Project SARAi, or the Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines, can help farmers overcome rainy season challenges through its technologies, such as the Community Level - SARAi Enhanced Agricultural Monitoring System (CL-SEAMS) and the Smarter Pest Identification Technology (SPIDTECH).
CL-SEAMS is an information system that uses satellite data built upon a platform of open source geographic information systems and remote sensing.
This system can give farmers detailed information on a specific area’s susceptibility to flooding and even drought. They can use this information to adjust irrigation and planting schedules and to choose more resilient crop varieties. This approach may help optimize resource use and significantly enhance farm productivity and sustainability.
For local government units (LGUs), it provides early warnings for flood and drought risks to support disaster risk reduction and management efforts. By facilitating timely crop monitoring, the system helps LGUs and the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices to optimize their time and resources. It also aids in forecasting crop yields for strategic planning and resource allocation following extreme events such as floods and droughts.
Additionally, it offers comprehensive and site-specific information on insect pest and disease occurrences.
CL-SEAMS is currently deployed in Bukidnon, Cebu, Laguna, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Isabela, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.
Farmers can request CL-SEAMS-generated maps for their farms by coordinating with their LGUs or contacting the University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (UPLB-CEAT).
Another SARAi technology available is the mobile android application called the Smarter Pest Identification Technology (SPIDTECH). This app uses machine learning and mobile phone cameras to identify insect pests and diseases affecting crops such as rice, corn, coffee, cacao, banana, coconut, sugarcane, soybean, and tomato. Farmers can use this mobile application for pest identification during the rainy season. It can provide management recommendations to prevent significant crop damage and financial loss.
SPIDTECH features an Insect Pest and Disease Library, which acts as a comprehensive digital reference. It includes detailed information on pest and disease symptoms, life stages, management practices, and other relevant data.
In addition to its monitoring capabilities, the app serves as an educational tool, helping users become more knowledgeable about common insect pests and diseases in the Philippines.
SPIDTECH is available for download on Google Play Store.
Project SARAi encompasses a variety of technologies beyond CL-SEAMS and SPIDTECH. These include the Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Water Balance-Assisted Irrigation Scheduling System (WAISS), Soil Profiling and Characterization, Banana Technology Application (BANATECH), Drought and Crop Assessment and Forecasting (DCAF), and SARAi Knowledge Portal.
Project SARAi was implemented by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), in collaboration with 11 state universities and colleges, and 6 national government agencies. It was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) and was monitored by DOST-PCAARRD’s Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD).