Los Baños, Philippines — New research published in the June 2026 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) shows that building stronger agri-food systems across Asia requires more than simply raising production. The latest issue, Volume 23, Number 1, highlights how policy tools, value-chain coordination, digital infrastructure, advisory services, and risk-aware farm technologies can work together to improve agricultural outcomes.
Leading the issue is a paper titled “Evaluating Policies for the Philippine Rice Market,” which introduces the Rapid Evaluation of Market Equilibrium with Differentiated Origin Sectors (REMEDIOS), a spreadsheet-based model that can quickly assess rice market policies under changing conditions. Filipino economist and rice policy expert Roehlano Briones of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) demonstrates that, despite its simplicity, REMEDIOS is versatile enough to capture various market conditions and policies, including increased supply, lower world prices, higher tariffs, import quotas, and floor prices.
By estimating the losses and gains for producers, consumers, and the government, REMEDIOS helps identify which policies benefit society—and by how much. The Excel-based model is available for free download at http://bit.ly/3YQpL9J.
Another featured article, “Development of the Malaysian Dairy Goat Value Chain,” examines Malaysia’s dairy goat industry through two analytical lenses: farm productivity and the “farm-to-glass” value chain. Authors Aimi Fadzirul Kamarubahrin of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Asmaddy Haris of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia review earlier studies and find that, although Malaysia has strong potential for dairy goat expansion, the industry remains constrained by fragmented value chains, limited infrastructure, and uneven productivity. They underscore the need to strengthen production, processing, and market linkages to support a more sustainable and resilient dairy goat sector.
Three other articles in the issue focus on digital farming tools and risk management in India and Malaysia:
- “Economic Implications of Agri-met Advisory Services” analyzes how agrometeorological advisory services influence farmers’ production decisions and economic outcomes in Haryana, India. Madhuri of Symbiosis International Deemed University reports that timely, weather-based information helps farmers make better management decisions, leading to improved productivity, reduced risks, and higher farm profitability.
- “Flying LoRaWAN IoT Gateway for Oil Palm Plantation Monitoring” presents a drone-mounted LoRaWAN Internet of Things (IoT) gateway designed to improve communication with sensors deployed across oil palm plantations. Lead author Samsuzana Abd Aziz and co-authors from UPM and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu demonstrate how integrating unmanned aerial vehicles and IoT technologies can enhance data collection in areas with limited network coverage and enable smarter plantation management.
- “Assessing Risk of Aerial Spray Drift in Paddy Fields” synthesizes current knowledge on the weather, equipment, and operational factors that influence aerial spray drift in paddy fields. Led by Azmeer Ahmad Shukri of UPM, the review discusses strategies and emerging technologies to minimize spray drift and improve the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of pesticide application.
The issue also features a book review by retired Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) senior nutritionist Lalita Bhattacharjee. Her review of Nutrition and Public Health in Asia: Challenges, Interventions, and Policy Responses examines the region’s nutrition and public health challenges—from undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies to the growing burden of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The review highlights the book’s emphasis on evidence-based interventions and policy responses that can help countries strengthen food systems and improve population nutrition and health outcomes.
The latest AJAD articles and previous issues may be downloaded for free from ajad.searca.org. Print copies are available by subscription or on request from the publisher, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
AJAD is SEARCA’s official international scientific journal. It publishes empirical, policy-oriented, and institutional development studies, as well as perspective articles on agriculture and development, the political economy of rural development, and trade issues. Submissions are accepted year-round through https://ajad.searca.org/submit.
The AJAD editorial board is chaired by Dr. Cielito Habito, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines. Dr. Habito also served as professor of economics at the Ateneo de Manila University and director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.