Agriculture students from the Asian Association of Agriculture Colleges and Universities (AAACU) are currently in Northern Samar for a two-week summer enrichment program at the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Catarman town.

The provincial government formally welcomed on Tuesday the 35 participants of the summer enrichment program, an exclusive agriculture training for students from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Philippines.

“A first time for Northern Samar, the visit attests to the province’s potential for agriculture, which can contribute not only to academic advancement but also to the agriculture industry,” Governor Harris Ongchuan said in a statement Wednesday.

“The provincial government looks forward to future collaborations with AAACU, whose shared passion will shape the future of agriculture in Southeast Asia.”

The participants will be in the province until Aug. 2, 2025, for a study tour that engages participants in a meaningful learning experience where they are exposed to the culture, practices, and other activities related to the agriculture of the host member country.

Established in 1972, AAACU is a network of agricultural colleges and universities in Asia with the main mission of improving human welfare through agriculture, education, research, and extension. (PNA)