Former Bohol Governor Art Yap has said he believes technology can help to bring
together farmers and other stakeholders in the food value chain, providing them with the
resources they need to produce more food and earn higher profits.
In a Facebook post, Yap, a strong advocate for using technology to improve food
security, shared his insights on tapping technology to ensure food security.
“If we think farmers will be attracted by just offering them micro financing, then we are
wrong,” said Yap. “This has no sustainability. We need to bring not only financing, but
insurance risk management, suppliers, service providers, logistics and markets to
provide farmers higher yields and better prices. We need an end to end and seed to
sale solution.”
Yap pointed to his project in Albay as an example of how technology can be used to
improve food security.
The project, which is called the Albay Agri-Digital Platform, uses a digital platform to
connect farmers with suppliers, service providers, and buyers. The platform also
provides farmers with weather advisories, digital agronomy, and market linkage.
“Our digital platform does not only monitor farm lots, water levels and disease, but
provides weather advisories, digital agronomy and assures market linkage for farmers,”
said Yap. “This has helped to increase yields and profits for farmers, and it has also
made the food supply chain more efficient.”
Yap believes that the Albay Agri-Digital Platform is a model for how technology can be
used to improve food security. He is calling on other governments and organizations to
adopt similar programs.
“We need to scale up these kinds of programs if we want to achieve food security,” said
Yap. “Technology is the key to making this happen.”
Yap’s comments come at a time when food security is a growing concern around the
world. The global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, and this will put a
strain on the world’s food supply. Technology can play a vital role in helping to meet this
challenge.
Yap’s project in Albay is just one example of how technology can be used to improve
food security.
There are many other examples of how technology is being used to help farmers
produce more food and earn higher profits. For example, drones are being used to
monitor crops and to spray pesticides. Sensors are being used to track soil moisture
and nutrient levels. And big data analytics is being used to identify patterns in crop
yields and to optimize farming practices.
Technology is a powerful tool that can be used to improve food security, Yap reiterated.
He said it is important to remember that technology is not a silver bullet.
“It is only one part of the solution. Other factors, such as good governance, access to
credit, and sustainable farming practices, are also essential,” the former Agriculture
Secretary said.
MALAYSIA CONFERENCE
Former Bohol Gov. Yap was invited to speak at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network
(AVPN) conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently in a conference that focused on
the theme of “Investing in Food Security and Climate-Smart Agriculture.”
Yap is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and has a wealth of experience
in the field. He served as Secretary of Agriculture for several years during the
administration of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and during his
tenure, he implemented a number of programs to promote sustainable farming
practices.
In a statement, Yap said that he was “honored and grateful” to be invited to speak at the
AVPN conference. He said that he was looking forward to sharing his passion and
knowledge on the importance of investing in food security and climate-smart agriculture.
“Food security is not just about ensuring that everyone has enough to eat, but also
about nurturing our environment and protecting it for future generations,” said Yap. “By
investing in climate-smart agriculture, we can strike a harmonious balance between our
agricultural needs and the preservation of our precious ecosystems.”
Yap’s speech was part of a panel discussion on the topic of “Scaling Up Climate-Smart
Agriculture.” The panel also featured other experts in the field, including representatives
from the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the International Rice
Research Institute.