BSU fast becoming world premier university in sub-tropical agriculture
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LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Cordillera’s premier agricultural school since 1916, the Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC) became Benguet State University (BSU) 23 years ago, now with a vision to become a world-class premier university in sub-tropical agriculture.
BSU celebrates Monday until Thursday its 23rd Charter Day anniversary with an array of activities for both the academic populace and the general public.
BSU President Rogelio Colting envisions a premier university in sub-tropical agriculture not only in Asia but in the world with the university’s new program in organic agriculture.
With upland farmers as its direct beneficiaries, BSU has started shifting from farm technologies that heavily rely on petro-chemicals.
“We now discourage reserches and experiments that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” Colting said in a press conference Wednesday. He added only experiments conducted for purposes of comparison are allowed to use inorganic inputs.
To demonstrate the university’s paradigm shift, the university advocates enrolment in organic agriculture and conversion of farms. It has devoted one hectare in Balili here to farm conversion. Similarly, another one hectare in the strawberry farms in Betag has been devoted to organic farming practices.
“All it takes is one year for the soil to revert to its natural form,” said Colting. If farmers practice organic farming, biodiversity is restores, he added.
On its 23rd year BSU has been supporting scholarly social and technical researches and studies. Lasr yer alone, it has done 39, while 53 are still on-going. Overall, there were 97, 55 of which are on science and technology; 11 social researches; 14 development, extension and technology promotion and 17 in education.
BSU researches have garnered various awards in both regional and national award-giving bodies, according to Dr, Sonwright Maddul, vice-president for Research, Development and Extension.
Fora on climate change; health; science and technology; bamboo research, development and extension; and entrepreneurship would be the highlight of the celebrations that run from January 12 to 15.
Various exhibits will also showcase the university’s achievements in various fields.
Partnership with various educational institutions here and abroad has yielded sisterhood status with universities in Europe, Asia and the Pacific regions. Among BSU partners are schools in Ghent, Louvain and Antwerp in Belgium; South Korea, Thailand and Tanzania, according to Dr. Tessie M. Merestela, vice-oresident for Academic Affairs.
Merestela said the partnership with Chungbuk National University in South Korea would be inked on Monday. The package includes exchange programs for faculty, students and staff; teaching English; information technology support bio-tecnology and research. # Lyn V. Ramo
