DOST rolls out climate-smart farming technologies as very strong El Niño threat grows

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TARLAC CITY — As the Philippines prepares for the possible impact of a very strong El Niño, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is accelerating the deployment of climate-smart farming technologies to help farmers manage drought, conserve water, and sustain crop production.

Among the key innovations introduced are the SARAI Automatic Weather Station (AWS), which provides localized weather and soil condition data for better irrigation and fertilizer decisions, and the Automated Furrow Irrigation System (AFIS) integrated with the Nutrio® biofertilizer. Together, these technologies enable farmers to reduce water use, lower fertilizer costs, and improve crop yields even during prolonged dry spells.

Backed by a ₱600-million nationwide rollout, the DOST said these science-based solutions are designed to strengthen agricultural resilience against climate change. Officials emphasized that providing farmers with real-time, site-specific information can help minimize losses and improve productivity as El Niño intensifies.

Moises Dorado, Project Leader of SARAI CeNTRO, emphasized that localized weather information allows farmers to avoid unnecessary irrigation and fertilizer application, especially when rainfall is forecast. Meanwhile, Marlon Gamboa, a sugarcane farmer from Paniqui, Tarlac, shared that the technologies significantly reduced fertilizer use, lowered production costs, and more than doubled crop yields.

During the media briefing, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Leah Buendia underscored that science-based innovations developed through DOST and PCAARRD are helping Filipino farmers adapt to extreme weather conditions by improving water management, increasing productivity, and strengthening agricultural resilience against prolonged drought.
The initiative underscores the government’s push to transform research into practical technologies that protect farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen the country’s food security amid increasingly extreme weather conditions.

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Ms. Angel Faith Danganan serves as the President of Central Luzon Balita and has worked as a broadcast journalist with the news group for less than a decade. Originally from Capas, Tarlac, she actively participates in numerous civic groups and public service initiatives. She took up her Broadcast communication studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Manila.