
Mission and Goal
- USMARC continues to generate and package new technologies both for national and regional importance with the end view of accelerating the development and subsequent improvement of the quality of life of Filipinos especially those in Southern Philippines.
- USMARC is committed to facilitate the RDE activities in the region. The center continually improves its facilities; research systems and approaches; generates efficient; cost-effective and environment-friendly technologies; verifies results in partnership with the concerned stakeholders; disseminates information systematically; and effects changes on the people to improve quality of life as envisioned in the national government program.
Objectives
In the context of the above mission and goals, USMARC sets the following objectives:
- To generate technologies that would increase farm productivity through increased yield/unit area and/or decreased production cost per unit output;
- To generate technologies on post-harvest handling and processing techniques to improve quality and promote value-adding of farm products;
- To conduct researches that would narrow down the production gap between research results and the farmers field; and
- To develop technologies for the marginal upland
The University of Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (USMARC), being the research arm of the University of Southern Mindanao, was established on January 1989. Created on January 26, 1976, it was called Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (SMARC). Primarily, SMARC was created in support to the development of the national research system for Agriculture and Natural Resources through the joint efforts of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (PCARRD, now PCAARRD) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). As the research arm of the University, it occupies 300-ha of the 1,024 ha University complex. Being a research center, it is mandated to focus its researches on corn, legumes, vegetable, root, fruit, and plantation crops. USMARC is one of few public breeding institutions in the Philippines.
USMARC is mandated to develop, generate, and package new and relevant technologies in mandated commodities both of regional and national importance with the end view of accelerating the development and subsequent improvement of the quality of life of Filipinos, especially in Southern Philippines. It is committed to facilitate the RDE activities in the region.

EFREN E. MAGULAMA
Director

JURHAMID C. IMLAN
Station Superintendent

MERCIDITA M. ANGCO
Clerk

NANCY E. DUQUE
Science Research Specialist

ANTONIO P. PASIG
Science Research Specialist

NENITA E. OLERO
Education Program

FERDINAND A. DULDULAO

SHEENA L. LUCENA
Education Program

TITO JUN TIDULA
Science Research Specialist

MEL CHRISEL A. SALES
Central Lab In-Charge

JHELYN ABDULKADIL
Central Lab Technician

MARY GRACE S. BALBUENA
Education Program Specialist I
History
USMARC was established on January 26, 1976. USMARC is committed to pursue and carry out the RDE activities in the region. The center continually improves its physical facilities, research systems and approaches, generates efficient, cost effective and environment-friendly technologies, verifies results in partnership with the concerned stakeholders; disseminates information systematically; and effects changes on the people to attain improved quality of life as envisioned in the national government program.
The University of Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center (USMARC) will still continue to be at the helm in spearheading research and development in Southern Philippines. As the research arm of the University of Southern Mindanao it occupies 300 hectares of the university complex.
USMARC serves as the national research center for corn and fruit crops. It also serves as he national center/cooperating station for legumes, rice, rootcrops, poultry and livestock, farming systems, soil and water resources, socio economics, vegetables crops, forage and pasture, and sugar cane. The center stands as an institute for the conduct of efficient and effective agricultural research both for regional and national advancement. It has been tapped to serve and spearhead agricultural research to backstop the development for Mindanao. Despite the limited resources, USMARC had generated technologies for dissemination, adoption and information.
Designated Center Directors
Name | Time Duration |
---|---|
Dr. Jaman S. Imlan | January 1976-January 1988 |
Dr. Pablito P.Pamplona | February 1988-November 1988 |
Dr. Kundo E. Pahm | November 1988-April 1994 |
Dr. Eugenio A. Alcala | May 1994-April 1995 |
Dr. Demetrio V. Oria | May 1995-April 1998 |
Dr. Lydia P. Oliva | June 1998-January 2001 |
Dr. Hersie C. Nicor | February 2001-May 2009 |
Dr. Ariston D. Calvo | May 2009-December 2011 |
Dr. Romulo L. Cena | January 2012-June 2019 |
Dr. Efren E. Magulama | July 2019-Present |
Services Offered
Central Laboratory
- Proximate analysis
- Soil, Food, Feed, and Fertilizer analyses
- Phytochemical Analysis (optional)
Crop Protection Laboratory
- Bioassay test
- Technical assistance in crop protection
Technical Assistance related to Agriculture
- Researcher
- Students
- Other clients
Biotechnology Laboratory
- Training on
- DNA extraction and quantification
- PCR Amplification
- Gel Electrophoresis and analysis
- Basic bioinformatics
- Plant forensics
- Rubber
- Cacao
- Tissue culture
Weather Station
- Provide weather data from SARAI and PAGASA-KABACAN Station
Linkages
Name | Description |
---|---|
PhilRice- Philippine Rice Research Institute | Financial assistance in the conduct of researches/extension activities in rice |
DA-BAR – Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agricultural Research | Financial assistance in the conduct of research and extension activities of various commodities provide scholarship to researchers |
SEARCA-SEASMEO- Southeast Asian Research Center for Agriculture | Scientific exchange and manpower development |
NSIC – National Seed industry Council | Seed testing and variety/clonal screening |
DA – Department of Agriculture | Collaboration on RD & E activities |
VSU – Visayas State University | Collaboration R & D on Root crops |
PCAARD - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development | -Financial assistance in the conduct of research and extension activities of various commodities and scholarship grants to faculty, researchers -Provide travel grants to researchers and managers |
FAO/IAEA | Provide financial assistance for the conduct of researches and biotechnology |
CHED | Financial assistance in the conduct of research in Jatropha, Corn, and Biotechnlogy |
Local (Selected LGU’s) | Nature of Linkage |
North Cotabato Province, Arakan, Magpet. Midsayap, Tulunan, President Roxas, Banisilan, Mlang, Kabacan, Bansalan, Tacurong. Sultan kudarat, sarangani province, South Cotabato Province, Sto. Nino, Tupi, Polomolok | Collaborative technology, transfer activities on various technologies developed by the center and extending expertise of researchers in the implementation of local-based training activities and science and technology based-farms implementation |