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

NEWS STORIES

Sec. Alcala reduces farmers' share on machineries
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (August 26, 2011)
Agriculture Secretary Proseso J. Alcala received a standing ovation among farmers after proclaiming that the government will increase its share in the distribution of farm machineries.
The announcement was made during the opening of AgriMach 2001 Luzon leg held in PHilMech last August 23. "AgriMach 2011" is an agricultural road show featuring modern agricultural machinery and equipment. It aims to boost the agricultural mechanization in the country.

Initially, farmers' associations have to share 30% of the cost of the machinery and the remaining 70% will be shouldered by the government. But Sec. Alcala had reduced the farmers’ group sharing to 15%.

Sec. Alcala said that agricultural mechanization is one of the key interventions to achieve 100% rice self-sufficiency by 2013. Proper usage of modern facilities will optimize the utilization of farm-lands and labor productivity which can increase farmers’ yield and income.

Also, Secretary Alacala recognizes the farmers for supporting DA's mechanization program, "Maraming salamat po sa pakikiisa dahil kayo po ay part ng solution ng buong problema sa kakulangan sa bigas (Thank you[farmers] for your cooperation because you are part of the solution on the problem on rice insufficiency)."

The DA rice mechanization program is expected to distribute different machineries for production to postharvest activities. These include, hand tractors, threshers, drum seeder, seed cleaner, combine harvester, reaper, multi-pass rice mill systems, and mechanical dryers.

The AgriMach is a stragey of PHilMech allowing the farmers to choose the equipment suited for their needs. It was participated-in by members of the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association Inc. (AMMDA) and other local manufacturers.

Two AgriMach 2011 road shows will be conducted separately for Visayas and Mindanao farmers. On September 22-23, it will be in Iloilo and on September 28-29, it will be in General Santos City.