Prime Sarmiento

China Daily • 21st September 2023

Innovative tech with AI ease farmers’ woes across SE Asia

ASEAN countries have been increasingly using AI to build a productive, sustainable and climate-friendly farm sector. The Thai government, for example, gives subsidies for farmers to use drones that spread fertilizers and pesticides on croplands. Using drones is a more precise, faster and safer way to apply farm inputs. In Vietnam, an irrigation system was piloted so that farmers can use smartphones to monitor weather conditions and irrigate their crops.

China Daily • 8th June 2023

SE Asia sweats in heatwave amid climate change, 'unfairness'

Scientists at the World Weather Attribution said that the “extreme humid heat” in the region is “largely driven by climate change”. They said this heatwave is detrimental to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities such as people with disabilities, outdoor workers and farmers.

China Daily • 25th April 2023

World shifts away from using the dollar

Economies across the world are exploring the use of convenient currencies other than the United States dollar for trading.

Analysts believe that China and other countries are gradually reducing their dependence on the dollar by using local currencies for cross-border trade, helping to create a multipolar international currency system.

China Daily • 22nd March 2022

Looking out for one another

Filipina migrant worker Marites Palma spends most of her Sundays distributing food, medicines and toiletries to household workers in Hong Kong who are serving COVID-related quarantine. Though she gets a break only over the weekends from her job as a domestic helper, she prefers to devote that spare time to helping her fellow foreign workers.

China Daily • 5th July 2021

Witness to China’s progress

Jaime FlorCruz, who worked as a foreign correspondent in China for about 40 years, had a front-row view of major events and developments in the country, giving him a unique perspective of its social and economic progress guided by the Communist Party of China.

China Daily Global • 8th January 2021

Optimism stays in frame for art scene

"The art market moves in tandem with the economy. What comes first is the foundation of Asian economic growth ... it doesn't look like it's affected too much (by the pandemic). And that's because of the strength of domestic consumption."

China Daily Global Weekly • 9th November 2020

Healthier alternatives

Lockdown measures in Southeast Asia have disrupted the supply of food from farms to cities and towns, with public transportation suspended and trading outlets shuttered. This situation has prompted urban residents to seek alternatives. One of the most popular options is to buy directly from farmers via e-commerce sites and social media. Meanwhile, others residents have started to grow their own vegetables at home.

China Daily Global Weekly • 6th November 2020

Lockdowns whet appetite for organic food

For the past five years, farmer Michael Christian Simon has regularly supplied organic vegetables to a steady clientele of more than 30 families in the Malaysian state of Selangor.

"I started farming for my family, but I soon discovered that it's a viable and sustainable business," he said.

China Daily Global • 2nd November 2020

Pandemic highlights plight of women

The plight of domestic workers reflects how the pandemic has been especially hard on women. Most of the domestic helpers are women and highly vulnerable to exploitation. But the pandemic’s harsh impact on women cuts across the social divide.

China Daily Global • 19th October 2020

Esports heats up in Southeast Asia

While China is the world’s biggest market for esports, Southeast Asia is catching up fast. Playing video games has become widely popular in the region, where favorable government policies and corporate support have helped nurture the growing industry. In addition to those playing esports as a hobby, professional players aspire to become world champions.

China Daily Global Weekly • 12th October 2020

Waiting to set sail

Avid travelers are a key source of hope for the global cruise industry, which has been paralyzed by the pandemic, with operators having to suspend tours. Asia is expected to remain a growth market, thanks largely to the region’s expanding middle class, which is increasingly willing to spend on travel.

China Daily Global • 9th October 2020

Operators offer touch of luxury as well-heeled clients take to the water

Luxury operators have arguably long provided packages that promote forms of social distancing - whether it is travel by private jets and yachts, staying in villas in remote destinations, or other customized services. As a result, the luxury travel industry is expected to be the first to recover from the pandemic.

China Daily Global • 5th October 2020

My home is my castle, and my workplace too

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we think about our employment.

China Daily • 6th September 2020

Newfound affluence leads to increase in food waste in SE Asia

"It's hard to believe that over 19 million poor Indonesians live in hunger while so much food ends up being wasted."

China Daily Global Weekly • 9th August 2020

Rising to the challenge

Pandemic shows resilience of East and Southeast Asia and leaders’ decisiveness.

China Daily Global Weekly • 6th January 2020

Farmers wilt as prices fall

Philippine government steps up efforts to help cultivators cope with a deluge of cheaper imports, boost production.

China Daily Global • 6th January 2020

Philippine rice program breeds closer ties

Manila looks to Chinese expertise in hybrid strains to produce more per hectare, cut costs and improve earnings.

China Daily Global Weekly • 5th November 2019

Singapore ad ban aims to curb rising incidence of obesity and diabetes

A landmark ban in Singapore on advertising drinks with a high sugar content has finally addressed one of the key reasons behind the rising prevalence of childhood obesity - the unregulated marketing of food products.

China Daily Global Weekly • 5th November 2019

Taxing times as Asia gets tough on sugar

Asian consumers with a sweet tooth are having to swallow the bitter pill of higher taxes as governments combat the rising prevalence of obesity with levies on sugar and restrictions on the marketing of products with a high sugar content.

China Daily Global • 17th June 2019

Blue skies seen for corn, sugar trade on ethanol drive

China’s quest for clearer skies has produced two unlikely winners — the corn and sugar industries.

China Daily • 17th June 2019

World waking up to Yunnan coffee - Chinadaily.com.cn

It is about time that the little-known Yunnan coffee gets its share in the global specialty coffee market. This, at a time when China is being hailed at the world's fastest-growing market for specialty coffee.

China Daily Global • 8th January 2019

Global pork prices in flux due to ASF - Chinadaily.com.cn

China's pork supply will determine trading trends for meat and oilseeds.

China Daily Global Weekly • 15th October 2018

Upward slope

A Beijing think tank is expecting more tourist arrivals spurred by China hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

China Daily Asia Weekly • 12th October 2018

IP laws usher in new chapter

Strict copyright enforcement and protection can reduce piracy, encourage writers and boost the online literature industry