Agriculture started since time immemorial. From bare hands to stones and bones; from wooden implements to simple machines; from human power to carabao power; and now the mechanical power. The modernization of farming is inevitable.


In the Philippines, the introduction of the two-wheel tractor popularly known as ‘kuliglig’ propelled the farm mechanization in the country. In a study conducted by PHilMech in 2011, the level of mechanization in rice and corn farming in the Philippines is now 2.31 hp/ha. Far from the 0.52 hp/ha in 1990 as studied by the Regional Network for Agricultural Machinery.


Farmers are now gradually shifting to new and modern farming system.


In La Carlota City in the province of Negros Occidental there is a corporate farm engaged in rice farming -- the Agro Marton Corporation. It is one of the early and is one of the early adopters of new farming technologies. At first, the company is into sugarcane industry. It started planting Japonica rice only in 2000 with the conversion of the 33 hectares sugarcane plantation. At present, they have expanded it into 100.51 hectares.


Farm Manager Napoleon Ejusa shared that when they were just starting, their Japanese friends doubted that the Japonica rice will grow in the Philippines. Today, the company is the only local farm producing Japonica rice in the country.


Land Preparation


Have you ever heard of the laser guided leveler? The Agro Marton Corporation has it. And they are among the first to use it here in the Philippines.


The laser guided leveler was acquired in 2005. A levelling bucket with a laser receiver is pulled by a four-wheel tractor. The laser transmitter mounted on a tripod at the side of the field will then send signal to the receiver. The signals will be interpreted by a control panel which will adjust the hydraulic system to either raise or lower the bucket. The bucket will then pick loose soils and drop to uneven area. The equipment can level an area of 4 to 6 hectares per day. At Agro Marton farms, they allot two days for levelling a single plot to achieve optimal effects.


According to Engr. Ejusa, a “good levelled field is the key to uniform nutrient distribution, efficient weed control and good water management”. He also shared that to have a bountiful harvest, “the key is water management”. They have two water systems; gravity fed and pumping. The two pumping stations strategically located in the field draw water from a nearby river with an output of 3,780 gpm and 6,800 gpm. Meanwhile during typhoons and rainy season all their drainage canals are opened to totally drain the plots.


Aside from a precisely levelled field, they also found out that the desirable plot area is 0.5 hectares. An old ‘kahon/pilapil’ (dike) maker is still reliable in subdividing their fields with a capacity of 4 to 6 hectares in a day.


Part of their land preparation routine is the application of 2 to 3 tons of vermi compost in every hectare of rice field. The company produces its own organic materials through their 1.5 hectares of vermin composting facility found at Mt. Kanlaon.
A couple of four wheel tractors are used in plowing and harrowing of the rice field.


Production

To avoid the incidence of insect and disease population, the farm practices synchronous planting. “Sa isang buwan dapat mataniman na ang lahat,” Ejusa explained.

The company hires laborer through a ‘pakyawan’ system to transplant the seedlings for the past five years. A group with 30 planters can transplant 3 to 4 hectares per day which is comparable to mechanized transplanting.


Previously, the company is using mechanical transplanters bought in Japan during the third year of their operation. However, when the machine gave-up, they can not find spare parts at the local market. Nevertheless, they still practiced the seedling preparation using trays. In fact they have a large greenhouse that can occupy 3000 seedling trays and a fabricated a hauling truck to transport the seedlings to the field.


They needed approximately 240 seedling trays to plant a hectare of paddy field.


The company also hires a ‘pakyawan’ regularly for the weed and pest control activities. They had also developed a rotary weeder for easier cleaning. Spraying of foliar fertilizers and pesticides is manually done.


Harvesting


As the grains turn into golden yellow, Mr. Cesar dela Vega, the chief mechanic at the machinery pool is checking and preparing the 90 horsepower Phattana combine harvester for the one and a half month harvesting season. They had also adjusted some of the parts to suit the requirements of the Japonica rice.


Prior to the purchase of this imported boom type harvester from Thailand, the company bought first five Japanese brand harvesters, however, the rubber crawlers are not suitable for the rice fields in the country. Their new harvester has now a metal crawler.
Before harvesting their Japonica rice, they make sure that the grains have 22 to 25 percent moisture content. The Phattana combine harvester can harvest 4 hectares in 6 hours and operated by one person. The harvester will then unload the grains into a dump truck with a capacity of 50 to 60 bags.


“During harvesting, may dalawang tao na nagsu-survey sa mga hindi naharvest, pero mga one percent lang naman ang natitira,” says Ejusa. “Maganda talaga ang combine harvester kasi kaunti lang ang losses…saka yung shredded stalks ng palay ay bumabalik rin sa lupa, kaya bumabalik din yung nutrients,” he added.
Meanwhile, they bought also a John Deere combine harvester dedicated for their seed production.


Grain Processing


After harvesting, the grains will bebrought to their grain processing center. There are four units of recirculating dryer with a centralized biomass-fed furnace in the center. Each dryer can dry 6 tons of grains from 25 to 16 percent moisture content within 12 to 14 hours. The ricehull used in the furnace directly comes from the ricehull of their own grains. A conveyor links the ricehull bin to the furnace.
Their rice mill can dehull 4 tons of Japonica rice in just one hour. At the farm, their end product is brown rice. The dehulled grains will then be transported to Bacolod City for whitening, polishing, grading and packaging stages.


Market demand


Their product is sold in Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City and Bacolod City. According to Engr. Ejusa, there is high market of their product. The industry still import because of the scarcity of the supply of Japanes rice in the country.


To meet the market demand, the Agro Marton farm has maximized the production efficiency of their rice fields. They are now able to plant and harvest Japonica rice five times within two years. Engineer Ejusa gives credit to good water management and farm machines.


“Malaki talaga ang difference sa manual at mechanization. More than 40 percent and nag-add-on sa yield, lalo na kung maganda ang tiyempo,” Engr. Ejusa concluded.