systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...
systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...
systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...
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The remarkable performance of <strong>the</strong> technology for a two-crop system under<br />
<strong>the</strong> KABSAKA Project in Iloilo encouraged multilocation testing of <strong>the</strong> technology<br />
in o<strong>the</strong>r parts of <strong>the</strong> country. This gave rise to o<strong>the</strong>r projects such as KASATINLU<br />
in South Cotabato (1979), MATISAYON in North Cotabato (1979),<br />
MANBILAYKA in Pangasinan, and ZAMDUGANI in Zamboanga del Sur.<br />
The lessons and experience generated from <strong>the</strong>se projects became <strong>the</strong> basis<br />
for <strong>the</strong> development of cropping <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> n~ethodology in <strong>the</strong> Philippines.<br />
During this period, fur<strong>the</strong>r testing of <strong>the</strong> cropping <strong>systems</strong> methodologies was<br />
undertaken in projects such as <strong>the</strong> Agusan, Bukidnon, Capiz (ABC) Settlement<br />
Project, Philippine-Australian Development Assistance Program (PADAP), Bicol<br />
River Basin Development Pro'ect (BRBDP), and Samar Integrated Rural<br />
Development Project (SIRDP~.<br />
Activities on cropping-<strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> and development were expanded<br />
through <strong>the</strong> Rainfed Agriculture Development (Iloilo) Project (RADIP). This<br />
extended <strong>the</strong> KABSAKA project in Iloilo, and in 1951, established Rainfed<br />
Agriculture Development Outreach Sites (RADOS) in provinces with vast areas of<br />
rainfed rice: Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Mindoro Oriental, Leyte, Iloilo, Bohol, Davao<br />
Sur, South Cotabato, and North Cotabato. The site staff came from <strong>the</strong> Ministry of<br />
Agriculture and Food (MAF) and technical staff and support came from UPLB,<br />
IRRI, BPI, and NFAC. The lessons and experiences gained from RADOS were <strong>the</strong><br />
basis for <strong>the</strong> national technology verification program of <strong>the</strong> RIARS in 1983-88 and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Research and Outreach Sub-Project of <strong>the</strong> Accelerated Agricultural Production<br />
Project (AAPP-ROS) in 1958-91.<br />
The N'ational Technology Verification Program was <strong>the</strong> prime activity and<br />
thrust of <strong>the</strong> RIARS. The RIARS was created under <strong>the</strong> agricultural-<strong>research</strong><br />
component of <strong>the</strong> Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) in 1991. The<br />
objective of <strong>the</strong> project was to streng<strong>the</strong>n essential services in agriculture,<br />
particularly <strong>research</strong>. It also paved <strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong> reorganization of <strong>the</strong> different<br />
bureaus and agencies of <strong>the</strong> DA (e.g., BAEX, BPI, BS, and BAI) to give more<br />
responsibility to <strong>the</strong> regional offices for faster dissemination of agricultural<br />
technologies. All efforts centered on cropping <strong>systems</strong> technologies because<br />
<strong>research</strong> developed from problem identification in <strong>the</strong> target sites to technology<br />
generation, adaptation, verification, and finally technology dissemination.<br />
Subsequently, crop-livestock integration activities were added in 1985.<br />
Although most efforts were geared toward cropping <strong>systems</strong> activities, s(?i-!zi<br />
projects also focused on FSR&D. These projects include <strong>the</strong> USAID-supported<br />
Farming Systems Development Project - Eastern Visayas (FSDP-EV), <strong>the</strong> Farming<br />
Systems Development Project - Bicol (FSDP-Bicol), and o<strong>the</strong>r projects under <strong>the</strong><br />
Rainfed Resources Development Project - I1 (RRDP).<br />
The historical development of FSR&D in <strong>the</strong> Philippines had three critical<br />
stages: multiple cropping, cropping <strong>systems</strong>, and farming <strong>systems</strong>. The KABSAKA<br />
project made valuable contributions to <strong>the</strong> development of cropping <strong>systems</strong> R&D<br />
(which was subsequently developed into FSR&D) and to <strong>the</strong> development of