The Department of Science and Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region through the Provincial S&T Office – Benguet continuously provides technical support to farmers in Benguet towards smart agriculture.
Smart agriculture is adopting new and efficient technologies and systems towards improved productivity, a better practice compared to traditional farming.
Agriculture, being the industry niche in the Province of Benguet, is one of the priority areas of PSTO-Benguet for science, technology, and innovation interventions.
Tech-immersion held in Region IV-A, Region III
As a support to the industry, the PSTO – Benguet held a technological immersion for HVCC farmers and municipal agriculturists on May 24–26, 2023 in Quezon Province & Laguna, Region IV–A, and Tarlac, Region III. It hopes to introduce available DOST-developed and other smart agriculture technologies for possible adoption.
The participants were ushered to Bukid Amara in Quezon Province, a vegetable and flower farm that has adopted automated greenhouse technology through the DOST-IV-A SETUP program.
The farm’s precise farming practices enables it to achieve high yield of high-value melon varieties and other vegetables.
The farm is also an accredited learning site for smart farming and innovative agricultural technologies.
Participants were also oriented on soil-less planting solution technology, DOST-PCAARD funded research on indoor farming, irrigation meters and sensors, and product properties studies at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna.
Some of the visited projects include DOST-PCAARD funded project on sweet potato tissue culture at the Tarlac Agricultural University-Root Crops Research and Training Center and the TAU-Smart Agriculture Center greenhouse facilities installed with Israeli -automated irrigation technology.
“The tech-immersion experience was an eye-opener that anything can be possible with technology and innovation” said Atok Municipal Agriculturist Officer Cherry Sano, one of the participants.
“It is a challenge on our part on how to adopt those technologies which will bring change to the lives of our farmers,” Sano added.
Tech-forum conducted in Buguia and Mankayan
As an offshoot of the tech-immersion activity, PSTO-Benguet conducted a technology forum on smart agriculture technologies to more farmers and municipal agriculturists in the province on June 29, 2023 held in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet.
The forum kicked-off with visits to DOST-SETUP assisted farms in Balili, Mankayan, Benguet, allowing participants to witness the farming technologies being implemented.
The visited farms, JLM farm and the Reinzi Natania Farm, are both renowned for their successful integration of modern techniques in their agricultural operations such protected farming, automated watering system, good agricultural practices and other farming management.
Dr. Decibel Eslava and her team from the University of Los Baňos presented the DOST-PCAARD funded project- Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry (SARAI) in the Philippines.
SARAi is a system developed for a national crop forecasting and monitoring system. Through portal and mobile applications and Automated Weather Station and other systems, it provides information to farmers such as when, where, what variety to plant, site and crop specific irrigation advisory.
SARAI also provides rainfall monitoring and weather disturbance warning as decision support system to farmers.
Also, Mr. Roman Kataev of Agrosheriff Consultancy Services shared the Agricultural potential in the Philippines through precise technology farming – automated irrigation and fertigation systems.
“Smart agriculture allows farmers to improve their farming, allowing them to be more efficient and productive while using fewer resources”, said Mayor Ruben Tinda-an of the Municipality of Buguias.
Mayor Tinda-an added that compared to conventional farming, smart farming can help farmers increase their yields, reduce their costs, and improve their environmental stewardship.
Benguet Board Member & ST Committee Chair- Joel Tingbaoen Jr. said that it is crucial to integrate science and technology, as young farmers in the province are decreasing. He encouraged farmers to find ways and to adopt new technologies and new approaches in farming.
Dr. Sheila Marie B. Singa-Claver, Provincial S&T Director of Benguet, reiterated that the role of farmers is very crucial. Hence, smart agriculture is seen as an important means in solving the problems along the agricultural value chain.
DOST supports farmers through SETUP
Farmers who want to develop their farming operations may access aid from the DOST-Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).
At present, more than ten farmers in Benguet were provided with STI interventions on their individual farms through DOST- SETUP.
The PSTO Benguet supports adoption of smart agriculture technologies to include automated drip irrigation-fertigation systems, hydroponics, and other applicable systems. By Rina O. Laxamana
