A SOUTHEAST Asian think tank has offered to the government its technical expertise on research and development in agriculture to achieve the goals of the government’s 10-point economic agenda.
“Over many years, we have been providing technical assistance to national government agencies to promote agricultural and rural development,” said Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Executive Director, Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. in a statement sent over the weekend to reporters via e-mail.
Mr. Saguiguit’s statement was an offer to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who is tasked with implementing the key agricultural components of the economic agenda.
SEARCA is a organization of 11 members of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).
It has drawn up a five-year plan from 2014 to 2019 focusing on inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development.
In addition, the institution provides scholarships in agriculture and related fields at the graduate level and training for middle and top-level university and government executives, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners.
SEARCA’s other research programs in the Philipppines include a community-based nutrition program that studies the establishment of school gardens that will provide diverse vegetables to communities and cut food expenses, and provide alternative income sources for families.
One of its projects also includes improving agricultural crop insurance to enhance farms’ resilience to climate change.
SEARCA also has a value chain analysis project for carabao products such as dairy and meat in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“In the overall value chain, farmers are the losers for getting the lowest gain from carabao production. A value chain assessment will identify constraints facing key players and suggest policy directions to enhance competitiveness and participation of smallhold farmers,” SEARCA said in its statement.
In light of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration, SEARCA said it will make available its services such as knowledge resources, technical expertise, network of alumni and experts, and institutional partners to members of the ASEAN.
“ASEAN is progressively moving toward regional economic integration -- single production and market base... The preparations will require rigorous and objective studies that analyze policy options,” it added. - Janina C. Lim
Mr. Saguiguit’s statement was an offer to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, who is tasked with implementing the key agricultural components of the economic agenda.
SEARCA is a organization of 11 members of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).
It has drawn up a five-year plan from 2014 to 2019 focusing on inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development.
In addition, the institution provides scholarships in agriculture and related fields at the graduate level and training for middle and top-level university and government executives, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners.
SEARCA’s other research programs in the Philipppines include a community-based nutrition program that studies the establishment of school gardens that will provide diverse vegetables to communities and cut food expenses, and provide alternative income sources for families.
One of its projects also includes improving agricultural crop insurance to enhance farms’ resilience to climate change.
SEARCA also has a value chain analysis project for carabao products such as dairy and meat in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“In the overall value chain, farmers are the losers for getting the lowest gain from carabao production. A value chain assessment will identify constraints facing key players and suggest policy directions to enhance competitiveness and participation of smallhold farmers,” SEARCA said in its statement.
In light of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration, SEARCA said it will make available its services such as knowledge resources, technical expertise, network of alumni and experts, and institutional partners to members of the ASEAN.
“ASEAN is progressively moving toward regional economic integration -- single production and market base... The preparations will require rigorous and objective studies that analyze policy options,” it added. - Janina C. Lim