAARRDEC's Bazaar booth for product selling

The exhibitor explains to the participants how the sago flour is made out of sago (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) palm.

DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo wearing the salakot handicrafted from Maasin, Iloilo.

The exhibitors preparing the sample food products for food tasting.