SEARCA in the News

Economists and rice sector leaders have pushed for mixed policy recommendations in light of the Rice Tarification Law (RTL), pressing for sustained implementation yet strong and "guaranteed" farmer support. Otherwise, they said RTL may turn to be "disastrous" for the Philippines. This has been raised during the "Regional Implications in the Philippines' RTL" forum recently organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). "The challenges we always face every cropping season relative to systemic barriers to farmers' income were not addressed head on in the RTL," said Cresencio C. Paez, director of Asian… Read more

Los Baños, Laguna—Some 25 nationals from eight Asian counties, both from public and private sectors, have converged at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture to participate in this year's Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology. According to SEARCA, the program aims to enable the participants from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam to have a better understanding of the entire value chain of living modified organisms (LMOs) as well as national and international legal instruments regarding LMOs. SEARCA has partnered in organizing the Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biotechnology Regulation, and… Read more

ECONOMISTS and rice industry leaders are pushing for mixed policy recommendations, pressing the national government for sustained implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11203, or the "Rice Tariffication Law (RTL)," with strong and guaranteed support for affected farmers across the country. To prevent the government's tarrification program for the rice industry to be "disastrous," they said there is a need for safety nets for the protection of farmers, which they claim "have not been installed as evidenced by farmers' poor plight from palay's (unmilled rice) collapsing price." The call was made during the "Regional Implications in the Philippines' RTL" forum organized… Read more

The German Embassy in the Philippines awarded master’s and PhD scholarships on agriculture courses to 11 Southeast Asians, three of which are Filipinos. The scholarships were granted under the In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). DAAD is one of SEARCA’s staunchest and longest partners in its human resource development program. Since 1975, more than 380 DAAD-SEARCA scholarships have been awarded, 90 percent of which have been completed. The scholarship certificates for academic year 2019 to 2020 at the University of… Read more

Los Baños, Laguna—Masters and doctorate scholarships to three Filipinos, along with eight Southeast Asians, were awarded by the German Embassy in the Philippines under the In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst or DAAD). The scholarship was through the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The Filipino scholars are Edchelle S. Flores, pursuing MS in Community Development, and Marla V. Relloso and Zyra May H. Centino, both pursuing PhDs in Agricultural Economics. According to Dr. Glenn B… Read more

MANILA, Philippines — Grow Asia, a farm production platform, is benefitting 117,000 smallholders in coconut, coffee, corn, fisheries, and vegetables, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said. SEARCA, through Grow Asia, has supported the development of organized and skilled farmers. Grow Asia has demonstrated farming models that now integrate small farm owners into the big ASEAN value chain. ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) co-founded Grow Asia with the World Economic Forum. Grow Asia-Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Development has built synergies between different value chain players in agriculture. It facilitates delivery of… Read more

MANILA – The German Embassy in the Philippines awarded master’s and PhD scholarships to 11 Southeast Asians, among them three Filipinos, under the In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). DAAD is one of SEARCA’s staunchest and longest partners in its human resource development program. Since 1975, more than 380 DAAD-SEARCA scholarships have been awarded, 90% of which have been completed. The scholarship certificates for academic year 2019/2020 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) were presented two eight… Read more

THREE Filipinos were among those awarded by the German Embassy in the Philippines master's and doctorate scholarships to 11 Southeast Asians under the In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Program by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The DAAD is one of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture's (SEARCA) staunchest and longest partners in its human resource development program. Since 1975, more than 380 DAAD-SEARCA scholarships have been awarded, 90 percent of which have been completed. The Filipino scholars are Edchelle Flores, pursuing MS in Community Development, and Marla Relloso and Zyra May Centino, both pursuing PhD in… Read more

Photographers of Myanmar rejoice! Whether you are a beginner who just started snapping or a professional with years of experience, you need to check out this event.   The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is holding region-wide photo contest under the theme “Cultivating Southeast Asia’s Youth Agripreneurs”. You’ll be zooming in on the colourful and sharp images of enterprising and innovative young people working in the agricultural sectors across SEA.   So which photos will be selected as winners, you ask? Those entries that best capture innovative farming practices, agricultural entrepreneurship, and make… Read more

The private sector is encouraged to participate in an ASEAN-wide program that empowers the future of small farmers, at the same time maximizing the agricultural potential of the region. The ASEAN Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) ASEAN arm SEARCA has supported the development of organized and skilled farmers that now form part of Grow Asia, a farm production partnership platform that’s benefitting 117,000 smallholders in coconut, coffee, corn, fisheries, and vegetables. SEARCA reported that Grow Asia, through its Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Development (PPSD), has become a successful farm partnership model. Bernie S… Read more