In support of Filipino high-value crop growers, the Philippines and South Korea governments further advanced smart farming through an automated greenhouse facility in Aklan.

This comes after the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), opened the Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through a Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA) facility at the Aklan Agri-Aqua Demonstration Farm and Training Center in Kalibo.

In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the opening of the greenhouse facility will help advance food security while protecting output despite climate conditions.

“By providing a climate-controlled environment, smart greenhouses can support year-round production, regardless of changing weather conditions,” he said.

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

Besides the facility, the DA and KOICA are also eyeing to connect the facilities with viable agribusiness enterprises and institutional and private-sector markets to ensure commercial reach.

The agriculture chief, meanwhile, lauded KOICA for its continuous partnership with the Philippines.

“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,” he said.

Besides Kalibo, the VEHCSA has more pilot sites, including sites in Tigbauan, Iloilo; Patnongon, Antique; and Bago City, Negros Occidental. (PNA)