Forecasting for better harvests: here’s how weather technology can help farmers prepare for climate risks

From the DOST public archive. Original source publication date: 2026-08-28. Captured 2026-09-04. Read the original DOST source.

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Being highly exposed to natural hazards like typhoons and floods, the Philippine agricultural sector suffers the most.

In August 2025, the Department of Agriculture Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DA DRRM-OC) reported significant agricultural damage across multiple regions in the country.

The combined monsoon and typhoon events, like Crising, Dante, and Emong, which struck the country in July 2025, has caused over P3.53 billion losses, affecting major sectors such as rice, fisheries, and high-value crops.

Moreover, just recently, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) released an advisory on the likelihood of a very strong El Niño from October 2026 to January 2027.

This phenomenon is expected to cause dry conditions and dry spells in some areas of the country, while above-normal rainfall conditions in other areas during the Southwest Monsoon season.

During these times, one of the common challenges in farming is that farmers cannot really predict the weather, and they lack site-specific weather data to help them make proper decisions. Also, some of the farmers in rural and far-flung areas have limited digital literacy, and some communities have poor internet connectivity.

The Rise of Smart Farming and Digital Agriculture Program

The problem now is no longer about the availability of technologies and assistance, but rather whether these advances are accessible and are properly introduced to the farmers.

Just in time before the onset of the very strong El Niño, the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), led the installation of the first Automatic Weather Station (AWS) in Central Luzon, under the project SARAi CeNTRO or the Smarter Approach to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines-Centralized National Hub for Regional Operations.

The installment of the technology is in collaboration with the DOST Region 3 and DOST Tarlac.

“Siguro magtatanong kayo kung bakit pa kailangan ng weather station eh nagbibigay naman ang PAGASA ng forecast and mga value ng rainfall. So ito ay in-install natin para magkaroon tayo noong tinatawag na site-specific advisory,” Professor Moises A. Dorado said, during a site visit in Brgy. San Manuel, Tarlac City.

(You might be wondering why a weather station is needed when PAGASA already provides forecasts and rainfall data. We installed this to enable what is known as a site-specific advisory.)

Dorado said this tool collects data on air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, and atmospheric pressure. Because it is electronically connected, data is automatically downloaded and stored in the SARAi website.

These data and information are then interpreted by the experts of the host region where the technology is installed. While this feature is still being developed, Dorado said they are working on how to properly cascade the data into more comprehensive information for the farmers.

“Ang isang magandang setup na nakita namin ay makipag-collaborate with the local government unit (LGU), specifically the Municipal Agriculture Office. So sila yung magiging malimit naming kausap at yung mata-translate na information, madali nilang maibigay. May Sistema na sila ng pagbibigay ng information. Ang isang example, through text,” Dorado said.

(One effective setup we identified is collaborating with the local government unit [LGU], specifically the Municipal Agriculture Office. They would be our primary point of contact, making it easier for them to disseminate the information we provide. They already have an established information-sharing system in place—for instance, using text messaging.)

According to Dorado, the weather station can generate localized weather data, which can benefit thousands of farmers within the 20-kilometer radius. Since the AWS is situated in Tarlac City, it can stretch up to the areas of Tarlac City, large portions of La Paz, some parts of Victoria, Gerona, Capas, Pura, northern portions of Bamban, and western parts of Concepcion.

Currently, the deployment of AWS is being rolled out nationwide, targeting seven units per region, with a P600 million fund from the DOST-PCAARRD.

Tarlac as site for C. Luzon first AWS

Being the second largest farmland in the entire Central Luzon, Tarlac province is an ideal location for the deployment of the first automatic weather station of the project SARAI CeNTRO.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2002 showed that Tarlac has 107,505 hectares of farm area, accounting for 19.5 percent of the total farm area in the region. This means it can benefit an estimated 72,000 total agricultural farms and operators in the province.

Situated at the eastern part of Tarlac City, the first AWS was installed inside the five-hectare farmland of the Rise and Rebuild International Foundation in Brgy. San Manuel, Tarlac City.

According to Tarlac City Agricultural Technologist Virgilio S. Delos Reyes Jr., the area was chosen because they believe the facility can protect and secure the equipment.

The Rise and Rebuild International Foundation is a non-profit organization funded by a US-based Christian community. It conducts regular nutrition and education programs for over 4,600 malnourished children, aged 12 and below in Tarlac City.

The foundation plants primary crops like eggplant, string beans, squash, okra, sponge gourd (patola, tomato, corn, and sweet potato among others, harvesting an average of 15-20 tons of vegetables per month. One hundred percent of these produce goes directly to their charity.

“Dahil focus namin ang farming, at nasabi sa amin yung possible na maitutulong nito, excited kami and grateful at the same time kasi napili itong Rise and Rebuild. Hindi mo kasi siya maintindihan instantly kung ano yung pakinabang niya. Pero dapat sa amin mismo, in our counterpart, dapat pag-aralan din namin. Hindi lang kung ano yung sinabi nila is enough na. Dapat pag-aralan din namin kung paano ito magkaroon ng pakinabang,” Aizha Guzman said, farm director of the Rise and Rebuild.

(Since our focus is farming—and having been informed of the potential benefits—we are both excited and grateful that this "Rise and Rebuild" initiative was selected for us. It isn't something where the benefits are immediately obvious; we need to do our part by studying it thoroughly. Simply relying on what we were told isn't enough; we need to understand how to make the most of it.)

Since the equipment is newly installed, Guzman said their farmers are not fully aware of how it actually works, but they are positive that the tool could help them improve farm management.

As of this writing, the Rise and Rebuild International Foundation has 32 farmers in total.

“Meron kaming farm manager and team leaders. So ang importante dyan na makaintindi nung pakinabang ng project na ito is yung farm manager and team leaders, para pag maintindihan nila, mas madali din namin ipaintindi sa mga farmers,” Guzman said.

(We have a farm manager and team leaders. It is crucial that they understand the benefits of this project, because once they grasp it, it becomes easier for us to explain it to the farmers as well.)

Aside from the Rise and Rebuild International Foundation, Dorado said they already identified six other locations in Central Luzon, for the deployment of AWS.

The locations are in Dingalan, Aurora, Balanga City, Bataan; Brgy. King Kabayo, San Miguel, Bulacan; New City Hall Compound in Brgy, Franza, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija; Candaba, Pampanga; and Iba, Zambales.

The first Automatic Weather Station installed in Central Luzon. (Photo by Andrea Mei B. Resane, DOST-STII)

More about SARAi

One of the priority research and development programs of the DOST is smart agriculture, which aims to boost food security and science-driven farming.

Under this focus area is the implementation of the project SARAi led by the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) and funded by the DOST-PCAARRD.

The core assistance of the project is to generate site-specific weather advisories for better farm management and proper decision-making. The crop advisories focus on integrating local weather data and drought forecasts with farm management activities, specifically nutrient and water management, and proactive pest and disease monitoring.

The first Automatic Weather Station (AWS) in Central Luzon, under the project SARAi CeNTRO is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All.

To know more about the project, visit https://sarai.ph/ or connect with the DOST-PCAARRD via their email at pcaarrd@pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph .(By Claire Bernadette A. Mondares, DOST-STII and photos from DOST-STII)