The Department of Agriculture (DA) is exploring artificial intelligence and drone technology to detect crop diseases and pest infestations before they spread, as the government seeks to shift farm management from reacting to outbreaks to preventing them.
The technology combines real-time environmental data collected by drones with historical weather patterns and machine-learning models to forecast pest infestations and other threats, the DA said Wednesday.
“The technology combines real-time environmental data gathered by drones with historical weather patterns and machine-learning models to predict pest infestations and other crop threats, potentially giving farmers and government agencies an early warning before outbreaks spread,” the agency said.
E-SupportLink (ESL), which introduced the system, has begun pilot testing its AI-powered aerial imaging technology on three banana farms in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. Ground verification is ongoing to validate the technology’s results.
The system uses drones and aerial photography to monitor crop growth, count plants, forecast production, optimize farm inputs and identify early signs of disease.
Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Natividad-Caballero said the technology could help farmers and government agencies identify emerging problems before they become costly outbreaks.
“The value of this system is that it is not just about flying drones. It comes with predictive analysis and forecasting. We can identify where problems may start before they become bigger issues,” Caballero said.
The technology is already being used in Japan to support agricultural assessments and disease prevention through AI-based mapping and early detection.
The pilot in the Philippines has also attracted interest from private banana producers that want to use aerial data for production planning and disease monitoring.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, however, that the technology’s usefulness would depend largely on whether farmers can afford and access it.
“The technology is promising, but we need to make sure it becomes affordable and accessible not only to large companies but, more importantly, to small farmers,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA is considering expanding the technology’s application to sugarcane and coconut, which also face pest infestations and production challenges.
“We want to see how this can help us address urgent concerns in sugar and coconut. If we can detect problems earlier, we can make better decisions and protect farmers’ income,” Tiu Laurel said.
Under a proposed partnership, ESL would train drone operators, establish aerial imaging systems and provide AI-based assessments of farm productivity.
The DA is also exploring government support, including training assistance through the Agricultural Training Institute and possible funding mechanisms.
