P-Noy inks farm mechanization law

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has signed into law a consolidated bill promoting the development of mechanization in farms and in fisheries.

Republic Act 10601, also known as An Act Promoting Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Development in the country, seeks to promote the improvement and adoption of modern and cost-effective agricultural and fisheries machinery in line with the government’s goal of attaining food sufficiency and raising farmers’ incomes.

The law also seeks to provide a conducive environment for local manufacturing and assembling engines, machinery, and equipment for agricultural and fisheries use, as well as proper registration and quality-control for such.

The law likewise seeks to strengthen support services for improved farm mechanization such as credit facilities, research, training and extension programs, rural infrastructure, and marketing services.

The law will take effect 15 days after its publication.

The law stipulates that a National Agro-fishery Mechanization Program would be created by the Department of Agriculture (DA) which would facilitate the provision of research grants, credit, and manufacture of farm and fishery machineries by the private sector.

The DA, through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (Philmech) would integrate all researches on farm and fisheries mechanization conducted by local government units (LGUs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs) under a National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Research and Development and Extension Agenda.

The Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Committee (AFMeC) under the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) would act as an advisory body to ensure the success of the programs.

The DA is also mandated to strengthen its farm and fisheries groups through the creation of a Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) which will prepare, evaluate and recommend engineering plans for farm and fishery machineries.

According to the latest survey done by Philmech, farm mechanization in the Philippines is beginning to catch up with neighboring countries in Asia.

The mechanization level of farms in the Philippines is now placed at 1.23 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha), making it possible to reach a level of three hp/ha by 2016.

Rice and corn farms have the highest level of farm mechanization at 2.31 hp/ha.

Rice farmers are the quickest to adopt new farm technologies to ease drudgery and  time spent on crop cultivation and maintenance. Increased mechanization also helps farms cope with the fast aging agricultural workforce.

Leading in farm mechanization in Asia are Japan with 7hp/ha, South Korea 4.11 hp/ha, China 4.10 hp/ha, and Vietnam 1.56 hp/ha.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s farm mechanization level is currently placed at at 1.02 hp/ha, and India 1 hp/ha.

Based on the survey done by Philmech, threshing is the most power-intensive among farm operations, followed by plowing and harrowing.

Pangasinan farms have the highest mechanization level, while farms in Kalinga have the lowest mechanization level. 

The DA currently implements a cost-sharing scheme wherein the government shoulders 85 percent of the cost of a farm equipment and the qualified farmer organization shoulders the remaining 15 percent.

Agriculture assistant secretary and National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima said the DA is yet to conduct consultations on implementing the law as well as the budget needed for this.