The Role of SEAMEO SEARCA in Human Development in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Having predominantly agricultural economies, Southeast Asian countries need to develop its support infrastructures and services to remain sustainable and globally competitive. This may be done through capacity building activities focused on institutions, communities, and people in the agriculture sector. Formal degree programs, specialized short-term training, curriculum development, institution building and strengthening, and research on new technologies and methodologies to accelerate growth, rural development, and environmental conservation are vital ingredients of this overall endeavor. The SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was founded in 1966 to address the agricultural development needs of Southeast Asia. Being its flagship program, the Center's human resource development activities are carried out through graduate scholarship (MS and PhD in agriculture and related fields) tenable in five leading agricultural universities in Southeast Asia, and through short-term training. In support of these efforts in human resource development, SEARCA manages and coordinates research activities to strengthen institutional capacity in sustainable agriculture for a food-secure Southeast Asia. Its more than three decades of experience in research and development, broad network of partners and linkages, and multidisciplinary pool of experts have also enabled SEARCA to render consulting services to clients by harnessing required technical expertise in the region. SEARCA's experience over the past 36 years has proven that investment in human resource development is vital to the well being of the agricultural sector. This highlights the need for investments, not only in formal degree and short-term training programs, but also in research and development infrastructure and information sharing.