The document discusses challenges facing agricultural production in the Philippines including the need for increased mechanization to boost productivity amid smaller farm sizes and labor shortages. It outlines several government programs and initiatives to promote agricultural mechanization through research and development, dissemination of technologies, testing of equipment, and support for the machinery industry. The ultimate goal is to help meet the growing demand for food through more efficient production systems.

1. AgriculturalMechanization
DevelopmentinthePhilippines
ArnoldR.Elepaño,ArsenioN.Resurreccion&
DelfinC.Suministrado
CollegeofEngineeringandAgro-industrialTechnology
UniversityofthePhilippinesLosBaños
SplashMountainResort,LosBaños,Laguna
14October2009

2. TheChallenges
•Tomeetthegrowingdemandforfood,
agriculturalproductioninAsiamustincrease
significantlyinthefaceoflesslabor,lessland,
andlesswater,alongwithgreaterconcernfor
theclimatechange.
•Profitabilityoftheagriculturalproduction
systemmustbeincreasedamidstglobalfree
trade.

3. Theneedformechanization
•Evenwithconsiderableadvancesin
agriculture,mostfarmersstilluseinefficient
manualtools
•Thereisdisparityinproductivityamongthe
differentagriculturalsystems
•Farmoperationsandequipmentmusttake
advantageoftheeconomiesofscaletobe
abletogainprofit

5. THEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINESTHEPHILIPPINES
•Anarchipelagowithoutriverdeltas
•13millionhectaresdevotedtocrops
•Mostlysmallfarmswithaverage
landholdingsizeof2ha
•Harvestedareaforriceis4.27Mha
at3.8mt/haave.yield
•Currentpopulationis88millionand
growingataround2%annually

6. OperationTechnologyCapacityUsage(%)Losses(%)
HarvestingManual240man-h/ha99.82.0-3.0
Reaper2.4-3.8ha/dnil0.2-0.4
Combine4.5-8.0ha/dnil-
ThreshingManual0.05-0.1t/h/person31.02.1-4.2
AxialFlow0.5-5.0t/h69.00.1-1.6
DryingSundrying24kg/m286.01.0-5.0
Flatbed1-6t/batch14.00.4-1.2
Recirculating6-10t/batch
Continuous2-10t/hnil-
MillingKiskisan0.1-0.3t/h10.56.0-8.0
Cono0.5-2.0t/h33.2-
RubberRoll0.5-2.5t/h56.1-
StorageBag14m2/t99.02.0-6.0
Bulk1.5-1.7m2/t1.0-
RicePostproductionOperationandTechnologiesRicePostproductionOperationandTechnologies

7. OPERATIONOPERATION
POWERSOURCEPOWERSOURCE
ManualManualManMan--AnimalAnimalMechanicalMechanical
LandPreparationLandPreparation3.23.264.764.713.213.2
PlantingPlanting98.798.71.21.20.20.2
WeedingWeeding85.285.214.814.800
FertilizerApplicationFertilizerApplication98.798.71.71.700
SprayingSpraying1001000000
HarvestingHarvesting99.899.800nilnil
Threshing/ShellingThreshing/Shelling3131006969
Drying(FarmLevel)Drying(FarmLevel)1001000000
MillingMilling0000100100
AVERAGEAVERAGE56.556.519.219.221.721.7
StatusofAgriculturalMechanizationStatusofAgriculturalMechanization
Levelofmechanizationinriceandcornfarms,2005
Source:AMDP,2005

8. SOURCEOFPOWERSOURCEOFPOWERhp/hahp/ha
1.HumanLabor1.HumanLabor0.240.24
2.DraftAnimal2.DraftAnimal0.080.08
3.Four3.Four--wheelTractorwheelTractor0.240.24
4.Engines4.Engines
a.PowerTillera.PowerTiller0.560.56
b.Thresherb.Thresher0.340.34
c.IrrigationPumpc.IrrigationPump0.070.07
d.Harvesting,drying&d.Harvesting,drying&
shellingequipmentshellingequipment
0.150.15
TOTALTOTAL1.681.68
StatusofAgriculturalMechanizationStatusofAgriculturalMechanization
Levelofmechanizationinriceandcornfarmsinhp/ha,2005
Source:AMDP,2005

