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

NEWS STORIES

BPRE corn planter launched during the 4th National Corn Congress
by Erwin S. Embuscado (July 31, 2006)
BPRE launched its newly developed pneumatic corn planter during the 4th Philippine National Corn Congress at the Leisure Coast Resort in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, last May 4 to 6.


In addition, BPRE engineers demonstrated the operation of the two-row pneumatic corn planter in a farm of a member of the San Jacinto Kasakalikasan Multi-purpose Cooperative in San Jacinto town, which is a BPRE collaborator.


The bureau also exhibited during the corn congress the postharvest technologies it has developed as well as presented a paper on medium-scale corn technologies during a technical session.


BPRE Executive Director Dr. Ricardo L. Cachuela discussed the corn planter's components and how it is operated during the launching ceremony. He said the corn planter is available in the local market through its accredited manufacturer ACT Machineries and Metal Corporation.


'The high cost of imported machinery, as well as the inefficiency and unsuitability of large machines to present farm sizes prompted BPRE to develop medium-scale corn machinery,' Director Cachuela said.


He stressed that the mechanization of farm lands offers the following benefits: increased cropping intensity; reduced labor requirement; reduced human drudgery; faster land preparation; increased productivity; improved quality and value of output; and precise, efficient and timely operations.


In a message read for him by Dr. Jesus Binamira, director of the DA Masaganang Ani [DA-GMA] corn program, Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban expressed hope that through the corn congress, the corn farmers, traders, feed millers and other stakeholders will join hands to corn production and address the problems facing the industry.


With 'Masaganang Maisan, Maunlad na Bayan' for its theme, the corn congress was held under the auspices of the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc. It aimed to increase the participants' knowledge in production, postharvest, financing and entrepreneurship; widen their insights on guidelines affecting the corn sector; and advocate reforms towards a more competitive corn industry. Erwin S. Embuscado