AGRICULTURAL technologies took center stage at this year’s Davao Agri-Trade Expo (Date). It aims to attract young individuals to farming and fieldwork in agriculture by showcasing the latest technological advancements in the sector.
Date 2023, dubbed as the biggest and longest-standing agri-business expo in Southern Philippines, also serves as a platform for presenting agricultural innovations for public consideration.
According to Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president John Carlo Tria, “Embracing advanced technologies such as precision agriculture, loT (Internet of Things), drones, and autonomous machinery can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance productivity.”
BREAKTHROUGHS
In response to these advancements, exhibitors at Date 2023 are gearing up to incorporate these technological breakthroughs into their offerings for farmers.
Ian Fel Larioza, founder and director of CreateLabz Integrated, showcased a web dashboard application designed to utilize data and technology for monitoring plants, soil conditions, and even livestock.
This development, known as the Datasenz Cloud Platform, provides farmers and animal raisers with essential data for focused data collection, analysis, and planning to enhance processes, increase yield efficiency, and reduce costs.
The cloud-based platform is versatile, extending to applications like water quality monitoring, gas monitoring for fruit ripening or toxin levels, and even weight monitoring for various livestock.
CreateLabz employs this technology in what they term smart farming - an emerging field that integrates information and communication technology into agricultural practices. This involves the use of advanced machinery, equipment, and sensors connected through network-based systems for efficient farm monitoring and management.
This technological revolution is poised to drive the adoption of innovative solutions like the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing.
“Farmers can derive significant value from data, as it can provide them with a distinct advantage. As the saying goes, "Data is king." With access to relevant data, farmers can make more informed plans and decisions, enabling them to achieve better outcomes,” Lanoza said in a mixture of English and Cebuano.
Agricultural drones were also a highlight of the expo, particularly the Agras T40 drone presented by Agridom Solutions. This versatile drone supports various missions, including surveying, mapping, pesticide spraying, and seed spreading across plantations.
The drone boasts a remarkable speed of up to 40 acres per hour, making it one of the fastest in its category.
“The AGRAS T40 is equipped with the revolutionary Coaxial Twin Rotor design, enabling it to carry a spray load of 40 kilograms (kg) and a spread load of 50 kg (70 L),” according to its product description.
Nathaniel Bermudez, Agridom Business development supervisor, emphasized that the drone also safeguards human farmers from the potentially harmful chemicals found in pesticides and insecticides.
“This innovation greatly aids our agricultural sector as it streamlines their work, enhances the precision of their applications, and simultaneously reduces laborious tasks,” Bermudez said in the vernacular.
The expo also featured the University of the Southeastern Philippines - Davao City’s (Usep-Davao) Coco Climber, developed under the Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research & Development Consortium (Smaarrrdec). This innovative mechanical device addresses common injuries associated with traditional coconut climbing methods.
Coco Climber emerged as the grand winner in the prestigious 2022 Agri-Aqua Innovation Pitch Fest (AIPF) organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It is currently in licensing negotiations with the Cocolink Industry Cluster and Franklin Baker.
In light of the advancing digital age, the adoption of technological innovations has become imperative to address prevailing challenges in the agricultural sector.
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Chair Cynthia Villar emphasizes the importance of encouraging youth participation in farming through mechanization and the integration of new technologies.
“Ang mga bata, tingin ko mas gusto nila ‘yung mechanization kasi ayaw na ng mga bata na magtanim with their bare hands, gusto na nila ng high-technology (The children, I think they prefer mechanization because they no longer want to plant with their bare hands, they want high-technology)," she said.
Date 2023 offers a glimpse into the future of farming, where technology and sustainability join hands, promising a brighter and more prosperous future for local farmers. ICE