Features

Searca, BPI train farmers amid Covid pandemic

18Sep

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Searca, BPI train farmers amid Covid pandemic

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TO help farmers establish a set of practices in their farming operations for emerging commodities amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) convened a two-day virtual training-workshop. According to Searca Director Glenn Gregorio, the need to help farmers to rethink and redesign their current farming methods was the reason for conducting the “Virtual Training-Workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) For Emerging Agricultural Commodities Amid Covid-19 Pandemic.” “The pandemic has greatly affected agricultural production and food systems. It has also emphasized food supply and its sa...

15Sep

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, Features

Group launches Apayao Organic Farm

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (September 15)—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Cagayan recently launched the Apayao Organic Farm in Piat town, one of the development projects identified by TESDA under the Barangay Development Program of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC). According to TESDA Provincial Director Igmedio Casticon, the project is in support of Executive Order No. 70, institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace. Casticon said the project is also strengthened by the sustained commitment of the PRLEC member-agencies as evidenced by the continuous outpour of support such as the P600,000 financial assistance from the Provincial Government of Cagayan for the construction o...

‘HEIs can spark agri food systems transformation’

27Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

‘HEIs can spark agri food systems transformation’

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO EXPERTS of a regional think tank hosted by the Philippine government said it sees that higher education institutions (HEIs) can further reorient their research and development from a business perspective toward a systemic change of the agriculture sector. Dr. Glenn Gregorio and Dr. Rico Ancog of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) said the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has underscored the connections between supply chains and consumption patterns, and the urgent need to redefine agricultural systems as food systems. They said a systemic view of agricultural food systems is imperative for the needed transformation, which should stem right from the hallowed halls of universities and college...

Quezon farmers get agri machineries, water pumps

21Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nueva Vizcaya

Quezon farmers get agri machineries, water pumps

FARM MECHANIZATION. Rice and corn farmers in Quezon town in Nueva Vizcaya are in elation after receiving various farm machinery and water pumps to boost their productivity. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY BENJAMIN MOSES M. EBREO QUEZON, Nueva Vizcaya (August 21)—Rice and corn farmers here are in elation after receiving farm machineries and water pumps from the Department of Agriculture (DA). Mayor Dolores Binwag said the DA Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) recently gave water pumps and their accessories to five groups of corn farmers in the municipality. She said the water pumps have long been needed by the corn farmers to improve their productivity of corn harvest as one of the major agricultural products of the town. Binwag added that the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development an...

CHEd picks Searca head for HEIs agri curriculum reforms

20Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

CHEd picks Searca head for HEIs agri curriculum reforms

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (August 20)—Director Glenn Gregorio of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) was appointed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) as chairman of its Technical Panel for Agriculture (TPA) to lead reforms in the agriculture curriculum. Gregorio said he welcomes the challenge to lead efforts in reforming the agriculture curriculum in the country’s higher education institutions (HEIs) to make it more relevant to the present and future job markets in the Philippines and abroad. “As agriculture remains a major engine of economic development in most Southeast Asian countries, HEIs are in a strategic position to pursue projects and initiatives related to food and nutrition security and the...

20Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, Features

DA warns vs ASF spread in Isabela

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (August 20)—The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has cautioned the public on the presence of the African swine fever (ASF) discovered in at least four towns in the province of Isabela. Narciso Edillo, DA-Region 2 executive director, said the new cases of ASF were recorded in the towns of Quezon, Roxas, Aurora and Luna. Edillo said the ASF cases were first discovered in Quezon town during the last part of July and from there it started to spread to neighboring three towns. “With the help of local government units affected, we immediately conducted blood sampling and culling of affected pigs in those areas,” he added. Edillo said their activities to combat ASF resulted in the identification of 432 heads...

DA urges LGUs to ensure pesticide safe agri products

19Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Cagayan, Features

DA urges LGUs to ensure pesticide safe agri products

BY GENE V. BAQUIRAN TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (August 19)—While local government units (LGUs) ensures the protection of their constituent’s health against coronavirus disease 2019, the agriculture department reminds LGUs to look after the safety of the agriculture products their constituents are consuming. Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo said local government units can buy their rapid test kits to check the pesticide level of fruits and vegetables downloaded to supermarkets, public markets, stalls or talipapa in their area of jurisdiction. While there is no certainty on the safety of the food one buys in markets, Edillo encouraged the public to patronize agriculture products that are sold and displayed at the different Kadiwa ni Ani at Kit...

SEARCA kicks off youth program for agri innovation

15Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

SEARCA kicks off youth program for agri innovation

THE VALLEY JOURNAL LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) on Wednesday kicked off its special program on youth called “Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation” or #Y4AGRI on International Youth Day to bring more youth in agricultural and rural development. Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director has introduced the #Y4AGRI program during the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagement webinar on “SOLVE Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia” which featured youth leaders from the Philippines, Latin America and Africa. Gregorio said to show their commitment for the younger generations, their strategic plan for the next five years puts value on youth engagement in agricul...

Searca launches youth program for agricultural innovation

12Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca launches youth program for agricultural innovation

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—To bring more young people to agricultural and rural development, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) launched a special program called Young Forces for Agricultural Innovation or #Y4AGRI on International Youth Day, August 12. The #Y4AGRI program was introduced by Searca Director Glenn Gregorio during the Searca Online Learning and Virtual Engagement (SOLVE) webinar called “SOLVE Youth Disengagement in Agriculture: Empowering Future Leaders in Southeast Asia” that featured youth leaders from the Philippines, Latin America and Africa. “To show our commitment [to] the younger generations, our strategic plan for the next five years puts value on youth engagement in agricultural and rural ...

9Aug

By Leander DomingoNo Comments

Features, Nation

Searca supports Quezon coconut industry

BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (August 9)—The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) is set to support the coconut industry development plan of Quezon Province in the areas of value addition to coconut products, linkages of farmers to the market and farmers’ organization. Searca Director Glenn Gregorio said the group is collaborating with the Quezon provincial government to achieve its vision of “a market-driven coconut industry with empowered and resilient farmers, engaging in profitable coconut-based enterprises, contributing to inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.” Pedcris Orencio, Searca program head for Research and Thought Leadership, said the Office of the Provincial Agric...