LUCBAN, Quezon (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will lead the official turnover of greenhouses and post-harvest facilities established by the government of the Republic of Korea at South Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon, on Friday, November 29.
The facilities are part of the Korea Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (KOPIA), an Official Development Assistance (ODA) program of South Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA).
KOPIA, South Korea’s largest agricultural research and development organization, has been actively promoting sustainable farming practices and technological innovations across Asia, focusing on improving productivity and livelihoods in rural communities.
In collaboration with local government units, farmers’ associations, and the Bureau of Plant Industry under the Department of Agriculture (BPI-DA), KOPIA develops pilot villages to disseminate and scale locally tailored agricultural technologies. This initiative helps farmers increase vegetable production and boost their incomes.
According to DA, the project aims to increase farmers’ income through the innovative production and marketing of high-value crops, thereby improving and sustaining their livelihoods.
The project has established essential infrastructure, including greenhouses with drip irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities, at pilot sites. Production inputs, farm machinery, training on Good Agricultural Practices, and post-harvest technologies were also provided.
This joint agricultural initiative is expected to enhance the technical proficiency of extension workers and farmers in partner communities, increase vegetable production in pilot communities by 200%, and raise participating farmers’ income by 20%, according to DA.
The KOPIA facilities and training opportunities are also expected to boost agricultural productivity and encourage the youth to enter the farming industry, ensuring the growth and stability of agriculture in the province.
According to a 2022 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector contributes approximately 21.6% to Quezon province’s Gross Domestic Product. (PB-PIA4A/DA)
