SEARCA News

BATAC, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), organized and facilitated the training course on Organic and Scientific Native Chicken Production held on 27 April 2015 at MMSU in Batac, Ilocos Norte. This activity is part of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)-funded project titled Production of Organic Feeds for Native Chicken: A Pilot Corn/Sorghum + Cowpea Intercropping Scheme Integrated with Village Feed Milling and Native Chicken Production… Read more

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund (ASRF) conducted a Project Development Assistance (PDA) activity in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14-16 April 2015. The PDA is one of the types of grants under the ASRF that aims to assist ASEAN Member States (AMS) in coming up with project proposals that would respond to the needs of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) Focal Points in addressing emerging issues related to social forestry in their respective countries. The PDA is also intended to identify issues and determine priority interventions that will help address them. As recommended during the… Read more

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Biotechnology Information Center (BIC) of SEARCA’s Knowledge Management Department contributed to and learned from the presentations, discussions, and exercises of three international biotech communication activities held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya: the Alliance for Science Biotechnology Leadership Course (10-11 April 2015), the International Conference on Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety Communications (13-14 April 2015), and the Annual Network Meeting of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications or ISAAA (15-16 April 2015)… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture Asia Regional Office (CIAT Asia) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue common education, training, and research objectives in various areas of agricultural and rural development in the Southeast Asian region… Read more

For the first time, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) shall give recognition to its outstanding scholarship alumni who have personified SEARCA’s values and philosophy and have distinguished themselves through their personal achievements, professional accomplishments, public service and other meritorious endeavors… Read more

Less than two months after the start of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)-funded Value Chain Analysis project (VCA) of carabao and carabao-based products, which was commissioned to SEARCA, the research team led by Dr. Flordeliza A. Lantican, a VCA specialist, has made headway in accomplishing some of the requirements of the project. The inception report prepared by the team leader was presented to the PCC officials, represented by Dr. Liza Battad and Mr. Eric Palacpac. After recognizing the wide coverage of the project, which includes two separate VCAs for carabao milk and milk products and meat (carabeef), it was decided… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Southeast Asia stands to lose a lot in terms of agricultural production and stability if there is no urgent, sustained action to implement climate change adaptation and mitigation in the region, warns Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño during a knowledge event here… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – SEARCA has successfully concluded the training courses on “Demystifying Knowledge Management (KM)” and “Knowledge Sharing for Your Work: Techniques and Tools for Project KM” which were attended by 24 participants from the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), DA Regional Field Office, DA Bureaus, and Attached Agencies. The training workshops, held last 13-17 April 2015, were implemented under the DA-BAR-funded project Capacity Development Program on Knowledge Management–Phase II… Read more

SEARCA released a new monograph that tackles issues involved in the implementation of weather index-based insurance (WIBI) for agricultural production highlighting experiences from the Philippines. Risks of rainfall deficits in rice production for different planting dates for typical rice varieties grown are estimated in four selected provinces in the Philippines… Read more

STUTTGART, Germany – Around 300 scientists and experts from around the world converged to focus on the causes, consequences, and counter-strategies of the global problem on micronutrient deficiencies during early development, also known as “Hidden Hunger.” Organized by the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), the 2nd Hidden Hunger International Congress was held in Stuttgart, Germany on 3-6 March 2015… Read more