The Department of Agriculture (DA) is undertaking a digital overhaul, upgrading its farmer and fisherfolk registry to optimize resource allocation and ensure targeted interventions.
Dubbed the “Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture,” the update focuses on collecting accurate data for efficient project implementation, monitoring, and ultimately paving the way for a more prosperous food chain.
“We were supposed to finish this update last year but we have so many islands to cover. We have to make a distinction between a farmer and a farmworker,” said Agriculture Undersecretary for operations Roger Navarro, adding that the move would allow the department to cleanse the list for better use of resources.
The new registry seeks to segregate farmworkers from the beneficiary list. Their needs fall under different agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), ensuring targeted assistance, the DA said.
The initial list stands at 1.4 million, requiring meticulous verification and validation, composed mostly of farmers identified as the poorest sector in the country.
Mobilizing 16,000 staff across the archipelago presents a logistical challenge, but the DA is joining forces with local government units (LGUs).
The new registry’s data-driven approach aligns with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s vision of digitalization.
He recognizes technology as a valuable key to enhancing DA operations and maximizing returns for farmers. He also reiterated plans to reclaim the statistics monitoring capacity of the DA, previously known as the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), a move expected to further strengthen the commitment to data-driven decision-making.
Labor statistics show that agriculture provides employment to one in every four Filipinos. From 2021 to 2022, the DA began upgrading its management information system to enhance monitoring of projects and interventions and facilitate real-time recording of agri-fishery information.