Imagine Filipino rice farmer Mang Romeo checking his cellphone for the type of soil for his sakahan, or current price of his crops, or the weather and getting an immediate response so that he can make the proper interventions. The technology already exists that would lower the risks to losses and make him earn more.
This is what the various experts in agriculture and technology want for Filipino farmers as they presented data science, 3D printing, satellite imagery, and other technologies at the Sixth Agricultural Development Coffee Talk Series entitled, “Towards A Data-Driven Rice Policy”.
“Ito ang gusto nating mangyari para maahon sa kahirapan ang ating mga magsasaka. At pag nangyari ito, masisiguro rin natin na may pagkain tayong lahat sa ating hapag-kainan,” said Senator Kiko Pangilinan, author of the Sagip Saka Act or Republic Act 11321.
Section 3 of the Sagip Saka Act provides that the government use science-based technologies to identify and prioritize agricultural and fishery products.
Pangilinan, who is a vegetable farmer, said technology has been crucial during the pandemic when farmers in the rural areas have been linked directly to consumers in urban centers.
“The challenge is to bring these technologies to the farmers.”
“The future is digital, even in farming. The challenge is to bring these technologies to the farmers,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker stressed that the Sagip Saka Law seeks to improve the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk by short-circuiting the food supply chain through the direct purchase of consumers (local and national governments and private buyers) from the food producers themselves. The senator said this should be coupled with continuing research to improve food production and distribution.
“Farmers and fisherfolk will soon be able to communicate directly with DA through chatbots, which will also serve as the survey platform of the agency.”
According to Dennis Layug, senior technical adviser on information technology and marketing of the Department of Agriculture, farmers, and fisherfolk will soon be able to communicate directly with DA through chatbots, which will also serve as the survey platform of the agency.
Organized by the COVID-19 Action Network and Action for Economic Response, the series speakers also included Eduardo Jimmy Quilang Ph.D., the officer in charge and project leader of the Philippine Rice Information System (PhilRICE).