MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on June 6 signed a formal partnership with the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) to mechanize and boost food production in the Philippines.

The agreement’s salient features include the establishment of a local agricultural machinery manufacturing cluster such as assembly production line, research and development of agricultural machinery technology, workforce training on agricultural machinery technology and a grant of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to further explore potential projects.

Present during the signing were President Bongbong Marcos, DA Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) director Dionisio Alvindia, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, KAMICO chairperson Shin Gil Kim and KAMICO Director Si Min Yi.

KAMICO is a federation of Korean agricultural machinery manufacturers. The DA said they have about 700 companies as members.

The DA and KAMICO have already collaborated on various agricultural projects.

Among their completed projects are adaptability testing of a self-propelled Mechanical Elevating Work Platform for mango production operations, and technology performance verification and adaptation of a mechanized onion production system.

Their ongoing projects include pilot adoption and pre-commercialization of PhilMech-KAMICO developed corn mill; technology advice and solutions from South Korea; and Agricultural Mechanization Design and Prototyping Center project.

KAMICO, established in 1962 and recognized by the Korean government, has more than 650 members and is a major player in the mechanization of Korea’s agriculture sector.

KAMICO actively works in the global agricultural machinery industry by providing aid to developing countries, dispatching investment research groups to emerging markets overseas and conducting training for international customers.

KAMICO said an initial investment of USD30 million would be made for the implementation of Phase 1 of the project.  The amount would be tripled in the second phase, KAMICO noted.

The project aims to ensure food self-sufficiency; transform the Philippines as a food exporting country; increase employment and farmers’ income; establish infrastructure on agricultural mechanization and industrialization; and pursue technology transfer and production of specialized machinery.

ARTICLE BY: Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos 

www.pna.gov.ph

PHOTO: Office of the President