Kalibo: Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday highlighted the long-term benefits of the USD8 million investment in smart greenhouses in Aklan. The project was formally launched by the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), at the Aklan Agri-Aqua Demo Farm and Training Center in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo town on January 23.
According to Philippines News Agency, the agriculture chief stated that the flagship project under the Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA) aims to provide a lasting impact on the lives of Filipino farmers. "This project is an investment in our farmers' future - improving productivity, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods," Tiu Laurel remarked.
The VEHCSA Project is designed to enhance the efficiency of the production system for vegetables and high-value crops, including cherry tomato, lettuce, honeydew melon, cucumber, bell pepper, herbs, chives, and sesame leaf, by utilizing smart farming technologies. Tiu Laurel emphasized that the VEHCSA project would create more opportunities in rural communities, strengthen the high-value crops sector, and ensure enduring benefits through robust collaboration with local governments, farmers' organizations, and development partners.
The Department of Agriculture plans to establish similar smart facilities in Antique, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa noted that the greenhouse facility would contribute significantly to the improvement of the agricultural landscape. "We are breaking ground not just on infrastructure, but on a shared vision - a resilient and inclusive agricultural future," he stated.
Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores expressed gratitude to the DA for selecting the province as the first implementer of the project in Western Visayas. "This will strengthen food security, support Boracay's tourism demand, and provide lasting benefits for local farmers and communities," he said, committing ongoing provincial support for the initiative.
During the event, the DA also handed over a refrigerated van to project beneficiaries to aid in post-harvest handling and cold chain systems, ensuring crop quality preservation and minimizing losses. DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia extended thanks to KOICA and the Korean government, noting that the partnership fortifies agricultural value chains, boosts productivity, and benefits farmers, cooperatives, and local stakeholders.
