Santa Barbara, Pangasinan - The Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (DA-ATI-RTC I) completed its Digital Farmers Program (DFP) Farm Connect activities from August 15 to August 30, 2024. These activities were carried out at various Corporate Farming Sites in San Carlos City, Calasiao, and Manaoag, Pangasinan, and extended to Agoo, La Union, helping 100 rice farmers and covering a total of 100 hectares of fertilized rice fields using drone technology.
The Farm Connect initiative, which is part of the larger DFP, seeks to modernize Philippine agriculture by incorporating digital technologies into conventional farming processes. This recent activity centered on the introduction and demonstration of agricultural drone technology, a tool in precision farming that provides numerous benefits including rapid farm mapping, crop and soil condition monitoring, seed sowing, and fertilizer application.
Global Trends in Agriculture and the Philippine Context
Agriculture is becoming more technologically advanced around the world, with farmers using Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based solutions to increase production and income. However, Filipino farmers have been hesitant to adopt these advances due to a variety of constraints. These include restricted access to technology, insufficient government measures to promote these improvements, and farmers' unwillingness to adopt new practices. Furthermore, the elderly farmer population, many of whom have received little formal education, creates another hurdle to technological adoption.
Despite these challenges, Filipino farmers have been resilient and adaptable, notably in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis demonstrated the importance of technology in guaranteeing food security and the need for its incorporation into agricultural operations. That is what our country is doing at present specifically, the agricultural sector.
Promoting Agricultural Drone Technology
In line with the government’s vision to transform the agriculture sector into a modernized and industrialized powerhouse, the Department of Agriculture has been actively promoting the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), commonly known as drones. Through Memorandum Order No. 63 series of 2021, the DA has laid the groundwork for the widespread adoption of drone technology in agriculture.
Agricultural drones play a pivotal role in optimizing farming operations by efficiently utilizing fertilizers, water, and other inputs, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability. The DA-ATI, as the country’s leading capacity-builder and knowledge bank in the agri-fishery extension system, is fully committed in supporting this initiative through the DFP Farm Connect component. This program not only introduces farmers to the benefits of drone technology but also connects them with service providers who can offer these multifunctional applications.
Notably, twelve Farmer Associations in the region were informed and linked to these drone service providers, with some considering purchasing their own equipment to use on their fields.
Looking Forward
As the DFP's local initiatives continue, we intend to broaden the program's reach in keeping with the country's goal of digital transformation of Philippine agriculture, particularly in reaching the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in the coming years. By providing farmers with the skills and expertise they need to use technology, the DA-ATI-RTC I is paving the road for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural industry.
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