MALAYBALAY CITY — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) launched a nationwide agricultural hub network
on August 17 to help farmers protect crops from severe climate impacts.

Project SARAI CeNTRO (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry –
Centralized National Hub for Regional Operations) links science and technology with farming
communities through crop technologies, forecasting systems and digital decision-support tools.
DOST Northern Mindanao Regional Director Mark Lemuel L. Garcia said the program covers
priority crops, including rice, corn, banana, coconut, coffee, cassava, sugarcane, tomato, and
mung bean, while expanding research on climate monitoring.
He said localized advisories and early warning systems will help farmers anticipate weather
threats and make timely decisions to reduce crop losses.
“Science and technology are powerful tools for building a safer, smarter, and more resilient
future. Their true measure lies in how much they improve people’s lives,” Garcia said.
DOST data showed that since 2013, Project SARAI has used satellite data, drones, mobile apps,
and weather trackers to guide farmers on planting schedules, pest management, and disaster
preparedness.
“Under the CeNTRO framework, a main hub at UPLB connects with 16 regional centers housed
in DOST offices nationwide. These regional nodes link farmers, local governments, and state
universities to modern crop-management technologies,” Garcia said.
He said the initiative responds to the heavy toll of climate-related disasters on Philippine
agriculture, which recorded P290 billion in losses from 2010 to 2019. The data underscores the
need for science-based tools that can help farmers manage climate risks and protect long-term
food security.
Israel Johan Damasco Jr., Bukidnon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, said the
project shows what science, government, and communities can achieve together toward a
smarter, safer, and climate-resilient Bukidnon. (Gryzl Francess L. Adviento/PIA-10/Bukidnon)