Filipino Delegates successfully complete the two-week Smart Agriculture Training in South Korea

Sixteen delegates from the Department of Agriculture (DA), local government units (LGUs), and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) across Western Visayas have participated in a two-week intensive training program on smart agriculture in South Korea, bringing home new ideas and practical lessons to enhance the Philippine smart agriculture initiatives.

The training, organized by the Korean Development Institute for Strategy (KDS) under the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) Official Development Assistance program, ran from October 14 to 27. It forms part of the ongoing five-year ODA project “Value-Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA)” in Western Visayas.

Participants from the DA Central Office, DA Regional Field Office VI, Agricultural Training Institute, and recipient LGUs and FCAs, spent two weeks learning about Korea’s smart-farming technologies, policies, and marketing systems. The training program primarily aimed to help Filipino agricultural leaders adopt advanced solutions to local farming realities and strengthen the region’s agricultural value chain.

A Holistic Program for Practical Application

The course was divided into four main modules specifically policy, technology, marketing, and action-plan formulation. It combined lectures, discussions, and over 65 hours of field exposure. The delegates visited several agricultural innovation hubs, including the Sangju Smart Farm Innovation Valley, the Gimje Future Agriculture Center in Gimje, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the Hongseong Agricultural Technology Center, Wanju’s Local Food Hub, and open-field smart farms in Andong.

These visits gave the participants firsthand experience of how Korea integrates technology, national policy, local governance, and private sector partnerships to make farming efficient, profitable, and sustainable. A key highlight was the strategic use of data collected from sensors and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in their systems, which enables informed decision-making at every level of the agricultural value chain. 

“This program was not just an academic exercise,” said Yoon Haejin, Vice President of KDS and Project Manager. “It was designed to equip our Philippine partners with tools they can immediately use to design site-specific smart-farming models. The goal is to turn training insights into action plans that will benefit farmers on the ground.”

Local Perspectives and Reflections

For the Filipino participants, the experience offered both technical and personal lessons.

Maria Teresa T. Solis, Regional Technical Director of the DA Western Visayas Regional Office, said that the training provided a rare opportunity to see how smart-farming technologies are implemented from policy to the field level. “Our farms are small in scale, but some of these automation technologies could still be adapted for the Philippine context,” she noted.

Solis emphasized that even simple systems, such as automatic irrigation or temperature monitoring, could make a big difference in tropical conditions. “What matters is not copying everything, but learning how to make technology practical and scalable for our farmers,” she added.

Ms. Angelita Martir, Chief of the DA Special Projects Coordination and Management Assistance Division (SPCMAD), expressed her admiration for Korea’s integrated approach to farmer support, “I was deeply impressed by how local governments and county offices systematically coordinate to help farmers. Experiences like these can encourage transformative thinking among our policymakers to employ reforms that could elevate Philippine agriculture.”

The cultural exchange aspect of the training also left a memorable impression on the delegation. Several participants shared that experiencing Korea’s food culture, rural communities, and sustainability-oriented lifestyle gave them fresh motivation.

Participants described the experience as a turning point. “Launchpad for my healthy diet and lifestyle,” Mr. Soviet Russia De la Cruz  said with a laugh. “Korean cuisine uses so many kinds of vegetables. Compared to the generally sweet or salty food back home, I was amazed at how balanced and nutritious Korean meals are. It made me realize that agriculture isn’t just about production. It is also about promoting a healthier way of life,” he said. 

For Mr. Henry Gonzalo Doligu, the manager of the Kalipunan ng Mga Magsasaka sa Patnongon (KAMAPAT) cooperative, the training was a turning point for his cooperative operation. “The capacity building and project support have made a meaningful impact on our more than 800 farmer members, their families, and the wider farming community we serve. The knowledge, skills, and resources gained from your programs have strengthened our operations and further inspired our collective mission to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development.” 

From Training to Implementation

During the final session, each local team presented their own action plan for implementing smart-farming systems in their respective areas in Kalibo, Bago, Patnongon, and Tigbauan. These plans included detailed strategies for greenhouse operation, crop selection, farmers’ training, and marketing strategies to ensure long-term viability and sustainability.

The next phase of the VEHCSA project will focus on the construction of smart greenhouses across these four sites. Each facility will feature climate-responsive control systems, fertigation units, and renewable energy components suitable for tropical conditions. The greenhouses are also expected to serve as training and demonstration centers for local farmers and cooperatives.

Moreover, Yoon shared that this stage is crucial for translating lessons into practice. “We are now entering the implementation phase. Construction will begin soon, followed by training in greenhouse operation, crop management, and local market integration.The goal is to establish a sustainable model that can be replicated in other regions”,  he said

A Shared Vision for Sustainable Agriculture

Funded by KOICA’s US$8-million ODA assistance, the project, implemented by DA Western Visayas and a consortium of KDS, Kyungnong, and Agro Solution Korea (ASK), runs from 2024 to 2027. It aims to enhance the productivity and profitability of high-value crops in Western Visayas while building a foundation for climate-smart and market-oriented agriculture. Beyond infrastructure, the project seeks to empower local farmers and FCAs with knowledge and confidence to operate modern agriculture facilities. For most participants, the experience in Korea re-affirmed that sustainable agriculture depends not only on technology but also on strong collaboration and partnership among stakeholders.

As the delegates return to their provinces, they bring with them new skills and a shared commitment to apply what they learned. Their enthusiasm signals a promising future for Philippine agriculture: one rooted in innovation, partnership, and hope.

“This training marks not the end, but the beginning. We look forward to seeing the seeds planted in Korea grow into tangible progress in the Philippines,” Yoon concluded. ###