The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has inaugurated its first “smart” greenhouse in Aklan, a facility intended to strengthen the province’s high-value crop industry.

Formally known as the Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture facility, the project will soon be followed by three more sites, the DA said. The initiative is backed by South Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Seoul’s grant-based development assistance agency. The facilities feature automated, climate-controlled greenhouses designed to protect crops from erratic weather — a persistent concern for Philippine agriculture, which is regularly exposed to typhoons.

“By providing a climate-controlled environment, smart greenhouses can support year-round production, regardless of changing weather conditions. That means a more dependable supply of food, better income opportunities for farmers, and a stronger foundation for food security,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said in a statement.

The inaugural site, the Aklan Agri-Aqua Demonstration Farm and Training Center in Kalibo, the province’s capital, will be followed by facilities in Iloilo, Antique, and Negros Occidental — the first three on Panay island and the last on the western half of neighboring Negros island. Target crops across the greenhouse network include cherry tomato, lettuce, honeydew melon, cucumber, bell pepper, herbs, chives, and sesame.

Reporting by Maria Mikaela H. Tormon — BusinessWorld Online