The Center for Agri-Fisheries and Biosystems Mechanization (BIOMECH) team recently conducted a fruitful visit to JHT Micro Enterprises last October 3, 2024. This visit is part of BIOMECH’s ongoing project, “Compendium of Developed Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Technologies in the Philippines”, which is funded by DOST-PCAARRD. The BIOMECH team was led by Dr. Ronel S. Pangan, BIOMECH Director and Project Leader, accompanied by Engr. Ezra Ryza Noel, Engr. John Paul G. Tobias and Engr. Yara Ayman A. El Adawi.
During the visit, the BIOMECH team met with JHT Micro Enterprises’ Operations Manager Jonathan Bautista and Research and Development Manager Eulito Bautista to discuss how their locally developed mechanization technologies can be incorporated into the project’s compendium and database. This compendium aims to collect agricultural technologies developed by higher education institutions (HEIs), research and development institutes (RDIs), and local manufacturers, promoting the widespread adoption of these innovations in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
The meeting with JHT Micro Enterprises revolved around the significant contributions the company has made in developing agricultural mechanization technologies tailored to the needs of Filipino farmers. Jonathan and Eulito Bautista provided insights into their current projects and technologies, emphasizing the company’s focus on creating solutions that increase farm productivity while being cost-effective and accessible to local farmers.
JHT Micro Enterprises has specialized in the design and manufacturing of small-scale agricultural machinery, which addresses the challenges faced by smaller farms that may not have the capacity to adopt larger mechanization solutions. The discussion also covered how the inclusion of JHT’s technologies in the compendium will enhance the variety of solutions available, offering more tailored options to farmers across the country.
The “Compendium of Developed Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Technologies in the Philippines” aims to gather a broad range of innovations from HEIs, RDIs, and local manufacturers like JHT Micro Enterprises. This compendium will be a tool for promoting the adoption of homegrown technologies that can help improve productivity and sustainability in the agriculture and fisheries industries.
Alongside the compendium, a dynamic database is being developed to ensure continuous dissemination of these technologies, helping bridge the gap between technology developers and end-users. By doing so, the project is helping local innovations gain the visibility and recognition they deserve while also boosting the efficiency and self-reliance of the Philippine agriculture sector.
Yara Ayman A. El Adawi