The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has launched a nationwide initiative to digitalize rice farming through the Scaling, Modern, and Adaptive Rice Technologies for Better Rice-Farming Communities (SMART Farm) Program.
The program will immerse farmers in a suite of digital precision tools to guide their field operations. These include Binhing Palay, an app that serves as a catalog of Philippine rice varieties; eDamuhan, an app for improved weed management practices; Rice Crop Manager, a site-specific crop and nutrient management tool; and the Minus-One-Element Technique and Leaf Color Chart App, tools that aid in calculating fertilizer needs. Practices aligned within these apps have been identified as key factors contributing to better yields.
The program will deploy high-yielding inbred varieties such as the NSIC Rc 512 and Rc 222, which are resistant to major pests including yellow stem borer, brown plant hopper, and green leaf hopper. It will also promote saline-tolerant varieties like Rc 534 for stress-prone areas and provide training on hybrid rice production.
Modern farm machines, including agricultural drones for seeding and fertilizer application, mechanical transplanters, drum seeders, and precision seeders, will also be introduced to reduce labor costs and increase productivity.
SMART Farm leaders Dindo King M. Donayre and Mark Angelo A. Abando said the technologies are set for wider deployment in the 2026 dry season, with phased rollouts and localized support to ensure accessibility.
“These tools are designed to modernize rice farming by digitalizing decision-making and field efficiency,” Abando said, noting ongoing efforts to expand Location-Specific Technologies (LST) and strengthen the PalayCheck System for hybrid rice.
Donayre added that their goal is to ensure the technologies are accessible and integrated into the day-to-day operations of rice farmers.
SMART Farm is one of PhilRice’s three flagship R4DE programs under its research for development agenda, alongside Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) and Rice Seed Systems (RSS). It aims to elevate the rice-farming sector by 2028 through the widespread adoption of Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Digital Transformation (Dx), and best farming practices. The program enhances and expands LST suited for diverse ecosystems, local government unit (LGU) needs, and special rice environments.
