Connect with:
Saturday / February 22. 2025

logo
mobile-logo
HomePosts Tagged "Philippine Department of Agriculture"
Digital Technologies, Drones, R&D, Sustainability

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and smart agriculture technology leader XAG are set to accelerate agricultural automation and innovation in the Philippines through digital agriculture and precision farming using drone technology.  Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IRRI and XAG will collaborate to validate the application of smart agriculture technologies in rice-based cropping systems through experimentation and research

XAG, through its Philippine partner Agridom, has donated agricultural drones to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to support its mission of advancing precision agriculture and sustainable farming practices. Agridom pioneered the introduction of XAG agricultural drones in the Philippines, bringing cutting-edge technology to local farmers and institutions. This collaboration with IRRI demonstrates Agridom’s unwavering commitment to driving agricultural innovation and empowering the sector with tools that enhance productivity and sustainability.

“Drones have been increasingly used for high throughput phenotyping, crop monitoring, improving agricultural productivity, and supporting precision farming. By providing efficient tools for crop monitoring, precision input application, and data-driven decision-making, drones provide the potential to significantly reduce costs and increase yields, optimizing resource use and minimizing environmental impact,” explained IRRI Senior Scientist and Digital Agriculture and Precision Farming Lead Engr. Steve Klassen.

This meant that drones could rapidly provide measurements of traits related to growth, yield, and stress adaptation. This technology is particularly valuable to smallholder farmers who must improve their productivity and reduce production costs to be competitive and stay in business in response to climate change, labor shortages, and higher input costs.

However, drone adoption in the Philippines is hindered by limited access to technology, lack of standard protocols, financial resources, and regulatory constraints. “To overcome these challenges, we need a comprehensive approach that involves targeted training, guidelines for best practices, financial incentives, and supportive government policies.”, Klassen said.

Klassen’s team is also working with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) – National Program, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and their allied bureaus on the Drones4Rice Project, which aims to streamline and standardize drone protocols for applying seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in the Philippines. The donated drones will support the ongoing Drones4Rice project and other IRRI global initiatives on sustainable farming and digital accelerators.

“IRRI is a key research and technology partner in the Philippines, and through this effort, we hope to contribute to the country’s agricultural competitiveness through drone-based technologies.” shared XAG Head of International Business Wei Tong. “XAG’s agricultural drones can be applied to various precision farming scenarios, specifically but not limited to direct seeding, pesticide spraying, fertilizer operation, and remote sensing. We hope to expand our engagements abroad to strengthen global food security and tackle climate change, as rice is the primary staple food that feeds over half of the world’s population.”, Tong shared.

Beyond this collaboration, XAG is also a member of the IRRI-led Direct Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC), which promotes direct seeding methods in rice cultivation by developing technologies and training farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Foodgrains, R&D

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and IRRI will implement rice and rice-based research for development (R4D) projects.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to continue their collaborative efforts to enhance the country’s rice sector competitiveness during a signing ceremony on 13 February 2024.

The move is a bid to support the Philippine Development Plan that provides a policy framework for effective public investments towards making the country food secure, achieving an inclusive and globally competitive rice industry, and enhancing farmers’ resiliency to the changing climate.

The signing of the MoU not only underscores IRRI’s commitment to collaboration with Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., but also marks the first formal agreement between the two parties since he took office. This also reflects his emphasis on the critical role of research in fostering the growth of the rice industry and safeguarding the welfare of farmers and consumers alike.

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and IRRI will implement rice and rice-based research for development (R4D) projects anchored in the four-point strategy of the government’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program and specifically, DA’s plan to boost the agriculture and fisheries sector. These endeavours aim to optimise yields, reduce risk, and increase resilience to climate change, achieving economies of scale, more efficient operations, while also promoting digital transformation and agribusiness development.

“We will leverage our already successful joint projects with the DA in crafting this next phase of our partnership. This agreement not only ensures strategic alignment of IRRI’s research with national priorities but also strengthens the country’s rice R&D capabilities for future problem-solving needs,” said IRRI Interim Director General Dr Ajay Kohli.

The MOU signing represents a continuation of the longstanding partnership between IRRI and DA, which has yielded numerous technological and institutional innovations specifically tailored to Philippine conditions. These include new rice varieties that will increase farmers’ yields, climate adaptation, support for the digital transformation of the rice sector and policy research. Many of these initiatives have been primed for further expansion and scaling in 2024 and IRRI plans to further collaborate with the DA on the development and roll out of low glycaemic index rice, in collaboration with PhilRice, that can help reverse rising diabetes levels, and precision agriculture and digitalization.

Moving forward, the collaboration between the DA and IRRI will focus on leveraging digital technology, extension services, and scientific capacity development to empower stakeholders across the rice and agricultural landscape. By fostering innovation and collaboration, DA and IRRI aim to drive sustainable growth and resilience in the Philippine rice industry.

Under the five-year agreement, the DA and