DA opens Korean-backed smart greenhouse in Aklan

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Nov. 7 opened an automated greenhouse facility in Kalibo, Aklan, aimed at boosting the productivity of high-value crops.

The Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA) facility, located at the Aklan Agri-Aqua Demonstration Farm and Training Center, is supported by the South Korean government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

“Technology partnerships such as this with KOICA can help our farmers produce more with greater efficiency, improve the quality and consistency of their harvests, and ultimately earn more from their hard work,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The facility features a climate-controlled environment designed to support year-round crop production despite changing weather conditions, Tiu Laurel said.

“That means a more dependable supply of food, better income opportunities for farmers, and a stronger foundation for food security,” he added.

Other smart greenhouse facilities have also been established in Tigbauan, Iloilo; Patnongon, Antique; and Bago City, Negros Occidental.

The DA and KOICA are also exploring partnerships with agribusiness enterprises to ensure the facilities' long-term viability and generate enough income to cover operating costs.

“The DA and KOICA are therefore looking to connect the facilities with viable agribusiness enterprises and institutional and private-sector markets, rather than leave them as demonstration sites with impressive equipment but limited commercial reach,” the DA said.— MCG, GMA News

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