Farm mechanization
DOUBTLESS, farm mechanization plays a pivotal role in attaining food self-sufficiency in this natural resources-rich Asian nation.
Agricultural mechanization is the use of machinery and equipment, such as tractors and harvesters, to perform various agricultural operations.
With the help of these state-of-the-art “wonders of modern technology,” the Philippines is expected to achieve food self-sufficiency.
“Let’s remember that we have now more than 100 million Filipinos, many of them poor, to feed,” according to a low-salaried government employee.
That’s why we commend the Department of Agriculture (DA) for opening the nation’s first Agricultural Machinery Design and Prototyping Center.
Known as the AMDPC, the facility is located at the Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel said the foreign-funded facility is seen to provide farmers with affordable but quality machinery and equipment.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA) and the Philippine government funded the construction of the P370.5 million facility.
Of the amount, P289 million was provided by KOIKA. Two other Korean firms are supporting the project, according to the agriculture secretary.
These are the Korea Institute for Development Strategy and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative.
Clearly, the government, with the help of friends in the international community, is doing a great job mechanizing Philippine agriculture.
