Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday called for the digitalization of agricultural data as a key strategy to improve farm productivity and keep food prices stable, amid continued price increases of basic commodities in local markets.
Gatchalian filed Senate Bill (SB) 1653, which seeks to establish an agricultural information system (AIS) in all provinces, cities, and municipalities nationwide.
“An agricultural information system would provide real-time insights on crop yields, market demand, and other critical farm data to help farmers optimize their harvests and prevent price increases caused by inefficiency,” Gatchalian said.
He noted that rising prices of vegetables and other food items in public markets could be avoided if such a system were in place.
Under the proposed measure, the AIS will be managed by the Department of Agriculture and will serve as an integrated, computerized, web-based inventory and registry of agricultural commodity supply.
The system is envisioned to link farmers and organized farming communities across the country.
Gatchalian said the platform would give farmers easy access to real-time local and global information on agricultural commodities, helping them expand market linkages and connect directly with buyers.
Beyond price stabilization, the senator said an AIS would help strengthen relationships between farmers and end-users, reduce reliance on middlemen, cut costs, minimize waste, and support the government in crafting more responsive and climate-resilient agricultural policies.
He stressed that modernizing the flow of agricultural data is essential to building a more efficient and competitive food system that benefits both producers and consumers.