The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued an order implementing the national agricultural and fisheries mechanization program until 2028.
Administrative Order No. 7 series of 2023 signed by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on August 15 aims to formulate a National Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization Program (NAFMP) for years 2023 to 2028.
The Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Law mandates DA to formulate an NAFMP every six years.
The NAFMP 2023 to 2028 has five main components: local assembly and manufacture; research, development and extension; standards and regulations; support services and institutional development; and human resource development.
Specific goals of the program include the establishment of regional manufacturing networks and hubs to efficiently supply the machinery needs of the industry; strengthening of regional research and development networks to effectively address mechanization needs of the industry; and the improvement of welding, machining and other manufacturing methods to improve quality of agri-fishery machineries.
The program also bats for the forging of joint ventures and licensing agreements with foreign manufacturing firms to speed up localization of priority agri-fishery machinery; provision of research grants; establishment and operation of agricultural and fishery machinery service centers; and the push for contiguous farming and farm land levelling and reconstruction.
NAFMP seeks to improve the adoption of renewable energy program for the agri-fisheries sector; fuel assistance program; credit and marketing support; upgrading of laboratory facilities and equipment; and the push for welfare, benefits and social protection of agri-fishery mechanization workers, among others. -Jed Macapagal
