The story of PAA began in 1991 when Tomas L. Claudio and Vicente L. “Sonny” Domingo met upon the latter’s suggestion and decided to create an independent, strong, cohesive, responsive and viable professional organization dedicated to the development of agriculture in support of the development objectives of the nation. Upon the latter’s suggestion, the two of them met and gathered like-minded individuals like Nerius I. Roperos, then Director of the Bureau of Plant (BPI) who readily joined and provided full support to the endeavor. Thus was conceived the Philippine Association of Agriculturists (PAA), envisioned to be the leading advocate for rural development and sustainable Philippine agriculture and to contribute to the greater awareness and deeper understanding of Philippine agriculture 

PAA sought to serve as a channel to more effectively inform, equip and involve Filipino agriculturists, in general, and its individual members, institutional partners, and clientele, in particular, to respond to opportunities and challenges that would appear on the horizon. More specifically, it involved finding its niche in agricultural policy advocacy, research and formulation as well as enterprise-building, communications, training, and community development. It was realized then that to be able to undertake all this, would require an inter-disciplinary orientation and multi-agency network of both local and internationally renowned experts in carrying on with its undertakings and range of services. It was however only on Oct. 1, 1993, that the organization was formally registered with SEC.

During the initial years of its existence, the Association entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to provide technical assistance to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), which suffered from a dire lack of skilled personnel due to the devolution brought about by the decentralization of the national government. PAA also lent its talents to update the BPI Journal. Then, at the request of priest activist Fr. Conrado Balweg, the Association assisted in the implementation of the Catholic priest’s agricultural projects in the impoverished Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). It assisted also the municipality of Guimba in Nueva Ecija, the Federation of Organic Food Producers, the Association of Organic Fertilizer Manufacturers, and the City of Lucena. It also served as a consultant to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce. 

In 1996, the leadership of the Association served as a consultant to the Congressional Commission on Agricultural Modernization (AGRICOM) which resulted in the preparation and subsequent passage by Congress of RA 8435 otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA).  A major provision of AFMA (Sec. 75) provided for the creation of  “an Agriculture and Fisheries Board in the Professional Regulation Commission to upgrade the Agriculture and Fisheries profession”.  

It was on the eve of the new millennium, January 11, 1999, that the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through Resolution No. 99-602, Series of 1999, gave recognition and accreditation to the Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. under its President MR. TOMAS L. CLAUDIO as the bonafide association of Professional Agriculturists. Further, Section 26, Integration of Agriculturists, PRC Resolution 2000­663 Series of 2000, May 2000 stated:

" .. ... the Board of Agriculture shall initiate the integration of all registered agriculturists into one (1) national association or organization of agriculturists which shall be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and recognized by the Board and accredited by the Commission as the ONE (1) and ONLY accredited integrated association of agriculturists.  Upon registration with the Board, every agriculturist shall automatically become a member of the accredited integrated national association or organization of agriculturists and shall be qualified to receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to such memberships.".             

Also, Paragraph 1, Section 45, Integrated Association of Agriculturist, Board of Agriculture Resolution No. 02, Series of 2002, April 2002 stated:

.. Upon registration with the Board, every Agriculturist shall automatically become a member of the Philippine Association. of Agriculturists (PAA), which has been accredited as an integrated professional organization of agriculturists with PRC, and shall be qualified to receive the benefits' and privileges' appurtenant to such membership."

By virtue of these resolutions, The PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURISTS, INC. was recognized as the ONE and ONLY accredited integrated association of agriculturists by the PRC and recognized by the Board of Agriculture.

The Beginnings of PAA

Initially, the Office of PAA was set up in the Bureau of Plant Industry, 692 San Andres, Malate, Manila The first set of Trustees included the following: Nerius I. Roperos, then the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry designated as Founding Chairman and the following as members of the Board of Trustees..Tomas L. Claudio, Vicente L Domingo, Crispino O. Ancheta, Ricardo E. Cortes, Roperto T. Donato, Mario N. Suyat, Hilario T. Bergonia, Elenita G. Sison, Emma A. Leongson, Jane S. Bartolini, Cecilio C. Diloy, Estrella D. Tuazon, Erlinda P. Sevilla and Soledad T. Manipon.  In 2003, new members were recruited and the membership of the Board of Trustees was reconstituted as follows: Mr. Tomas Claudio as President and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Roberto Rañola, Jr. as Vice President. The other members included Dr. Virgie Callo, Mr. Emmanuel Lopez-Dee, Mr. Teodoro Ela, Dr. Enrique Pacardo, Mr. Jose Manto, Mr Constante Tadiarca, Dr. Rogelio Concepcion and Dr. Louie Divinagracia.

