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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in the process of updating its electronic database of farmers and fisherfolk, who constitute the primary stakeholders of the agency. The individual data of these stakeholders is crucial for the effective planning, execution, and monitoring of agricultural projects and targeted interventions, valued at billions of pesos.
Enhancing the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, the official electronic database is in line with the Department’s overarching strategy to digitise operations and reduce costs across the food value chain. The move will expand market access, enhance profitability in agriculture, and ensure a consistent and affordable food supply for consumers.
The Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations, Roger Navarro, announced that the Department will deploy approximately 16,000 personnel across the country to accelerate the collection, updating, and validation of stakeholders’ personal and farm data, which has experienced delays. “We were supposed to finish this update last year but we have so many islands to cover,” said Navarro.
Recent estimates indicate that there are about 10 million farmers and fisherfolk in the country, a significant portion of whom are considered among the poorest. Before the update started, the Department of Agriculture possessed an initial list comprising 1.4 million of these stakeholders. In addition to its internal staff, the Department is collaborating with local government units to aid in the collection and verification of data.
The registration and ongoing updating of records and profiles for farmers, farmworkers, fisherfolk, and agricultural youth are crucial steps in verifying the accuracy of these estimates. Furthermore, this process aids in identifying individuals who genuinely require assistance from the Department.
Navarro emphasised that farmworkers should not be included in the list of beneficiaries under the Department since they do not own the farms or crops. Given that farmworkers are typically employed seasonally on farms, Navarro suggested that they should instead be included in the lists managed by other government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to ensure they receive appropriate support and assistance.
Navarro stressed the importance of distinguishing between farmers and farmworkers, stating that the differentiation is crucial for optimising resource allocation. Labour statistics indicate that agriculture employs one in every four Filipinos, underscoring its significant role in the country’s workforce.
Two years ago, the Department initiated the upgrading of its management information system, aiming to improve project and intervention monitoring while enabling real-time recording of agricultural and fishery data. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., a staunch advocate for the digitalisation of operations, has issued two memoranda delineating the latest guidelines for the registry update.
The agriculture chief has given his full support to the digitalisation project, expressing confidence that it will enhance efficiency across the Department’s operations, as well as project implementation and monitoring. Additionally, he is exploring the establishment of an agricultural statistics office to bolster the department’s capacity to manage food demand and production, with the aim of maximising returns for farmers and reducing the need for importation.
Because of the country’s dependence on agriculture for both food security and livelihoods, the integration of digital technologies is revolutionising agricultural practices. Precision agriculture stands out as a key domain poised to gain from digitisation. Farmers are leveraging GPS technology, drones, and satellite imagery to improve agricultural processes such as planting, irrigation, and pest management. This not only boosts crop yields but also conserves resources and minimises environmental footprint.
Farmers can also get information about market prices and trends through digital platforms. This helps them make smart choices about how to sell their crops, which increases their profits.
