Smart greenhouse to boost production of high-value crops

Added on 04 April 2022

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Smart greenhouse to boost production of high-value crops

The Philippines, Iloilo City - The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is a recipient of a PHP200 million smart greenhouse and capability-building project to encourage farmers, entrepreneurs, and investors to produce high-value vegetables.

The project established at the Western Visayas Agricultural Research Center in Barangay Buntatala, Jaro in this city is a grant from the Republic of Korea through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) Education Promotion and Information Services (EPIS) aimed to enhance the production competitiveness of small and mid-sized farmers.

"Malaking tulong sa atin ang project (This project is a big help) so that we can have more production with regard to vegetables and fruits using this facility," said Secretary William Dar who led the inauguration of the project on Thursday.

Equipped with modern sensor and communications technologies, smart greenhouses automatically capture and deliver information 24/7 on the surroundings and crop.

By unlocking massive plant information, a smart greenhouse allows growers to minimize labor work, improve efficiency in resource and chemical use while optimizing yield rates.

The facility will enable growers to plant off-season crops leading to all-year-round production.

In a press conference, the Secretary said Western Visayas is one of the recipients of the project which is also being carried out in Tanay, Rizal; Baguio, and Bukidnon.

"Strategic locations are targeted to showcase these newer technologies. The greenhouse technology will lead to masaganang ani (more produce), mataas na kita (higher earnings)," he added.

DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter, in a separate interview, said the smart greenhouse has nine units with a controlled environment, temperature, and drip irrigation.

"It's more on training activities. This is an opportunity to encourage individual farmers and other non-farmers but are interested to invest," she said, adding that the region is not yet sufficient in terms of high-value vegetables.

In addition, there will be additional smart greenhouses to be constructed in the provinces by end of the year, especially in tourist areas, she added.

The inauguration was also joined by Dr. Park Eui Jeong, the Project Associate Expert in Performance Management of Hankyong University, EPIS President Dr. Lee Jong Soon, and Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes.