The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) is set to activate this year the P10 million first-ever monolithic dome erected at the DA-Southern Cagayan Research Center in Minanga Norte, Iguig, Cagayan that would serve as a warehouse for agricultural products, such as farm seeds and other inputs.
DA Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo said the dome, which is nearing its completion with only finishing touches to be done, measures 8.5 meters in height, 15 meters in width, and 30 meters in length and is equipped with climate-smart technology that can make its survive typhoons and earthquakes.
“The dome has a climate-smart technology that can make it survive typhoons and earthquake.”
“The state-of-the-art warehouse will be a breakthrough in the region’s agriculture sector, particularly for seeds storage to maintain seed viability and quality,” Edillo said.
“This can also be used as human shelter or evacuation center during calamities, cold storage for agricultural products and many others,” agriculture official added.
The agriculture regional head said they have been speeding up its completion to compare its benefits over traditional storage or warehouses.
The idea for a dome-shaped warehouse was first introduced in the DA during a national conference of agricultural engineers last year, with foreign and local experts presenting the technology.
“Considering that the technology is monolithic is a breakthrough in the field of construction and its cost is comparable to that of the allocated fund for conventional warehouse, the office had immediately considered the project,” Engineer Generoso Oli, DA- 2 Field Operations Division chief, said.
“Eight similar projects will be constructed this year at cooperatives or farmer organizations regionwide,” Oli added.
“Eight similar projects will be constructed this year at cooperatives or farmer organizations regionwide.”
A monolithic dome is a structure cast in a one-piece form, which may be permanent or temporary, and may or may not remain part of the finished structure.
