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ABSTRACT
While postharvest operations account for more than 55 percent of the economic value of the agricultural
sector, losses are high, the science or technology is relatively new, and the postharvest horticulture
extension delivery system in the Philippines has not met the challenge. Thus, the delivery of extension
services to the people involved needed to be assessed. Primary data from key informant interviews
and secondary data from available publications and reports were analyzed. The two major extension
providers for postharvest handling of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers are the Postharvest
Horticulture Training and Research Center (PHTRC) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños
(UPLB), and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), an
attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA). From 2000–2010, the PHTRC implemented
93 percent of national extension projects and services in terms of training (51 training programs with
1,132 participants), technical assistance, production and dissemination of information (24 extension
materials with 21,105 copies), and a few action-research projects. On the other hand, out of the
remaining 7 percent of the extension projects, which were implemented by Philmech, 99 percent were
related to development and establishment of tramlines, cold chain facilities, and facilities support for
hot water tanks and packinghouses including 16 training programs with 437 participants. The number
of extension workers who have been trained over the last three decades who could be potential trainers
of growers and traders was only 4.8 percent of the total number of participants of training programs
of both institutions. The number of personnel in extension delivery was also reduced due to budget
constraints for PHTRC and rationalization moves for PhilMech. Twenty-five personnel, 10 from
PHTRC and 15 from PhilMech rendered extension services. All PHTRC staff and three from PhilMech
were trained on perishables handling. Government support to extension of postharvest handling of
horticultural perishables remains negligible. The major recommendations to improve the extension
delivery system on postharvest horticulture sector are training of more extension workers in this field
and establishment of zonal centers on postharvest research and extension.
postharvest extension services to this sector. 1997, BPRE was mandated to cover postharvest
Specifically, information from this study research, development, and extension (RDE)
aims to provide a sound basis in crafting or of all agricultural crops. In 2009, BPRE was
recommending tenable programs/projects for renamed PhilMech, concentrating its efforts on
policy consideration and for enhancing and mechanization. The major thrust and expertise of
strengthening extension service delivery in PhilMech is on grains postharvest engineering.
support of the horticulture industry. It collaborates with the PHTRC on perishable
crops research and extension, especially on
postharvest aspects other than engineering.
METHODS
In an effort to reduce losses in fresh fruits,
The study, conducted in 2011, entailed vegetables, and cut flowers in ASEAN, the
gathering and analysis of secondary and of ASEAN-Australian Economic Cooperation
primary data using key informant interviews program established PHTRC based at UPLB
with the authorities of the Postharvest in 1977. It aimed to train researchers and
Horticulture Training and Research Center mid-level government managers of ASEAN
(PHTRC) of the University of the Philippines member-countries on postharvest horticulture, a
Los Baños (UPLB), and the Philippine relatively new field of study. In turn, the trained
Center for Postharvest Development and personnel were to develop postharvest programs
Mechanization (PhilMech). Library and in their respective countries. After successfully
internet research were done to gather data and fulfilling its mission in 1985, PHTRC became the
information on the state of extension delivery Philippine center for postharvest horticulture,
services in the postharvest horticulture sector in dropping its ASEAN identity. The Agriculture
the country from 2000–2010. Year-end reports and Fisheries Modernization Act identified the
and publications were also examined. PHTRC as one of the cooperating agencies of
Philmech, then BPRE, on postharvest handling.
PhilMech has been receiving regular budget
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION allocations from the Philippine government
since its establishment. From the latest data, it
Establishment of PhilMech and PHTRC ranged from PHP 85 million (USD 1.93 million)
The need to reduce losses in food crops in 2005 to PHP 673 million (USD 15.30 million)
in developing countries was recognized in the in 2008 (Figure 1). In 2008, around 70 percent
late 1980’s with the creation of PhilMech by of its budget was spent on the establishment of
the Philippine government and the PHTRC flatbed dryers for rice. Only about 1 percent of
by ASEAN. PhilMech was created as the the budget was devoted for both research and
National Postharvest Institute for Research extension of perishables. In fact, its budget for
and Extension (NAPHIRE) in 1978 through extension had been declining in proportion to
Presidential Decree 1380 to reduce losses in the total budget (Figure 2).
grains and improve food and feed quality. In As an ASEAN center, all the funds of
1980, it became a subsidiary of the National PHTRC came from the ASEAN-Australian
Grains Authority (NGA) and in 1997, it Economic Cooperation Program except for the
became the Bureau of Postharvest Research salaries of UPLB staff involved with it. When
and Extension (BPRE) under the Department it became a Philippine center, UPLB provided
of Agriculture. When the Agriculture and its operating budget for RDE activities. Of its
Fisheries Modernization Act was enacted in total operating budget of around PHP 4 million
90 Dormita R. del Carmen and Ofelia K. Bautista
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
Amount in PHP '000
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2005 2006 2007 2008
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2005 2006 2007 2008
Postharvest Development Services Extension Support, Education, Training
Research and Development
(USD 0.09 million), 83 percent is allotted Training programs are not included in
to personnel and 17 percent to maintenance PHTRC’s budget. Most of its training programs
and other operating expenses. The PHTRC are conducted on demand and funded by the
allocation for extension is only 11 percent of requesting clients or sponsors. Requesting
PhilMech’s allocation for extension, education agencies consisted of the various units of the
support, and training activities in 2008. The DA, local government units (LGUs), Land
funding for PHTRC extension activities is Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Philippine
sourced from external agencies, both local Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural
and international. From 1989 to 2009, funding Resources Research and Development (DOST-
obtained from external sources for both research PCAARRD), state universities and colleges
and extension amounted to PHP 100 million (SUCs), private companies, and occasionally,
(USD 2.27 million) (Serrano 2010).
Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 13, No. 1 91
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the From 2000–2010, PHTRC implemented 93
United Nations (FAO) and other international percent of its national extension projects and
organizations. Regular short courses are also services on perishables. On the other hand, out
offered every summer at subsidized rates. of the remaining 7 percent shared by PhilMech
Training programs are also made part of the on postharvest perishable extension projects,
action-research projects and usually given free 99 percent were related to development and
of charge to pre-identified industry stakeholders establishment of tramlines, cold chain facilities,
and project cooperators, specifically, farmers and facilities support for hot water tanks and
associations or cooperatives. packinghouses.
On the whole, the budget allotted to the two Prior to 2000, PhilMech also implemented
organizations’ extension programs is very small. postharvest extension projects on perishables
For Philmech, the extension budget is only 6 through the establishment of techno-demo
percent of the total, while for PHTRC, extension centers. However, the focus of these techno-
projects have no regular funding support but demo centers was more on processing and
are mostly implemented through the action- very few activities on postharvest handling
research projects funded by outside sources. of fresh produce were done. Obviously, the
This plight is common in most developing PHTRC is currently still the sole institution
countries. Kitanoja et al. (2011) cited that less in the country that provides extensive training
than 5 percent of funds in horticultural research on postharvest science and technology of fresh
and extension in developing countries was produce (Bautista and Esguerra 2010). The
allocated to postharvest issues because for the major extension activities of PHTRC include
past 20 years or more, the focus is on increasing capability building, postharvest systems
production. improvement services or expert services to
industry, and, production and dissemination
Current State of Extension Delivery of IEC materials (Serrano 2010). The specific
Services in Postharvest Horticulture activities implemented by both agencies and
accomplishments from 2000 to 2010 are
Postharvest horticulture is a relatively
discussed in the following sections.
new field of science and technology in the
Philippines. Moreover, more than half of the Training
economic value of crops is accounted for by
The number of training programs on
the postharvest sector and losses are high.
postharvest of perishables by PhilMech
Thus, extension is a very important service to
from 2001 to 2010 is very few compared to
the millions of industry practitioners in the 16
postharvest of grains. It conducted 16 training
regions of the country. Only a few state-run
programs with 437 participants on four subject
agricultural colleges and government units are
areas, mostly on tramline and cold chain
known to provide limited expert services for
operations and technologies (Table 1). Of
postharvest concerns in the areas where they
these training programs, 16 percent were on
are located, so the two major extension service
perishables through the high value commercial
providers are PhilMech and PHTRC, with
crops (HVCC) program, and 84 percent for
PHTRC being the foremost institution catering
grains. Training on proper postharvest handling
to the horticulture industry. While PhilMech’s
of HVCC was usually done in collaboration
main focus is on grains postharvest, it also deals
with PHTRC staff who were invited as resource
with perishables.
