To introduce smart agriculture, specifically for the production of Japanese Musk Melon and other high-value melon varieties, the Bukidamara Agri Farm launched its first fully automated greenhouse on January30, 2023 in Lucban, Quezon. The technology was funded by the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST CALABARZON through PSTO-Quezon.
The launching ceremony was graced by the presence of Ms.Emelita P. Bagsit, Regional Director of DOST CALABARZON, and Mr. Mario Daga, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of the Department of Tourism CALABARZON, who both served as the opening keynote speakers. Bukidamara Agri Farm was hailed by DOT-CALABARZON as Best FarmTourism Experience Award 2022.
Joining them were Hon. Augustin “Ten-Ten” Villaverde, Municipal Mayor of LGU-Lucban, Mr. Mat Maderazo, President/ CEO of Planters Product Inc., Mr. Erel Narida, CEO of One Renewable Energy Inc., Dr Herminigilda A. Gaberman, Asst. Director, Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Banos, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, Regional Director of ATI CALABARZON, Dr. Gerardo Marasigan, Provincial Director of TESDA, Engr. Emie Siojo, CEO of Turbulent Drip Sales Inc. and Dr. Kyu Seong Lee, Director of Korean Program for International Agriculture (KOPIA). They all gave message of support to Bukidamara Agri Farm.
Also present were representatives/ staff from the local, provincial and national government offices, as well as other farm owners in the CALABARZON region.
In the opening remarks, Mr. Michael S. Caballes, Chief Farmer/ Owner of Bukidamara AgriFarm showed his gratitude to DOST for making his dream possible and he was looking forward to more project collaborations in terms of smart agriculture. Next was a welcome message from Mayor Villaverde. Following this was an overview of the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program through a short presentation by Ms. Precious R. Monedera, SRS II of DOST-Quezon.
Director Bagsit, on her opening keynote speech, highlighted the expected impacts of the approved DOST SETUP project “Adoption of Automated Greenhouse System for the Production of Japanese Musk Melon and Other High-Value Melon Varieties of Bukidamara Agri Farm” amounting to Php 3,000,000.00, which include product quality improvement through automatic dosing of nutrient solution and automatic climate sensing, 169% increase
in production capacity per production cycle, 15-20% savings of nutrition solutions run off, and 20% savings from production and labor cost. In addition, Director Bagsit, also underscored that DOST and its attached agencies, in collaboration with other stakeholders, are fully supporting the innovations in agriculture through various projects like the project SARAI, ATLANTIS and SPICE Program, among others. As she said during her speech, “We may not be at the forefront for the agriculture sector, but DOST, together with its attached agencies, are continuously supporting efforts on smart agriculture, as these are keys towards food industry competitiveness, food sustainability and food security. To our fellow farmers, agency heads, and visitors today, let us all work together towards this smarter, more innovative future in agriculture here in Quezon and the rest of the country. “
Highlighting the part two of the program were the blessing ceremony officiated by Msgr. Melecio Verastigue, followed by the ceremonial planting, harvesting and tasting of melons.
During the ceremonial planting and harvesting, Mr. Caballes, showed a comparative chart between the 2 nd cycle of production and the current production they harvested. The data given illustrated the irrigation and nutrition management strategy of Bukidamara Agri Farm on daily climate fluctuations and showed the plant activity during different daily climate shifts.
“These kinds of data, including the climate data we will be generating in future production will give us better intervention strategies, like supplemental lighting, in the future, to assure we get the production right. We will be able to respond to the crop needs better if we know how the crop interacts with the climate”, Mr. Caballes said.
The ceremonial tasting of melon, on the other hand, was a prelude to Bukidamara’s Agri Farm upcoming Melon Tasting Tour this April to May 2023.
