“Technology is not here to replace farmers. It is here to empower them. With the right tools and resources farmers can achieve greater yields and more sustainable practices.” – QUOTESILOVE.COM
The technological innovation spares nothing and no one. It continues to do so, at a level that is unthinkable and unstoppable. The advantages and benefits it brings greatly depends on how our interest will be served, however.
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH
In the three decades, the biggest technological breakthrough on agriculture was the global positioning system (GPS). We were able to measure land with precision and provided us ideas on how to maximize its productivity. Moreover, it aided us in our decision making. Over the years agriculture has developed new ways to make farming more efficient and produce more products especially for income and consumption amidst major challenges such as climate change.
This evolution makes agriculture more productive and re-generative. Some significant breakthroughs are improved irrigation systems, advancement of production and processing systems of major agricultural products. And, these are done with conscious effort in consideration to environmental impacts. Needless to say, these innovations deliver life-changing impacts to civilization.
In hindsight, the pandemic made us highly dependent to digital technology. It was one of the phenomena that deeply impacted our lives – our existence more than ever. Yet, through albeit, by way undesirable and unexpected way and this re-shaped our lives. It caused the world to make a major shift including agriculture.
PANDEMIC PHENOMENON
But, it is our hope that this technological advancement does not leave the world’s poorest communities further behind in terms of agricultural modernization and productivity. We also desire that increasing investment in technologies would help small-scale farmers develop their production across the world including the Philippines and will yield benefits after the pandemic has passed.
The technology during the pandemic speedily transformed societies around the world, in large part, by accelerating the digital innovations more than we ever expected. States, corporate worlds, alternative movements around the world including agriculture have “institutionalized” digital technology on operations, schools, conferences, summits and planning. Undoubtedly one of the biggest leap in technological advancement is e-commerce.
Noticeable on the other hand, is the slow-paced momentum of agriculture that seemed to chase the evolution of sectors mentioned above. While it is recognized to be one of the biggest factors in re-shaping the world and a major contributor in economic recovery agricultural modernization, to a significant extent, may yet to remain imprinted on paper if not, put into action in a more massive scale. While it greatly influences our lives, it is also a risk presenting itself, that will spread unevenly – the inequalities and leaving the world’s poorest states and their agriculture further behind – particularly.
THE POSSIBILITIES OF IMPROBABLE
However, this is not inevitable. Agricultural innovations can help address poverty and hunger faster with its potentials. It will benefit rural parts of developing countries in the world where people largely rely their livelihood from agriculture.
Providing proper, timely and appropriate assistance to farmers makes them more productive. For example, maximizing the use of their mobile phones for production and productivity of farms by learning new ways of farming. Access to agricultural information and knowledge implementable in their own farms with the assistance capable and willing partners is another thing. More importantly, investments in resources and capability building such as hands on visits among farmers including their families must be a constant practice simultaneous with capitalization.
For the longest time, a developing country such as the Philippines has lagged behind.
NEGROS AGRI-TECHNOLOGY
Today, all forms and platforms of information technology are accessible and can be tapped even in the remotest of the rural areas including Negros. The “impossible” has now become very possible. It goes without saying that, technologies are now within reach.
Like the new generation, the necessity of agricultural technology is equally important. Innovations to agriculture will provide farmers increased and quality products thereby increasing their income. This is not a long-shot in Negros where most of its lands remain fertile and its mono-crop dependence is a thing of the past where natural and organic farming practices abound and diversification scales up.
Negros is an agricultural province is ready to transform and advance with strong stake-holders partnership yet needs more commitment and support from the government as the farmers and ARB’s evolve from producers to marketers at different levels where they create a market dent and their own identities.*
