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

SUCCESS STORIES

Digging deeper
by Pia Sarina M. Fukasawa and Gio Anton T. Barroga (January 31, 2025)
Harvesting cassava, much like most crops, can be a laborious task, often requiring a considerable number of people to toil under the harsh sun, covering vast hectares of cassava-planted land.

The crop itself holds importance due to its nutritional value. High in starch and carbohydrates, it’s relatively simple to grow without demanding extensive care.

To address postharvest losses experienced during cassava harvesting, PHilMech, in collaboration with the Agricultural Engineering Institute of Thailand, developed the Cassava Digger.

CYRIL CATTILING, THE ADOPTER

When Cyril Cattiling transitioned from corn to cassava in 2012, he never looked back, transforming his six-hectare land in Ifugao into a cassava plantation.

For Cattiling, cassava proved more profitable compared to corn. However, labor was scarce, particularly during harvest season. He needed at least 30 individuals to ensure proper harvesting of his cassava, per hectare. Similar to rice, collective labor became challenging during harvest as hired workers often had prior commitments. Moreover, finding farmhands willing to work for Php 200 a day was difficult.

In 2014, Cattiling’s farm underwent a significant change. After attending a corn congress in Tagaytay, he was introduced to the cassava digger, manufactured by the ACT (Machineries and MetalCraft) Corporation—a partner of PHilMech.

After a demonstration on his farm, Cattiling was sold on the technology and sought it for his use.

HARVESTING MADE EASIER

Considerable changes occurred since Cattiling acquired the digger.

Labor costs were significantly reduced, as he required fewer workers to accomplish more tasks, cutting labor needs by half.

Harvesting time was also greatly reduced, directly correlating to the money spent on labor. What would typically take two to three days to harvest a hectare of cassava (approximately 18 days to cover his entire farm), now only required four hours.

“Unlike before, where workers had to exert a lot of effort and get tired from harvesting, now they only have to pick up after the digger and detach it,” Cattiling noted.

BACK TO BASICS

While the digger simplified harvesting, Cattiling advises fellow cassava farmers to adhere to best practices for a bountiful harvest.

He emphasizes the importance of good land preparation. Relying solely on achieving a good harvest each season is not sufficient. However, with the introduction of the cassava digger, the days of dread associated with cassava harvesting have disappeared, transforming the task into an enjoyable morning session.