THE Philippine House of Representatives, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., has commended Dr. William D Dar, former Agriculture secretary and India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (Icrisat) director general. Dar was cited for his “exemplary public service” to the Philippines and “in appreciation of his notable achievements as a recipient of the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award during the 7th International Leadership Summit 2014 in New Delhi, India.”
A native of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Dar received his commendation—contained in Resolution 164, adopted by the House of Representatives on December 11—from Deputy Speaker Carlos M. Padilla during a launch of a farmers’ livelihood program in Nueva Vizcaya on December 22. It was witnessed by Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Ruth Padilla and Beatriz Dar.
“On behalf of my family and Icrisat, I humbly acknowledge the commendation of the members of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Belmonte and Deputy Speaker Padilla,” Dar said, who concluded an unprecedented 15-year term on December 31 as director general of Icrisat.
“I share this honor with millions of small Filipino farmers, whom I will serve again starting next year,” he added.
Early in December, Dar also received from President Aquino a Pamana ng Pilipino Award, along with 32 other outstanding Filipinos overseas, for “his exemplary leadership in successfully extending the frontiers of science and technology to ensure food security for all, and for his staunch advocacy of the important role of professional horticulturists in this endeavor.”
To date, Dar is the only Filipino, who has served as director general of a global agricultural research institute. He leaves behind a legacy benefiting millions of farmers in India, Africa and other dryland countries in the world, including the Philippines. Through his strong leadership and governance, he has transformed Icrisat into a leading agricultural research institute in terms of innovative research programs, impact on farmers and financial stability, quadrupling the income and investments poured into the institute since 2000, from $21 million to $85 million in 2014.
Icrisat has also partnered with the Philippines’s Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Agricultural Research, sharing modern sustainable farming technologies and cultivars of sweet sorghum, peanut, chick pea (garbanzos) and pigeon pea (kadyos) to farmers in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Southern Luzon and Southern Mindanao regions.
Icrisat’s Bhoochetana or land rejuvenation approach is now adopted in three pilot regions in the Philippines, covering 30,000 hectares. The technology aims to increase food production and improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers, through sustainable and integrated natural resource management.
Many Filipino scientists, researchers and research managers have also visited Icrisat, benefiting from its in-service trainings, fellowships and technical missions. “I will share my experience with Filipino farmers to transform dryland areas into productive, sustainable and climate-smart farms through Inang Lupa social movement,” Dar said.
“Inang Lupa aims to enhance the country’s food, nutrition and energy security, increase the productivity and incomes of small farmers through soil rejuvenation, sustainable and integrated natural resource management, use of improved cultivars and hybrids, and advocating for relevant policies and reforms in agriculture,” he said.