The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Guimaras with DOST VI Research, Development, and Innovation Management Section (RDIMS) led the project visit at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for the Regional Research, Development, and Innovation Committee (RRDIC) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Smart Agriculture in the province of Guimaras.
The TWG on Smart Agriculture is a special committee of the RRDIC that aims to formulate a developmental plan to strengthen, advance, and modernize agriculture in Western Visayas through the use of smart technologies. The said project visit is part of its efforts to identify significant opportunities for collaboration and improvement.
Engr. Rhod S. Orquia, BPI Guimaras Supervising Agriculturist presented the smart greenhouse technology followed by a facility tour of the existing smart greenhouse at BPI. Moreover, Mr. Renante Balena of LGU Jordan conducted an actual demonstration of the operation of the agricultural drone. LGU Jordan is a beneficiary of DOST Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program, and the agricultural drone technology is one of the project components under the livelihood opportunities for economic development.
The TWG member agencies present during the visit are the Department of Agriculture, Innovate Iloilo, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED), and DOST VI. (MASASalazar, DOST Guimaras)