Philippine-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said that farm tourism will open up new perspectives for inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development.
SEARCA Director Gil Saguiguit said farm or agriculture tourism diversifies income for small farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural systems and community involvement.
He also disclosed that Senator Cynthia A. Villar is now pushing for signing into law the Farm Tourism Development Act, which institutionalizes the Philippine government's farm tourism programs in helping raise farmers' incomes and increase players in the rural tourism industry.
SEARCA recently opened a five-day exposure workshop on Farm Tourism Practices designed for different stakeholders to learn and adopt trends in farmtourism across Southeast Asia.
It received participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam – plus Taiwan represented by a resource person.
The workshop also showcases agriculture as a productive business endeavor and an exciting field of study among young people.
The workshop was conducted in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), which SEARCA has tapped as knowledge partners.
