Philippines: DA-Davao gives hydroponics facility to PDLs
Source: VFD.com
Philippines: DA-Davao gives hydroponics facility to PDLs Thanks! Rey Jhon Guadalquiver, a project engineer at DA-Davao, said that the department's goal is to modernize the agricultural sector and support inclusive development.
"This project reflects our commitment to expanding access to modern, climate-resilient agricultural technologies while supporting the government's broader goals of food security, sustainability, and inclusive development," he said. Ciruela said that the facility is the first of its kind that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has received and assured that they would use it for the welfare of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
The greenhouse and hydroponics facility was funded through the DA-Davao National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP). It is designed to showcase climate-smart and resource-efficient farming technology, which would provide year-round production of agricultural products.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