92 Dormita R. del Carmen and Ofelia K. Bautista
No. of training 16 51
programs
persons. Majority of the participants were 20 percent were international programs. Most
technical staff and extension workers of DA of the foreign participants were from Thailand,
(40%) and farmer leaders (40%) (Table 1). The Malaysia, and Indonesia.
project co-implementers of PhilMech include From its establishment in 1977 up to
the DA, LGUs at the provincial level, a non- 2010, the PHTRC had conducted 219 training
government organization, and the PHTRC. programs on postharvest handling of fresh
While facilities have been established produce, with 6,146 participants. Of these total,
by PhilMech, the proper utilization of these 4.8 percent were extension workers. If teachers,
postharvest facilities based on the changes in researchers, and extension workers were
produce response and adjusting their use to suit included, the potential trainers would go up to
the specific horticultural produce, should be 18 percent (Figure 3). But most of these people
understood by the extension workers and the may have retired from service, hence, only the
end users, hence, the need for a corresponding 95 extension workers and the 33 researchers and
training on the basis of their usage. Otherwise, teachers trained during the last decade could be
these facilities will not be utilized properly and counted as potential trainers to date.
will eventually be discarded. Relative to the span and scope of the
The PHTRC conducted 51 training horticulture industry, the training programs on
programs on horticultural perishables with postharvest handling are very few. Del Carmen
1,132 participants from 2000–2010 (Table 1). (2011) showed that of the 1,078 extension
Most of the participants in the training courses agents doing work on horticultural perishables
were farmers, traders, and private agribusiness in 51 government agricultural offices in the
workers/staff (total of 76%). Only 9.5 percent country, only 2 percent have received training
(or 95) were extension workers who were mostly in postharvest horticulture. Due to the lack of
from the local government units. In terms of the trained staff (both formal and informal training)
geographical distribution of extension workers, on postharvest horticulture, the estimated ratio
37 were from Mindanao, 33 were from Visayas, of actual and potential extension workers to
and 25 were from Luzon. If the 30 researchers farmers in terms of rendering postharvest expert
and 3 teachers who also attended the courses services is 1 to 16,000 horticultural farmers
are to be included in the count, Luzon would at the minimum and 1 to 75,000 horticultural
have the highest number of potential trainers farmers at the maximum. This is too far from
(58 in all) who could serve as resource persons the current estimated ratio of 1 agricultural
to training programs on postharvest handling of production technician to 231–732 farmers. This
perishable crops. also indicates that extension service delivery in
PHTRC is supposed to provide training only agriculture is heavily focused on the production
for the trainers, just like PhilMech. However, aspect with postharvest services lagging behind.
due to scarcity of trainers on postharvest of The inadequacy of dissemination of
horticultural perishable crops, most of the clients technologies on proper postharvest handling,
served by the center are still the direct players and therefore the lack of awareness or
in the horticulture industry, namely, farmers and knowledge of farmers and handlers, explain
traders. If the PHTRC training programs from why postharvest losses in developing countries
1977–2000 are to be reckoned, there would be are still high and produce quality is poor
an additional 168 training courses with 5,476 (Kitanoja et al. 2011). Hence, farmers and
participants from 22 countries (Serrano 2010). traders could not compete and access wider
Of these programs, 80 percent were local and markets (Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2005).
94 Dormita R. del Carmen and Ofelia K. Bautista
Others
34%
Extension Worker (EW)
5%
Researchers and
Teachers (RT)
4%
Combined
EW and RT
10%
Traders and
Agribusiness people
14%
Farmers
33%
The agricultural development thrust of the RDE workers, such as books and proceedings,
Philippines must therefore give equal attention handbooks and monographs, and a serial on
to postharvest extension services. selective dissemination of information. For
the general public, it has produced circulars,
Information materials production bulletins and flyers, radio scripts, press releases,
PHTRC and PhilMech produce IEC and posters.
materials on postharvest handling technologies, Table 4 shows the types of publications
protocols, and facility/equipment manuals. produced by the PHTRC in the last 10 years.
Based on Philmech’s annual reports, the Revised and updated leaflets on postharvest
production of IEC materials related to perishable tips, flyers, and posters on quality defects and
postharvest and support technologies started ripening techniques were added to the IEC
in 2008. For 2008–2010, most IEC materials collection. The second edition of the book
produced were manuals and leaflets on Postharvest Technology for Southeast Asian
tramline, cold chain, and controlled atmosphere Perishable Crops, which was published in
technologies. There were nine types of IEC 2007, won the Outstanding Book Award by the
formats, which also included radio plugs and National Academy of Science and Technology
infomercials, video documentaries, techno- in 2008. It is now included in the kit of the
posters, and techno calendars (Table 2). training program for trainers. PHTRC seeks
PHTRC has produced a total of 219 external funding support for the first printing
extension materials on postharvest handling of its IEC materials. Thus, these materials are
principles and technologies for horticultural often sold to generate funds for their reprinting.
