By Nimfa Estrellado Farm school students and trainers from BB Agriventures OPC Farm School explore agroentrepreneurship at SEARCA. (SEARCA) ...
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| Farm school students and trainers from BB Agriventures OPC Farm School explore agroentrepreneurship at SEARCA. (SEARCA) |
SAMPALOC, Quezon - Young agricultural enthusiasts recently gained firsthand experience in agroentrepreneurship at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna. Seventeen students pursuing an Agroentrepreneurship National Certificate 2, along with three trainers from BB Agriventures OPC Farm School, visited SEARCA to learn about ongoing projects and initiatives.
SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, Associate Professor Joselito Florendo, welcomed the group, emphasizing the importance of supporting and educating the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. BB Agriventures OPC Farm School, located in Sampaloc, Quezon, focuses on organic agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. As a TESDA partner, the farm school offers scholarship programs in agroentrepreneurship, agricultural crop production, and organic agriculture.
Anna Gale Vallez, a program specialist from SEARCA's Research and Thought Leadership Department, provided the students with a comprehensive overview of the center's programs. She highlighted successful projects such as the "Upgrading the Calamansi Value Chain towards Improving the Calamansi Industry" in Oriental Mindoro. This project tackled technical and market challenges faced by the calamansi industry.
Vallez also discussed the "Technical Assistance for Development and Promotion of Calamansi," a collaborative effort between SEARCA and the Oriental Mindoro provincial government to develop a robust calamansi industry roadmap. The visit provided the farm school students with valuable insights into the practical application of agroentrepreneurship principles and the potential for growth within the agricultural sector.
Beyond the calamansi-focused initiatives, Vallez also shed light on other SEARCA projects. She discussed the "Development of Coconut Industry Growth Areas in the Province of Quezon," which involved creating a roadmap for the coconut industry, focusing on key commodities like coco sugar, virgin coconut oil, lambanog, and copra. This initiative aimed to boost the coconut industry in Quezon by identifying and developing growth areas.
The students and trainers were then given a tour of the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) AgriMuseum. The museum offers a glimpse into the future of agriculture, showcasing innovations and technologies that can help address challenges and improve productivity. The tour provided the students with a broader perspective on the role of technology and innovation in shaping the future of agriculture.
The visit to SEARCA proved to be an enriching experience for the farm school students, providing them with valuable knowledge and insights into agroentrepreneurship and the various projects and initiatives that SEARCA is undertaking to support the agricultural sector in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
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