Smart greenhouse to rise in Aklan, seen to boost food sufficiency

One of the projects turned over to Aklan State University during the launching held recently is the establishment of a P1-million greenhouse with hydroponics at ASU Banga campus.

The project is part of the Bayanihan 2 projects from the Department of Agriculture (DA) expected to benefit the Aklanon farmers, ASU community and consumers.

The DA’s Bayanihan 2 projects promote the Agri 4Ps or the Plant, Plant, Plant Program, which is the agency’s response to attain food security and to stir back the economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the greenhouse technology, which the ASU will eventually roll out to Aklanon farmers, will allow the farmers to produce year-round quality, high-value products, increase the farmer’s income, and improve food sufficiency in the province.

“In terms of lowland and upland vegetable production, we are still insufficient. We get our supply from the Cordillera Administrative Region and Bukidnon to supply the Boracay market,” said DA-WV regional executive director Remelyn Recoter.

As an alternative to open field farming, greenhouse technology can provide increased yield being in an enclosed space that can prevent crop damage from climate-related events.

Meanwhile, ASU president Dr. Emily Arangote was grateful for the support of the DA and the Aklan LGUs for the interventions granted to the University.

Under the DA High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the University received P3.5 worth of Bayanihan 2 projects, including P2 million to produce fruit tree seedlings such as rambutan, lanzones, durian, and citrus that will be distributed to program recipients.

The university also received P500,000 for a bamboo nursery to be constructed in ASU Banga and Ibajay campuses, respectively.

During the ceremonial turnover, Arangote said, “these projects are not for Ibajay or Banga alone, but the entire Aklan.”

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores also conveyed his support for the projects received by the University.

“This will be a new day for the ASU. I am sure with all these projects, they will be redirecting their efforts to be more of an agricultural-based university,” said Governor Miraflores.

The Governor added that as an agricultural province, they could not simply rely on tourism, but they need to develop the province’s agricultural sector to hasten their economy.

“That’s why in the past two years, the province consciously redirected our resources to agricultural programs such as our greenhouse project,” the Governor added.

On the other hand, Aklan 2nd District Representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr., the principal sponsor of the Department of Agriculture 2021 budget, has been instrumental in these projects.

“Today is a significant day because we have now the resources for our province’s swine industry, modern urban farming, and the Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) enterprise. I can guarantee for the quality of these projects,” he said.

Rep. Ted Haresco underscored that Boracay contributed about P59 billion per year in the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), with food products which the Island is importing from other provinces in the country sharing about half of that value.

“If we are to provide all agricultural products to Boracay, we have an advantage because we are closer to the Island where their market reaches of more or less P200 million per day,” he stressed.

In the said event, NLP National Director Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco; Chief of Staff Edilberto Macahilig, on behalf of Aklan 1st District Rep. Carlito Marquez, Banga SB Member Joecel Rata, and ATI-RTC 6 Center Director Dr. Eden Bautista were also present to witness the DA-WV, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCC) and ASU ink the Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of Bayanihan 2 projects in the University. (Myleen Subang/Photos by Jerem De Guzman/DA-RAFIS 6)