Future of farming in focus in new studies, experts call for balanced roles in Asia's agriculture
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) spotlights urgent issues shaping the future of farming in its latest issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD)—featuring new empirical studies and expert reflections that call for rethinking public and private roles in Asia's agricultural development.
David Dawe and C. Peter Timmer
The role of rice in Asia has evolved but remains central to pro-poor growth and food security. This article offers reflections based on decades of engagement with the region’s rice economy, organized around six interlinked themes: rice research, rural infrastructure, structural transformation, price stabilization, social safety nets, and financial markets. While...
Roehlano M. Briones
Dr. Roehlano Briones (Philippine Institute for Development Studies [PIDS] and Brain Trust Inc.), a thought leader in rice policy, appreciates the depth and clarity of Dawe and Timmer’s insights in his commentary. Nonetheless, he calls for a fuller exploration of critical themes such as value-adding structural transformation, the true nature of price...
Larry C.Y. Wong
Seasoned rice policy practitioner Dr. Larry C.Y. Wong, co-Founder of Myanmar Praxis Pte Ltd and Lannew Resources Sdn Bhd, also commends the authors for their clear and candid reflections on Asia’s evolving rice economy, emphasizing the need to shift from a production-centric to a more holistic, demand-driven approach that integrates technology, trade, and policy...
David Dawe and C. Peter Timmer
Dawe and Timmer responded to the insightful critiques by Briones and Wong, who each highlight important but distinct perspectives: Briones urges deeper analysis of structural transformation, price stabilization, and climate challenges, while Wong emphasizes practical insights from private sector innovations and evolving trade realities. Acknowledging the value of both...
Ha Anh Hoang and Da Hanh Tran Minh
This study evaluates mechanization practices in small-scale paddy farming in the Mekong River Delta, following several years of government policies and programs promoting mechanization. Primary data was collected from 1,170 farming households in Hau Giang, Kien Giang, An Giang, and Dong Thap provinces. The mechanization status was assessed based on four key criteria...
Ademuyiwa A. Lawal, Huang Xijuang, and Ukasha Zololo
This study examined the impact of Chinese foreign direct investment (CFDI) on the annual growth rate (AGR) of agricultural value added in Africa and analyzed the correlation between AGR and employment in the agriculture sector (EIA) from 2003 to 2021. The study employed annual panel data from 15 African countries obtained from authoritative databases such as the World...
Van Duy Luu and Thi Thu Huong Le
Understanding digital transformation among farmers is a critical factor influencing the successful adoption of digital technologies in agriculture. This study investigated the determinants of farmers’ understanding of digital transformation in agriculture, based on a structured survey of 230 farming households in Vietnam’s Red River Delta. A 35-item...
Shemaiah Gail P. Placencia, Alessa Keith E. Carbonell, Larry N. Digal, and Carol Q. Balgos
With its ideal agro-climatic conditions in the “cacao belt,” the Philippines has high productivity potential for cacao. However, the country struggles to meet rising domestic and international demands with its low productivity due to pests, soil infertility, and inadequate farmer knowledge. The Davao region is the country’s top cacao producer, but...
Kamla Zyra G. Lavadia, Maria Stella C. Tirol, Serlie B. Jamias, Mildred O. Moscoso, and Josefina T. Dizon
Natural hazards pose insurmountable challenges to sustainable human development because they shake the structure of social systems and the built environment. Contemporary studies in the “hard” sciences, commonly known as the scientific-technical or technocratic perspectives, have dominated the disaster risk literature, which posit that risk is quantifiable...
3 February 2025 | SEARCA Umali Auditorium
AJAD, an internationally peer-reviewed scientific journal of SEARCA, celebrates two decades of contributing to the knowledge base of Asian agriculture and development through a paper seminar, featuring the presentation and discussion of two published articles in the AJAD 20th Anniversary Issue released in October.
The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) welcomes original research articles, case studies, research notes, and policy perspectives on Digital Technologies in Agriculture, such as robotics and drones, IoT, AI, blockchain, and data analytics.
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