BCAARRD supports Queen Pineapple NICER Program during Inception Meeting

After the conclusion of the program on “Enhancing Productivity and Marketability of Queen Pineapple”, a three-year Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) for Queen Pineapple was conceptualized.

DOST-PCAARRD’s Crops Research Division (CRD) spearheaded and officially started the program through an inception meeting. Project team members and faculty staff from Camarines Norte State College (CNSC); Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCAARRD); representatives from the DOST’s Special Project Division and Science for Change Program’s (S4CP) Project Management Office; and Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) key officials and staff attended the meeting, which was held via Zoom.

According to the article posted by the funding agency, DOST-PCAARRD, the program will be led by Dr. Arlene C. Alegre of CNSC, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 5 (DA-RFO 5).

The said article also discussed how the production of the sweetest variety of pineapple in the Philippines can be traced back to the 50’s, becoming the most popular cash-crop in 12 municipalities and 282 barangays in Camarines Norte.

However, with the booming demand, came the inadequate agricultural mechanization, pest infestation, and inadequate knowledge in postharvest processing methods are experienced by Queen pineapple growers.

These difficulties led the DOST-PCAARRD to tap agencies and establish the Queen Pineapple NICER Program.

Moreover, on the said article, the Queen Pineapple R&D Center will focus on the management and detection of pests, enhance the cultural practices of the farmers, disseminate technologies with consideration to gender relations, and transfer of viable technologies. (Julianne Nicolle G. Moral, SRA, BCAARRD)