Last June 9, 2022, MASIPAG Visayas successfully organized its annual Scientists’ Forum. 18 delegates from partner academic institutions and local governments from Bohol, Leyte, Negros, and Panay attended this year’s session. It was run in a hybrid format, with the primary hub situated in Batuan, Bohol, and other participants joining online. The major resource speakers were Dr. Chito Medina, environmental scientist and former National Coordinator of MASIPAG, and Mr. Alfie Pulumbarit, the current National Coordinator of the farmer-led network. Farmers from the Regional Management Team (RMT) and rice breeder farmer and BOT member Elpidio Paglomutan also attended the session. Dr. Leonilo Francisco and Ms. Dian Monteclaro from Negros also shared their practical and professional experiences with MASIPAG farmer-scientist cooperation.
One of the MASIPAG network’s approaches to farmer empowerment and rural development is the farmer-scientist partnership, which is integrated into all of the network’s programs and activities. “We need to democratize science and technology since research has been co-opted as a result of new relationships between universities, governments, and business, framed by the market and ‘economic demands,'” Dr. Medina stated. “Science is increasingly developing into corporate science because of corporate funding and the economic potential of its results,” he added. Scientists must leave the ivory tower and learn, unlearn, and listen to farmers. Farmers and scientists work together as equal partners in MASIPAG’s farmer-led research and development aimed at sustainable development, food security, and sovereignty.
For the last 36 years, MASIPAG has worked to enable small farmers and community groups to actively control their fundamental production resources such as land, seeds, and technology through its programs and activities. Farmers are plant breeders, scientists, and inventors, as evidenced by their extensive expertise. The MASIPAG network has at least 2,000 rice seed varieties—both traditional and modified traditional varieties—that have been shown to be climate change-resistant.
Before the event ended, attendees shared their thoughts, lovely reflections, and enthusiasm in collaborating with MASIPAG.