Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

DTI, PHilMech join hands in making technologies available to MSMEs
by Vina D. Pallar (June 7, 2024)
To enhance agricultural competitiveness, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Nueva Ecija brought together 20 Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) members for a significant first-semester meeting and benchmarking mission on June 7, 2024 held at the PHilMech Central Office, marking a pivotal step towards agricultural and trade advancement in the province.

Dr. Nelson Santiago articulated the purpose of this collaborative endeavor stating, "This collaborative effort aimed to assess the current state of agricultural mechanization in the province and identify areas for enhancement, ensuring that the farmers/business owners can compete more effectively on regional and global scales."

The initiative involved a comprehensive analysis of existing technologies and practices in agricultural postharvest systems; findings highlighted key areas where local practices lag, such as adopting modern machinery and efficient postharvest techniques. By identifying these gaps, DTI and PHilMech can now focus on targeted interventions to elevate the province's agricultural sector. This includes promoting the adoption of innovative technologies, providing training and support to farmers, and facilitating access to existing equipment.

“Gusto po namin sa DTI-Nueva Ecija na mailapit ang ating MSMEs sa existing technology para ma-improve yung quality and productivity ng kanilang mga produkto. (DTI-Nueva Ecija likes to link MSMEs to existing technology to improve the quality and productivity of their products),” said Alfee Rei Galapon, Division Chief of Business Development Division of DTI-Nueva Ecija.

Galapon added, "Sa Inclusive Innovation Center kasi gusto naming build yung innovation collaboration between the government, industry, and academe. As part of government malaki po ang role ng DTI in adding the value sa produkto ng ating magsasaka while PHilMech yung role na ginagampanan nito ay kayang mag-provide ng mga machinery and equipment na abot kaya [para] sa ating mga MSMEs. (In the Inclusive Innovation Center, we like to build collaboration between the government, the industry, and the academe. As part of the government, DTI has a significant role in adding value to our farmers' products, while PHilMech's role is to provide affordable machinery and equipment to our MMEs)."

Moreover, the collaboration between DTI and PHilMech underscores the importance of synergy between governmental bodies in achieving national development goals. By leveraging each other's expertise, these agencies are better equipped to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.