Options in the eighties for Philippine agriculture and resources research in support of rural development / by Lilia O. Faigmane

Thesis (Ph.D. - - Community Development) University of the Philippines, College, Laguna.

Includes bibliographical references.

LILIA 0. FAIGMANE, University of the Philippines at Los Bafios, March 1982, in the Eighties for Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research in Support of Rural Development, Dr. Obdulia F. Sison.

This study was conceived mainly to determine what lies in the Eighties for the national agriculture and resources research system (NARS). The following ten evaluation para meters were used: functions, scope, priorities, present resources and responsibilities, autonomy, facilities, staffing, coordination, liaison with extension and development-oriented services and international linkages. Seventy-one agency heads of select members of the NARS both at the central offices (CO) and eight randomly selected regional offices (RO) were interviewed with the aid of an interview schedule, They represented three sectors: development planning, research implementation and research ugers/beneficiaries, The findings of this study were analyzed in conjunction with the findings of eight review programs/studies previously conducted on the NARS by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research (PCARR) and by other agencies during the period 1972-81. During this time, the NARS under the leadership of the PCARR which was mandated by Philippine laws to act as its overall manager, undertook a number of organizational
innovations.

The findings of this study support those of the studies conducted on the functions of the NARS under the PCARR'a leadership, In general, the rbepotiients of this study indicated that the functions of the NARS under the PCARR'g leadership have to extend from research identification/ generation to research validation/technology packaging to technology dissemination/ utilization. Thus, the NARS under the PCARR'g leadership has to take a more assertive and aggressive role in ensuring that the research/ technology continuum is indeed completed while at the same time avoid duplication of existing agency functioning. The NARS under the PCARR'g leadership has to give priority attention to the strengthening of the last two phases of the research/ technology continuum, to applied research, to social science research and to duly approved research and research-related activities of the PCARR network members, Accordingly, the findings of this study point to the following: firstly, the NARS under the PCARR's leadership hag to intensify its working linkages with the extension arm of the government; secondly, the PCARR network of national, regional
and local research centres/stations/consortia hag to be activated to meet the felt need for extending the PCARR's role in regional and local agriculture and resources research management; and thirdly, considering ever-limited funding support, the overall management and operation of the NARS under the PCARR's leadership needs improvement, more particularly its policies on research planning and priority- setting of goals and resources.

On the whole, the research information and technology packages generated by the NARS can be productively utilized in hastening the successful completion of agricultural, rural and national development undertakings. The organization of the NARS itself, including its research management technologies, may prove useful to development planners and implementers ina mutually beneficial manner,

Management-wise, the PCARR'g coordinative role requires further examination to determine whether this is in fact suitable given the functions it was mandated to discharge

Submitted to the University Library 01/07/1994 T-1439