PSAE Region IV - Agricultural Engineering Board Review Materials

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Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

Dr. Arsenio N. Resurreccion
Director
Agricultural Machinery Testing Center
College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology
University of the Philippines Los Baos
College, Laguna

Definitions:
FAO (1979):

Embracing the manufacture, distribution, utilization and

provision of after-sales service of tools, implements and
machines for land development, agricultural production and
primary post-production processes. It includes the use of three
main sources of power: human, animal and mechanical.

STOUT AND DOWNING (1974): Use of hand and animal-operated tools and
implements as well as motorized equipment to reduce human
effort, improve quality, perform operations that cannot be done
by other means, and improve the timeliness of various
operations, thereby increasing yield, quality of product and
overall efficiency.

The first definition emphasized the scope of services and the different
levels of mechanization (scope: manufacture to after-sales service;
levels: the use of tools, implements and machines; the use of human,
animal and mechanical sources of power).
However, a particular mechanization program can be a combination of
the different levels for the different farm operations. Consider the
mechanization of a rice farm shown below:
OPERATION
Land preparation
Planting
Spraying
Weeding/cultivating
Harvesting
Threshing
Drying
Milling

LEVEL OF MECHANIZATION
Tractor-drawn disc plow
Hand Jabber
Lever-operated knapsack sprayer
Animal-drawn moldboard plow
Sickle
Mechanical thresher
Sun drying
Mechanical rice mill

The second definition dealt with the objectives and benefits from
mechanization:
OBJECTIVES
1. Reduce human effort
2. Improve quality
3. perform
operations
that
cannot be done by other
means
4. improve
timeliness
of
operation
of
various

Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

BENEFITS
1. increase yields
2. increase quality of product
3. increase overall efficiency

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operations
The two definitions combined give us a more complete picture of
mechanization and its complexities.
Models of mechanization:

1. High land area to farmer ratio:

(example:USA)

Motivated into increasing the level of mechanization in order to

cultivate large agricultural lands with limited available manpower and
take advantage of favorable agricultural commodity prices.
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia follow the USA model
2. Low land area to farmer ratio: (example:Japan)
Motivated into increasing the level of mechanization in order to
increase yields and cropping intensities to meet the growing demands
for food and agricultural raw materials.
South Korea, China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines follow the
Japanese model.

Potential benefits from mechanization:

1.

Increased cropping intensity and production

2.

Increased productivity of labor

3.

Tractors, power tillers, irrigation pumps, harvesters and threshers

increased cropping intensities
Irrigation pumps increased yields
Harvester and threshers reduced losses which effectively
increased yields

Tractors in land preparation reduced 50% of the labor inputs

However, labor for land preparation in the Philippines comprised
mainly family labor
Freed family labor can look for alternative work opportunities;
children can go to school

Full utilization of farm products and by products

Availability of machines allow the processing of farm products and
by-products

Take the case of pineapple and coconut. Rather than just selling
the fruit and nut, they can be processed into different products
Reduction of losses

4.

Development of harvesting, threshing and processing machines

reduced harvest and postharvest losses

Losses:
Rice:
10 37%
Corn:
30%
Increased value added of farm products

5.

Secondary and tertiary processing open up market potentials and

lead to higher retail prices
Shelled peanut retailers earn P0.50/kg or more

Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

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6.

Local agricultural machinery manufacturing will minimize the

importation of agricultural machinery

Export possibilities

Machines designed to increase cropping intensities and

production will correspondingly increase labor requirements for
production and postharvest operations
Machines designed to diversify farm products and by products
open up various livelihood opportunities
Use of machines will require the putting up of repair shops in the
village areas

Import substitution

8.

Dried corn can extend the selling period and need not be forced
to sell at a low price

Employment and livelihood generation

7.

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Locally manufactured agricultural machinery can be exported to

countries with similar farming conditions such as the Philippines

Conceptions and misconceptions on mechanization

1.

Mechanization is synonymous to tractorization

2.

High level mechanization is equated to modernization and therefore, is

an indicator and requirement for development

3.

Mechanization displaces farm labor and causes unemployment in

agriculture; any substitution of capital for labor is socially undesirable

4.

Mechanization is a western or developed country system of farming

that is not suited for developing countries

5.
Mechanization is a costly input in farming especially the rising costs of
fossil fuel

6.

Mechanization is not feasible where farm holdings are fragmented and

inaccessible

7.

Only the large farms can afford the cost of mechanization

It is the responsibility of all those involved in agricultural

mechanization not to advocate indiscriminate high level mechanization
and those against mechanization not to come up with sweeping
statements that mechanization is undesirable.

There exist combinations of levels of mechanization that will render

mechanization in a specific area desirable.

