Innovate Visayas Roadshow features modern farm mech

The Innovate Visayas Roadshow displayed the latest agricultural mechanization breakthroughs that could boost productivity among Filipino farmers. With a theme of “Food Security through Right Mechanization,” this event highlighted the cutting-edge features of different machines that could strengthen farm mechanization by reducing cost, efficiency, and affordability for local farmers.

Eight hundred farmers from all over the region witnessed the actual operation of machines during outdoor and field demonstrations. Four units of four-wheel tractors valued at P9.19 million from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program were distributed to four farmer cooperatives and associations (FACs). An on-field demonstration of a tractor, front loader, boom sprayer, levee maker, rotating disc plow, and rice precision seeder highlighted the two-day activity.

PhilMech Director Dionisio G. Alvindia said that showing farmers the various modern technologies could aid them in land preparation, crop care, drying, harvesting, and the whole rice value chain, as these farmers are usually familiar only with tractors for soil preparation. He also stated that for successful rice farming, it is important to have the appropriate equipment used at every production stage.

“We thank our friends from KAMICO or the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) for bringing your technology and innovation to the Visayas Region for our farms to witness and experience.” Regional Executive Director Dennis R. Arpia said on the opening program.

The success of the event was made possible through the dedicated collaboration between the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO). Their efforts were instrumental in bringing this transformative event to fruition.###Texts by JESCEsmao & Photos by KDCCaldina/DA-RAFIS 6