Department of Agriculture and Mindanao Development Authority Undersecretaries Visit Smart FARM Nursery in Pangantucan, Bukidnon
On 29 October 2025, officials from the Department of Agriculture and the Mindanao Development Authority conducted a site visit to the Smart Coffee Nursery in Pangantucan, Bukidnon to assess its implementation and contribution to technology-enabled coffee development in Mindanao.
Mindanao Development Authority Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz, representing Chairperson Sec. Leo Tereso Magno, and Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros were welcomed by the Varacco team, together with barangay officials of Portulin, local police personnel, the council of Datus headed by Datu Johnny Guina, farmer scientists, and representatives of the Pangantucan local government unit. A cultural welcome was rendered by the Kulahi Band,
reflecting the active engagement of Indigenous People (IP) communities in the project.
The Smart Coffee Nursery was presented as part of the Smart FARM Project, which integrates farmer training, community participation, and smart agriculture technologies to improve seedling quality and farm productivity. The Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP) was highlighted, with trained farmer scientists and tribal leaders recognized as key partners in sustaining coffee production at the community level.
During the site tour, the project team demonstrated the nursery’s Internet of Things (IoT)– based monitoring system, a core component that enables data-driven management and supports climate-resilient coffee production. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Oliveros expressed positive feedback and noted the potential value of expanding similar Smart Coffee Nurseries in other coffee-producing areas.
The significance of the Pangantucan Smart Coffee Nursery aligns with the joint coffee initiatives of the Department of Agriculture and the Mindanao Development Authority. Following the visit, the Mindanao Development Authority announced plans to replicate Smart Coffee Nursery models in Bukidnon as part of broader efforts to strengthen Mindanao’s coffee industry through modernized production systems and inclusive participation of Indigenous Peoples.
Source: Mindanao Development Authority Official Facebook Page, 30 October 2025.