In June 17, 2005, through Board Resolution No. 4, Dr. Roberto F. Rañola, Jr. a Professor of UPLB, was designated as its new President. The new set of officers with him included Mr. Cito Lorenzo (then Secretary of Agriculture) as Honorary Chairman, Mr. Tomas Claudio as Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Lopez-Dee as Vice President, Dr. Virgie Callo as Secretary, Dr. Enrique Pacardo as Treasurer. The trustees were Mr. Teodoro M. Ela, Mr. Constante Tadiarca, Dr. Louie A. Divinagracia and Mr. Jose Manto.

In July, 2005, the Board through Resolution No. 5 approved the transfer of the Office of PAA to U.P. Los Banos which was the domicile of the new President, a Professor of Agricultural Economics.

In June 1, 2007 nine accredited professional organizations of PRC represented by their respective Presidents, gathered to create a new umbrella organization under the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) named the Council for the Built and Natural Environment (CBNE). PAA represented by its President Roberto F. Rañola, Jr. was among the founding member-institutions;

Before the dawn of 2008, President Rañola grew a desire to unleash a more coordinated association in order to truly achieve their goals. The PAA President suggested to the Board the restructuring of the membership of the Board of Trustees to provide a broader base for managing the organization. It was suggested that Professional Organizations instead of individuals would occupy permanent seats in the Board. When the idea was brought up before the BOT, this was met with approval. Board Resolution No. 1, was passed on July, 2008 approving the reorganization of the current board of trustees of PAA. Thus, started work to draft the revised by-laws of the organization to reflect this change.

Seven national professional organizations representing different disciplines were invited to compose the Board.  The proposal was deliberated upon by the different organizations and finally, in January 4, 2011, after almost three years, President Rañola called to order the first organizational meeting at the Conference Room of the UPLB Administrative Office. Twenty-one (21) representatives from 7 organizations graced the meeting.

These organizations included:

(1) Crop Science Society of the Philippines, Inc. (CSSP),

(2) Philippine Agricultural Economics and Development Association, Inc.,(PAEDA)

(3) Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network, Inc. (PHILEASTNET),

(4) Philippine Society of Soil Science and Technology, Inc., (PSSST)

(5) The Pest Management Council of the Philippines, Inc. (PMCP),

(6) Philippine Society of Animal Scientists (PSAS); and,

(7) the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences (ISSAAS).

It was this moment that would later mark the beginning of a reorganized PAA, leaving the legacy of competent agriculturists with a relentless pursuit in searching for professionals to join them in their journey.  

During said meeting, Dr. Rañola, then also the Vice President of ISSAAS Philippine Chapter was elected as its President, Dr. Gil L. Magsino of PMCP as Vice-President, Dr. Jessica D. Rey of CSSP as Secretary, Dr. Virginia R. Cardenas of PhileastNet as Treasurer, Dr. Danilo M. Mendoza of PSSST as Auditor, Dr. Jose V. Camacho of PAEDA as PRO and Dr. Nenita L. de Castro of PSAS as BUS. MGR. It was also agreed during said meeting that leadership would rotate among the different organizations. It was also decided then for PAA to hold its first ever National Congress. The maiden PAA National Congress was held in July 19-20, 2012 at the Splash Mountain Resort, Lalakay, Los Baños, Laguna.       

Creation of the Board of Agriculture

To implement Section 75 of the AFMA law, the Dept. of Agric. issued Admin. Order No. 6 on July 10, 1998. On the basis of this Administrative Order, the Professional Regulation Commission issued PRC Resolution No. 2000-663, which created the Board of Agriculture. Later, the PRC asked PAA to nominate qualified members to the newly established Professional Regulatory Board for Agriculture that would prepare and supervise the first examination to improve the qualifications of agricultural graduates and provide them the necessary license in order to practice the profession. The initial board members included its chairman Dr. Fortunato Battad and 5 members, namely, Mr. Gonzalo O. Catan, Jr. as Vice-Chairman and Mr. Vicente L. Domingo, Dr. Nora B.Inciong, Dr. Rodolfo M. Ela, and Mr. Thor Orig as members. With the untimely demise however of Mr. Orig, Dr. Teodoro A. Abilay, was appointed as replacement.

PAA’s history continues to be written together with its members and partners.