Department of Agriculture launches 'state-of-the-art' greenhouse in Baguio city

Photo Courtesy || Manny Pinol

Cordillera - Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol led the launching ceremony of the nine 'smart greenhouses' on Friday at the Bureau of Plant Industry located in Baguio City.

The 3,450 square meters 'state of the art' greenhouse have been set up for the training of farmers to enable them to learn how to manage a modern greenhouse facility. 

The PHP122 million worth smart greenhouse facility is a pilot project of the DA and funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). 

It aims to train Cordillera farmers in the production of high value-added agricultural products like cherry tomatoes and strawberries  among others. 

DA Sec Piñol said this would be part of department goal modernizing the Philippine Agriculture industry by pursuing modern farming method that is fully automated and state-of-the-art. 

The smart greenhouse is fully automated and some features like temperature and water control can be operated using a mobile phone. The greenhouse is also solar-powered. 

The Korean built greenhouses can produce a ton of red and yellow cherry tomatoes also known as grape tomatoes every week based on current computation and output, according to Mr. Jesus Aspuria, Center Chief of BPI-Baguio.

Photo Courtesy || Manny Pinol

Piñol said there is a demand of farm products from our country by the international markets like countries in eastern Europe. 

"They are hungry with farm products from our country. They would like to discover what the Philippines has to offer," he said. 

According to Piñol, the success of the smart greenhouse will be replicated in all regions of the country to help other farmers learn this modern technology so that they can produce high quality products for the country and for export as well.