crops from 2000–2010 (Table 3). As part of an PHTRC also develops instructional
academic institution (UPLB), it has produced materials for teaching postharvest horticulture,
information materials for students, teachers, and and recently, developed new courses in this
Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 13, No. 1 95
field. In 1981, the Association of Colleges extension, not only of its own researchers and
of Agriculture in the Philippines (ACAP) extension officers and the faculty members of
recommended that a postharvest technology universities but also those of other government
course be instituted in the curriculum of each and private institutions. While the library
ACAP member. However as of 2007, less than has no budget allotment, it has nonetheless
10 percent of the more than 200 agricultural continued to acquire library materials through
schools or colleges are teaching it, mostly as open e-resources and requests for the latest
information infused into existing crop science reprints and books on postharvest and related
courses and sometimes as a separate subject fields. It has accumulated a total of 18,646
(Bautista and Maunahan 2007). journal articles; 4,172 books; and other library
materials including theses, e-books, CDs, etc.
Information dissemination and expert services
PhilMech and PHTRC regularly participate Number and profile of PhilMech
in different agri-trade fairs to promote postharvest and PHTRC personnel involved
technologies. Their staff also provide technical in postharvest extension
assistance to members of the industry and The quantity and quality of personnel
serve as subject matter specialists and technical from the major extension institutions
resource persons in training programs organized providing extension services to the postharvest
by other agencies, with Philmech focusing on horticulture sector are critical factors in
postharvest handling of grains and PHTRC on capacitating extension leaders in the field, and
postharvest handling of perishables. Extension in disseminating information and technologies
support for postharvest systems improvement to the intended beneficiaries nationwide. As
for horticultural perishables is usually done by of 2010, PhilMech’s Extension Unit had 15
the PHTRC through action-research or applied extension personnel for the postharvest handling
research projects, and by responding to industry sector for grains and horticultural perishables,
requests. In most cases, farmers’ association/ which is about 50 percent of the extension unit’s
cooperatives, and identified farmer/trader total personnel, and 11 percent of its overall 131
leaders or champions were the cooperators in personnel (Table 5). Most of the staff have a
the implementation of technology interventions Master’s degree, are in the age range of 41 to 50
and/or commercialization. years old, with 5–25 years of experience. The
The PhilMech library has an extensive personnel involved in extension have varying
collection of information materials on grains fields of specialization (Table 6). Two-thirds
postharvest, available to researchers and other of the extension staff are in the social science
interested parties. Information and extension fields (e.g., agricultural extension, economics,
materials on postharvest perishables from rural development, and communication) while
PhilMech are few, mostly on tramline and one third are agricultural engineers who serve
cold chain technologies. The PHTRC on the as the technical staff.
other hand, boasts of its extensive library On the other hand, there are 10 regular
collection on tropical postharvest horticulture. (with permanent or tenured positions) and
It has the largest collection of library materials four contractual personnel of PHTRC who are
on this subject matter in the Philippines involved in extension activities on postharvest
and possibly among most Southeast Asian handling of perishables. Only one of the regular
countries. It provides services and materials to staff has an extension position, the other nine
support programs of instruction, research, and are faculty members and university researchers,
Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 13, No. 1 97
who perform all the three functions of teaching, and engineering. The personnel in the field of
research, and extension. Contractual personnel social sciences (e.g., agricultural economics,
are usually researchers (e.g., in action research development communication, and community
projects) who perform little extension function. development) have also received technical
The personnel of PHTRC represent only training on postharvest horticulture.
