President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally turned over the greenhouses and postharvest facilities from the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) to farmer-beneficiaries in Lucban, Quezon, on November 29, 2024. The event marked a significant milestone in Philippine agriculture, highlighting the importance of partnerships, innovation, and food security.
“These greenhouses and postharvest facilities help our small communities improve their capacity to export their products and join the regional value chain,” the President said. He praised the enduring partnership between the Philippines and Korea, embodied in the KOPIA initiative, for its transformative impact on farming communities.
Lucban, Quezon, faces distinct challenges, including limited land area and a wet climate that hampers traditional farming methods. The KOPIA greenhouses, equipped with drip irrigation and ventilation systems, allow farmers to control their growing environment, ensuring consistent yields despite these constraints. The Bureau of Plant Industry – Los Baños National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Center, in collaboration with local government units, played a critical role in implementing the project and adapting it to Lucban’s conditions.
The project has established 20 greenhouses across pilot villages in Lucban, Quezon; Siniloan, Laguna; and Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. In Lucban alone, eight greenhouses, a seedling nursery, farming and ICT equipment and a postharvest facility now benefit thousands of farmers and their families. Through this initiative, farmers acquire new skills, adapt to technological innovations, and cultivate a sense of ownership in their work. President Marcos also emphasized the importance of high-quality seeds in achieving optimal crop production.
The project also reflects the values of diligence, self-help, and cooperation, which have been instrumental in its success.
“These innovations do not just increase productivity; they transform lives, strengthen our agricultural sector, and prepare the next generation to sustain these gains,” the President added.
“Guided by the virtues of Saemaul Undong and the spirit of Bayanihan, let us build a Bagong Pilipinas—a nation where every farmer prospers, every harvest brings hope, and every Filipino takes pride in our progress,” he concluded.
This collaboration underscores the power of innovation, international cooperation, and community-driven solutions in transforming Philippine agriculture and empowering farmers for a brighter, self-sufficient future.
The turnover ceremony was attended by key officials, including Department of Agriculture (DA) Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr., BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban, KOPIA Director Dr. Kyu Seong Lee and South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, DA and BPI officials, local government officials from Quezon Province, along with farmers from the pilot sites in Siniloan, Laguna, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, also joined the event to celebrate this significant milestone.
(120124-04)