Sixteen delegates from the Department of Agriculture, local government units (LGUs), and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) across Western Visayas successfully completed an intensive training program on smart agriculture held in South Korea from October 14 to 27, 2025.
The training highlighted South Korea’s advanced smart-farming technologies, policies, and marketing systems. It aimed to equip Filipino agricultural leaders with innovative solutions to address local farming challenges and strengthen the region’s agricultural value chain.
Organized by the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) through the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, the training forms part of the ongoing five-year ODA project “Value-Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA)” in Western Visayas.
The course was divided into four major modules: policy, technology, marketing, and action plan formulation—and combined lectures, discussions, and more than 65 hours of field exposure.
To deepen their learning, the delegates visited several agricultural innovation hubs, including the Sangju Smart Farm Innovation Valley, the Gimje Future Agriculture Center in Gimje, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the Hongseong Agricultural Technology Center, Wanju’s Local Food Hub, and open-field smart farms in Andong.
These visits gave the participants firsthand experience of how Korea integrates technology, national policy, local governance, and private sector partnerships to make farming efficient, profitable, and sustainable. A key highlight was the strategic use of data collected from sensors and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in their systems, which enables informed decision-making at every level of the agricultural value chain.
“This program was not just an academic exercise. It was designed to equip our Philippine partners with tools they can immediately use to design site-specific smart-farming models,” KDS Vice President and Project Manager Yoon Haejin said.
“The goal is to turn training insights into action plans that will benefit farmers on the ground”, he added.
Meanwhile, DA Special Projects Coordination and Management Assistance Division (SPCMAD) Chief Angelita D. Martir lauded Korea’s integrated approach to the farmer support system.
“I was deeply impressed by how local governments and county offices systematically coordinate to help farmers. Experiences like these can encourage transformative thinking among our policymakers to employ reforms that could elevate Philippine agriculture,” Martir said.
For DA Western Visayas Regional Technical Director Maria Teresa T. Solis, one of the participants, the training provided both technical and personal lessons that will enhance her work. She noted that the program offered a rare opportunity to observe how smart-farming technologies are implemented from policy design to field application.
“Our farms are small in scale, but some of these automation technologies could still be adapted for the Philippine context,” Solis noted.
Solis emphasized that even simple systems, such as automatic irrigation or temperature monitoring, could make a big difference in tropical conditions.
Participants also described how the training broadened their understanding in agriculture and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
“Korean cuisine uses so many kinds of vegetables. Compared to the generally sweet or salty food back home, I was amazed at how balanced and nutritious Korean meals are. It made me realize that agriculture isn’t just about production. It is also about promoting a healthier way of life,” Soviet Russia Dela Cruz said.
Kalipunan ng Mga Magsasaka sa Patnongon (KAMAPAT) cooperative Manager Henry Gonzalo Doliguez noted the training transformed their cooperative.
“The capacity building and project support have made a meaningful impact on our more than 800 farmer-members, their families, and the wider farming community we serve. The knowledge, skills, and resources gained from your programs have strengthened our operations and further inspired our collective mission to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development,” Doliguez said.
During the final session, each local team presented their own action plan for implementing smart-farming systems in Kalibo, Bago, Patnongon, and Tigbauan, covering strategies such as greenhouse operation, crop selection, farmers’ training, and marketing strategies to ensure long-term viability and sustainability. The next phase of the VEHCSA project will focus on building climate-responsive smart greenhouses in these areas—facilities that will also serve as training and demonstration centers for farmers.
“We are now entering the implementation phase. Construction will begin soon, followed by training in greenhouse operation, crop management, and local market integration.The goal is to establish a sustainable model that can be replicated in other regions”, Manager Yoon said
The VEHCSA project, funded through KOICA’s US$8-million ODA assistance, is implemented by the DA Western Visayas in partnership with a consortium composed of KDS, Kyungnong, and Agro Solution Korea (ASK). The project runs from 2024 to 2027. It aims to enhance the productivity and profitability of high-value crops in Western Visayas while building a foundation for climate-smart and market-oriented agriculture.
Upon returning to their respective provinces, they are expected to put their new skills and knowledge into practice, paving the way for a more innovative and collaborative future for Philippine agriculture.
“This training marks not the end, but the beginning. We look forward to seeing the seeds planted in Korea grow into tangible progress in the Philippines,” Yoon concluded. ###
