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

NEWS STORIES

AgriMach 2011 road show to open tomorrow
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (August 22, 2011)
The Department of Agriculture's (DA) "AgriMach 2011" for Luzon is set to open tomorrow at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija.


"AgriMach 2011" is an agricultural road show featuring modern agricultural machinery and equipment. It aims to boost the agricultural mechanization in the country.


At least a thousand farmers representing different farmers' associations and cooperatives, local government units, enthusiasts and other stakeholders all-over Luzon is expected to participate in the two-day event. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is also expected to arrive on the first day for a consultation with the farmers.


Local manufacturers, suppliers, dealers will be displaying their products for farmers to study appropriate technologies for their needs.


As part of its mechanization program, the DA is willing to assist farmers interested to use modern technologies.


The DA sees agricultural mechanization as one of the key interventions to optimize the utilization of farm-lands and labor productivity which can increase farmers' yield and income.


In rice farming alone, the Philippines has a very low level of mechanization which is estimated at 0.55 hp/ha compared to Asian countries like Japan at 7.00 hp/ha revealed in a study of the RNAM in 1990.


Two AgriMach 2011 road shows will be conducted separately for Visayas and Midanao farmers. On September 6-7 it will be in Iloilo and on September 20-21 it will be in Marbel, South Cotabato, respectively.


AgriMach 2011 is spearheaded by the DA-PHilMech, DA-Rice Directorate, and DA-Regional Field Units in partnership with Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association Inc. and other private manufacturers and local government units.