4 percent of the total faculty, research, and The number of personnel in extension
extension staff of the College of Agriculture for postharvest (25) in the two institutions is
(244), UPLB. Most of the staff have PhDs, relatively very small considering that they
are above 50 years old, with over 25 years of are catering to millions of stakeholders of
experience. Most of the staff are specialists the horticulture industry in the 16 regions of
in the field of postharvest horticulture the country. While education, expertise, and
with various sub-specializations such as experience can be considered the strengths of
physiology, morpho-anatomy, biochemistry, the two institutions in providing postharvest
98 Dormita R. del Carmen and Ofelia K. Bautista
Table 7. Strengths and weaknesses of PhilMech and PHTRC in the delivery of postharvest
extension services to the horticulture sector
Weaknesses
The few personnel are doing multi-tasks of teaching, research and √
extension
Has yet to develop expertise on postharvest horticulture both in the √
extension unit and R and D cluster
Has no regular funding allocation for extension (including (R&D) √
activities
Declining number of personnel √ √
projects initially undertaken with PhilMech in national agricultural extension support services)
the implementation of postharvest horticulture as a partner in their training programs on
extension (including research) projects. postharvest. In order to make complementation
Although project complementation between and institutional linkages work, Dy et al. (2008)
Philmech and PHTRC is still continuing, this is said that a common framework for action that
usually done on short-term projects and mostly is acceptable to all involved must be laid down.
through action-research or applied research.
For extension projects, Philmech just taps
CONCLUSION
PHTRC staff to serve as resource persons in
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
their training courses on postharvest handling
of perishables. It is high time that a long- There is a need for better and more
term complementation program on extension, postharvest extension delivery services and
including research, be initiated. Moreover, programs in the Philippines to meet the
since the basic mandate of both institutions in challenges of global trade. Such will result in
training is supposedly to build the capability increased profitability and income of industry
of trainers only and not the direct users, they stakeholders, particularly small farmers.
should also institutionalize linkage with the Only a few state-run agricultural colleges and
DA-ATI (being the provider and coordinator of institutions are known to provide limited expert
100 Dormita R. del Carmen and Ofelia K. Bautista
services in the areas where they are located, so direct users of technology. In a sense, this
the two major extension service providers in the becomes both a strength and weakness of these
field of postharvest horticulture are PhilMech institutions.
of DA and PHTRC of UPLB. Postharvest IEC materials are still limited,
An analysis was made from a survey of and most of these were actually developed by
the extension delivery programs and activities PHTRC during the 1980’s and 1990’s when it
of PHTRC and PhilMech with regard to was still serving as the ASEAN regional center
postharvest handling of horticultural perishables and when there were sufficient funds allotted
to determine the nature and extent of extension for extension.
delivery systems and activities. The budget allotted to the extension
From 2000–2010, PHTRC implemented 93 program is very small. For Philmech, the
percent of the national extension projects and extension budget is only 6 percent of the total,
services. It implemented a total of 51 training while for PHTRC, extension projects have
programs with a total of 1,132 participants. It no regular funding support but are usually
also produced and disseminated 24 extension implemented through the action-research
materials (21,105 copies), provided technical projects funded by outside sources. Around 70
assistance, and implemented a few action- percent of PhilMech’s budget was spent on the
research projects. On the other hand, PhilMech, establishment of flatbed dryers for rice (2008),
the foremost institution on grains postharvest, while only around 1 percent is devoted for both
conducted 16 programs on postharvest handling research and extension of perishables.
of perishables, with 437 participants, but 75 The total number of personnel in the two
percent were focused on the technical operations institutions doing extension work is also small:
of cold chain and tramline facilities. 10 from the PHTRC and 15 from the PhilMech.
The combined data of the two major Sixty-seven percent of the extension personnel
extension providers in the last 10 years showed of Philmech have social science background
that on the average, six to seven training while 33 percent are agricultural engineers. Most
programs are conducted per year on postharvest have MS degrees. PHTRC’s staff members,
handling of horticultural perishables benefitting mostly with PhDs, are multidisciplinary
a little over 150 participants, most of whom and have all received technical training on
were farmers. While postharvest handling is an postharvest science. PhilMech’s strength
important component in expanding domestic lies in its competent, young personnel in the
and international markets for perishable crops, mechanization aspect of postharvest (who are
the PHTRC is currently still the sole institution specified to do extension work), and because
in the country that provides extensive training funding is available. PHTRC’s strength is in
on postharvest science and technology for fresh terms of its multidisciplinary team of experts;
produce. they are few, however, and have to teach and do
The basic mandate of both institutions in research at the same time. Moreover, PHTRC
training is supposedly to build the capability has no funding for specifically extension.
of trainers who will, in turn, provide training To function properly and address the
to farmers, traders, and other stakeholders of multifaceted concerns of the postharvest
the horticulture industry. However, due to lack horticulture sector, the PHTRC should have
of trained experts in the field, the two agencies additional staff, ideally multidisciplinary experts
still assume the responsibility of training the in physiology, biochemistry, morpho-anatomy,
Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 13, No. 1 101