Agencies involved in agricultural mechanization:

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GOVERNMENT SECTOR
1. Department of Agriculture (DA):
a.) Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Committee (AFMeC)
inter-agency committee which serves as advisory to the
Secretary on mechanization concerns
b.) Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension (BPRE) in-charge
of post harvest mechanization and corn mechanization
c.) Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) In-charge of rice
mechanization
d.) Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) In-charge of
developing small-scale irrigation projects
e.) National Irrigation Administration (NIA) In-charge of developing
large-scale irrigation projects
f.) Bureau of Plant
mechanization

Industry

(BPI)

In-charge

of

vegetable

g.) National Food Authority (NFA) In-charge of grain storage and

marketing
h.) Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) Base of the Agricultural
Engg RDE Network
i.) Regional Agricultural Engineering Group (RAEG) In-charge of
agricultural mechanization concerns in the different regions
2. University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB):
a)

Agricultural Mechanization Development Program (AMDP)

Research and extension on agricultural mechanization;
Philippine counterpart of the Regional Network for Agricultural
Machinery (RNAM)

b)

Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center(AMTEC)

Testing and evaluation of agricultural machinery; Development
of agricultural machinery standards

3. Central Luzon State University (CLSU):

a.) Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT)
adaption and promotion of Chinese agricultural machinery for
local conditions
4. Department of Science and Technology (DOST):
a)

Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural

Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) base of the
Agricultural Engineering R&D Team which provides policy
direction for agricultural mechanization

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5. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) base of the Board of

Agricultural Engineering (BOAE) which regulates and promotes the
agricultural engineering profession
PRIVATE SECTOR
6. Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) national and regional
professional organization of agricultural engineers with similar
functions as BOAE
7. Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, Dealers and Distributors Association
(AMMDA) Heart of the agricultural machinery manufacturing,
marketing and after-sales service

Selection of agricultural machinery:

Proper selection of agricultural machinery is important because it is

considered a major investment

A variety of farm machinery (different types, models and brands) are now
commercially available. Data on actual performance of the various
types, models and brands are needed for a wise selection.

Point or features of machines that may help select the right machine:
1. Trade mark stands for the reputation of the manufacturer and a
guarantee of what lies beneath the paint
2. Materials take note of the quality of materials used and the
manufacturing technology employed in the manufacture of the
machine as this will have a direct bearing on performance and
durability
3. Ease of operation pay attention to placement of controls. Ensure
that controls are accessible and soft to operate. Look for
adjustments of handle bars and seats
4. Ease of maintenance a machine requires daily and periodic
maintenance and adjustments.
Ensure that points of
maintenance and adjustment are easy to perform.
The
machine should have an operators manual explaining the
procedures.
5. Safety check for safety provisions for both machine and operator.
All rotating parts should be provided with shields.
Snap
clutches or similar devices should be installed to protect the
machine and prime mover in case of overload.
6. Source of repair make sure that spare parts and service are
available nearby. Ask for local dealers and for the machine.
7. Power source decide if you will need an engine or electric motor.

If an engine, decide if you want a diesel or gasoline engine.

With the gasoline engine, first cost is lower but operating

Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

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cost is high. With the diesel engine, first cost is high but
operating cost is low.
If an electric motor, decide if you need single-phase or
three-phase electric motor. Acquisition cost and current
requirement of three-phase electric motor is lower but is
three-phase supply line available in your area?

Optimum capacity of machines:

Smallest capacity that will get the job done on time. However, there should
be some excess capacity on the machine to cover unexpected delays
due to weather and/or machine breakdown
Often, it is an option to have several small capacity machines rather than
just one big machine. If a big machine breaks down, there is 100%
stoppage of work. In the case of two smaller machines, if one machine
breaks down, there is only 50% stoppage of work. Further, it allows for
a 50% lowering of production output.

Economics of farm machinery:

The economic goal of mechanization is to maximize profits by getting the
maximum output from machines at a minimum cost.
A mechanization scheme does not mean mechanizing all farm operations
but only those that will contribute to increased output and reduction of
operating cost.
The use of machinery does not only imply ownership; renting of machines
or custom-hire operation are very sound options especially for small
farms. This is common in land preparation, high capacity shelling and
threshing, and milling operations.
Joint ownership of machines by two or more farms to justify the purchase of
a machine is also another viable option.
And for cooperatives, acquisition of machines and renting out to members
is also another viable option.
Measures of machinery investment appraisal:
1.

Undiscounted measures does not take into consideration the

change in value of money over time. These are usually crude
methods of comparing several investment alternatives.
a.

