ILIGAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO)-10 officially launched on Friday the fully constructed P100-million Smart Greenhouse inside its research station, the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.
The Smart Greenhouse is a self-regulating, micro-climate controlled environment in which ‘climatic conditions inside the greenhouse, such as, temperature, humidity, luminosity, soil moisture are continuously monitored.’
The state-of-the-art agricultural project was granted by the South Korean government through its Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines.
The project features Smart Greenhouse Technology for innovative production of strawberry, cherry tomato, and white potato.
The Smart Greenhouse has been established based on Korean Smart Greenhouse Technology after customizing the Philippine climate and various conditions, said Jong-Soon Lee, president of the Korean Agency of Education Promotion and Information Service (EPIS) in Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
“Korean Smart Greenhouse Technology has been proven in terms of productivity and effectiveness. I hope today’s event will serve as a meaningful step forward in developing Philippine Agriculture by successful cooperation between Korea and the Philippines,” he said.
DA Undersecretary for High-Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña said the modernization of the country’s agriculture would be realized with the technology shared by the Korean government.
She said the technology could increase the local production of high-value crops, as well as help improve the small and mid-sized farmers' production competitiveness.
“This technology will greatly help in the national agenda of the Duterte administration towards Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita. This new technology is crucial in feeding the next generation,” said DA Secretary William D. Dar in a speech delivered by Laviña.
The Smart Greenhouse Project was subdivided into four components namely, the establishment of a Smart Farm composed of 11 fully-automated Smart Greenhouses and one cold storage facility; development of a local distribution system; dispatch of experts; and capacity-building for potential technology adopters.
A similar project also funded by South Korea had also been launched in Ilolilo City last April 3.
The project is being co-implemented by the DA-RFO 10, EPIS in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with its three consortia: the Hankyong National University (capacity building), Shinhan Globe (system), and Shinhan A-Tec (farm establishment).
Through the project, DA-RFO 10 is hoping an increase in the production of quality strawberry, cherry tomato, and white potato would be achieved and thereby make these products the next trademark of northern Mindanao.
DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado assured the DA’s Korean partners of the agency’s interest and commitment to the Smart Greenhouse Project.
“We are very thankful for being the only region in the entire Mindanao to be chosen as the recipient of the Smart Greenhouse Project. Certainly, we will share the technology with our farmers not only in Bukidnon, but in all five provinces of Northern Mindanao, particularly through the promotion of Smart Farming and precision agriculture,” said Collado.
Aside from being a research and training center, DA-RFO 10 is planning to open the Smart Greenhouse to the public as an agri-tourism destination in the region.
Supporting the activity were DA-10 Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and RTD for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla, with DA-10 ManCom members, OneDA member agencies, and LGUs.