SEARCA News

Thirty-seven Southeast Asians are now included in the roster of graduate students who are pursuing their study programs through the SEARCA scholarship. Of these new SEARCA scholars, 23 are enrolling for their Master’s degree, while 14 are taking their PhD. In terms of academic discipline, there is almost an equal distribution of scholars in the social sciences and natural sciences… Read more

Jakarta, Indonesia - The Project Management Office of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network Strategic Response Fund (PMO-ASRF) conducted a Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop for the four projects supported by the ASRF in Indonesia on 19 August 2016, namely: the Directorate of Social Forestry Development, Ministry of Environment and Forestry; Indigenous Nature Conservation Society (Yayasan Pribumi Alam Lestari (YPAL)); Rumoh Transparansi; and Community Forest Forum Lampung Province (Forum Hutan Kemasyarakatan Provinsi Lampung (HKm))… Read more

Bandar Lampung INDONESIA – More than a hundred scholars, students, and, experts from seven countries converged at the Southern tip of Sumatra island for a two-day seminar titled “Improving Food Security: The Challenges for Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change.” The international seminar, held from 23-24 August 2016 at Emersia Hotel is jointly hosted by the Indonesian SEARCA Fellows Association (ISFA) and the University of Lampung, with support from SEARCA… Read more

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES - After months of planning and preparation, the six partner schools of the project, A Participatory Action Research on School- and Community-based Food and Nutrition Program for Literacy, Poverty Reduction, and Sustainable Development have established their vegetable gardens using the knowledge gained on the principles of edible landscaping, organic agriculture, climate smart agriculture, and nutrition… Read more

Much of Vietnam’s success story in rice production has been mainly attributed to hybrid rice varieties and increase in production area. But in the Mekong River Delta, the country’s largest granary, agricultural mechanization is also perceived as a key. Amidst all these is Dr. Phan Hieu Hien and his team of dedicated engineers from Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City… Read more

The Regional Director for Asia of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the Head of Cooperation of the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines were briefed on collaborative projects of IDRC and other Canadian institutions with SEARCA during their visit to SEARCA on 10 August 2016… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA, Philippines – Three volunteers from the International Business Machine (IBM) encouraged and coached the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) to exploit social media more fully in nurturing and reaching out better to its publics.  … Read more

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – Eighteen (18) participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam levelled up their knowhow and skills on Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBME) for Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (ISARD) at SEARCA on 15-19 August 2016… Read more

In 1973, when Dr. Chya Suthiwanith was offered to set up a Faculty of Natural Resources for the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) at the southern part of Thailand, he felt he was not ready. He had just finished his PhD in Agricultural Education at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 1972 through a SEARCA scholarship, so he asked a more senior “Ajahn” or professor to take on the task. However, this senior professor had confidence in Dr. Chya’s capabilities and encouraged him to accept the challenge… Read more

VICTORIA, ORIENTAL MINDORO, Philippines – A courtesy call was made with newly elected Mayor Joselito Malabanan on 3 August 2016 to brief him about SEARCA and the ISARD Piloting project in this municipality. Prof. Rolando Bello, the Overall Coordinator to the ISARD Program, together with the Municipal Agriculturist, Mr. Elmer Cobarrubias, introduced SEARCA as a partner of the LGU and the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MinSCAT) in the Calamansi Rehabilitation Project in Victoria. After walking him through the previous activities and the status of the project, the mayor assured the commitment of the municipality by extending all… Read more