The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently spearheaded two significant knowledge-sharing events to introduce and promote open system machinery to Cambodia and the Philippine farming communities. These events, held in collaboration with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) in Cambodia and Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in the Philippines, represent a crucial step toward modernizing agricultural practices in these regions.
Cambodia: Advancing vegetable transplanting technology
In May 2024, a knowledge-sharing event was held in Takeo Province, Cambodia, in partnership with the RUA. The event highlighted the introduction of a no-till vegetable transplanter powered by a two-wheel tractor, which was designed to reduce the labor required for vegetable planting. This innovative technology was showcased to net house vegetable planters, who had the opportunity to see its operation firsthand.
RUA is currently conducting comparative studies to evaluate the performance of vegetables transplanted using the machine versus traditional manual transplanting methods. With SEARCA's support, the technology was demonstrated to the local farming community, allowing farmers to operate the machine and provide valuable feedback for further improvements.
"This machine can significantly reduce our workload and increase efficiency," a farmer participant said. "We look forward to seeing its impact on our vegetable production," he added.
Philippines: Enhancing farm machinery with local innovations
A similar knowledge-sharing event took place in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, Philippines, in June 2024. Through a collaboration between SEARCA and CPSU, the Sitio Flora Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SFARC) was identified as a partner farmer group to test and improve the Oggun Tractor, manufactured by RU Foundry in Bacolod.
A ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed and witnessed by representatives from SFARC, CPSU, SEARCA, and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Western Visayas. This event highlighted CPSU's "Pandayan ng Bayan" program, which promotes community-managed foundries and equips farming communities with essential skills in forging tools and farming equipment.
During the event, RU Foundry provided a training on the tractor's basic operation, management, repair, and maintenance. A selected farmer representative had the opportunity to operate the tractor with support from RU Foundry's technical staff. DAR representatives pledged their support to ensure the cooperative effectively managed and maintained the tractor, generating income for future repairs and maintenance.
The power of partnership
These initiatives underscore the importance of collaboration among the academe, industry, and government in driving agricultural innovation. SEARCA, as a leading enabler, continues to champion initiatives that foster innovation and community participation, aiming to modernize agriculture through advanced mechanization.
These knowledge-sharing events mark a milestone in SEARCA's mission to promote agricultural modernization and highlight the transformative potential of open system machinery in Southeast Asia.