PhilMech showcases new farm technologies

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) will showcase the latest technologies in agricultural mechanization at the country’s biggest trade exhibit in agriculture, food and aquaculture, Agrilink, Foodlink and Aqualink.

To be held on Oct. 5 to 7 at the World Trade Center, the internationally recognized event will highlight its newest research and development projects, especially post-harvest technologies, and value-adding production innovations as well as its joint ventures with other partners such as Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative.

“Our agricultural produce in the global market means cultivating the right crop variety, is being done for carabao mango or cavendish banana, or cacao wherein we have produced award-winning chocolates in Europe. In order for the benefits of these crops to be maximized, our own local farmers have to be equipped with the right technologies,” said PhilMech executive director Dionisio Alvindia.

“The DA continues to implement its agricultural mechanization program to help our farmers’ commodities be competitive in terms of price and quality by modernizing their production, value-adding and processing. This is true for post-harvest technologies especially for the crops that we export,” Alvindia added.

In a technical demonstration held last May in Nueva Ecija to commemorate the agency’s 39th anniversary, it showcased several of its rice mechanization technologies that included a tractormounted transplanter and direct seeder. Among the other rice farming machineries are combine harvester, biomass-fed furnace/heater system, huller and computerized sorting system.

The eight-row direct seeder equipment can be used for directly planting seed even without tilling the land, eliminating the need of transplantation and manual labor.

Also launched was a 10-row mechanical onion seeder capable of opening furrows, covering the seed and firming the seedbed. Compared to traditional seeding methods, chemical seeders can increase income by as much as P61,000 per hectare as it helps increase yield by two tons per hectare, shortens maturity period, eliminates the need for drudgery and increases plants per hectare.

PhilMech also inaugurated a bio-processing facility which aims to consolidate and expand its research projects which include developing products from agricultural wastes or raw materials. This facility will also house technologies that produce pectin, which is used in preserves, jams and jellies for food as well as a pharmaceutical medicine.

To address the need for farmers to have easier access to farm machineries, it is also adapting technologies for local use