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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free

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...

Download for Free