Agri chief ‘Kiko’ Tiu-Laurel Jr. sees at first hand China’s smart farming technology in Zhejiang. (Photo from the Philippine News Agency)
There is a critical aspect in the smart farming that needs to be looked into before the Philippines can truly adopt new technologies that would pave the way for Filipino farmers to utilize methods that would advance their livelihood.
According to agri-tech firm Agridom Solutions, smart farming among local growers could take years to gain wider acceptance because more importantly, farmers still need training and support to adopt the new technologies,
However this can be resolved as the Davao-based company can provide precision agriculture services, including drone spraying, mapping, training and technical support to the government.
This is where the Department of Agriculture (DA) will advance the use of Chinese smart farming techniques.
“It’s a long way to go,” Agridom chief-executive-officer Dom Subang noted during the 24th Management Association of the Philippines International CEO Conference in at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
“Smart farming encompasses a broad range of technologies and practices, making farmer education critical to wider adoption,” Subang expalined.
For the past couple of years,
Agridom has been working with the DA on pushing for the Drones4Rice project which has already made progress but still has significant room for improvement.
The project is a three-year initiative aimed at standardizing protocols for using drones to apply seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in rice production.
It is being implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the DA’s Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with private companies that include Agridom. “Funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, Agridom is willing to work more closely with the DA to accelerate the program.
There’s progress, but we need to further expedite,” Subang pointed out while expressing the firm’s willingness to adjust to the government’s priorities.
He cited that “drones could make farming faster, more precise and efficient by supporting fertilizer and pesticide application, crop monitoring and early detection of problems.”
In addition, the smart technology could reduce also labor and input costs while improving farm productivity and yields.
Moreover, Subang spelled out that while Drones4Rice focuses on rice production, similar technologies could be applied to other crops, including bananas, coffee and corn.
“Ultimately, smart farming is about helping farmers produce more efficiently, manage costs better, and make better decisions using technology and data,” he stressed.
In recent years, the Marcos Jr. administration has been exploring wider adoption of agricultural technology as it seeks to raise farm productivity amid climate risks, resource constraints and uneven access to modern equipment.
Agriculture secretary Francisco ‘Kiko’ Tiu Laurel Jr. recently led a Philippine delegation to Zhejiang Huihong Fruit and Vegetable Farm in China, where officials observed digital systems used for crop monitoring and farm management.