RDA expert visit to the Philippines

By Estrella Z. Gallardo

Dr. InJeong Kang six-day visit to the Philippines under the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)-Rural Development Administration (RDA) Exchange Scientists/Experts Mission Program on March 28, 2015.

This Exchange of Scientists/Experts Mission Program is an important collaborative activity to facilitate knowledge exchange and experiential learning of both Filipino and Korean scientists/experts on focused areas under the PCAARRD-RDA Work Plan of Cooperation for 2015-2016.

Kang, Research Scientist at the National Institute of Crops Science (NICS) arrived at PCAARRD on March 23, 2015 to acquire information on the extent/incidence of bacterial diseases of rice in the Philippines and to share Korea’s experience in managing the disease.

With Mr. Angelito T. Carpio, Senior Science Research Specialist at the Crops Research Division (CRD), her counterpart expert, Kang visited agencies involved in rice research and development such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

They also met with Dr. Jeong Taek Lee, Director of the Korea Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA) based at PhilRice and some farmers’ groups at Barangay Masalasa, Victoria, Tarlac and PCAARRD-S&T-based Farm (STBF) farmer cooperators.

Kang’s visit also covered the departments and institutes under the University of the Philippines (UPLB) such as the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture (CA); National Crop Protection Center (NCPC); and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH).

In a wrap-up meeting on March 27, 2015, Dr. Kang discussed her recommendations with Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Director of the Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division (PCMD), in relation to possible areas of cooperation based on their visit to selected agencies and field visit in Nueva Ecija.

Kang has committed to share the technology on a diagnostic kit for screening bacterial viruses in rice which she has developed as well as her experience in research with her counterpart scientist/researcher who will visit RDA.

Observing the severity of the bacterial leaf blight (BLB) in rice and its effect on the farmers, Dr. Kang recommended more government support on disease diagnosis, starting with the seeds, as a preventive measure.She also recommended the introduction of Korean disease-resistant varieties in the Philippines and their continuous development through the support of KOPIA and PhilRice.(PSciJourn MegaManila)