DOST-CAR inks MOA with Kalinga LGUs to push for more sustainable farming through smarter and technology driven approaches

There is hope for increased agricultural production and improved farm management among farmers in Kalinga following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between DOST-CAR and its partner LGUs in the province on December 1, 2025, to advance the adoption of smarter and more effective farming methods.

Kalinga is considered as the rice granary of Cordillera and the main supplier of coffee in the region, with a total of 130,783 hectares declared as agricultural lands which corresponds to roughly 40.46% of the province’s total land area. And thus, innovations and use of technology for smarter and more productive farming will greatly aid the province’s further development.

The DOST-CAR, led by Regional Director Nancy Bantog, signed the MOA with its LGU partners – Kalinga PLGU, Rizal LGU, Tabuk City LGU, and Paracelis, Mt. Province LGU – along with Kalinga State University for the implementation of Project SARAI (Smart Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines).

According to DOST-CAR, the project deploys science-based crop technologies and protocols to farming communities in response to climate change and its impacts. These systems and technologies include SPIDTECH or Smarter-Pest Identification Technology, CL-SEAMS, the SARAI Knowledge Portal, BANATECH, WAISS, and Bantay SARAI—tools and digital services that provide identification, analysis, forecasts, estimates, and other essential information to help farmers make better and more informed decisions.

“Essentially, what these technologies do is help farmers become better decision-makers through data. Ang kagandahan nito, meron talagang basehan. Pero siyempre, they need to be serious with their inputs sa data. Kasi, sabi nga nila, garbage in, garbage out,” said RD Bantog in an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, adding that DOST will assist technology adopters for four years and hopes LGUs and their beneficiaries will continue using the technology even after the program ends.

“Ang nangyayari kasi sa ibang government initiatives, maganda pa habang hindi pa tapos ang assistance, pero pag tapos na ang program, hindi na tinutuloy ng beneficiaries. I hope na hindi mangyayari ito. That is why we are having a MOA with LGUs and Kalinga State University para ma-assure natin na mailagay ito sa plans and programs nila at magkaroon ng sustainability ang SARAI,” explained the regional director.

On the other hand, Governor James Edduba welcomed the DOST-CAR initiative and commended the agency for promoting technology-driven farming. He expressed hope that all municipalities in the province will eventually sign a MOA with DOST-CAR and benefit from the technologies offered.

“Mayat daytoy aglalo kadagiti farmers tayo. Addan ti technology to check and help you manage your rice, corn, coffee, banana, and cacao farms. Mabalin pay nga mausar tapno ag-forecast ti apit ken nu kasano mamanage ti water supply iti farm. We hope that these will also be offered to other municipalities in Kalinga soon,” said the governor in an interview with Guru Press Cordillera.

Apart from the Project SARAI MOA signing with the LGUs, Supervising Science Research Specialist of PTSO-Kalinga shared that another MOA signing with Tabuk City LGU was completed for the Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SSCP).

The SSCP is a flagship program of DOST aimed at helping cities and municipalities become more efficient, inclusive, and eco-friendly through science, technology, and innovation. It empowers LGUs to craft well-informed roadmaps that improve mobility, public services, governance, and environmental resilience, along with programs that support farmers, fisherfolk, students, workers, MSMEs, and vulnerable groups through digital solutions, sustainable practices, and modern infrastructure.