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Sixteen Filipino delegates representing the Department of Agriculture (DA), local government units (LGUs), and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) across Western Visayas have successfully completed an intensive two-week training on smart agriculture in South Korea, held from October 14 to 27, 2025.
The training immersed participants in Korea’s cutting-edge smart-farming systems, showcasing how technology, data, and policy converge to make agriculture more productive, profitable, and sustainable. The program aimed to equip Philippine agricultural leaders with innovative tools to address local farming challenges ad strengthen value-chain systems across the region.
Organized by the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) under the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, the course is part of the ongoing five-year project, “Value-Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA)”, being implemented in Western Visayas from 2024 to 2027.
The training featured four key modules—policy, technology, marketing, and action planning—and included over 65 hours of field exposure across major agricultural innovation centers. Delegates visited the Sangju Smart Farm Innovation Valley, Gimje Future Agriculture Center, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Hongseong Agricultural Technology Center, Wanju Local Food Hub, and various open-field smart farms in Andong.
Participants witnessed how data-driven agriculture, AI integration, and sensor-based monitoring drive efficiency and informed decision-making in Korea’s farming system.
“This program was not just academic—it was designed to help our Philippine partners create smart-farming models that can be applied locally,” said KDS Vice President and Project Manager Yoon Haejin. “The goal is to transform these insights into real-world solutions that benefit Filipino farmers.”
Angelita D. Martir, Chief of the DA Special Projects Coordination and Management Assistance Division, praised Korea’s coordinated support system between local governments and farmers, calling it a model for Philippine reform.
“The way Korean agencies synchronize assistance can inspire transformative thinking among our policymakers,” she said.
For Maria Teresa T. Solis, DA Western Visayas Regional Technical Director, the experience provided valuable lessons both professionally and personally.
“Our farms may be small, but automation tools like temperature monitoring or irrigation systems can make a big impact in the Philippine context,” Solis shared.
Delegates also reflected on Korea’s holistic view of agriculture, linking food production with nutrition and lifestyle.
“Korean meals showed us how agriculture promotes health and well-being—it’s not just about yield but about life,” said Soviet Russia Dela Cruz.
Henry Gonzalo Doliguez, Manager of the Kalipunan ng Mga Magsasaka sa Patnongon (KAMAPAT) cooperative, emphasized how the program has already influenced their operations.
“The training and project support strengthened our cooperative of more than 800 members and reinforced our commitment to sustainable rural development,” Doliguez said.
In the training’s final phase, participants presented localized action plans for implementing smart-farming systems in Kalibo, Bago, Patnongon, and Tigbauan. Each plan includes the establishment of climate-responsive greenhouses, crop diversification strategies, farmer-training programs, and digital market linkages.
The next stage of the VEHCSA project will begin construction of smart greenhouses that double as training and demonstration hubs for farmers.
“We are now entering the implementation phase,” Yoon confirmed. “Our vision is to create sustainable models that can be replicated in other regions of the Philippines.”
Funded by KOICA’s US$8-million ODA assistance, and implemented by the DA Western Visayas in partnership with KDS, Kyungnong, and Agro Solution Korea (ASK), the VEHCSA project seeks to enhance high-value crop productivity, profitability, and climate resilience in Western Visayas.
As the Filipino delegates return home, they bring with them a renewed sense of purpose—and a blueprint for modernizing Philippine agriculture through innovation, technology, and collaboration.
“This training marks not the end, but the beginning,” Yoon concluded. “The seeds planted in Korea will soon bear fruit in the Philippines.”
NPO News Team | DA-AFID - PR
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