By Cyrus A Natividad
Dr. Palada (in yellow shirt) with his students in Environmental Management during a field trip to an organic farm.
In his book “A Journey in Agriculture”, Dr. Manny Palada (international horticulturist and adjunct professor of CPU) cited a World Bank analysis on agriculture’s crucial issue to economic growth. “Agriculture accounts for 4% percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 25% in some least developing countries. But agriculture-driven growth, poverty reduction, and food security is at risk. Disruption from COVID 19, weather, pests and conflicts such as the war in Ukraine has triggered a global food crisis that is driving millions more towards extreme poverty.”
In a phone interview, Dr. Palada was asked to comment on the crisis and what we can do about it. He said that “It all depends on our capacity to be innovative and industrious in agricultural research and productive farm projects.” He insinuated an opportunity to share his own agricultural experiences and concepts implemented with fruitful outcomes in Asia and the Pacific Island Nations like Solomon Islands and Fiji.
As a Research Professor, Dr. Palada worked as Agriculture Consultant for USAID, World Bank and Asian Development Bank. These financial agencies sponsored Dr. Palada’s projects for agriculture sectors of African countries such as Kenya, Somalia and Liberia, as well as Central America and the Middle East.
As a Crop and Ecosytem Management Specialist, Dr. Palada worked with the University of the Virgin Islands and the Asian Vegetable Research Development Center (AVRDC) – the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan. He also served the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). He served Central Philippine University as Professor in the College of Agriculture, and as Member of the CPU Board of Trustees.
Dr. Palada plans to bring his international agricultural expertise to his Alma Mater, in particular, extension of research projects to support CPU in agriculture.