SEARCA

31/12/2025

wishes you a joyful and prosperous new year! ✨🌱

We are grateful for your continuous and valuable support in advancing the Center's commitment to empowering farmers and advancing resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural systems across Southeast Asia.

With pride in our shared achievements and confidence in what lies ahead, we look forward to another year of meaningful collaboration with you!
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Photo credits: Kyaw Za Yar and Min Zarni Zaw

31/12/2025

⏰ LAST DAY TO NOMINATE!

Today is the final day to submit nominations for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026 awards.

Do you know a SEARCA alumnus or alumna who:
• excels in their professional field, and
• contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia?

This is your last chance—nominate them NOW!
🗓 Deadline: 31 December 2025 (TODAY)�🔗 Details and nomination guidelines: https://www.searca.org/ossa

30/12/2025

⏳ 2 DAYS LEFT!

Nominate outstanding SEARCA alum for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026 awards.

Do you know a SEARCA alumnus or alumna who:
• excels in their professional field, and
• contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia?

Nominate them TODAY!
🗓 Deadline: 31 December 2025�🔗 Details and nomination guidelines: https://www.searca.org/ossa

29/12/2025

A newly released issue of ’s Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) series reveals that while the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) has significantly boosted overall regional commerce, its benefits for the agricultural sector remain unevenly distributed across Southeast Asian nations.

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—A newly released issue of the Agriculture and Development Notes (ADN) series by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) reveals that while the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) has significantly boosted overall regi...

29/12/2025

📷 IN PHOTO:

continues to strengthen knowledge sharing with higher education institutions. On 29 December 2025, Ms. Leah Lyn Domingo, Head of Knowledge Management, led the donation of SEARCA publications to the University of Abra. The materials were received by University President Dr. Gregorio Turqueza, Jr.; Agriculture, Forestry and Cooperatives Dean Dr. Talugay Patagao, and a key university staff.

By expanding access to research-based and policy-relevant agricultural knowledge, the donation supports faculty development and enriches student learning to strengthen the capacities of people with the potential to shape agriculture and rural development.

29/12/2025

⏳ 3 DAYS LEFT!

Only a few days remain to nominate exemplary SEARCA alum for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026 awards.

Do you know a SEARCA alumnus or alumna who:
• excels in their professional field, and
• contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia?

Nominate them now!
🗓 Deadline: 31 December 2025�🔗 Details and nomination guidelines: https://www.searca.org/ossa

28/12/2025

⏳ 4 DAYS LEFT!

Last few days to nominate outstanding SEARCA alumni for the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026 awards.

Do you know a SEARCA alumnus or alumna who:
• excels in their professional field, and
• contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia?
Nominate them today!

🗓 Deadline: 31 December 2025�🔗 Details and nomination guidelines: https://www.searca.org/ossa

27/12/2025

⏳ 5 DAYS LEFT!

Don’t miss the chance to honor exemplary SEARCA scholarship alumni through the Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) 2026 awards.

Do you know a SEARCA alumnus or alumna who:
• excels in their professional field, and
• contributes significantly to sustainable agricultural and rural development (ARD) in Southeast Asia?

Nominate them now!
🗓 Deadline: 31 December 2025�🔗 Details and nomination guidelines: https://www.searca.org/ossa

25/12/2025

For many smallholder farmers in the Mekong region, growing and selling crops often means relying on middlemen, accepting uncertain prices, and having limited access to timely technical advice. Innovation has now arrived at the farmers' hands through a smartphone application—the Mekong Farm app.

For many smallholder farmers in the Mekong region, growing and selling crops often means relying on middlemen, accepting uncertain prices, and having limited access to timely technical advice. Innovation has now arrived at the farmers' hands through a smartphone application—the Mekong Farm app...

25/12/2025

Seven studies published in the December 2025 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD)—a publication—examine emergent trends in Asian agriculture.

These papers explore long-standing themes such as digitalization, gender inclusion, climate adaptation, and data systems that are increasingly shaping policy and practice across the region.

Seven studies published in the December 2025 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD)—a publication of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)—examine emergent trends in Asian agriculture. These papers explore long-stand...

25/12/2025

📷 IN PHOTOS:

, represented by Ms. Bernice Anne De Torres, Program Coordinator of the Research and Thought Leadership Department (RTLD), participated in the back-to-back International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Philippines 16th Annual Country Programme Review (ACPoR) and 12th IFAD Philippines Gender Network (IPGN) General Assembly last 15-17 December 2025 in Davao City, Philippines.

With the theme, “Partnerships for Inclusive and Innovative Agrifood Systems: Strengthening Delivery, Sustaining Impact”, the 16th IFAD Philippines ACPoR aimed to inform government and stakeholders of the progress made against IFAD Philippines’ Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) 2023-2028 strategic objectives, the lessons learned, and issues encountered.

Ms. De Torres served as a panelist during the panel discussion on Innovations in Food and Agri: Regulations and Institutional Pathways, where she shared about the ongoing IFAD-funded project, “Ensuring Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Efficiency of Food System Transformation in the ASEAN and BIMSTEC Countries” or ATMI II, which SEARCA is co-implementing with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of selected ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries to develop and implement policies and sub-regional programs in support of the integration of smallholders into sub-regional agricultural and food markets. The ATMI II project is the second phase of the previous IFAD-funded project “Agricultural Transformation and Market Integration in the ASEAN Region: Responding to Food Security and Inclusiveness Concerns” or ATMI-ASEAN, which was also co-implemented by SEARCA and IFPRI from 2017-2022.

The 12th IPGN General Assembly with the theme, “Renew, Recharge, Retool: Advancing Gender Equality in Rural Development,” on the other hand, aimed to revitalize commitment to gender equality and inclusivity, bolster the energy and motivation among members, and ignite the desire to enhance skills and adapt gender empowerment strategies to current realities. During the workshop, participants discussed potential areas for collaboration, especially on the promotion of gender-transformative initiatives in all of the IFAD-funded loan and grant projects in the country.

24/12/2025

wishes you a joyful and meaningful holiday season! ✨🌱

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Photo credit: Le Thi Kim Lien