THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) and the Food and Agriculture Organization-Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division (FAO-AGS) are currently appraising options that could help spur the development of agribusiness in Asia, including the Philippines.

FAO is currently undertaking cross-regional appraisals and country case studies in Asia on the following topics: worldwide appraisal of organizational arrangements used by ministries of agriculture, including cross-ministerial and programmatic mechanisms to support agribusiness and agro-industries development; investigation into the use of public-private partnerships for agribusiness development; and support for the development of small and medium agro-enterprises.

As part of FAO-AGS’ cross-regional appraisals, Searca implemented the project titled, Appraisal of Institutional Mandates for Agribusiness Support in Asia.

Searca and FAO also jointly organized the FAO Outreach Event on Institutional Support for Inclusive Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development in Asia meeting, held last month in Makati City.

“The workshop provided the participants with an overview of the global and regional findings from the said appraisals. It facilitated a learning exchange wherein participating organizations were able to share their views and experiences on various agribusiness-related topics through panel and plenary sessions,” Searca said in a statement.

It was attended by 18 participants from the Asian region representing key service providers in the area of agribusiness development including policy and strategy think-tanks, Ministries of Agriculture, United Nations agencies, bilateral donors, and key private sector partners in Asia.

The presenters and panelists included representatives from the FAO-AGS, Center for Agrifood Policy and Agribusiness Studies, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia; Philippines Center for Food and Agribusiness, University of Asia and the Pacific; Thailand Development Research Institute; Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Inc., Philippines; Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam; Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies, University of Putra Malaysia; Indonesian Center for Agriculture Socioeconomic and Policy Studies and Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development Inc. Mutually Reinforcing Institutions, Philippines.