DA turns to space tech for farm planning
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is tapping space technology to improve farm and fisheries management, allowing the agency to make more data-driven decisions.
To launch the initiative, the DA met with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) to combine satellite data with field validation for more accurate agricultural information.
READ: Rice, space agencies team up for climate-smart farming
As part of the effort, the DA will deploy about 1,000 personnel nationwide by year-end to validate satellite data.
The agency said the initiative aims to boost productivity, build climate resilience, improve irrigation planning, and speed up disaster assistance for farmers and fishers.
The agencies focused on identifying where floodwaters naturally flow and collect during heavy rains so the government can store excess water for irrigation instead of allowing it to drain into rivers and the sea.
Using satellite data, the DA said the government could adopt canal systems similar to those in Vietnam to store rainwater and deliver it to farms during the dry season.
“Every drop of water we save is another opportunity to increase production and reduce our dependence on imported food. If we understand where floodwaters naturally go, we can turn a recurring problem into a valuable resource for irrigation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Beyond rice and corn, the DA also plans to expand satellite monitoring to other crops. Its DigitalAgri Project currently tracks farm-to-market roads, as well as corn and onion production.
The DA is also seeking PhilSA’s help in monitoring vegetables such as carrots and cabbages to anticipate oversupply and stabilize farmgate prices.
The two agencies also discussed using satellites to track crop pests and diseases, drought, floods, soil moisture, greenhouse gas emissions, and water quality in Laguna de Bay to detect possible pollution linked to fish kills.
They are also studying satellite maps of fishing grounds to provide municipal fishers with free information on productive areas, wind conditions, and ocean currents.
Meanwhile, PhilSA said satellite data on floods, drought, and crop health could improve crop insurance by enabling faster damage assessments and payouts for affected farmers and fishers. /pai INQ