9. AgriculturalMachineryIndustryProblems
andPossibleSolutions
PROBLEMSOLUTION
1.Technical
–Highacquisitioncost
–InappropriateTechnology
–LowReasearch&Extensioncapability
ofappropriatefarmmachinery
–Collectivemachineryownership/
machinerypooling/customhiring
–NeedsassesmentofAMsuitability
–Capacity/capabilityenhancement/training
2.Socio-economic
–LowIncome/lackofcapital
–Small&fragmentedlandholdings
–Unfavourablemarketpriceforthe
farmer
–Cheap&abundantlabour(insome
areas)andseasonallabourshortage
–Provisionofcreditfacilities,Clustering
farmersintogroups
–FarmClustering&customservices
–Floorprice,trainfarmersinto
entrepreneurs(processing&business)
–Absorbingunemployedintootherjobs,
retooling
–Encouragefarmbusinessenterprises
–Creatingnewjobsinagriculturalactivities
(processing,wastehandling,food
processing,etc.)

10. AgriculturalMachineryIndustryProblems
andPossibleSolutions
ProblemSolution
3Environment/infrastructure
–Lackofinfrastructure
–DiversityinAgroecosystem
–Weakagriculturalmanufacturing
industry
–Environmentaldegradation
–Putinplaceirrigation,processingfacilities,
farmroads,accesstomarket
–AdjusttheAMtothelocal-specificconditions
–Selectthemostpromisingmachinesto
producelocally
–Supportlocalmanufacturers,throughR&D,
training,financialasistance
–Introducethebusinessofserviceand
maintenanceofAM
–Promotejointventureswithforeign
manufacturers
–Controltheutilizationofchemicalmaterials
–Promotesustainablefarmingsystems
4.Political/Institutional
–Lack/inconsistantPolitical-willto
supportAM
–Educatethepoliticalleadersonthe
importanceofAM
–PutAMintostrategiclong-termprograms
–PromoteAMthroughInternational
Networking&Cooperation

11. AgricultureandFisheriesModernizationActof
1997
•Credit
•Irrigation
•Informationandmarketingsupportservice
•Otherinfrastructure
•Productstandardizationandconsumersafety
•Humanresourcedevelopment
•Researchdevelopmentandextension
•Tradeandfiscalincentives

12. AgriculturalandFisheriesMechanizationLaw
•Research,extensionandhumanresource
development
•Localassembly,manufacture,supplyand
after-salesservice
•Registration,licensingandstandardization

13. NationalAgriculturalEngineeringRDENetwork
1.StrengthenRDENetwork
2.Conductbenchmarkandneedssurveys
3.Adaptationoftechnologiestolocal
conditions
4.Developmentoftechnologiesformachinery
pooling
5.Establishmentoftechnicalstandardsand
improvementoftestfacilities

14. AgriculturalEngineeringRDENetwork
6.Pilotingsystemintegratedtechnologies
7.Conductoftrainingontechnicalandbusiness
aspectsoftechnologies
8.Establishmentofcentralizedinformation
service

15. AgriculturalMechanizationDevelopment
Program(AMDP)
ResearchThrustProjects
1CornAnthropometricsurveyoffarmers
agriculturalmachinerydesign
Integratedcornmechanization
technologies(planter,fertilizer
applicator,irrigation,combine,dryer,
mill)
2High-valueCropsSoilsterilization
Hotwatertreatmentofmango
Multi-cropwasher
3Renewable
Energy
IntegratedJatrophabiodieselproduction
Micro-hydrodevelopment

16. TechnologyDissemination
•Displayarea
•Exhibition/Fair
•Techno-Demo
•Seminarresourcespeakers
•MachineryDesignand
Blueprints
•Collaborationwith
manufacturers
•MechanizationCongress

17. InformationDissemination
•PhilippineJournalof
Agriculturaland
BiosystemsEngineering
(refereed)
•PhilippineAgricultural
MechanizationJournal
•MechanizationUpdate

18. AgriculturalMachineryTestingandEvaluation
Center(AMTEC)
•Establishstandardspecifications,testprocedures
andperformanceindicesforagriculturaland
fisheriesmachinery
•Conducttestandevaluationofagriculturaland
fisheriesmachinery
•Trainstudents,techniciansandengineerson
standardsdevelopment,testandevaluationof
agriculturalandfisheriesmachinery
•Publishanddisseminatestandardsandtest
results

19. AgriculturalMachineryTestingandEvaluation
Center
•PhilippineAgriculturalEngineeringStandards
–Multicropprocessingmachines
–Slaughterhouseforlargeruminants
•Testingandevaluationofagricultural
machinery
–Primemovers,irrigation,production,processing
equipment
•Trainingofregionalandprovincialengineers
•Informationdissemination

20. arnold_elepano@yahoo.com