Filipinos dominate SEARCA photo contest

FILIPINOS won six of the seven prizes at stake in the annual photo contest of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).

The 2022 edition of the competition was anchored on the theme "Emerging Agricultural Innovations for the Next Generation."

SEARCA Director Glenn Gregorio said the winning entries depicted technologies and innovation that help modernize and transform agriculture and rural development towards increased food supply and security.

Gregorio noted that in its 16th year in 2022, the SEARCA annual photo contest drew 760 entries from 182 photographers representing the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

He added that the top three prizes went to pictures of innovation in planting crops, while images showing various technologies used in agricultural activities were selected for the special awards.

Leah Caguiat of the Philippines won the first prize with her photo showing children happily watching a rice seedling transplanter at work in a rice field.

The second prize photo by Dennis Ivan Baliguat of the Philippines showed the Fresco-Greenovation project that integrates hydroponics, Internet of Things, automation, computer vision, and machine learning technologies for precision farming.

A social enterprise, the Fresco-Greenovation was founded by young farmers with degrees in agricultural science and engineering know-how.

Fredelon Sison's picture bagged the third prize to complete a 1-2-3 sweep for Filipinos. The picture shows a man building a locally designed aquaponics system in his small shop after the sun had gone down.

The SEARCA Director's Choice Award was bestowed on Jaime Singlador's photo of an agricultural technician introducing to a young student a hydroponic system that uses a solar power-controlled water sprinkler inside plant boxes that are suitable for small spaces and backyard farming.

Winning the Department of Education Secretary's Choice Award was Jomar Mariñas for his picture of a combine harvester juxtaposed with a carabao in the foreground.

Robert de la Vega was selected as Best Youth Photographer for his photo of a young boy looking up from a laptop and reading material while seated near an elderly person grasping some rice grains in a flat basket. His picture also won the People's Choice Award via online voting.

Pham Quoc Hung's photo of rice seedlings in rolled-up mat nurseries ready for transplanting captured the Best Agricultural Innovation/Technology Award.

Mat nurseries use less land, can be installed closer to the farmer's house than traditional field nurseries, and use less labor for both transporting seedling mats and replanting.

The winning images received cash prizes and will be displayed within the SEARCA building, shared on its social media and website, and featured in various SEARCA publications.