Facing a persistent dearth of farmhands, Oriental Mindoro has equipped its agricultural sector with over P162 million in modern machinery.

The move, a concerted push by the provincial government, is expected to improve output and ease the burden on its dwindling rural workforce.

Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor, working alongside the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), has overseen the rollout of 181 pieces of farm equipment since 2023.

These include 29 four-wheel tractors, 50 combine harvesters, 14 rice transplanters, 24 hand tractors, and 64 water pumps, all channeled through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office to Mindoro cooperatives and associations.

The machinery targets labor-intensive tasks such as preparing land, planting, irrigating fields, and harvesting crops.

By automating these processes, the province hopes to cut reliance on manual work, allowing farmers to complete time-critical operations faster and potentially increase their yields.

Oriental Mindoro’s farming landscape, largely made up of smallholdings, has been hit hard by people moving from villages to cities.

This exodus has left fields short-staffed and driven up the cost of hiring help.

Rice and coconut growers, in particular, have often seen vital planting and harvesting delayed as a result.

Provincial authorities say the mechanization drive will grow to meet the rising demand for food, with the ultimate goal of lifting farmers’ incomes and strengthening food supplies across Mindoro island.

photos: courtesy of Oriental Mindoro Provincial Agriculture Office