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

NEWS STORIES

Philippine National Corn Congress 2014 highlights agrimachinery show, exhibit
by Rodolfo P. Estigoy, PhD (December 4, 2014)
The recent agrimachinery show and exhibits organized by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Devleopment and Mechanization was one of the highlights of the Philippine National Corn Congress 2014. The event was done in collaboration with the PhilMaize and DA-RFO X on November 17-21 at the Limketkai Center in Cagayan De Oro City.

PHilMech Director Rex L. Bingabing, DA RFO X Executive Director Lealyn A. Rmaos, PhilMaize President Roger V. Navarro and PhilMaize President Emeritus Rodrigo Bioco opened the show and exhibits on November 17.

The AgriMachinery Show and Exhibit aimed to (1) gather the latest agricultural machinery (not only for corn) in the market to gear up the level of mechanization in the country in support to the food self-sufficiency, (2) showcase the latest equipment, machinery, facilities, gadgets, and auxiliary support systems, (3) demonstrate the benefits of new agricultural machinery to various stakeholders and (4) create awareness and interest on the latest innovation in agricultural mechanization.

About 2,000 participants in the corn industry stakeholders from all over the archipelago attended the show and exhibits. Participants include farmer associations, irrigators associations, agricultural machinery enthusiasts, local government units, agricultural extension workers, machinery manufacturers, dealers and distributors, and assemblers. Side events include on-site technology demonstrations, mini-seminars and technical briefing by PHilMech and agricultural machinery exhibitors.

PHilMech’s latest research and development results, technologies, and equipment and a wide gamut of agricultural machinery of equipment covering production and post-production were featured in the show and exhibits. The machinery and equipment ranges from big-sized tractors, combine harvesters, small engines, gadgets, implements, instruments, recirculating dryers, storage systems ancillary equipment, and simple hand tractors to state of the art mechanical dryers.

During the daily mini-seminar series, PHilMech technical staff discussed the latest farm machinery technologies and processing systems like the compact cornmill, cassava digger and belt dryer, pneumatic corn planter and machine vision, adlai mill, coffee pulper, pectin extraction from mango peels and processing cocowater from mature coconuts.

Two PHilMech technical staff namely Engr. Aldrin E. Badua and Dr. Michael A. Gragasin presented papers on Mechanization Program Laws and Regulations, and Compact Corn Mill, respectively during the plenary sessions.

The Philippine National Corn Congress is an annual gathering of corn industry stakeholders nationwide to discuss the latest developments and policies affecting the industry and to honor exemplary local government units and extension workers who excelled in the production and services.