Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech projects top nat’l R&D symposia
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (November 26, 2013)
The PHilMech project, "Utilization of Mango Peels as Source of Pectin", earned another recognition as it bagged the first prize award at the National Symposium on Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD). The event is the search for the best R&D undertakings from the 14 research and development consortia of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).



Papers were presented on October 9, 2013 at PCAARRD in Los Baños, Laguna while the awarding ceremony was held on November 8, 2013 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City. Dr. Ma. Cristina B. Gragasin, the project leader, presented the paper.




The “Utilization of Mango Peels as Source of Pectin” was chosen as an entry to NSAARRD for research category of the Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLARRDEC) during the 23rd regional R&D symposium held last year.



This research is a collaborative undertaking of Dr. Ma. Cristina B. Gragasin and Engr. Aileen R. Ligisan of the Bio-Process Engineering Division of PHilMech and Dr. Rosalina C. Torres and Mr. Romualdo Estrella of the Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.



The study aims to recover the tons of peelings produced by the mango processing industry and to address its solid waste management. Through this breakthrough, the Philippines can now produce its own pectin requirement and will not depend from foreign market.



Last year, this research also garnered a gold award during the 24th National Research Symposium of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).



Meanwhile, another PHilMech project was recognized at the BAR National Research Symposium held last October 16 and 17 in Quezon City. The project “Establishment of Agricultural Tramlines for Upland Agriculture in the Philippines”, garnered the bronze award for the Development Research- Agriculture Category.



Implemented by the team of Engr. Raul R. Paz and Engr. Bartolome S. Tesorero, the project aimed to improve farm accessibility, increase agricultural productivity, and increase income of farmers. The group established 110 units of tramlines in the remote upland farm areas and benefited 26,000 farmers.



Based on their assessment, they found out that tramline system had reduced hauling costs as much as 50 percent, increased service area coverage and improved productivity in the farm areas. (with reports from Aileen R. Ligisan and PHilMech Tramline Team)