MECHANIZATION and how the country’s agriculture sector can utilize it to become competitive in the local and global markets should always be a priority.
Mechanization can help solve various problems being encountered by the local farmers due to low production, lack of manual labor, and out-dated farming practices.
In order to cope up with the changing times, local farm machinery and equipment manufacturers should exert efforts to adopt new technologies and produce modern equipment.
Following this development, the Bacolod City-based R.U. Foundry and Machine Shop Corporation (RUFMSC) has been authorized to manufacture OGGUN tractors in the Philippines.
It was learned that OGGUN Tractors is owned and designed by the United States-based Cleber LLC-Oggun.
This Open System Manufacturing Project was already adopted by the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB).
It aims to create a partnership with the private and public sectors for the development of equipment and implements that are intended for the smallholder farmers in the country.
“We have been inspired to commit our resources for the realization of this project due to its potentials and the benefits that our farmers can achieve,” RUFMSC says.
In fact, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, have already formalized their intentions to be part of the said project.
Initially, RUFMSC will be producing the first unit of the tractor, but part of its future strategies is to allow the farmers to participate in the manufacturing process.
RUFMSC is also planning to farm out the production of minor parts to the rural farmers.
“This is basically our advocacy of encouraging the mini industrialization of the rural areas, where the farmers can eventually produce their own equipment,” RUFMSC stressed.
As we probably know, the country is lagging behind its regional neighbors in terms of farm mechanization.
Based on studies, two of the barriers confronting the farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers are the lack of mechanization and technical expertise.
Therefore, efforts must be geared towards the realization of the collective goal for the agriculture sector and the Philippines as well, which is an agricultural country.
Agricultural mechanization would mean the development, adoption, assembly, manufacture and application of appropriate, location-specific and cost-effective agricultural and fisheries machinery.
Aside from mechanization, training programs will equip the industry players, particularly the farmers, with vital skills and technical expertise which will provide them with a competitive edge.
It can be noted that the younger generation of supposed to be farmers no longer want to plant crops, but instead migrate to the urban areas and opt for employment because of lack of modern and practical farm machinery.
Mechanization can significantly bring down the cost of labor, particularly for labor-intensive crops such as rice, corn, and sugar.
These equipment and mechanized procedures will definitely increase production.
The development and adoption of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe agricultural machinery and equipment can enhance farm productivity and efficiency to achieve food security and increase the income of the farmers./PN
