ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to validate data during the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) 2022 beginning Sept. 4 until Oct. 25, 2023.
The AI for CAF or AI4CAF Project is a joint research project in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Advanced Science and Technology Institute for the object detection, mapping, and count/area estimation of selected major crops and aquafarms in the country using remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and earth observation data.
The features of interest of AI4CAF are Palay, Sugarcane, Mango, Coconut, Fishpond, Fish Pen, and Fish Cage.
The AI4CAF is seen to help provide data for area estimation and count of selected crops and aquafarms, identify areas for census saturation, and provide inputs in developing a statistical frame for agriculture and aquaculture surveys.
Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias, Assistant National Statistician, emphasized the importance of AI during the national press launch of 2022 CAF.
"The use of Artificial intelligence will be utilizing the remote sensing data coupled with AI algorithms," Esquivias said.
Nelida Amolar, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Director of PSA VI, underscored the significance of this technological advancement as this is the first time the technology will be used for the accuracy and validation of data gathered.
“The incorporation of AI allows the PSA to validate census results by cross-referencing data provided by respondents, ensuring data integrity and reliability,” Amolar said during the press launch in Western Visayas.
The use of AI is a first in the history of CAF, paving the way for a more informed and technologically advanced approach to agriculture and fisheries in the Philippines, with improved accuracy and efficacy in data collection and analysis.
The 2022 CAF aims to determine the structural characteristics of agriculture and fisheries sectors in the country. This will provide data and information on crop farming, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and fishing operations- its facilities and services in the barangays.
CAF will also provide the sampling frame for the conduct of periodic agricultural and fishery surveys. (ED/PIA 6)
