ALBAY EXPERIMENT STATION
Mayon Crossing, Buang, Tabaco City

The station is the research outreach station for upland plain and is the regional training center for pili and rootcrops. It is located at the junction of the Sabloyon and Mayon Skyline Hotel road; 14 kilometers away from Tabaco and 16 kilometers from Ligao via the Ligao-Tabaco Sabloyon road. It has a total land area of 50.3 hectares located in the eastern slope of Mayon Volcano 13º 24’ north latitude and 123 º 42’ east longitude.

It has an elevation of 175 meters above sea level. It belongs to the Type II climate with no dry season with a very pronounced maximum rainfall from November to January. Topography is slightly rolling ranging from 5-10% slope. Average annual rainfall is 402.3 mm and average mean temperature is 25.7ºC. It has a sandy loam type of soil with pH 6.3.

Historical Background

The station was established in 1963 by virtue of RA 3045 and was named Albay Abaca Seedbank in support to the implementation of the Abaca Development Program. In 1975 it was renamed Albay Abaca Seedbank and Research Station and finally in 1978 as Albay Experiment Station.
In 1992-’98 the station was designated as ROS for Upland Plain and Coastal Marine Development tasked to undertake researches and trials appropriate for upland areas. It was later named RIARC for Upland Plain Development from 2000 to date.

Mandate To promote agricultural development and growth through research and development of appropriate and relevant technologies that will increase productivity of upland crops and disseminate these technologies to the clientele through the conduct of technodemo trials and training in order to make upland farming profitable.
Mission To increase the income of upland farmers, alleviate poverty, generate productive opportunities and promote economic growth.	Vision A modernized upland agriculture that is technologically advanced and competitive with local and external market ecologically sound and responsive to the needs of various stakeholders.
Significant Accomplishments
Developed 7 registered pili varieties namely: Laysa, M. Orolfo, Magnaye, Magayon, Lanuza, Mayon 1 and Mayon 2 for massive propagation.	Developed an improved grafting protocol for pili with 80-90% success.	Rehabilitated 1 promising indigenous sweetpotato cultivar (13 B Tres Colores). Developed 2 open pollinated sweetpotato cultivars namely AES-MBC-01 and AES-MBC-02.
Established / maintained three hectares pili scion grove with 386 cultivars and pili germplasm bank with 1,173 trees with 609 bearing trees

Research Activities 1. Germplasm Collection and Evaluation of Promising Pili cultivars. A total of 34 promising pili cultivars were evaluated 2. Varietal graft compatability in pili 3. Fertilizer Study on Pili 4. Evaluation, Characterization and Conservation of Pili - IPGRI 5.Yield Response of Lakan 1 to Different Levels of Oganic Fertilizer NCT on Rootcrops: Regional Trial on Sweetpotato – the study will test, evaluate and recommend to NSIC promising cultivars of rootcrops for food, feed and industrial purposes. Regional Trial on Cassava – to test, evaluate and recommend to NSIC promising cultivars of rootcrops for food, feed and industrial purposes. The station is also a venue for trainings and Lakbay Aral of farmers and extension workers, students from other regions. It also accepts On-the-Job-Training of students and other institutions. It also provides technical assistance to walk in clients. The station also produces OPV Corn seeds for distribution and also conducts trials on upland rice varieties. It also embarked on seed production of adlai and sesame.

Facilities
Administration Building		Training Center
Guest House/Dormitory		Production Area
		Regional Research and Development Center for Lahar Laden Areas This is a typhoon-proof permanent structure consisting of a mini-laboratory; research office; preparation area; and staff room. The center has a 5-hectare experimental area designed for the development of long-term strategies for the utilization of lahar areas.

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