In 2023-2024, IMPACT R&D partnered with Leads Agricultural Companies to implement a groundbreaking digital agriculture initiative, DigiSaka. This innovative solution revolutionized data gathering and information management for farmers and their farms.
Key Features of DigiSaka:
Efficient Data Capture: DigiSaka streamlined the process of collecting and organizing crucial information about past, current, and upcoming cropping seasons. This comprehensive data was stored in a centralized geodatabase, providing a valuable resource for farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
Real-Time Monitoring: By integrating GPS technology, DigiSaka enabled real-time tracking of farm tractors, optimizing operations and improving efficiency.
Spatial-Temporal Analysis: Advanced spatial-temporal analysis techniques were employed to extract meaningful insights from the collected data. This enabled farmers to make informed decisions about planting schedules, resource allocation, and marketing strategies.
Through this collaboration, IMPACT R&D and its partners empowered farmers with the tools and knowledge to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve their overall livelihoods.
Project Overview
To support a comprehensive understanding of the community food environment and its impact on dietary diversity and nutritional status of preschool children in Bay, Laguna, IMPACT R&D provided GIS technical assistance to a local researcher. The research aimed to classify 15 barangays into three agro-ecological zones (lowland, upland, and coastal) based on slope and analyze the spatial distribution of food outlets within these zones.
GIS Services Provided
Spatial Data Acquisition and Processing:
Collected and processed high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) to accurately delineate the three agro-ecological zones.
Utilized geographic information systems (GIS) software to create detailed maps highlighting the spatial distribution of food outlets, including sari-sari stores, convenience stores, fast-food chains, carinderias, small talipapa, wet markets, and supermarkets.
Spatial Analysis:
Conducted spatial analysis to determine the density and proximity of food outlets within each barangay.
Calculated the distance between surveyed households and the nearest food outlets to assess accessibility.
Employed centroid-based analysis to determine the average distance of households to the center of each barangay.
Impact and Benefits
By leveraging GIS, the researcher was able to:
Visualize Spatial Patterns: Gain a clear understanding of the spatial distribution of food outlets across different zones.
Quantify Food Access: Measure the density and proximity of food outlets to assess their availability and accessibility.
Inform Policy and Planning: Provide valuable insights to policymakers and local authorities for developing strategies to improve food access and nutrition in the community.
IMPACT R&D's GIS expertise played a crucial role in enhancing the rigor and impact of this research, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between the food environment and public health outcomes.