SEARCA in the News

Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, malunggay (horseradish) and dilis (anchovy) are becoming "go-to" nutritional items after Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) developed malunggay powder and dilis flour. The powder and flour were deemed highly marketable under the Technology and Investment Profiles monograph series published by Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). This project, funded by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR), was undertaken by Dorris Gatus, project leader; Veronica Aurea Rufo, project coordinator; and Nemia Pelayo, technical adviser. The project supported the financial feasibility of the products under which the… Read more

BATAC, Ilocos Norte: The Department of Agriculture in Region 1 (DA-Ilocos) has introduced improved native garlic production technology to address the declining production of the crop there. According to the DA, Ilocos is the largest garlic-producing region, contributing more than 65 percent of the country's total. However, garlic output fell because of low-yielding varieties and high postharvest losses. Also, there was a decline in the area planted with and harvested for garlic as a result of the region›s farmers shifting to other high-value crops due to stiff competition from garlic imports. To encourage farmers to plant more garlic, the DA… Read more

Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), a state-funded university in Quezon Province, has developed a seasoning out of malunggay as well as flour out of dilis, which have been identified by international think tank Southeast Asian Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) as “highly marketable” products. In a statement, it was shown that SLSU’s Malunggay Powder and Dilis Flour (MPDF) has recently been described as highly marketable under the Technology and Investment Profiles (TIP) monograph series published by SEARCA. The study to develop MPDF was funded by the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR). According… Read more

STUDY on soya chips, produced and developed by a group in Camarines Norte, showed that these can help prevent malnutrition in children, especially those with autism. The study was led by Marilou Lagdameo of the Autism Recovery Network of the Philippines (ARNP). The study was featured in a monograph series, published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. The series analyzed the profitability and financial viability of select products and technologies, funded and promoted by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research. One of these products was soya chips.The ARNP-produced soya chips are a… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will lead the crafting of a roadmap for the pork-based processed products value chain in the Philippines. According to SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio, the roadmap would be under the five-year “Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the Asean Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns” project jointly implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute and SEARCA. Asean stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is made up of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Gregorio said… Read more

Local shutterbugs are invited to participate in capturing striking images of agricultural innovation in Southeast Asia for the annual Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) photo contest. The 14th SEARCA photo contest is open to citizens of Brunei Darussalam and other ASEAN member states. Themed ‘Faces of Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN)’, the contest seeks images across Southeast Asia showcasing people actively involved, contributing to, working towards, or benefitting from the following ATTAIN sub-themes. There are; agri-business models for increased productivity and income; sustainable farming systems and natural resource management (NRM); food and… Read more

The 2020 edition of the annual photo contest launched by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is in search of striking images of agricultural innovation in Southeast Asia. The SEARCA Photo Contest is open to Filipinos and nationals of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. "We are looking for beautiful images that show people taking part in activities that contribute to food and nutrition security, sustainable farming systems and natural resource management, agribusiness for increased productivity and income, enhanced agricultural and rural development (ARD) towards climate… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said it will take the lead in crafting the national value chain roadmap for pork-based processed products in the Philippines. This will be part of the five-year regional project titled Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns (ATMI-ASEAN). The project will focus on priority commodities of ASEAN Member States. For the Philippines and Vietnam,the priority would be pig, while it is corn for Cambodia and Laos. It is pulses for Myanmar. SEARCA Program Head for Research and Thought… Read more

CITY OF BATAC, Ilocos Norte: The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO1) has introduced improved native garlic to boost local production and potential investment in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) in response to the region's declining production. According to the DA, Region 1 is the largest garlic-producing region, contributing more than 65 percent to the country's total production with the best comparative advantage in production because of its agroclimatic suitability. The llocos Region, however, experienced a decline in the volume of production because of low-yielding varieties and high post-harvest losses. Also noted was a decline in the area planted… Read more

TO help farmers establish a set of practices in their farming operations for emerging commodities amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) convened a two-day virtual training-workshop. According to SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio, the need to help farmers to rethink and redesign their current farming methods was the reason for conducting the "Virtual Training-Workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) For Emerging Agricultural Commodities Amid COVID-19 Pandemic." "The pandemic has greatly affected agricultural production and food systems. It… Read more