Sunday, October 11, 2015

PCAF joins efforts to strengthen aquaculture engineering

The National Consultative Workshop on Aquaculture Engineering and Aquaculture-Fisheries Research Development and Extension Agenda for the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization RDE Network drew participants from various government agencies, agricultural engineering organizations and the academe, including staff from PCAF and representatives from the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization.
Around 100 officials from various government agencies, agricultural and aquacultural engineering organizations and academic institutions gathered on July 21-22, 2015 to tackle the development of aquaculture engineering in the country.

Recognizing the vital role of aquaculture engineering in the development of the fisheries sector, a National Consultative Workshop on Aquaculture Engineering and Aquaculture-Fisheries Research Development and Extension (RDE) Agenda for the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization RDE Network (AFMechRDEN) was held at the Electrical Engineering Building, College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines, Los BaƱos, Laguna (UPLB).

Spearheaded by the UPLB-Agricultural Mechanization Development Program (AMDP), the Professional Regulations Commission-Board of Agricultural Engineering and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries through the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization, the consultative workshop served as a venue to strengthen and advance agricultural and biosystems engineering, particularly in the field of aquaculture engineering for the overall development and improvement of the agricultural and fisheries mechanization sector.

During the workshop, the participants reviewed and updated the aquaculture engineering-related courses in higher education institutions (HEIs) and the table of specifications in the board exams. They also reviewed and planned for the operationalization of the Aquaculture Engineering Practice of Agricultural Engineers and prioritization of Aquaculture Engineering Standards for development.

The workshop also focused on the training regulations on aquaculture mechanization and the Aquaculture and Fisheries Agenda for inclusion in the AFMechRDEN HEI Agenda.

Prior to the workshop, resource persons discussed various related topics such as the Agri-Pinoy Fisheries Program and the Status of Aquaculture Engineering in the Philippines; the Laguna Lake Development Program on Aquaculture Engineering; Industry Perspectives on Fisheries Engineering and Aquaculture Engineering; Status of the Aquaculture Engineering R&D in the Philippines; Aquaculture Engineering Courses as per Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order 37 of 2007; and the AFMechRDEN Agenda of AFMech Law, among others.

UPLB Chancellor Dr. Fernando Sanchez, Jr. encouraged everyone to work more closely to address the challenges faced by the agriculture and fisheries sector through research, development and extension and policy development especially in aquaculture.

He also emphasized the relevance of agricultural engineering, particularly aquaculture engineering as an industry and as a professional practice.

The consultative workshop was organized in line with the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 and the Fisheries Code that supports aquaculture engineering as a vital component in the development and modernization of the fisheries sector and in the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Fisheries Program.

Through the activity, the organizers also aim to address the provisions of the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Act of 1998 wherein aquaculture engineering constitutes as one of the scope of practice of agricultural engineering.

Furthermore, the consultative workshop is in accordance with the Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization Law which mandates the UPLB-AMDP to lead and coordinate the agricultural and fishery mechanization RDE program of all academic institutions in the country. The law also tackles the development of training regulations on agri-fisheries mechanization which include aquaculture mechanization.

Under the law, the DA is also tasked to formulate a unified National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Research and Development and Extension Agenda in consultation with the members of the AFMechRDEN. 


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