MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement a data-driven information system in every planting season to address overproduction of agricultural products in the market.

In a meeting with agriculture officials at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, President Marcos said farmers should be equipped with the necessary information to limit the production of agricultural products that are only sellable in the market.

“It’s another part of data-driven decisions that we give to the farmers, the producers. Kung ano ang mabenta at this time, this season. So that hindi natin maririning ‘yung mga balita na nag-over produce, hindi mabenta, nabubulok na lang, pinamimigay na lang,” President Marcos said during the sectoral meeting that tackled the plans of the Department of Agriculture under its Para Sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas program.

The President made the remark after DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel presented to him his three-year plan for the country’s agricultural sector to ensure food security. His plan includes the digitalization aimed at uplifting the agri-fisheries sector by equipping decision-makers, farmers, food producers and consumers with accessible technology and advanced tools.

With accurate, real-time data, the DA said that stakeholders can make smarter, data-driven decisions and efficiently manage emergencies and day-to-day operations, and will pave the day towards a resilient sector that thrives in the modern, digital world.

President Marcos stressed the need to give farmers the technical know-how for them to better decide what to plant in every season. He also pushed for the need to upgrade the processing of goods and develop the necessary facilities so that farmers will gain more value for their products. (PND)