BICOL EXPERIMENT STATION
RIARC for Lowland Development Zone
DA RFU 5 Compound San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur

Historical Background

This seventy (70) hectare lowland irrigated and upland area was established in September 16,1960 through R.A 2080 also known as the “Million Rice and Corn Program.” The primarily objective is to develop and promote the industry of crops and livestock, culture management, crop protection, as well as farming system and its socio-economic relation to the region.

In 1983, BEST was designated as the center for the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research System (RIARS) under the Agricultural Research Office (ARO), now known as the Bureau of Agricultural Research of Department of Agriculture.

Today, research activities carried out at the BEST are relevant, timely and responsive to the needs of its clients.

With the improvement of facilities and upgrading of its human resource through scholarship in other institutions, the stations capabilities are further enhanced.

In 2006 by virtue of a Special Order, the Bicol Experiment Station was separated from BIARC to strengthen the R&D production activities as the regional facility specifically on lowland irrigated development zone.

The station through this program organized a pool of experts who unselfishly shared their expertise in the various experiments and R&D activities of the station.

BEST had been and will always be ready to provide people especially farmers with agricultural updates responsive to the agricultural demands of its clients in order to heighten understanding, thus increase income and provide better quality of living.

Mission

Envisioned to answer the needs of its clienteles, the station strives to be instrumental not only in generating adaptable and yield enhancing and cost reducing technologies but likewise in hastening effective transfer and utilization of verified innovations.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITES
A. Rice Seed Production
Farmer’s access to high quality seeds and preferred varieties especially of new varieties is being addressed by the station’s rice seed production. To date, a total of 30 hectares is planted not only for lowland irrigated rice varieties but as well as for fragile ecosystems, specifically upland, saline, submergence and lowland rain fed ecosystems to mitigate climate change.
B. Legume/ Vegetable Seed Production
		Use of quality vegetables seeds of and legumes such as sitao, bush sitao, mungbean, okra, tomato, pepper, ampalaya, eggplants is vigorously being pursued by DA. The station is engaged in the seed production of some legumes/vegetables.
C. Pasture Development and Livestock Production Project.
A 3.5 Has. has been planted to improved grasses and forages to sustain the production of goats and sheep as well as source of planting material for interested livestock raisers. The station provides technical assistance to farmers, LGU’s, NGO’s in the production of pasture grasses. Upgrading of stocks is also being undertaken. To date, the station is maintaining 41 goats and 32 sheeps respectively.
D. Palayamanan
Reliving the bahay -kubo concept the station promotes a farming system that highlights the synergetic and purposive-integration of various farming concepts such as rice and other crops and other livestock under the multi-animal single roof system for animal housing for easy maintenance and to generate organic fertilizers.
E. Biomass Waste Recycling
The station is using biomass such as rice straw, weeds and plant hemming as organic fertilizer as food supplement for animals. Conversion of wastes into compost is facilitated using EM microbial inoculant. Along with this, is the use of carbonized rice hull to condition the soil. Recently, a new inoculant Phanerochaete Chrysosporium was developed to hasten decomposition of farm wastes.
F. Propagation of High Value Commercial Crops
The station produces/propagates pili, mango, and other fruit bearing trees for sale/distribution to interested farmers in the region. 1. Maintenance of Scion Grove 2. Urban Garden showcase at the Station 3. Off– season Planting of Vegetable/ Fruits through the use of rain
G. Research and Development
The station focuses on the development and refinement of technologies through conduct of techno demonstration and verification trials for lowland irrigated and upland ecosystems. Studies specifically on determining fertilizer, soil and water requirement cultural practices and soil-related problems are being conducted along with the development of viable farming systems.

Facilities
1. Administration Building  2. Farmer’s Hall/ Production Building	3. Training center	4. Dormitory 5. Seed Processing Complex
6. Cold Storage Building 7. Employee’s Housing 8. Road, Paths and Site Access 9. Water, Sewer, Drainage, Electric and Telecommunication System

Other Services
- accepts/assists on-the-job trainings for students at all levels.
- conducts/facilitates trainings on rice, vegetables and planting materials.
- conducts techno for a, field days, and briefings for farmers, students, entrepreneur etc. during lakbay aral.
- venue convergence and multi stockholder's complementation in the form of techno demos, verification and adaptive trials of new products
and technologies.
- provides technical assistance for interested clients.

Cocina Palayamanan
Project-based products and by-product

-Quality seeds of palay, vegetable/legumes and other planting materials of fruit bearing trees.
-Processing and packaging of Bicol delicasies like Bicol express, laing, pinangat etc.
-Product development of indigenous materials like Ragiwdiw slippers, hand woven blankets, towels, table linens etc.