TO ENCOURAGE agriculture graduates to venture into the business of farming at the same time to massively promote, disseminate, and commercialize technologies developed at MMSU, the project: “Technology Commercialization for Sustainable Development in the Rainfed Areas of Ilocos” has been established under the funding assistance of the Commission on Higher Education under its umbrella technology commercialization program:  “Strengthening the SUCs/HEIs in Technology Commercialization for Poverty Alleviation, Employment Generation, Food Production, and Sustainable Development.”  The Department of Agriculture, local government units, and non-government organizations have been tapped to assist the university in the said project.

Professor Rodrigo R. Domingo, CAF agricultural economics professor and former agribusiness director, has been appointed to lead the project. 

With a budget of P1M – P600,00 of which will come from CHED while the remaining P400, 000 will be shouldered by MMSU – the project specifically aims to empower agriculture graduates by optimizing their productivity using newly developed farming technologies; to encourage more of them to be involved in farming and demonstrate the high-income potential of agribusiness; and to technically and financially guide and assist them in the operation of small business enterprise for them to become self-propelling and productive entrepreneurs.

At least 200 rainfed upland farmer-cooperators of MMSU are expected to be directly benefited by this project.  Also, at least 60 ha of rainfed areas in the university will be tilled and made productive.

A farmer-beneficiary is granted credit assistance of P20, 000 per hectare with no interest rate payable – in full, either in cash or in kind – within one cropping season. The beneficiary will be also linked to institutions for marketing assistance. 

A pool of experts from the university as well as extension workers from the municipal and provincial agriculture offices will be providing technical assistance to the farmers.

The project will involve diversified farming using high-value commodity crops in the locality such as rice, corn, garlic, onion, sugarcane, legumes, vegetables, and root crops.

The university will prioritize unemployed and young graduates of agriculture and related fields from reputable state college and universities, especially MMSU, who are determined to put up their own agribusiness undertaking but do not have the financial capability to do so.  Priority will also be given to those whose parents own the farm appropriate for crop farming and whose income falls within low bracket or poverty line.

An interested farmer must submit an application form and a project proposal to the project management team for review and possible endorsement to the CHED central office in Manila.