After two years, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is back at Agrilink, showcasing programs to strengthen agricultural mechanization in the country at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, last October 6-8, 2022.

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., who is also the secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), opened the international trade fair. In his speech, President Marcos Jr. stated that “the government has provided inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, machinery, equipment, facilities, as well as fingerlings and livestock to help our farmers, our fisher folk, and our livestock growers.” He similarly stressed, “the strengthening of the agricultural sector is the strengthening of survival, the strengthening of life."

Meanwhile, Dr. Romualdo C. Martinez, PHilMech interim director for Research, Development, and Extension pointed out the importance of modernization in Philippine agriculture, “Ang modernisasyon sa agrikultura ay una, nare-reduce yung drudgery ng ating mga magsasaka kasi ‘di rin gan’on kadali ang magsaka, sabi nga, “magtanim ay ‘di biro.” Sa pamamagitan ng machine, mare-reduce ang drudgery. Pangalawa, tataas ang productivity natin kasi may mga pag-aaral na kapag tayo ay gumamit ng mga bagong makinarya ay tumataas din ang productivity ng ating pananim.”

Dr. Martinez also noted that PHilMech is a conduit or agent of development in the agricultural sector. “Yun ang aming aspirations, yun ang aming tinitignan. Kaya sa tingin naman namin with the proper funding and support ay makakarating tayo ro'n (modernization of agriculture).”
The Agrilink’s theme is “Inclusive Growth in Agribusiness Chain: Key to Stability,” emphasizing the importance of every participant in the chain being--“well represented, accounted for, and worked together.”

For this year, PHilMech showcased the RCEF-Mechanization Program’s Rice Processing System (RPS), CFIDP’s Shared Facilities for Processing (SFP), and its COVID-19 Response Projects.

For the RPS, batch recirculating dryers and multi-stage rice mills were presented.

For the Shared Facilities for Processing (SFP) under the Integrated Coconut Processing and Downstream Products of Coconut Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), information on its objectives, beneficiaries, and sample processing facilities were exhibited.

On the one hand, for the COVID-19 Response Projects nine technological interventions to sustain food availability during pandemic were displayed.

PHilMech also conducted seminars on RCEF-Mechanization Program, CFIDP-SFP, and Onion-seeder technology, one of the COVID-19 Response Projects.

Dr. Michael A. Gragasin, interim director for operation of RCEF-Mechanization Program, presented the RCEF-Mechanization Program, while Dir. Arnel Ramir M. Apaga, PHilMech director I, talked about the Shared Facilities for Processing. Meanwhile, Dr. Ma. Cecilia R. Antolin, senior science research specialist, provided insights on using the PHilMech Multi-Row Onion Mechanical Seeder (MROS) for mechanized planting of onion and other vegetables.

The Applied Communication Division (ACD)-Science and Technology Information Dissemination Section (STIDS) led the PHilMech booth at Agrilink.