Pangasinan’s pride in Agricultural Research

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

UNKNOWN to many residents of Pangasinan, this province could take pride in five scientists who, despite their relatively young age, have already distinguished themselves in agriculture research.

They are Dr. Eulito U. Bautista, Dr. Madonna Carbon Casimero, Dr. Jovita Datuin, Danilda Hufana-Duran, and Dr. Edgar M. Orden.  Bautista and Casimero are from Balungao and internationally renowned scientists at the Philippine Rice Research Institute [PhilRice] in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Datuin is from San Carlos City, while Duran is from San Fabian.  Orden was born and raised in San Manuel where his mother comes from. Datuin, Duran and Orden are award-winning researchers in animal science.

Bautista received the Doctor of Philosophy in agricultural science from the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki, Japan through a Ronpaku fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He graduated with the bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural engineering from UP Los Baños. He has already designed and developed agricultural machines that cater to the needs of Filipino farmers.

He has led in the development and commercialization of the following technologies: mini-combine rice harvester, PhilRice improved drumseeder, rice micromill, multi-crop flourmill, Maligaya flatbed dryer, Maligaya rice hull household stove, PhilRice-JICA RICE rotary reaper, PhilRice rice stripper, microtiller for the rice terraces, seed cleaner for hybrid rice, and a panicle thresher for the Cordilleras.

As a multi-awarded scientist, Bautista has received the prestigious PAGASA Award from the Civil Service Commission as co-team leader in the development of agricultural machinery for rice production.  He has also received the Most Distinguished Invention award from the DOST, a development award from the Los Baños Science Community for his research on the rice stripper-harvester, the outstanding agricultural engineer award from the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers [PSAE], and an achievement award from IRRI.

Likewise, he was named by the DOST in 1993 as one of nine outstanding inventors and selected by PhilRice in 1994 as its best researcher [level 2].  He was also one of the three national finalists in the Gawad Saka search for outstanding Department of Agriculture scientist in 1996.

Moreover, he has won a good number of awards from the PSAE, the regional research and development consortium, and the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Bautista’s microtiller and panicle thresher are now making an impact in the rugged Cordillleras where farms are terraced and the only means to mill palay is by the on traditional mortar and pestle. The microtiller can easily move the terraces, as it can be transferred by only two persons from one terrace to another, up or down. No less than the congressman and governor of Ifugao have bought 25 microtillers each and distributed them to farmers in different towns.

The micromill saves Cordillera rural villagers from carrying their palay to distant village centers where big rice mills operate.

On the other hand, the PhilRice-JICA rotary reaper has created interest among farmers who need mechanized harvesting as an alternative during peak periods.  It was developed as an alternative to expensive imported designs and is 40 to 50 percent lower in cost.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments