The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (SEARCA) Youth in Agri Talk Show aired its second episode on 16 February 2024 at 7:00 p.m. (GMT +8:00) on the Center's Facebook page.
The episode "Winged Warriors: The Unsung Heroes of Agri-Land" has garnered over 5,000 views in its first 24 hours and more than 120,000 views in less than a month.
Dr. Nur Azura Adam, SEARCA deputy director for programs and an entomologist, served as the guest expert. Students from HFSE International School in Singapore, SMK Seri Jempol in Malaysia, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba in the Philippines had the opportunity to ask her agriculture and insect-related questions. These inquiries include differentiating insects from other creepy crawlies, discerning good and bad insects in agriculture, understanding how insects eat, and identifying ways to increase the diversity of beneficial insects in the ecosystem.
Ms. Sharon Malaiba, unit head of SEARCA Partnerships Unit (PU), underscored the timeliness and relevance of the episode's theme.
"It helped our young viewers understand that each insect has its purpose in nature and that we should not see them as a nuisance that should be crushed, sprayed, or run away from," Ms. Malaiba shared.
"This episode aimed at instilling essential knowledge on the positive relationship between insects and the food value chain," she added.
Madam Zainon Idris, principal of SMK Seri Jempol, expressed gratitude for inviting their students to the show.
"This is indeed a wonderful opportunity for the students to be exposed to agriculture, which might encourage them to explore it deeper. It can spark their interest in potential agriculture-related careers, such as agribusiness, agricultural science, and other related fields," she remarked.
"The talk show helps students appreciate the importance of farming and food production," she continued.
The SEARCA Youth in Agri Talk Show is a non-academic and nonconventional approach to learning to promote agriculture and its importance to Southeast Asian youth, particularly those in basic education.
"Making agriculture appealing to the youth is a big challenge. Our main audience comprises Generation Z and Generation Alpha, who are highly visual learners and incredibly comfortable with technology," Ms. Malaiba explained.
"By combining interesting topics and technology, using images, keywords, and attractive designs, SEARCA's Youth in Agri Talk Show captures the viewers' curiosity. At the same time, information is presented in simple and understandable bits so they can process it faster," she said.
SEARCA youth ambassadors Ms. Loise Ann Carandang, senior associate for communications, and Mr. Joseph Matthew Hedreyda, senior associate for events and visitors, both of PU, hosted the talk show.
Did you miss the episode? You can watch it here: https://bit.ly/searca-youth-agri-talk-show-ep2