As part of the initiatives to modernize highland vegetable farming, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) continues to assist farmers through continuous research and development, technology transfer of smart technology, and training and capacity building of farmers through the first-ever Smart Greenhouse Philippine Project (SGPP) in the country.
Dr. Jesus Aspuria, Center Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)-Bureau of National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BNCRDPSC) explained the establishment of the SGPP aims to enhance productivity and produce high-quality tomatoes using the advanced farming technology of Korea mainly focused on solanaceous vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, capsicum, and chilies.
“We foresee this project to be sustainable because of the good production of tomatoes that we are currently harvesting. Using the Korean technology or the planting hold designed for certain tomatoes under this program, we are harvesting cherry and beefsteak tomatoes twice a week, which are sold to our partner buyers at P120 and P100 per kilo, respectively, wherein we produce 200 kilos a week, depending on the stage of the crops,” Aspuria said.
Located at the DA-CAR BPI Compound in Baguio City, the SGPP was launched by the DA in March 2019 which aims to enhance productivity and produce high-quality tomatoes using the advanced farming technology of South Korea.
The SSGP has a total of nine greenhouses, of which eight greenhouses will serve as farmers’ education and training, with one facility allotted for research and development (R&D). The facility has nine greenhouses with a total area of 3,300 square meters.
“At present, we have five farmers undergoing training who report once a week. We are in the process of opening a revolving account that will answer for all the expenses of the management and operation of the project.
The project valued at PhP122.29 million, was established through the assistance of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service (EPIS), made possible through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the then Secretary and KOICA and EPIS in Seoul, South Korea on July 5, 2018, under then-Secretary Manuel Piñol.
To sustain the project, DA and KOICA provide capacity development on greenhouse operations and establish distribution channels related to co-branding and local shipping of value-added agro-products.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in his recent visit to the Province of Benguet, also visited the Smart Green Philippine Project facility, which was finished in 2022. By JTLlanes