Payback period (PBP) length of time it takes to recover

the investment or until the net benefits equal the
investment cost. The decision rule is to select the
alternative with the shortest PBP.

b.

Break-even point (BEP) level of operation where the

investment neither produces a profit nor incurs a loss.
The decision rule is to accept the alternative with the
lowest BEP.

Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

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2.

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Discounted measure the time value of money is taken into

consideration through the process called discounting.
Discounting is the process of translating future values in
present worth by applying a set of discount factors that reflects
the diminishing value of the same amount of money as one
moves further into the future.
a.

Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) ratio of the present worth of

the benefit stream over the present worth of cost stream
extending over a period of time usually the life of the
machine. Decision rule is to accept projects with BCR
1.

b.

Net Present Value (NPV) the difference of the present

value of the benefit stream and the present value of the
cost stream extending over a period of time usually the
life of the machine. The decision rule is to accept
projects with NPV 0

c.

Internal Rate of Return (IRR) the maximum interest rate

the project can pay for the use of money if the project is
to break-even. At this point, the NPV = O and BCR = 1.
The decision rule is that the IRR of the project should be
higher than the prevailing interest rate of the bank.

PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING STANDARDS

(PAES)

Development of agricultural engineering standards has not been given due

attention. The practice of agricultural engineering has always been based on
standards from the US and other countries.

Locally, there existing Philippine standards for selected machines. Standards for
irrigation, structures and alternative energy are non-existent. Standards for
rural electrification, domestic water supply, farm roads and bridges are lodged
in other engineering fields and not with agricultural engineering.

There is a need to develop our own agricultural engineering standards.

In the late 70s, the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) established the Technical
Committee on Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry (TC 56). TC 56 came out
with six standards

Later, TC 56 was replaced by TC 19. TC 19 came out with five standards

In 1992, the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394) was enacted identifying
standards development to three agencies:
Department of Agriculture: agricultural products including machinery
Department of Health: drugs, cosmetics, devices and substances
Department of Trade and Industry: others not covered by the two agencies

In 2001, the Department of Agriculture issued AO 11 on Implementation of the

National
Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Program which stated, among others:

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AMTEC, in partnership with PSAE and other concerned agencies, shall be

charged with the formulation and development of the official agriculture and
fisheries machinery standards.
AMTEC implemented a series of projects on the development of the Philippine
Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES).

Breakdown of standards developed:

PAES I
PAES
II
PAES
III
PAES
IV
PAES
V
TOTA
L

PRODUCTIO
N
MACHINERY
15

POSTHARVE
ST
MACHINERY
11

ENGINEERIN
G
MATERIALS
6

AGRICULTURA
L
STRUCTURES
3

10

25

22

10

11

21

14

46

30

20

21

117

Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization

TOTA
L
35

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Flowchart of standards development:

Preparation of Draft Standards

(Secretariat)

Review & Modification of Draft Standards

(Technical Committee)

Circulation & Public Hearing of Draft Standards

(Secretariat and NAFC)

Finalization of Draft Standards

(Secretariat)

Recommend adoption of Draft Standards

Recommend adoption of Draft Standards

(NAFC)

(PSAE)

Adoption of PAES
(DA)

Adoption of PAES
(BOAE-PRC)

Publication
(Secretariat)

Public hearing conducted on standards developed:

STANDARDS

PAES I

PAES II

DATE (S)

VENUE (S)

No. of
Participants

August 27, 2001

Apacible Hall, NAFC,

Quezon City

70

October I, 2002

PhilRice, Muoz, Nueva

Ecija

38

October 8, 2002

Felis Resort, Matina,

Davao City

26

October I0, 2002

DA-Region VII,
Cebu City

33

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PAES III

March 12, 2003

Apacible Hall, NAFC,

Quezon City

70

PAES IV

October 15, 2004

Apacible Hall, NAFC,

Quezon City

60

Adoption of standards:

STANDARDS
PAES I
AO
PAES II
AO
PAES III
AO
PAES IV
AO
DA adoption of standards:

10
06
11
05

DA
Series
Series
Series
Series

of
of
of
of

2002
2003
2003
2005

BOAE-PRC
BR 05 Series of 2002
BR 01 Series of 2003
BR 02 Series of 2003
-

Require all offices of the DA to adopt and comply with the standards as Philippine
Agricultural Engineering Standards.

PRC adoption of standards:

Adopt PAES as a Code of Technical Standards of Agricultural Engineering, and shall

serve as technical reference by all agricultural engineers in the signing and sealing of
plans, designs and specifications, and other related works in the practice of their
profession.

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Publication of standards:

PAES Volume I

PAES Volume II

PAES Volume III

PAES Volume IV

PAES CD 1st Edition

PAES CD 2nd Edition

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