DA Senior Technical Adviser Santiago R Obien/SRO gifted me a copy of the book Mechanization In Rice Farmingpublished by Asia Rice Foundation, ARF; he was Chair of the Board when the book was published in 2015.
In the Preface to the book, SRO says in the last paragraph:
Modernization of rice farming and of agriculture as a whole in the Philippines depends heavily on the introduction, manufacture, and proper use of machines, as has been the experience of other countries. There is no alternative to mechanization for higher productivity, product diversity, food safety, and household income.
Now then: Mechanization is the mantra of these times. In the digital world, if you count from 1975, the mechanization is called computerization, as the personal computer, PC, was essentially born that year. Then came the word processor (WordStar, the first wonder) and then the desktop publisher (PageMaker, the first star).
The mechanization book is a compilation of the papers presented during the Annual Rice Forum 2013 with the topic "Mechanization In Rice Farming: Status, Challengers, And Opportunities" held at the Bureau of Soils & Water Management conference hall in Quezon City.
I note the chapter titled "Department Of Agriculture Rice Mechanization Roadmap: On-Farm And Postharvest Mechanization Programs (2011-2016)," pages 25-40, by Rex L Bingabing, Raul R Paz, Aldrin E Badua & Michael Gragasin, I note also that, whatever it was, the Roadmap was not used to guide the participants during the Forum – which is not the proper fate of roadmaps!
SRO, who was the founding Executive Director of PhilRice and who relentlessly & excellently built it with minds and materials until it became world-class, says in the Preface "Promoting Rice Mechanization In The Philippines" –
"There is no alternative to mechanization."
He is referring of course to the intelligent growing of rice, which is the staple food of Filipinos, and which the country still imports. In fact, on Friday, 08 November 2019, Coconuts Manila brings the news that "PH Becomes World’s Biggest Rice Importer, According To USDA Data[1]."
And I, who was the Editor in Chief of the Philippine Journal of Crop Science, PJCS, from 2001 to 2008, was the one who made that journal world-class or included in the elite list referred to with international respect as ISI (now Web of Science)[2]. I achieved this record within 4 years, even if I started with the PJCS late in its issues for 3 years!
How did I achieve a Guinness World Record like that? I fully mechanized the PJCS' production; I used the PC all the way from editing, copy editing, to desktop publishing. A one-man band, I did everything digital, and I was already 60-years plus.
If I can do it, you can do it!
No, there is no alternative to mechanization. The Rice Forum was held in 2013 and the book came off the press in 2015, 2 years later. Desktop publishing not fully mechanized.
If you want it done perfectly, you have to do it perfectly yourself!@517
[1] https://ph.news.yahoo.com/ph-becomes-world-biggest-rice-034613537.html
[2] http://wokinfo.com/products_tools/multidisciplinary/webofscience/cpci/?parentKey=555184,539593
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