A total of 52 participants from Western Visayas Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC), Capiz State University (CapSU), University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 7 (DA-RFO 7), Cebu Technological University (CTU), Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO 8), Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), and Visayas State University (VSU). Dr. Victor Rodulfo Jr., Research Specialist, and Dr. Jose Nestor Garcia, Training Needs Assessment and Capacity Building Specialist, led the FGDs in Regions 6 and 7, and Region 8, respectively.
The activity revealed that in WESVIARC and CapSU of Region 6, research studies are primarily on natural sciences. WESVIARC focuses on high value crops (mango and banana), rice, corn, vegetables (ampalaya), soybean and mungbean while CapSU concentrates on fisheries and irrigation. On the other hand, research studies in UPV are more on physical/natural and social sciences with particular emphasis on fisheries and aquaculture.
In Region 7, FGD revealed that research studies of DA-RFO 7 and CTU are primarily on physical/natural sciences studies. Both institutions rated the value of collaboration to the success of the research as very significant.
In terms of setting the goal and direction of the research projects, institutions in Region 8 have varying approaches: (i) VSU is anchored to their strategic plan but encourages collaborating agencies to contribute, (ii) ESSU allows the collaborating agencies to identify, and (iii) DA-RFO 8 sets the goal and direction of their research projects.
In providing leadership, the three institutions differ from each other. DA-RFO 8 provides the leadership for projects under the national program; but for projects that requested them to collaborate, the partner institution usually leads the initiative. In ESSU, the funding agency provides the leadership in the collaboration. VSU, on the other hand, sets an agreement with their partner/collaboratoron who leads, as this is a big responsibility. (Lyndon A. Peña)