OFFICIALS of the Department of Agriculture and representatives of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) broke ground last week for the construction of smart greenhouse facilities in Kalibo, Aklan.
Koica is South Korea’s top governmental organization implementing grant-based Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs for developing nations. Established in 1991 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it focuses on reducing poverty, promoting sustainable socio-economic development, and strengthening international cooperation.
The greenhouse project is part of the $8 million Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (Vehcsa) funded by Koica. It was launched in November 2023 and will continue until December 2027.
The greenhouses will grow cherry tomato, lettuce, honeydew melon, cucumber, bell pepper, herbs, chives, and sesame leaf with climate-resilient, high-efficiency production systems.
The smart farming technology aims to boost smallholder farmers’ productivity and income and become a model for high-value crop production in Western Visayas and Negros province.
Similar facilities will be built in Antique, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
“This project is an investment in our farmers’ future — improving productivity, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, adding that it involves working with farmers’ organizations, development partners, and local governments.
“We are breaking ground not just on infrastructure, but on a shared vision — a resilient and inclusive agricultural future,” Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa said.
The project will enhance food security, support Boracay’s tourism industry, and offer long-term benefits for local farms and communities, Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores noted.
He also recognized the challenges in preparing the project site, which was previously a fishpond, and committed the provincial government’s continuous support for the project.
DA Western Visayas Regional Field Office Executive Director Dennis Arpia thanked Koica and the Korean government for strengthening agricultural value chains.
The DA likewise turned over a refrigerated van to the project’s beneficiaries. The van will support post-harvest handling and cold chain systems to preserve crop quality and minimize losses.