DA, Korean stakeholders boost farm equipment modernization

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and stakeholders from Korea is eyeing to boost the modernization of the agricultural equipment of the country during a meeting at the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) head​quarters here on 6 August 2025.

According to PhilMech, the meeting with the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) and FITCOREA discussed the setting up of a complex for the manufacture of agricultural equipment here, a major project in need of official development assistance (ODA).

With the agenda “Comprehensive Agricultural Machinery Assembly Complex Initiative in the Philippines” that will be lined up for ODA in 2027, the meeting was led by PHilMech Director IV, Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia, and Department of Agriculture (DA) Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, CESO III, along with members of PHilMech’s Management Committee.

The visiting Korean delegation is composed of KRC team’s Jeong Joo Won, Yun Hyung Chang, Lee Jong Woo, and FITCOREA President Philip Kim.

“The official consultation aimed to solidify cooperation and align expectations for the successful execution of the ODA initiative. Both sides expressed positivity about the impact of the project on agricultural development in the Philippines, particularly in boosting local capacity for assembling agricultural machinery,” PHilMech said in a statement.

During the meeting, both PHilMech and KRC reached a mutual agreement on key responsibilities and next steps. KRC committed to dispatching a preliminary feasibility study team to the Philippines by September or October 2025.

The team will include a project manager, architect, agricultural machinery engineer, and a performance management expert. Should the Philippine side identify additional areas of technical expertise needed, KRC assured a positive review for inclusion.

KRC also pledged to prepare a comprehensive report analyzing the findings of the feasibility study, which will be submitted for consideration to the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) to support the selection of the project as a major bilateral initiative.

On the Philippine side, PHilMech agreed to provide all necessary data and information to support the feasibility study.

In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, PHilMech will also take the lead in preparing the required project documents for submission to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), a step before the formal endorsement to Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The meeting emphasized the strong commitment of both nations to advancing agricultural modernization through meaningful cooperation.

And with continued collaboration, the Comprehensive Agricultural Machinery Assembly Complex Initiative is set to become a cornerstone of Philippine-Korean agricultural development efforts.