Agriculture has always been the strongest forefront of the Philippine economy since time immemorial. This way of living is now entirely shifted in a groundbreaking move by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), together starting an era in Nueva Ecija that makes use of satellite data.
In the province of Nueva Ecija, the agreement between the two agencies focuses on space technology in order to apply it to agricultural commodities and farm-to-market roads. This application will modernize the collection, analysis, and dissemination processes of the agricultural sector. The collaboration is also known as the Farm-to-Market Road and Agricultural Commodity Geodatabase and Remote Sensing Application Phase 1 (DigitalAgri Phase 1).
Even when our entire economy and normal lives lie on the backbone of the agricultural sector, it cannot be denied how the sector is struggling as well. Now, the innovative approach will revolutionize the landscape in ways beyond our imagination through improving market access, increasing productivity, as well as fortifying the strength of our agricultural systems. This is much needed for the farmers who work on the ground, making their jobs easier and more streamlined.
This process utilizes Earth observation satellites, providing crucial insights to guide farmers in assessing crop stage and health, estimating and predicting yields, detecting pests and diseases, and making use of land mapping. Farm-to-Market Road will now be monitored through encompassing road types, remote sensing, accessibility mapping, and infrastructure mapping.
Beyond data exchange, this collaboration is highly useful in making the sector more globally competent with more scientific support. Joint research, development, and operationalization activities will all be integrated in this initiative. This is poised to enhance oversight during emergencies through real-time monitoring and response capabilities, guaranteeing very effective data collection especially during disasters and calamities.
PhilSA and BAFE pioneer such a significant change that is necessary in progressing the country’s agricultural sector, and Nueva Ecija is yet to witness the benefits of cutting-edge technology that will elevate the landscape to unprecedented heights. This will mark a significant milestone in the industry, and with its promising nature, other provinces in the Philippines might follow suit.
