BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) affirms its readiness to further support the development of smart agriculture through science, technology and innovations (STI) in the Cordillera region amid  concerns on overproduction and marketability of vegetable produce. 

“Agriculture is a big industry here, and there is where we need a lot of improvement. There are probably many interventions  that can be done. We may not be the lead agency there, but we can assist depending on the desire of the local government units or the farmer’s cooperative,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said during his recent  visit in Baguio City. 

He stressed that strengthened collaboration among government agencies, state universities and colleges, LGUs, and other stakeholders is important in coming up with innovative solutions.

DOST, through its existing programs, has been pushing STI to help the agriculture sector improve productivity and product competitiveness locally and abroad, as well as for innovative research and development that will not only help farmers but also micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country grow their livelihood enterprises.

DOST is funding many projects for the agriculture sector. In the Baguio-Benguet area, Solidum mentioned the Potato R&D Center at the Benguet State University which is currently conducting research studies on potato and sweet potato. It aims to increase production efficiency by producing quality seeds that characterize and manage insects, pests and disease.

There is also the Food Innovation Center, a DOST collaboration with BSU that aims to strengthen the innovativeness of MSMEs in vegetable processing. It aims to provide the local food industry with efficient and modern food processing equipment in order to enhance their product or develop new byproducts from the locally produced agricultural products.

The DOST also has the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP that aims to boost the productivity of MSMEs, through technology transfer or equipment upgrading.

DOST Baguio-Benguet Provincial S&T director Sheila Marie Claver shared that Benguet’s best SETUP implementer in 2023 is the Gift of Grace Food Manufacturing in Pinsao Pilot Project in Baguio City that has greatly improved its kimchi production project through equipment upgrading. (CCD/PIA CAR)