DA pushes mechanization

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to make farm mechanization in the Philippines at par with neighboring countries Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam within five to 10 years.

The Philippines currently has a farm mechanization level of 0.57 horsepower per hectare against a farm mechanization rate of 0.80 hp/ha per in Thailand and Malaysia and 0.70 hp/ha in Vietnam.

Within Asia, Japan and Korea has the highest farm mechanization rate in the region at seven hp/ha and four hp/ha respectively.

“Our goal is to eventually reach the same level of mechanization as in Thailand, Malaysia and also Vietnam,” said Agriculture undersecretary for operations Joel Rudinas during the press briefing for the Makina-Saka 2012 farm technology show that will be held at the World Trade Center from July 4 to 7 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Increased farm mechanization, or the use of machinery to ease drudgery and time spent on crop cultivation and maintenance, can significantly shorten land preparation time from one month to only two weeks and harvest time from a regular coverage of one hectare per day to four hectares per day.

The agriculture department last year launched its mechanization program for rice farming as part of its efforts to make the country self-sufficient in rice supply by 2013.

This year, the department has a budget of P2.6 billion for farm machinery subsidies. Last year, the department released P1 billion; for 2013, it has allocated a budget of P2.4 billion for farm mechanization.

During the program’s six-year duration, the target is to purchase and distribute up to 7,000 postharvest units and 90,000 units of on-farm machineries.

During Makinasaka 2012, farmers will have the opportunity to see the newest farm machines for their needs.

Under the farm modernization program, the DA can subsidize up to 95 percent of the acquisition costs of farm machineries by qualified farmer organizations and irrigators’ associations. The remaining 15 percent of the acquisition cost can be shouldered by the beneficiaries themselves, their respective local government units or other private entities.