Although the country has vast land resources, manpower and the best agricultural universities in the Asian region (there are many foreigners like Thais schooled here), the lack of practical training and actual practice makes graduates of agricultural of no use for the advancement and progress of agriculture. While foreigners who learn their basic agriculture here in the Philippines directly apply their technique on their farm, Filipino agriculturists seek white collar jobs like salesman, office work and government workers.

     Agriculture Undersecretary Bruce Tolentino who recently visited Thailand observed that in the country for every plant variety there is a government research including an extension arm for technology transfer. This technological enterprise is what make Thailand a progressive and booming fruit-exporting country.

     The University of the Philippine College of Science has earlier predicted that the Philippines will become the "beggar country of Asia" soon if the crisis in science and technology here immediately. The backwardness of technology due to lack of research and development center may be blame due to lack of political will on the part of the government.

     It was gathered that the total number of research and development personnel of Japan is 648,977; Korea 46,390 and the Philippines 17,992. Tolentino revealed that Thailand allocated about one percent of agricultural gross values added compared to about one-fifth of one percent in the case of the Philippines.

     But the situation is not totally a hopeless case, according to Bernardo O. Dizon, one of the country's outstanding agriculturists and plant scientists who discovered several "breakthroughs" that suit local conditions. Dizon, who is referred to by Gerry Geronimo of "Ating Alamin" TV program as "Minister of Trees", has personally established a fruit research and demonstration center at the U.P. BLISS Economic Garden before the entrance of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. The 12-year-old Dizon fruit research and demonstration center showcases the most advanced and latest technology and plant varieties coming from all over the world like oranges from the USA, China, Japan and Middle East countries lychees, durian, pummelos, rambutan and other imported fruits.

     Dizon's research center also produces clone seedlings for mother plants of interested orchard and backyard growers.