DA-FAO team perform pre-flight checks

MANILA – Technology is changing the way countries are addressing food security, agriculture and rural development. With their accessibility and relative cost-effectiveness, information and communication technology (ICT) platforms have the potential to significantly enhance and accelerate the flow of information across a complex network of stakeholders and throughout the value chain.

To ensure that ICT-related investments in the country’s agriculture sector are optimized and harmonized, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are supporting the government in formulating a National E-agriculture Strategy.

“The information gap in agriculture affects the entire chain from farmers to traders, policy-makers and consumers and we recognize that this is one of the leading challenges in sustainable food production. With the rapid development of ICTs, the agriculture sector has a great opportunity to find cost-effective solutions and accelerate the flow of more reliable data and information. Having a strategy and ensuring its alignment with other government plans will also prevent individual e-agriculture projects and services from being implemented in isolation,” explains José Luis Fernández, FAO Representative in the Philippines.

The strategy is being developed with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as the lead implementing agency, and in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). It is envisioned to rationalize resources and holistically address ICT opportunities and challenges for the agricultural sector in a more efficient manner while generating new revenue streams, improving livelihoods and contributing to the achievement of broader national plans. FAO and ITU will also conduct activities to strengthen the capacities of the government to identify, test and implement ICT solutions and services.

“The aim is to make ICT, through this National E-Agriculture Strategy, support the required services to ‘make food available and affordable’ to the people,” said Director Clint D. Hassan of DA’s Information and Communications Technology Service.

The project is part of a larger FAO-ITU partnership to strengthen the e-agriculture environment and develop ICT-mediated solutions for countries in Asia-Pacific.

ICT in agriculture

The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of the Philippines has underscored the need to “modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors by transforming these sectors from a resource-based to a technology-based industry.” Since it was signed into law in 1997, both the government and the private sector have taken advantage of emerging technologies. For instance, the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute created an e-learning platform and a web-based agriculture and fisheries market information system.

“ICT is seen as a vital instrument that will greatly aid in stimulating agriculture, enhancing food security, provide easier access to markets and information sources that will support rural livelihoods,” said DICT Director Nestor S. Bongato.