Los Baños, Laguna―The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development launches a new look on its 15th year of publication.
The new AJAD look is symbolic of the pivotal turn in the goal of its publisher, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, to contribute in addressing regional and global challenges of agricultural development, and elevating the quality of life of agricultural families through sustainable and resilient livelihoods and access to modern networks and markets.
The new AJAD cover prominently features the emblem of its publisher―a molave tree with an interlace of grain stalks and panicles wreathed under its roots. These elements mirror the AJAD’s intent to anchor on its roots while widening its reach to promote greater awareness of the latest findings in research, new methodologies, and policy concerns in agriculture and rural development in Asia.
“The evolving context of agriculture, rural development, and state of farmers, as aligned with the global goals, focus on the contribution of agriculture to hunger and malnutrition eradication, and to improving the standard of living of all in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner,” says Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA director.
Dr. Gregorio underscores SEARCA’s commitment “to participate in the achievement of global priorities and contribute to developing awareness, changing mindsets, and initiating collective action in collaboration with its key partners.
”In line with SEARCA’s more aggressive stance of contributing to the state of agriculture primarily in the Southeast Asian region, and broadly to global development targets, AJAD will continue to improve the quality and relevance of published papers and broaden its reach across Asia and beyond.
The latest AJAD issue, Volume 16 Number 2 published this December, features six scientific papers authored by researchers from four countries.
The first two papers measure performances. One tackles the rice production efficiency in Myanmar using data envelopment analysis. The other is a Philippine paper on communal irrigation systems.
Two other articles focus on Indonesia. One discusses agricultural households’ food demands, while the other is on income inequality of oil palm plasma farmers.