THERE is a need to be independent from foreign agricultural manufacturing companies in order to strengthen Mindanawon manufacturers, an agricultural association president said.
Pedro Lim, Mindanao Agricultural Machinery Industry Association (Mamia) president, said the presence of the foreign companies can reduce the market opportunities for local manufacturing companies.
Lim said the country has the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law that will allow the Philippines to be less dependent from foreign manufacturers.
“With the advent of the AFMech Law, we can now create our own machines,” Lim said, adding continued applications of recent studies on agricultural manufacturing must still be done by Mindanawon farmers.
Republic Act 10601 of 2013 or known as AFMech Law was crafted in order Promote the development and adoption of modern, appropriate and cost-effective and environmentally-safe agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment to enhance farm productivity and efficiency in order to achieve food security and safety and increase farmers’ income.
Lim said Mindanao has the huge potential in profiting from the agricultural lands of the country if mechanization is being utilized.
Meanwhile, Lim said the two-day summit of Mamia held at Apo View Hotel from November 28 to 29, seeks to address issues on the lack of agricultural machines and provide technical and financial assistance to the participants. It also seeks to entice manufacturing companies to invest more on agriculture.
The summit was attended by over 80 participants from agricultural manufacturing companies over Mindanao.
Lim said the summit will help agricultural entrepreneurs become adept with the newest technologies provided by Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development Mechanization (PhilMech).
Lim added the forum was conducted to “align and guide the manufacturers in fulfilling the Department of Agriculture’s and the government’s goals for agricultural mechanization and growth.
In a speech by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio delivered by Davao City Agricultural Office acting assistant head Bienvenido Pogoy said by innovating technologies in agriculture the city will have a sustainable agriculture sector.
Duterte-Carpio added the government will continue to aid agricultural entrepreneurs in increasing yield and profit for Dabawneyo farmers. (GAD)