March 11, 2016
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/DBJojq
In a bid to boost mechanization in the local sugar cane industry, the government is set to sign next month an agreement of technical cooperation with the agricultural engineering research unit in Italy, according to the Philippines’ Business World.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration's (SRA) agreement with the Unita di Ricerca per I'ingegneria Agraria (CREA-ING) provides for the deployment of Italian experts to the country who will help map out sugar farm mechanization suitable for the country's land condition.
According to the memorandum of agreement sent to BusinessWorld by the SRA, the technical assistance from the government of Italy will "improve the skills and knowhow of local experts in the identification, design and fabrication of appropriate farm machineries" most suitable for sugarcane farms in the country.
In addition, the technical cooperation agreement (TCA) covers the transfer of Suscace Project, which is governed by the Agriculture Research Council in Italy.
The Suscace project has gained expertise in "identification, design and fabrication of farm machineries, farm implements, harvesting and loading equipment" to the sugarcane farm's geographic location, the memorandum read.
In an interview, Department Manager III for SRA's Planning & Policy Department Rosemarie S. Gumera said "the experts will come to the country to conceptualize appropriate designs of equipment in sugar farms" in different parts of the country.
Gumera said it aims to provide a roadmap of which cost and time-efficient machines will help sugar cane farms, which have been lacking in mechanization appropriation since it is only last year that a law has been enacted to fund sugar millers.
In addition, Gumera said that mechanization will help resolve the problem on child labor, shortage of laborers and reduce the risks of laborers being exposed to work hazards especially during harvests.
The "final" agreement, Maru said, has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for final approval.
The SRA has conceded to fund country visits or study tours of technical experts, professional fees or salaries of its experts and consultants from Italy.
SRA will likewise allocate funds "for the conduct of conferences / meetings / workshops, cost of materials / implements and harvesting machineries or equipment to be fabricated, used as prototypes and tested at the research stations of SRA and local partners."
According to Gumera, six of each equipment namely the whole canestalk harvester and cane loaders which cost PHP3 million and PHP2 million, respectively, will be used "for testing purposes and prototypes" when experts from Italy arrive.
Both parties may access funds for the TCA from the host countries or from international organizations "upon mutual consent."
The SRA and CREA-ING are set to ink the agreement on April 12. The project will be immediately effective upon availability of funding.
The agreement may be extended for a future period of four years provided that both parties will be able to find financial support in accordance with the framework of the Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Philippines and Italy, signed in Manila on 18 February 1969.