SEARCA in the News

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—A nationwide endline evaluation led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has confirmed that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund–Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) of the Philippine Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) is delivering substantial improvements in rice farm productivity, profitability, and resilience across the country. The findings were presented during the "Keeping on Track: ATI's FY 2025 Annual Performance Review and FY 2026 Commitment Signing" held on 27 January 2026 at The Hive Hotel and Convention Place. The study, "Reaping the Benefits: Evaluation of RCEF-RESP 2019–2024," led… Read more

BANGKOK, Thailand — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized the Inception Workshop of the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook Series) on 26–27 January 2026. The workshop aimed to provide a venue for SEARCA and country experts from 11 Southeast Asian countries to discuss and agree on the country studies' overall focus, methods of analysis, data sources, and report contents. Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of the SEA Agri Outlook Series, a flagship publication that provides policy-relevant insights through a mixed-methods analytical… Read more

A bright spot in an otherwise lackluster 2025 for the Philippine economy is the news that the entire agricultural sector grew at 3.1 percent—the highest in eight years—for the whole year, having surprised everyone by growing at seven percent in the second quarter, led by poultry and crops. This is an encouraging sign that the BBM government is delivering on its promise of assigning the highest priority to food security. A growth of 3.1 percent may seem unimpressive, but we must consider how this “Achilles’ heel” of the Philippine economy had been performing for the last two decades, growing at… Read more

(Last of Three Parts) In 1974, Henry Kissinger, who was then the Secretary of State of the United States, famously asserted that by 1984, no child, woman, or man would ever have to go to bed hungry. Regrettably, that commitment remains significantly unfulfilled. During the 1996 World Food Summit, political leaders from 186 nations vowed to reduce the number of hungry individuals in the world by half by the year 2015 – equating to a decrease of 20 million each year. However, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, "far from diminishing, the number of hungry people globally is… Read more

(Second of Three Parts) Fish, like rice, is the staple food of Filipinos. As a matter of fact, fish provides more than half of the protein requirement of almost all Filipinos. Give man a fish, so goes a very popular Chinese saying, and he will eat fish for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will fish for his lifetime. However, if we don't watch out, this adage may soon become obsolete. Similar to other essential resources, the fisheries in the Philippines are on the brink of collapse, suffering from the relentless "plunder of the commons." The term… Read more

(First of Three Parts) Famine, characterized by a widespread lack of food resulting in severe and prolonged hunger among a large segment of the population, has occurred in the past, even during biblical times. The Holy Bible, in Genesis 55-57, recorded it: "So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.' When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold them to the… Read more

THE University of Asia and the Pacific's (UA&P) Center for Food and Agri Business, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will convene the Food and Agribusiness Forum at PLDT Hall, Pasig City, on Friday, Jan. 30. Titled "Harnessing Economies of Scale: Consolidation Pathways for Philippine Food and Agribusiness," the event will bring together agribusiness executives, policymakers, farmer group leaders, researchers and development agencies to chart a collective response to the country's deepening farm-size fragmentation. SEARCA Director Mercedita Sombilla said the forum's core purpose is to raise awareness of consolidation's strategic value, showcase… Read more

One on One: Reflections on Change and Impact A One-on-One with CPAf's 2025 Student Excellence Awardee (Page 3) When I hear about change, the quote "change is the only constant in life" comes up. Yes, it is constant, but it is not always intentional. When we let life be, it is a beautiful thing. And, when we lead an intentional life, it can be quite powerful. CPAf's 2025 Student Excellence Awardee, Zara Mae C. Estareja, also known as Zamae, made a big change that led to a positive impact not only in her life but also in her community. So… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Two papers published in the December 2025 issue (Volume 22, Issue No. 2) of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) sheds light on the challenges faced by agencies with mandates on agriculture on delivering solutions to rice farmers, and the need for them to adopt measures to deal with climate change. AJAD is a publication of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). SEARCA Director Mercedita Agcaoili Sombilla said the issue also highlights how farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and policymakers are responding to structural changes in agriculture and rural… Read more

Việt Nam đã đạt thành công ‘chưa từng có’, theo một nghiên cứu mới được công bố trên tạp chí Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) của Trung tâm Nghiên cứu và Học tập Sau đại học về Nông nghiệp khu vực Đông Nam Á (SEARCA) có trụ sở tại tỉnh Laguna, Philippines cho thấy. Nghiên cứu chỉ ra rằng trong khi lợi ích từ ACFTA phân bổ không đồng đều giữa các nước ASEAN, Việt Nam nổi lên với mức tăng trưởng thương mại nông nghiệp vượt trội, được mô tả là “chưa từng có”, cả trong nội khối ASEAN… Read more