The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 1966 “to provide to the participating countries high quality graduate study in agriculture; promote, undertake, and coordinate research programs related to the needs and problems of the Southeast Asian region; and disseminate the findings of agricultural research and experimentation."

In both the business sector and in the development arena, an organization cannot be effective in too many areas. Applying this insight, SEARCA will focus its strategy and operations in the next five years to respond to the identified needs of its selected target beneficiaries. The strategic focus of SEARCA will not only optimize the use of its resources and efforts, but it will also differentiate itself from the other SEAMEO centers and from the constellation of other development organizations advocating agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia.