LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - A new government research program expected to boost the development of the strawberry industry in the Cordilleras is on.

Titled "Integrated Strawberry Research and Development Program (ISRDP)", the activity is being spearheaded by the Benguet State University (BSU) based in this capital town.

Others involved are the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Agricultural Research, the BSU-based Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC), the Regional Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Netrowk (RARRDEN), local government units, and farmer-cooperators.

BAR, headed by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar has already released funds for the program which aims to increase the production of quality fresh fruits and improve strawbery processing and marketing system through research and development.

"The program is geared toward the generation of relevant technologies, particularly the development and selection of cultivars, production of disease-free planting materials, biological pest control, postharvest technologies, product development and marketing," BSU, headed by Dr. Rogelio Colting, president, stated.

BSU, which is the regional university in Cordillera, added that with the great potential of the strawberry industry, it was identified as the first commodity of research, development and extension convergence in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The program has four projects led by leaders Dr. Danilo Padua, Dr. Violeta Salda, Dr. Lita Colting, and Dr. Jane Avila.

Each project will be conducting specific studies. The R&D activities will be coordinated by the Highland Agriculture and Resources Research and Devleopment Consortium and the Regional Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Network.

The program is expected to be completed on August 31, 2007.