Deployment of a Data-Driven Assessment System (M3DAS) of the Mechanization Resources of the Sugarcane Industry for Improved Strategic Planning and Sustainable Development

(June 2023 to May 2026)

Funding Agency: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 

Implementing Agency: Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH)

Personnel:

Engr. Alexis C. Del Rosario – Project Leader  

Engr. Marife Santiago – Study Leader  

Engr. Mary Grace Pagatpatan – Study Leader  

Engr. Jose De Ramos – Project Consultant

Engr. Mark Daniel G. Estrada – Project Technical Specialist

Mr. Richmond B. Bautista – Project Technical Assistant

Engr. Jenny L. Lachica – Project Technical Assistant

Engr. Patricia Garnet A. Joson – Project Technical Assistant

Ms. Melea May M. Recipeda – Project Administrative Aide

Background Information:  

M3DAS is a three-component data capture and analysis system developed to assess the mechanization status of various crop industries in the country. In the previous phase of the project, the sugarcane mechanization resources in Batangas and Panay were assessed through the M3DAS mobile application. Although the deployment of the mobile application in the said areas was deemed successful, several opportunities for refinement were evident upon deployment, including the incompatibility of the application with certain mobile devices, geotagging errors, and difficulty in data exchange for efficient data validation. To address these challenges, M3DAS Phase III will involve a web-based survey platform with an enhanced questionnaire on the current sugarcane farm practices, operators, and machines and implements. The project officially commenced in June 2023 and is expected to end in June 2026, when it will be turned over to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), the coordinating agency for the project. The web application will be deployed starting January 2024 in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Leyte to assess the existing mechanization resources and current mechanization status of the sugarcane industry. The second year of implementation will cover the mill districts in Davao Del Sur, Bukidnon, and Cotabato, while the mill districts in the provinces of Cagayan, Tarlac, and Pampanga will be the deployment sites for the third year. The collected data will be analyzed through GIS and other platforms to lay out a comprehensive mechanization plan for the SRA.  

Project Objectives:  

The general objective of the project is to deploy the enhanced M3DAS as a data-driven system to assess the mechanization status of the sugarcane industry and craft a strategic and sustainable mechanization plan for further development and improvement of the sugarcane sector. Specifically, it aims to: 

1. Incorporate enhancements in the M3DAS system (database and web map) as identified in the previous phases of the project; 
2. Determine the mechanization resource profiles of the different mill districts in three phases: 
3. Determine specific mechanization resource plans for the different mill districts and consolidate them into a national plan; 
4. Develop and install a management plan for sustainable use of the system acceptable to all stakeholders; 
5. Train operators in the use and maintenance of the M3DAS system for future turnover to SRA.