USM, RAISE ABH Formalize Partnership Through MOU, Memorandum of Commitment Signing
January 23, 2026
USM VISITS PFST FOR COLLABORATIVE PLANNING
January 23, 2026
With the goal of strengthening agricultural research as well as its internationalization initiatives, two employees from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) joined the 14-day International Young Smart Rubber Farmer Camp 2026 in Thailand from January 13 to 26, 2026.
Professor Bernadith T. Borja, a faculty researcher from the College of Agriculture, and Jayson S. Baltazar, Education Program Specialist, represented the Philippines among the 175 participants from Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Japan.
Their participation gave USM firsthand exposure to Thailand’s highly organized rubber sector, from plantation management to processing and export systems. As the world’s leading rubber producer, Thailand provided practical lessons that can help strengthen rubber research, instruction, and extension work at the university.
In an interview with Baltazar, he described the experience as a rare opportunity to learn directly from Thailand’s rubber institutions and farming communities. He shared that the camp introduced them to advanced technologies, best practices, and farmer support programs implemented by the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), covering plantation establishment, farm management, harvesting, and post-harvest processing.
Baltazar also pointed out the strong role of rubber cooperatives in Thailand, particularly in purchasing latex and processing it into export quality smoked rubber sheets. He noted that these systems offer valuable lessons that can be adapted to improve rubber production and farmer support initiatives in the Philippines.
The camp also focused on innovation, sustainability, and efficiency in the rubber industry, which Baltazar said are essential for ASEAN countries to stay competitive in the global market. He added that the experience encouraged Filipino youth to see agriculture, especially rubber farming, as a viable and rewarding field.
As part of the program, the USM delegates joined study visits at the Khon Kaen Rubber Learning Center, where they observed rubber variety trials, breeding plots, mixed crop plantations, ethylene gas application, and rubber product testing facilities under the guidance of RAOT experts. They also visited Wang Sam Mo Rubber Plantation Fund Cooperatives Ltd. to learn about cooperative based rubber production and management.
The camp featured lectures from international speakers and government agencies on youth entrepreneurship, global market access, and the role of young farmers in national development. These sessions provided USM with perspectives that can enrich research, classroom instruction, and community extension programs.
With the knowledge and international connections gained from the camp, USM is expected to strengthen its rubber research initiatives and support local farmers by applying global practices to local conditions.
