LUCENA CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on November 29 spearheaded the ceremonial turnover of Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) greenhouses and postharvest facilities to farmer-beneficiaries in Lucban, Quezon, as part of his administration’s push to enhance farmers’ incomes through modern farming methods.
The initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), positions Lucban as one of three pilot sites for KOPIA greenhouse projects in the Philippines.
Key infrastructure has been established under the project, including advanced greenhouses equipped with drip irrigation systems and ventilation, as well as postharvest facilities.
These technologies allow farmers to control growing conditions, boosting both productivity and crop quality.
KOPIA emphasizes the advantages of greenhouses, which shield crops from pests and extreme weather. Beneficiaries also received farm machinery, production inputs, and training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and postharvest technologies.
During the turnover event, President Marcos toured the project site, inspecting greenhouses producing arugula, lettuce, cucumbers, and seedlings for high-value parthenocarpic crops. Following the inspection, he formally handed over the facilities to the farmers.
KOPIA is an official development assistance program led by Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA), the country’s premier agricultural research institution.
The program transfers cutting-edge Korean agricultural technologies to developing nations, aiming to boost farmers’ incomes, enhance their ability to market high-value crops, and promote self-sufficiency.
Through this initiative, local farmers in Lucban stand to benefit from increased productivity and improved livelihoods, aligning with the Philippine government’s vision for a robust and modernized agricultural sector.