FAO summit to seek wider access for farm mechanization in Asia-Pacific

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are set to host a summit in Manila, Philippines from November 23 to 26, aiming to improve access to affordable farm technologies, financing, and services for farmers across the Asia-Pacific region. The inaugural Asia-Pacific Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (APSAM) will gather governments, agribusinesses, technology providers, and development partners in the Philippines capital.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted that adopting better technologies would result in more productive farms and improved rural livelihoods. He emphasized that modernization could not only accelerate farm work but also alleviate the physical strain on older farmers, address labor shortages, enhance yields, minimize post-harvest losses, and enable farming households to earn higher incomes.

Tiu Laurel stressed that agricultural machinery should be tailored to local farming conditions and the financial means of those who will utilize it. He reinforced that technologies must be both affordable and accessible, fitting the scale of farms and the unique challenges faced by farmers.

The conference will also scrutinize policy and institutional gaps, financing approaches, capacity-building, and business models that could facilitate small-scale farmers' adoption of appropriate technologies. It will further spotlight the involvement of women and young people, focusing on their roles as technology users, developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators.

During the event, participants will exchange experiences and explore potential technology and business collaborations. APSAM aims to underscore the contributions of women and youth as active participants in technology utilization, development, entrepreneurship, research, and innovation.