South Korea is providing around P139 million for the establishment of 21 ‘smart greenhouses’ in Iloilo City and Bukidnon.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar said the facilities would “showcase modern sustainable vegetable technologies, and thus encourage farmers in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao to produce and earn more.”
Ten smart greenhouses will be put up at the DA’s Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Jaro district, Iloilo City for the production of cherry tomatoes and mushrooms.
Another 11 facilities are set to be built at the Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Bukidnon for the propagation of strawberries, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes.
“We sincerely thank the Republic of Korea for generously extending a grant through its Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA),” said Dar.
The grant will be funded by MAFRA through the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) up to 2024.
As part of the innovative ODA project, MAFRA will send Korean experts and farm consultants to train farmers, researchers, and supervising officers in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
“I hope these smart greenhouse projects will pave the way for more collaborative undertaking between the Philippines and South Korea that would be of mutual benefit to our countries,” said DAR.IMT
Photo from agritecture.com
