A Review of Digital Technologies in Plant Disease and Pest Management within Philippine Agriculture

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has revolutionized agricultural practices, offering novel solutions to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience in plant disease and pest management in crop protection. This review synthesizes existing literature on the adoption, impacts, and future prospects of digital technologies in the Philippine agricultural sector. Key technologies discussed include remote sensing, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), geographic information systems (GIS), and decision support systems (DSS), all of which contribute to improved disease and pest monitoring, early detection, and precision management. Evidence suggests that these innovations lead to reduced pesticide dependency, optimized resource use, and increased crop yields. However, adoption barriers such as high implementation costs, technical knowledge gaps, data privacy concerns, and interoperability issues remain significant challenges. Future research should focus on integrating multiple digital tools, developing locally adapted plant disease and pest management strategies, expanding farmer education programs, and strengthening policy support to ensure equitable access and sustainable implementation. By leveraging digital agriculture, the Philippines can enhance food security, mitigate climate-related agricultural risks, and improve overall farm productivity.