To support the modernization of the country’s agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will lead efforts to train needed farm machinery mechanics and technicians nationwide.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA will implement a program called, “Train to Mechanize Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries,” in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (PSABE), and Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors (AMMDA).
“We aim to accelerate skills development and certification of agri-fishery machinery operators and technicians, as well as farmers, to hasten the modernization of the country’s agriculture sector,” the DA chief said.
“Our ultimate goal is to produce competent agri-fishery machinery operators and technicians, have an adequate number of agricultural and biosystems engineers to train and assess mechanization competency, and establish assessment and training centers nationwide,” he added.
To implement the program, the DA recently forged a memorandum of agreement with TESDA, PSABE, and AMMDA.
The program will initially focus on 10 primary field and training regulations, namely: rice machinery operation; agricultural machinery operations (non-rice); drying and milling plant servicing; milking operation; rubber processing; agricultural machinery servicing (tractor); pressurized irrigation system installation and maintenance; solar-powered irrigation system operation and maintenance; biogas systems installation; and aquaculture-hatchery operations.
“We also aim to establish qualification map, and career progression and specialization for mechanizing agriculture workers and engineers,” the DA chief added.
The program will be initially rolled out in 10 regions (1, 2, 4B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and ARMM), where there are few or no trained farm machinery trainors or assessors, a major requirement in the establishment of accredited training and assessment centers.
A joint management committee, led by the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, is crafting the guidelines and action plan to implement the program, which will be included in the DA’s annual budget starting 2021.
“We have to mechanize Philippine agriculture to at least four horsepower (hp) per hectare (ha), and be at par with our ASEAN counterparts,” said Secretary Dar.
“To date, our farm mechanization level is at 1.23 hp/ha for all crops, 2.31 hp/ha for rice in all provinces, and 3 hp/ha in major rice-producing provinces, like Isabela and Nueva Ecija.
“With an assured P5-billion budget yearly for farm mechanization under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or RCEF, we look forward to a modernized and globally-competitive Philippine rice industry in the next six years,” Secretary Dar concluded. ### (DA Communications Group)
