Three government and private research institute have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday to look into how the productivity of the farm sector can be improved.

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Bureau of Agricultural Research under the Department of Agriculture signed the MOA.

The three-year research project is seeking to determine the nature, sources, and causes of productivity growth in the Philippine farm sector.

SEARCA Director Arsenio M. Balisacan said the project is expected to result in research-based policy recommendations for government decision makers and other players in the country's farm sector.

Balisacan said the project will analyze the factors behind agricultural productivity growth and will consider the impact of market globalization, domestic decentralization, and new tools such as biotechnology, information and communication technology.

Last year, SEARCA also collaborated with PhilRice and DA-BAR in a project that closely looked at the country's rice sector.

SEARCA is now intensifying its links with national and international organizations. Last January, the institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Taiwan University to enhance and strengthen agricultural human resources in Southeast Asia.

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