Lesson in forging sustainable partnership for rice self-sufficiency in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Bicol Regions

Abstract

In an era of polyvocality and multi-stakeholder partnership, the authors trace the beginnings of an initiative of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and other program partners in addressing food security concern through a devolved agricultural extension service. Building on interorganizational relations theory and partnership building, UPLB served as a partnership broker among the provincial governments, municipal governments, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Units, the local state universities and colleges, and civil society organizations. The paper documents the beginnings and nuances in brokering partnership and cites the challenges associated with promoting transdisciplinarity in UPLB known to protect specialized domains.