The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) seeks private and public agency partners for its AgriMuseum project.
The P90-million project is targeted to rise by to inspire education interests in agriculture and in solving food security threats.
It is the first-of-its kind to rise in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) region and SEARCA Director Dr. Gil Saguiguit Jr. pointed out that "SEARCA is actively inviting partners in the project, including the public and private sector, particularly food or agri-related companies that could contribute to it as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts."
Amid limitations in the quality and number of skilled workers in agriculture, SEARCA sees the AgriMuseum as an innovative approach to promote awareness and draw attention to agriculture.
It is expected to instil interest among the youth in helping solve problems on food security, poverty alleviation, and in the development of economies in the region and will be built adjacent to the SEARCA headquarters within the University of the Philippines-Los Banos.
"The museum will put on center stage the history, science-based knowledge and innovations in agriculture, cross-cultural and cross-ecosystem comparisons, current issues and challenges, and envisioned futures of agricultural and food systems in Southeast Asia," Saguiguit explained.
The IT-spiced facility is expected to benefit young people, especially students, as well as development practitioners, policy and decision-makers, researchers who require a deeper appreciation of agriculture in national development.
SEARCA will present its proposal to establish the Southeast Asian AgriMuseum and Learning Center at the biennial meeting of education ministers of 11 countries in Jakarta, Indonesia this week.
It has been included in the agenda of this high-level meeting on the instigation of Thai Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin who is concurrently President of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council.
Thai Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, who is also the president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council, led last April 19 the groundbreaking of the Southeast Asian AgriMuseum and Learning Center on Agricultural and Rural Development.
SEARCA is one of the oldest centers of SEAMEO. The SEAMEO Council is the highest policymaking body of SEAMEO, an intergovernmental treaty organization founded in 1965 to foster cooperation among Southeast Asian nations in the fields of education, science, and culture. Education Secretary Leonor Briones represents the Philippines in the council, which is composed of the education ministers of the SEAMEO member countries.
The AgriMuseum will deepen understanding on Southeast Asia's challenges in food supply and generate renewed interest in agriculture as field of study, specialization, and course of livelihood.