Farmers call for ‘appropriate’ technology after South Korean farm mechanization tieup

THE Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said any foreign tieups in farm mechanization must introduce technology suited for domestic conditions.

“Any assistance under the mechanization program must be aligned with the factual needs of our farmers and take into account our current level of development,” SINAG Executive Director Jayson C. Cainglet said.

He was responding to a query about the new partnership between Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and South Korea’s TYM Corp.

He added, however, that the partnership is expected to upgrade PhilMech’s quality.

Mr. Cainglet explained how previous partnerships delivered machines that were “inappropriate” in addressing the needs and concerns of farmers, resulting in underutilized farm equipment.

“We hope that this new partnership will take these lessons to heart, ensuring that future interventions are farmer-centered, needs-based, genuine technology transfer and sustainable.”

TYM Corp. agreed to train PhilMech engineers, which supplies much of the farm equipment for the rice industry modernization program. — Andre Christopher H. Alampay