THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE said today investing in farm machineries and post-harvest facilities helped us become more ready for harsh weather conditions.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary and concurrent National Corn Program Director Edilberto de Luna said with the DA and the private sector investing in machines and facilities, the Philippines’ moved a step forward to being climate change ready.
“The investment in farm machineries and post-harvest facilities is also a climate change adaptability initiative. It also raised our corn’s quality and helped it become more price competitive,” de Luna said.
Farm mechanization is part of the DA's program to modernize agriculture in the country, the main benefit of which is lower production cost and postharvest losses compared to manual labor.
He added, in the event that there is a typhoon, if harvesting is done manually, the chances of the crops being damaged than being harvested is greater.
“If you will use a combined harvester, you can harvest a hectare in no time. Practically, you will save the entire harvest,” de Luna said.
He then addressed farmers’ fears that they will lose their livelihood with the entry of machines into the farms.
“They will become farm service providers (FSPs). In fact, Secretary Alcala is pushing for the formation of more FSP groups which the Department will support and train,” De Luna said.
The FSPs shall be trained as professional farmworkers skilled in conventional and modern methods of farming. They in turn shall be tasked to maintain and operate the farm tractors, combined harvesters and other machineries that will be used in the farms.
According to the DA, FSPs can enter into service arrangements with the landowners. # Source - (DA-OSEC)
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