Strengthening the Department of Agriculture's National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP)

Rationale

Philippine agriculture is primarily characterized by smallholder agriculture which requires initiatives to make it work for sustained development. According to the World Bank, promoting innovation through science and technology is one of the key policy instruments identified to make smallholder agriculture productive and sustainable. The country, through DA-BAR, subscribes to this premise with the institutionalization of one of its flagship programs - the National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP).

The NTCP was established in 2006, through the issuance of the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 3 that guided the implementation of NTCP popularly known now as TECHCOM. NTCP as a program aims to ensure that technologies are strategically placed and transferred to areas and communities that most needed them, and transform agriculture and fisheries from resource-based to technology-based industries.

In support of NTCP, DA-BAR has commissioned SEARCA to carry out two projects, namely Enhancing Capability of DA on More Sustainable Management of Technologies Project and Capacity Building and Comparative Study on Technology Management in Southeast Asia. Both projects have delivered results in terms of capacitating DA-BAR and Regional Field Unit (RFU) staff as well as in benchmarking NTCP with other similar programs in Southeast Asia.

Five years later, with reported initial gains of 70 commercialized technologies as of 2010, and 17 technology commercialization activities since 2006 (for garlic, sweet sorghum, sea urchin, oregano, biofuels-cassava, fruit wines and queen pineapple), DA-BAR moves up to another timely initiative of undertaking a review of NTCP. This move is geared towards sustained program gains and enhanced relevance to the current thrust in the agriculture sector. SEARCA is implementing the NTCP review which is complemented with capacity building for DA-BAR, RFUs and partner institutions as well as participation in related international workshops and conferences.

Objectives

The project builds on the experiences and lessons learned from the management of the program and implementation of various projects under NTCP. The NTCP was reviewed covering its guiding policy, institutional arrangements, relevance of projects funded, efficiency and effectiveness of implementation, stakeholders’ participation, and its immediate impact and contribution to agricultural development.

To further strengthen the capacity of DA-BAR/DA personnel (national, regional and field units) and partner institutions in managing technology development and commercialization projects, a short-term in-country training program was also developed. The program focuses on enterprise development, inclusion of sustainable value chains and product development for commercially viable products.

In addition, NTCP endorses attendance to different international conferences and trade exhibits with focus on packaging, food quality and food safety to benchmark NTCP with other similar programs in other countries. The exposure of DA-BAR Staff to such conferences also aims to enhance their knowledge in order to recommend measures to enhance the improvement of technology commercialization in the Philippines.

Project Component and Activities

The project has three major components, namely NTCP Program Review, Capacity Building of DA-BAR and Partner Institutions, and Support to International Conferences for Product Packaging and Food Quality and Safety.

1. NTCP Program Review. The project conducted assessment of NTCP to attune its focus to the current priority thrust of the agriculture sector. The assessment covered the following:

   • Policies governing the implementation of NTCP
   • Relevance of program design
   • Institutional arrangements and mechanisms including process flow and documentation
   • Efficiency and effectiveness of program implementation
   • Immediate impact of completed grants/projects
   • Stakeholders participation including the role of women

The review methodology included secondary data gathering and analysis, focus group discussion with partner institutions/stakeholders, key informant interviews with key stakeholders, and primary data gathering.

To further enhance the policies governing NTCP implementation, this component conducted a review of the DA Administrative Order No. 3, the NTCP project document and implementing guidelines. A series of key informant interviews were conducted among program stakeholders. Recommendations for effective and efficient guidelines, with due focus on its operational process flow and framework, will be identified by the project review team.

1. Capacity Building of DA-BAR and Partner Institutions. As an offshoot of the primary data gathering among different partner institutions and project proponents, a training needs assessment was conducted to identify other possible capacity building needs of program implementors. The resulting training needs assessment identified the following technical areas in enhancing and sustaining technology commercialization projects:

   • Packaging Technologies for Commercializable Products - for partners institutions which are already on the upscaling and commercialization of their products

   • Supply and Value Chain Management (SCM) - to assist the partner institutions in ensuring the supply of their products and effectively and efficiently addressing the demands of the marketplace

A detailed training design and program was prepared and developed which synthesized the two training activities into Training on Technology Commercialization: Product Development and Packaging within the Context of Enterprise and Inclusive of Value Chain Development. A total of 35 participants from different NTCP projects and DA-BAR staff are expected to attend this event scheduled on the last week of August 2012.

1. Support for Attendance to International Workshops and Conferences. DA-BAR has conducted a comparative study of technology commercialization in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea. The study showed that there is still a need to further improve NTCP initiatives particularly in the areas of product packaging, quality and safety. Hence, the project continued supporting the attendance of DA-BAR staff to different workshops and conferences in product packaging, food quality and safety.

In this regard, SEARCA has identified five (5) training programs in Southeast Asia for DA-BAR key officers. The training topics range from postharvest, supply chain performances, information technology in agriculture and on apiculture. These conferences/training programs provide a wide but complementary range of areas supportive of the NTCP.

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