ORIENTAL Mindoro’s newly converted state university is taking leadership in Calamansi research and development (R&D) in the province.
Mindoro State University’s (MinSU) researches on sustainable agriculture particularly in calamansi are currently being intensified to boost calamansi production.
These serve as significant materials for the university to seek fund grants from institutions like Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development through the Mimaropa Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium, Department of Science and Technology (DoST), Department of Agriculture, Batangas State University and others.
Through researches on technology utilization/commercialization and marketing of calamansi value-added products, the gaps along the calamansi value chain in the province have been successfully addressed.
For instance, MinSU’s research titled “Upgrading the Calamansi Value Chain towards Improving the Calamansi Industry on Oriental Mindorom,” which is now on its final stage, received project fund grants amounted to P9.994 million.
Another calamansi research in the province with a P388,568 funding is currently headed by Anane R. Sereñina, Calamansi R&D Project In-charge. The said project involves assessment on the introduced season technologies practiced by calamansi farmers in Oriental Mindoro, as well as identification of heavy metal contamination in soil, plant tissue and processed calamansi in the province.
Funding institutions such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed strong support to revitalize calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro through the study on “Pests and Diseases of Calamansi Industry in Oriental Mindoro” headed by Macario Masagca, Jr., director for research and concurrent project In-charge. The initiative is specifically funded by the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Program at P2 million.
Another project will be the massive distribution of calamansi seedlings in Oriental Mindoro to be headed by Dr. Christian Apostol, director for production and business Operations and concurrent project In-charge.
Through the established linkage with Batangas State University BRIDGES or Building Research and Innovation Development for Engineering SUCs, a P908,200 project will aslso be conducted by the team headed by Dean John Edgar Anthony of the College of Computer Studies who will lead on the research titled “Development of Geographical Information System Calamansi Plantation in Oriental Mindoro.”
DOST Mimaropa Regional Director and member of the Board of Regents Dr. Ma. Josefina Abilay provided substantial insights in the facilitation of DOST R&D Lead Project “Strengthening the Research and Development Capabilities of the Faculty and Researchers of Calamansi R&D in MinSU” with the expected submission of the following research proposals on Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER).
She elaborated relevant factors to consider inlcuding the development of calamansi off-season production technology; monitoring, evaluation and control of Hualongbing bacterial disease, dragon scale fern and rind borer; innovative, technologies on post-harvest handling and storage; calamansi product and development and by-product utilization.
“These are intended to help calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro by developing market-driven socially acceptable and suitable technologies that can enhance productivity and efficiency of calamansi industry,” Abilay said.
All these R&D initiatives for calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro are headed by Dr. Levy Arago, SUC president 3, and RDE team of Dr. Christian Anthony Agutaya, vice president for research, development and extension.