Abra iron works seen to improve with DOST help

BANGUED, Abra -- For an agricultural province like Abra, durable agricultural tools and implements are necessary for increased productivity.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Director Menandro Buenafe conducted a special skills upgrading training for the more than 20 small and medium enterprises engaged in metals and engineering works in the province last week.

It was primarily aimed to upgrade the skills of the entrepreneurs engaged in metals and engineering works for the fabrication of mechanized farm tools and implements to help the farmers increase their profitability by lowering the cost of production and increase their productivity.

Engr. Edilbert Dela Pea, Head, Technical Solutions Services Division of the Metal Industry Research Development Center of the DOST-Central Office based in Bicutan, Taguig City served as the trainer on Super Heat Treatment.

Super Heat Treatment is a process of hardening and softening of metals to prolong the economic life of metals by at least five times. Heat treatment is needed because steels sold in the hardwares stores are usually sub-standard.

Where the metals are either too hard, the process of tempering is undertaken to soften or reduce the hardness of the metal in order to control breakage.

When metal is too hard or brittle, it easily breaks.

Dela Pea demonstrated and gave the trainees a chance for hands-on application of the process with the use of water, used oil and air in the hardening process in metals.

The most important farm tools and implements of farmers are plows, farrows, pressing machine for sugarcane, bolos and other cutting tools. PIA Abra