The 7th National Research and Development (R&D) Week will be celebrated on Oct. 4-7 through activities led by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).

To kick off the celebration tomorrow is the National Research Symposium (NRS). The 17th to be organized by DA-BAR since it was created in 1987, the NRS will carry the theme "Responsive Agriculture and Fisheries R&D: Key to Rural Progress."

DA-BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar said the NRS aims to enhance exchange of information and knowledge among agricultural R& D workers towards promoting awareness on technological breakthroughs in agriculture and fisheries.

It will also magnify the professional stature of R&D workers by serving as a venue for presenting notable research accomplishments, giving due recognition to efforts of researchers and member-institutions of the DA-BAR-coordinated National Research and Development System for Agriculture and Fisheries (NARDSAF).

Meanwhile, the technology forum to be held on Oct. 5 will be participated in by staff members of agencies under the DA.

Scientists and researchers have been invited to present the mature technologies they have generated. Two agriculture and fisheries technology forums conducted earlier this year under the DA-BAR National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) presented 17 commerciable technologies.

A budget dialogue involving DA-BAR and representatives of the DA-Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARC) will be held on Oct 6-7.