The Laguna provincial government has formalized an agreement with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to jointly pursue capacity-development activities and exchange knowledge resources, including publications.
Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez said the partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños-based SEARCA is vital to Laguna's growth and development.
"We believe that SEARCA has the technical knowledge and skills to address the plight of our community. The provincial government of Laguna is willing to participate," Hernandez said.
According to Rep. Ruth Mariano Hernandez of the Second District of Laguna, they are looking forward to an open collaboration with SEARCA.
"With SEARCA's research on rice fortified with iron and zinc, the partnership with SEARCA will help our farming communities here in Laguna to add yield on their crops," she said.
Glenn Gregorio, SEARCA director, said the partnership with Laguna is an essential move to help farmers and farming communities in the province.
SEARCA also began a community garden project in Los Baños to help flower farmers in Barangay Bayog to shift to growing good-quality food for their consumption.
"This will be an alternative source of income now that there is little demand for aster because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic," Gregorio said.
In an event attended by Los Baños town officials led by Mayor Cesar Perez, SEARCA turned over seeds, fertilizer and other farm inputs to Marcelino Aragon, Gerardo Banasihan and Salvador Tordacilla, farmers involved in the project.
Rico Ancog, SEARCA Emerging Innovation for Growth program lead, said the post-crisis strategy project will be piloted on three farm lots sized 3,800 square meters (sq.m.), 2,800 sq.m. and 2,000 sq.m. with a grant provided through the SEARCA Grants for Research towards Agricultural Innovative Solutions, also known as the Grains program.
"SEARCA will also provide technical support in terms of land and site preparation, planning the community garden design and setting up and monitoring of the community garden," Ancog said.