Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
(044) 4560-213, od@philmech.gov.ph

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech, Korean companies ink MOU anew
by Jett Molech G. Subaba (August 5, 2026)
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with two Korean agricultural manufacturers: ASIA Technology Co., Ltd. for the precision seeder with fertilizer applicator and Shin Nong Co., Ltd. for the onion and garlic drying system. This was held today, August 5, at the PHilMech Main Office in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

In his statement, PHilMech Director IV, Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia, expressed his gratitude to Chair Shin Gil Kim of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) and the presidents of the collaborating companies for the opportunity to further boost the agricultural mechanization industry in the Philippines.

“We thank our partners for these research and development collaborations. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel when it comes to agricultural mechanization interventions. By testing your technologies and adapting them to Philippine conditions, we enable our farmers to access such technologies faster,” Dr. Alvindia said.

The 10-row Precision Seeder with Side Fertilizer Applicator will be demonstrated, tested, and evaluated in the rice-producing areas of the country. This technology is expected to improve productivity, reduce fertilizer waste, and promote agricultural mechanization, especially in crop establishment operations, where traditional methods are still prevalent in the country.

Meanwhile, the onion and garlic drying system will be demonstrated and validated under Philippine conditions. This is hoped to reduce postharvest losses among farmers' produce and improve the onion and garlic industries as a whole.

Also present during the MOU signing were Kyu Chul Nam, Director of KAMICO; Yoo Jeong Choi and Kwang Min Han, Manager of KAMICO; Bo Suk Kim, CEO of Fit Corea Trading Phils, Inc; Min Kyun Kang, President of SHINNONG; and Dr. Nelson C. Santiago, PHilMech Interim Director for Research and Development.