BAGUIO CITY – The Regional Agricultural Engineering Division (RAED) of the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) is set to adopt the Open Data Kit (ODK) digital application, aimed at streamlining the process of tracking farm machinery distributed to beneficiaries across the region.
During a two-day briefing at DA-CAR, RAED Chief Engineer Filemon Salvador explained that this digital application is an integral part of the department’s mechanization system.
It will allow for the efficient collection of data regarding the farm machinery that has been distributed and will be distributed in various provinces across the region.
“ODK is a tool we will use to gather survey data on machinery across the provinces, municipalities, and even down to the barangays. Initially, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries (BAF) recommended the use of KoboToolbox for this survey process. However, I believe that ODK, which serves a similar function, will be more efficient in collecting data on the status of the machinery and the level of mechanization in different areas,” Salvador said.
Salvador believes ODK will provide a more efficient system for gathering data, as it is backed by the recommendations of BAF and in alignment with Republic Act 10601, or the Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Law.
This law emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the development and promotion of agricultural machinery and mechanization technologies to improve agricultural efficiency in the country.
The law covers areas such as research and development (R&D), promotion, distribution, assembly, manufacturing, regulation, and maintenance of agricultural machinery.
“Through the use of ODK, the data collection process will be enhanced by enumerators deployed to the field. The data gathered will help us assess the level of mechanization in the region from provinces to municipalities, and even down to the barangays. This will serve as the basis for determining the number of tractors, harvesters, and rotavators needed in specific areas, as well as informing future requests for mechanization equipment,” Salvador explained.
In 2024, DA-CAR RAED, which oversees the planning and implementation of agri-fisheries mechanization and infrastructure programs in the region, distributed approximately 250 units of small farm machinery, comprising multi-tillers, rotavators, power sprayers, and pump and engine sets under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).
Additionally, 30 units of 45-horsepower tractors, including combine harvesters, were distributed to beneficiaries under the Rice Program. Furthermore, 20 units of 90-horsepower farm combine tractors for use in corn and rice farming were provided to Farmers Cooperatives and Associations across the region.
On the second day of the event, agriculture officers from Benguet and Ifugao participated in an in-depth training on the ODK app, which is part of the region’s local Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Plan. Similar training sessions are scheduled to take place in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province in the first half of this year. By JTLlanes
