Anchored by 97.1 DZAG Radyo Pilipinas Station Manager Maricel Fronda and co-anchored by Mr. Farland Valera of the DMMMSU Open University System’s Extension Unit, the episode featured the NARTDI Executive Director, Dr. Gregory Viste, as guest discussant, together with the NARTDI Extension officers, Mr. George Bondot and Mr. Arvin Tuyan.
Dr. Viste talked about the legal origin of NARTDI and its strategic goals as a government-funded national research and development institute. Mr. Bondot and Mr. Tuyan discussed the processes involved in the practice of beekeeping and the training programs done under the Institute’s extension unit.
Also presented during the episode were the commercialized products developed by NARTDI, some of which are bottled honey, honey vinegar, honey wine, and propolis-based liquid hand soap.
Despite challenges brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, NARTDI remains vigorous in its work to advance to apiculture industry in the country. According to Dr. Viste, the Institute will migrate its training programs to online platforms as a way to adapt to the prevailing condition of the times.
NARTDI, created in 2001 through Republic Act No. 9151, envisions itself to be a national center of excellence in the development of a globally competitive apiculture industry with the goal of contributing to national development by pursuing and sustaining the institutionalization and integration of apiculture in agro-ecosystems. Its activities, which are aligned with the research, extension, and development programs of DOST, DTI, DENR, NEDA, DA, and DMMMSU, are focused on the following: education and training of beekeepers and apiculturists, conduct of researches, and extension of apiculture technologies.
The NARTDI Apimonitor Facebook page (facebook.com/apimonitor/) also features information and updates regarding beekeeping practice and products. Those interested in availing of NARTDI’s services can contact the Executive Director via his email — director.nartdi@dmmmsu.edu.ph.
This Kapihan sa DMMMSU NARTDI episode is a contribution of DOUS and DZAG to the growing discourse on agri-entrepreneurship espoused by the Department of Agriculture and the Duterte Administration.
Kapihan sa DMMMSU airs every Tuesday at 9:00 o’clock in the morning on DZAG Radyo Pilipinas Agoo and via Facebook Live on the FB pages of DZAG and DMMMSU Open University System.
