The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formed partnerships with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the National Dairy Authority (NDA) aimed at improving the production of food in the country.
DA said under the agreement signed by the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) with PhilSA, the parties will utilize advanced space technology to increase farm productivity, improve resource utilization and enhance project monitoring.
The move is also expected to modernize data collection, analysis and dissemination, fostering informed decision-making and sustainable growth in the agriculture and fisheries sector.
The project also entails joint research, exchange of expertise and information, capacity-building exercises and project implementation focused on monitoring of farm-to-market roads and major agricultural commodities such as onion and corn.
This partnership also currently has an ongoing pilot testing in Nueva Ecija.
“Using technology and data analytics, we can gain invaluable insights into crop health, soil conditions, enabling us to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in a statement.
He added gathered information will also help policymakers with near real-time data and insights for strategic planning and decision-making.
DA also said since BAFE serves as its central engineering arm, it is mandated to ensure effective and efficient mechanization and infrastructure interventions to modernize the agriculture and fishery sector.
BAFE is also set to utilize other digital technologies including Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System and Geographic Information System for Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Infrastructure.
The DA said the NDA is expanding its footprint to Western Visayas as part of moves to further grow the domestic dairy industry.
DA said NDA and the local government of New Lucena in Iloilo province signed a memorandum of agreement that will pave the way for the establishment of the agency’s Western Visayas Regional Office, laboratory, dairy showroom, dairy demo farm and the country’s first feed center in a three-hectare property provided by the town.
NDA said that the P40 million New Lucena project will also involve innovative dairy techniques and farm management practices including the establishment of feed centers to ensure optimal nutrition for dairy cattle and increased output.
The agency is currently targeting to achieve 5 percent milk sufficiency or to enable the country to produce 80 million liters of milk by 2028. -Jed Macapagal
