Digital transformation in agriculture is becoming a critical pillar for the Philippines’ long-term food security and regional competitiveness, according to a new policy brief by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). The study notes that while digital tools can raise productivity, strengthen supply chains, and improve sustainability, these gains will only materialize with stronger policies, improved rural infrastructure, and expanded investment.
ERIA reports that digital technologies are already reshaping agricultural systems across ASEAN as countries address rising food demand, climate pressures, resource constraints, and persistent post-harvest losses. However, adoption across the region remains uneven due to high technology costs, limited digital skills, poor rural connectivity, and fragmented data systems. Despite the presence of digital agriculture strategies in several ASEAN countries, only a few have translated these into operational, sector-focused initiatives that can deliver measurable impact.
Philippine Farmers Prioritize Productivity and Cost Efficiency
For the Philippines, productivity remains the strongest driver of digital adoption. Farmers identified the need to increase output and reduce production costs as their top motivations. Addressing labor shortages, improving labor efficiency, reducing post-harvest losses, and mitigating climate impacts also emerged as key considerations.
Technology preferences vary across the region. Filipino and Lao PDR farmers highlighted digital marketplaces as essential tools for expanding market access and improving income opportunities. Meanwhile, growers in Vietnam and Cambodia prioritized drones for crop monitoring and precision agriculture.
Stronger Public Support Needed to Scale Adoption
Public-sector intervention remains central to accelerating digital agriculture. Around 30 percent of surveyed farmers reported receiving financial support such as capital loans, while nearly half accessed technical training. Only 19 percent obtained tools or equipment, indicating a significant gap in in-kind assistance needed to encourage adoption at the farm level.
The policy brief recommends blended financing schemes, increased private-sector participation, and integrated data ecosystems to scale digital transformation across agriculture. It also stresses the need for investments in rural connectivity, digital skills development, and stronger multistakeholder partnerships to support long-term digital integration.