SEARCA News

Seed plays a key role in agriculture, specifically in improving crop production and food security. It can also help in supporting farmers’ livelihood through increased yield and income. However, with the rapid onset of climate change and slow economic development, the food supply of the country is being compromised. Efficient and innovative agricultural solutions is therefore essential for the seed sector to ensure food security. The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) are currently working on a collaborative project to formulate the Seed Industry Development Program (SIDP)… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), was commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to formulate the National Agriculture and Fishery Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) 2021-2030, the 10-year directional plan of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines. The NAFMIP is anchored on the New Thinking for Agriculture, including its eight paradigms and highlights thrusts to modernize and industrialize the agriculture and fisheries sector It aims to increase the productivity (Masaganang Ani) and double the livable income (Mataas na Kita) of farmers and fisherfolks… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) participated in the first virtual SEAMEO Knowledge Management (KM) Learning and Sharing Forum conducted by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) on 7 July 2022. The forum solicited suggestions for the SEAMEO-wide KM strategic framework that will enable the harmonious and logical flow of information and knowledge co-creation among SEAMEO centers in the Southeast Asian region. “In 2012, the first training workshop on KM was organized by SEARCA to firm up notions of knowledge partnerships and enable SEAMEO units to draw up a joint KM… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Baños (UPLB) will conduct the baseline assessment of the coconut industry in Catanauan, Quezon on 20 to 26 July 2022. This activity is in line with initial agreement between SEARCA and Quezon Province to develop a three-year project on the development of an integrated and vibrant coconut industry in the Province supported by solid partnerships among the local government, farmer associations, private sector industry players, research organizations, as well as other institutions of higher learning. This week-long activity will… Read more

Busuanga, Palawan – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its School-plus-Home Gardens Project (S+HGP), will organize a three-day training-workshop on vegetable production at Salvacion National High School, Busuanga, Palawan from 19 to 21 July 2022.  This is in line with the project’s commitment to build the capacities of agricultural extension workers in local government units (LGUs) of and educators from Busuanga and Coron, Palawan in providing technical assistance on crop production and improving soil productivity in the school gardening activities of target schools. At least 30 school heads, Gulayan sa Paaralan (GPP)… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and Cambodia’s Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) continue its collaboration in the development of an internal quality assurance (IQA) system for RUA. The partnership agreement, which began in September 2020, entails SEARCA’s assistance in establishing a broad-based technical cooperation for the development of an IQA mentoring program for RUA. Specifically, the partnership provides technical support for the following: a) design of IQA strategy and standards for RUA and development of IQA manual; b) development and dissemination of self-assessment report (SAR) findings; c)… Read more

Laguna, Philippines - The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) met with the Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) and the Municipal Nutrition Office (MNO) of Los Baños on 12 July 2022 to discuss the project on coping strategies to ensure food security among urban households during Covid-19. The project is being implemented by SEARCA in the Philippines, with Los Baños, Laguna as the representative site. This project is in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Regional Center for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO-RECFON) and Regional Centre for Tropical Biology of SEAMEO (BIOTROP)… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized a training for the baseline assessment of the coconut industry in Quezon in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) on 5-6 July 2022 at the SEARCA Residence Hotel. The two-day program was participated in by student-interns from UPLB’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (DAAE), as well as representatives from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Quezon and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) of Catanauan. The training aimed for the participants to be familiarized with the survey tool… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Philippine-based Synergy Group Operations, Inc. (SGOI) formally signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) on 1 July 2022 at SEARCA Headquarters. Under the LOA, SEARCA and Synergy committed to develop the capacity of teachers and local government officers by conducting a training on School Edible Landscaping for Entrepreneurship (SEL4E) project and provide information, skills, and understanding for properly disseminating the SEL4E concepts and values to students and communities in Rizal, Philippines. The project has two components, namely, the Trainers’ Training for School-plus Home Gardens Program (S+HGP) and… Read more

"Given the aggravating nature of climate change impacts, rice farming will increasingly rely on improved resilience to climate variability and extremes"—such is the premise of researchers from various international organizations on most of the papers headlining the June 2022 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD). In the paper tackling rice-based landscapes, "climate smart agriculture" was introduced in "climate smart villages" in several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. These villages initially focused on improving rice seed systems and found out that a community-based seed system could strengthen their resiliency to climate change impacts. For stronger efficacy… Read more