SEARCA Publications

This study was undertaken to assess the status of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) adoption in the Philippines in relation to two of the country’s top export fruit crops: Cavendish banana and Carabao or Super Manila mango. Specifically, the study aimed to identify the drivers of and constraints to GAP adoption in the country, with the end goal of crafting policy strategies to enhance adoption for the two identified commodities in the study. Davao was selected as the study area for banana…

Rice remains the basic staple food in the Philippines. For most Filipinos, no meal is complete without rice. It is their main source of carbohydrates and energy and provides a physiological sensation of satiety. It accounts for 20 percent of their daily household budget. Demand for rice has strengthened over time in the country. While the demand theory states that as income rises, food intake becomes more diversified usually away from the basic staple, e.g., rice and corn in the case of the…

This monograph that highlights the important role of transport and logistics in contributing to agricultural competitiveness in Mindanao, Southern Philippines. This monograph presents the findings of the project titled “Transport Policy Study: Promoting Efficiency and Productivity of Flow of Goods - A Focus on the Transportation Needs of Mindanao Region,” funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The study analyzed the factors that contribute to high…

Organic livestock farming, while not the only solution to food security challenges, offers great potential in addressing many specific concerns in food production through a more sustainable farming system that may support the rural economy with special relevance to smallholder farmers. Organic livestock farming involves innovations that will improve farm productivity, household incomes, and food security. For instance, the use of adapted local (indigenous) breeds in smallholder organic…

Due to the aggressive campaigns of the industry and the government, consumer preferences have already been shifting toward healthier food products that are minimally processed and with optimal fresh quality. In a study conducted by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in the United States 1n 2008 and 2009, almost half of the conumers surveyed (41%-46%) stated that they would buy products that will cater to their health and welness needs (Sloan 2010). The beneficial effects of consuming fruits and…

This paper presents various studies on the effects of macro- and micronutrient fertilization on the productivity (growth and yield), profitability, and quality of root crops such as purple yam (Dioscoreaalata) and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas),1 and vegetables such as tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), pechay (Brassica napus), and cabbage (Brassica oleracea). Most of the results presented here were taken from the findings of various research projects conducted by the author. Some of these…

The paper describes the evolution of SEARCA research thrusts and programs from 1969 to the present. SEARCA’s research projects underwent a paradigm shift in terms of the level of integration of disciplines among the researches—from discipline-based to multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary and more recently, transdisciplinary researches. The paper also analyzed how food security was mainstreamed in SEARCAresearches through the years. The period from 1969 to 1979 can be described as the…

Food security is fundamental to human security and sustainable development. The global food crisis in 2007–2008 highlighted the point that food insecurity threatens peace and stability, and is a key cause of conflict and possible violence. In Southeast Asia, food security is an overriding concern as it is affected by short and long term factors, key among which are increasing food demand due to population growth, changing patterns of food consumption arising from rapid urbanization, decline…

In Indonesia, the development of an effective logistics system is a challenge faced by both large companies and smallholder farmers. Infrastructure facilities, telecommunication, and communication systems are some of the concerns raised, especially for the traditional channel, which involves farmers. Other challenges include the existence of other logistics facilities such as warehouse, packing, and cold storage facilities, and distribution centers.

The world’s food systems face an escalating challenge to meet accelerating demand for sustainably-produced, nutritious food in the face of multiple threats, including human population pressure, dwindling resources, and degraded ecosystems. About 1 billion people lack sufficient food and about 2 billion people suffer from a number of micronutrient deficiencies.  Paradoxically, more than 2 billion adults are overweight, of which 500 million are obese. These current challenges to food…