Food security has been thrust into the spotlight with the ongoing COVID-19 looming over the future of the entire world. This has caused a spike in interest and curiosity about agriculture in general and how everyone can contribute towards its overall success. Now is the best time to highlight the people working in agriculture and rural development across all SEAMEO member countries and celebrate their resiliency and innovativeness amidst these challenging times.
SEARCA's 14th Annual Photo Contest (2020) aimed to capture and spotlight people and milestones that align with the Center's 11th Five-Year Plan (FYP 2020–2025) as embodied in its tagline: Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN). This also marks SEARCA's first photo contest to be conducted completely online / virtually due to the pandemic / social distancing guidelines.
Out of 1,528 submissions from 300 photographers across all 11 SEAMEO member countries, we are pleased to share the 47 finalists including our winners.
First Prize
AUNG CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Inle Floating Market is prominent. People of Inlay bring their own goods and crops by boat and collect and sell them here. They also exchange goods with each other.
Second Prize
MICHELA RAMIREZ
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: During lockdown in the Philippines due to pandemic. Many of Filipinos realize the importance of backyard farming for food security and nutrition.
Third Prize
COE AWGNSA
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: It captures the daily life of a mushroom grower
Special Awards
SEARCA Director's Choice
SWE TUN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: In 30 December 2019, I went to the tomatoes farm with my friend near Taunggyi of Myanmar. The beautiful tomatoes are grown scientifically. It is one of the countries of Myanmar Agriculture. I am very happy to see the face of successful farmers in Myanmar.
Philippine Department of Education Secretary's Choice
TRAN VAN TUY
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Dragon fruit, a type of fruit consumed by many countries, the image of dragon fruit being dried in an oven and then packed for export.
People's Choice
MAURICIO VICTA
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: A young boy smile while his grandfather show their culture sea urchin at Santiago Cove Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Fisherman here are doing new livelihood and personal food by culturing a sea urchin.
Finalists
ERWIN KURNIAWAN
Indonesia
Caption by photographer: Two female farmers proudly showing off the rice seeds they are planting
ROGER ALFONSO
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Young flower vendors from Myanmar greeted the visitors with a lovely smile. They are wearing thanaka on their face. Thanaka is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Myanmar.
TIEN HO-ANH
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: The two children are very happy when the family has the corn season
AUNG CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: There are floating plantations in Inlay region. People living in Inlay region survive not only by fishing but also floating plantations.
JOSE C. RAMOS II
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Our youth now plays an important role in agriculture unlike on early days. They are engage more in different rural and agricultural development. Agriculture for the youth is now considered fun and learning rather than a burden task on their shoulder.
AUNGKYAWTUN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Farmers' lunch break
HTAY WIN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: This photo shows how much she feels pleasant from her successful growing.
DOAN THI THO
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Transplanting season
AUNG CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: There are floating plantations in Inlay region. People living in Inlay region survive not only by fishing but also floating plantations.
JAY T. CASTOR
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Delighted face of a farmer for having a good harvest of his little egg plant farm.
YENNA PAMELA SALAZAR
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: At 5 in the morning, I was able to capture a fisherman doing the labor of love for his family that's been his work, 365 days a year.
KYAWNAINGLIN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Fishing is a family life. This is a family breakfast at a fish farm.
THET NAING
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: #Time to farm
KYAW MIN HTOO
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Smile of farmer
COE AWGNSA
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: It captures the daily life of a fishing couple
ALBRETCH U. HERNANDEZ
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: The Seedling Lady is a Lady - Who said that agriculture is a man's field? On this farm, equal opportunities are given to all genders.
AUNG CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Inle Floating Market is prominent. People of Inlay bring their own goods and crops by boat and collect and sell them here. They also exchange goods with each other.
LE THI KIM LIEN
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Flower village
ROBERT ANTON APARENTE
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: This crisis we are facing at the moment limit us to be at our best potential. Investing on a sustainable lifestyle and innovation will help us overcome this pandemic. Learning is never ending, we must continue to learn and hand down this information to our youth - as they say, they are our future.
