BAR, SLSU-JGE collaborate for a project to boost Philippine herbs and spices

Realizing the importance and the income-generating possibilities that herbs and spices have to offer, researchers from the Southern Luzon State University-Judge Guillermo Eleazar (SLSU-JGE), based in Tagkawayan, Quezon proposed a research development and extension (RDE) project optimizing the agribusiness potentials of the Philippine herbs and spices.

The project, “Production, Processing, and Marketing of Herbs and Spices” which will be carried out with support from the National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP), one of the banner programs of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), was formally initiated with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar, and SLSU-JGE College Administrator Cesar Nazareno. Serving as witnesses to the agreement were representatives from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tagkawayan, Quezon headed by Hon. Jose Jonas A. Frondoso, municipal mayor, and Mr. Rolando Mendoza, municipal agricultural officer, together with Ms. Evelyn Juanillo, BAR research coordinator.

The highlight of the event was the handing over of BAR's initial funding support to the new SLSU-JGE project to Mr. Cesar Nazareno of SLSU-JGE. In the same venue, SLSU-JGE also received the second release of the budget for their two continuing projects, namely: “Dilis-Fortified Malunggay Powder” and “Herb-Enhanced Smoked Tamban”.

In return, SLSU-JGE College Administrator Cesar Nazareno, on behalf of the faculty members of SLSU-JGE, expressed his gratitude to the bureau for its continuous support to their RDE projects. Likewise, Mayor Frondoso, in his message of support to the project, also thanked the bureau, specifically Dr. Eleazar, for the continuous assistance being rendered to the municipality.

Serving as the event’s guest speaker, BAR Dir. Nicomedes P. Eleazar, mentioned the importance of the indigenous herbs and spices not only for domestic but also for commercial purposes. In his speech, he also presented other BAR-funded projects on indigenous crops that, after being properly packaged and commercialized, proved to be highly marketable and profitable.

“Let us not forget the very purpose of why we are doing R&D—that is to do research, not for research’s sake alone, but also to spread the good news from research so that others can benefit from it,” explained Dr. Eleazar. Mara Shyn M. Valdeabella, DA-BAR