SEARCA in the News

NONGOVERNMENT organization Kids Who Farm (KWH) is using hydroponics to lure the youth into agriculture. During the recent Pista ng Pagkain at Kabataang Pinoy festival held by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), KWH founder Muneer Hinay discussed the advantages of hydroponics in helping address food security at the local level. "In hydroponics, the plant roots absorb balanced nutrients dissolved in water that meet all the plant development requirements. The basic setup is you have a container or grow box, water inside with nutrient solution and an air space so the container is… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has partnered with local interest groups to support a feeding program that aims to improve maternal and child nutrition in Los Baños, Laguna. SEARCA joined hands with the Rotary Club of Los Baños Makiling and the Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help Los Baños (LATCH LB) to provide support to the Municipality of Los Baños through the Municipal Nutrition Action Office for the PaManna Feeding Program. LATCH is a non-profit organization that offers quality lactation education and mother-to-mother breastfeeding counseling services since 2006. SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio… Read more

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Puerto Princesa has scheduled a week of environmental awareness activities at Robinsons Place Palawan, including the “Ginto Sa Dagta” almaciga resin gathering by the Batak. Atty. Carlo B. Gomez, City ENRO chief, who led the ceremonial ribbon cutting on Monday, emphasized the importance of the forest in maintaining life and biodiversity, food security, and wildlife habitat. The activities include exhibit display, puppet show, painting contest, and games slated from March 21-25. They are in line with the celebration of the International Day of the Forest on March 21, and World… Read more

A new study from the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has shown post-harvest loss experienced by the mango, tomato and onion industries in the Philippines. The Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project focused on the three crops given their position as staples of the Filipino diet. The study analysed the value chain of each commodity and quantified the value and volume of post-harvest loss across different domestic supply routes. For mangoes the study revealed fruit produced in the province of Iloilo and traded in Manila showed the highest post-harvest loss at 33.89 per cent, the Pangasinan-Manila… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), together with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.), presented an Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project titled “Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines.” Usec. Evelyn Laviña, Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines, emphasized that the three crops – onion, tomato, and mango are part of Filipino’s staple food like rice and that it should be given significant focus and funding to be utilized efficiently and contribute to the growing economy of the country… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna: The study "Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines" funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed billions of pesos in post-harvest losses along the value chains of onions, tomatoes and mangoes. The study was conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (), which is headquartered at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and whose results focused on the three crops. According to the study, the total post-harvest loss of freshly harvested onions from farms in Bongabon town in Nueva Ecija province in Region 3… Read more

The following link will take you to INQUIRER.net: Ex-UPLB vice chancellor Gomez passes away https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1571025… Read more

According to a study released by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, producers of red onions are incurring up to P6 billion (€102 mln) in post-harvest losses due to the lack of cold storage facilities and reliable logistics. The estimated volume of post-harvest losses for red onions reached 48,891 tons, or nearly P1.96 billion, while post-harvest losses for the cold-stored onion chain was at 63.9 percent, with estimated volume and value lost at 69,333 MT and nearly P4.01 billion, respectively. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the study also revealed that postharvest loss of… Read more

NATIONAL Security students with faculty and academic support staff from the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) recently visited the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and were briefed on food security. Led by Prof. Dr. Alan Lachica, the 17 NDCP students taking up Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) are composed of 11 military officers from the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force; two military officers from Indonesia and Pakistan; and four civilians from the Philippine government and the private sector. The delegation is part of the 65 MNSA Regular Course No… Read more

The project titled "Leveling Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR)," which was funded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), was concluded last March 11. The project was spearheaded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). It was a 10-week Online Training Course on Research Designs and Methods for Higher Education Institutions (Research4HEIs) via the Searca Online Learning and Virtual Engagements or Solve platform. There were 18 mid to junior faculty members, researchers and education leaders from 16 State Universities and Colleges-Association of Colleges of Agriculture… Read more