KYAW KYAW WINN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: I found this Pa O girl from the Shan state of Myanmar in my photo trip to Shan state. I love her happy and proud face for her work.
NAY MYO KYAW
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Chili drying to eat all over a year in Myanmar.
MARK ANTHONY L. PARDUCHO
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Farmer teaching fellow farmer on how to use controlled pollination of corn to improve their corn seeds
ZAW ZAW WAI
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Eating watermelon
COE AWGNSA
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: It captures the daily life of a mushroom grower
DOAN THI THO
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Harvesting mandarins of Mr Tu Rang
PYAE PHYO THET PAING
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: The old men in their lake of farming
ARIE BASUKI
Indonesia
Caption by photographer: Harvest spinach after commemorating National Santri Day at the Hydroponic Nutrition Garden at the Hidayatullah Islamic Boarding School, Depok, Thursday (22/10/2020). A variety of vegetable crops are grown in hydroponic gardens which are managed independently by the students with an average monthly harvest of 1.2 tons or around 20 million / month.
MYO MIN KYWE
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: I captured this photo at a village near Sagaing city in Myanmar. Children are trying to plant a sprout in their farmland.
TRAN DINH THUONG
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Back home from school on the roads in the fields, of the children living in the highlands - HA GIANG
CHIT NGOUN PHOO
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: An old woman rejoicing in the success of her crops.
SAN TUN
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Her eyes were filled with attainable smile as she harvested rice from the fields planted in the hills.
DOAN THI THO
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Harvest
NGUYEN VAN QUANG
Vietnam
Caption by photographer: Growing Season
PYAE PHYO THET PAING
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: The working girls of bamboo-umbrellas bussiness
FLORACOELLI M. MASAJO
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Higher Yields with Hydroponics - Who said that a vast space is needed to increase productivity and income? Hydroponics allows farmers to double their yield without expanding their farmland.
GAEA LEI OSILAO
The Philippines
Caption by photographer: Ifugao kids are very happy harvesting their crops.
AUNG CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: People in Inlay live on water and search for their livelihood there. They trade on the water. They do agriculture on the water and sell all the fruits, which they cultivated, at the floating market.
CHAN THAR
Myanmar
Caption by photographer: Old women
Judges
Final Round Judges
Alphabetical order
-
Ms. Nikole Alicer
Founder-Farmer
Kalipayan Natural Farm and Restaurant
The Philippines -
Mr. Ray Austria
Executive Founder
APPGeese, Inc.
The Philippines -
Mr. Eisen Bernardo
Senior Communication Specialist
CCAFS Southeast Asia
Vietnam -
Dr. Fook Tim Chew
Chair, SEARCA Governing Board
Vice Dean & Associate Professor,
National University of Singapore
Singapore -
Ms. Gigi Morris
Founding Member
Pamilyang Filipino Farmers
Agricultural Cooperative (PFFAC)
c/o MoCA Family Farm RLearning Center
The Philippines -
Dr. Ethel Agnes Valenzuela
Director
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education
Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat
Thailand
Special Award Judges
Alphabetical order
-
Hon. Leonor Briones
Secretary
Department of Education (DepEd)
The Philippines -
Dr. Glenn Gregorio
Director
Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study
and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
The Philippines
Theme
The 14th SEARCA Photo Contest (2020) with the theme "Faces of ATTAIN" sought images from across Southeast Asia that showcase people actively involved, contributing to, working towards, or benefitting from the following ATTAIN sub-themes:
Any of SEARCA's 7 ATTAIN Priority Areas, specifically:
- Agri-Business Models for Increased Productivity and Income
- Sustainable Farming Systems and Natural Resource Management (NRM)
- Food and Nutrition Security
- Transformational Leadership in Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)
- Gender and Youth Engagement in ARD
- Enhanced ARD towards Climate Resilience
- EcoHealth/One Health Applications to ARD
Any of the 20+ Thematic Focus Areas from the ATTAIN Strategic Framework:
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