MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is funding five research and development (R&D) projects being undertaken by scientists of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA).

BAR Director Nicomedes Eleazar said the five newly-approved projects are: 1) Pigeon Pea R&D Project; 2) Ethnobotanical Survey, Uses, Phytochemical Analysis, Production and Conservation of Indigenous Plants In Camarines Sur; 3) The Use of Organic Selenium, Probiotics, Prebiotics and their Combinations against Coccidiosis in Free Range Chicken; 4) Antidiarrheal Action of Amarillong Gubat (Bidens pilosa L.) against Salmonella entiritidis in Weaner Piglets, and 5) Pre and Postharvest Technology for Taro in the Bicol Region.

During a recent inception meeting with BAR officials, the proponents and Prof. Joel L. Batanes, CBSUA vice-president for research and extension, tackled the design and methods for the projects.

Experts from other institutions and BAR technical staff members served as members of the panel of evaluators.

BAR's Patrick Cabrera served as the facilitator and discussed the purpose and mechanics of the meeting.

The proponents were given an hour each to present their projects including 40 minutes presentation and 20 minutes for addressing the queries of the evaluators.

Ms. Fe B. Perlas, proponent of the project entitled “Pigeon Pea R&D Project,” said the project hopes to promote pigeonpea production in Bicol after the crop was introduced by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arids Tropics (ICRISAT) and BAR encouraged the commercial production and utilization of pigeonpea.