The Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT), a bilateral program between the Philippines and the PROChina, is set to resume its Phase 2 operations very soon. Both governments, through the Phil. Dept. of Agriculture and PROC Ministry of Agriculture, have recently approved the sequel program aimed among others, at alleviating rural poverty by increasing farm productivity.
On March 3-4, 2011, the implementing details of the sequel program had been finalized in a workshop participated actively by DA rice program head and the acknowledged rice czar of the country Dr. Santiago R. Obien. Dr. Obien expresses strong support for the immediate continuation of the program as the country under Agri-Pinoy flagship of Pres. Noynoy is cramming for the 2013 self-sufficiency target. Mechanized hybrid rice farming system remains the banner program of PhilSCAT plus rural energy generation project adapting China's household and farm level biogas system.
In the original Phase 2 proposal of PhilSCAT, three more important commodities (as program scope) were added like Shaded Vegetable (Greenhousing system), Freshwater Aquaculture and Rice-Duck Culture. These were, however, deferred mainly because of budget slash on the part of the PROC government. PhilSCAT 2 proponents are keen on working on these added commodities using the local resources. They are currently looking for a mechanism by which these important rural poverty-alleviating strategies be introduced among the Filipino farmers.
Meanwhile, this blogger has signified his interest to work with PhilSCAT 2 after having been involved during the entire Phase 1 in 2003 - 2009 till he retired from his mother unit (PHilMech) last May 2010. (JSF Blogs)
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