Agricultural machinery development program : terminal report for USAID/IRRI projects no. CSD-834 and CSD-2541

RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ON THE ECONOMICS OF MECHANIZATION IN THREE MAJOR RICE-GROWING AREAS OF THE PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING STUDIES OF HAND TRACTORS AND EXTRA-WIDE ROTARY TILLERS FOR WETLAND CULTIVATION. IN 1969 USAID INITIATED A NEW RESEARCH CONTRACT WITH IRRI TO DEVELOP NEW AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT FOR TROPICAL RICE CULTIVATION. FROM 1969 TO 1974, A WIDE RANGE OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES WAS DEVELOPED, SOME OF WHICH WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMMERCIALIZED IN THE PHILIPPINES. THESE MACHINES ARE NOW PRODUCED REGULARLY AND HAVE RECEIVED WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. THE IRRI-DEVELOPED MACHINES HAVE SPURRED DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORGANIZED SMALL FARM EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES, WHERE 18 COMPANIES ARE PRODUCING THE IRRI MACHINES. PRODUCTION OF IRRI MACHINES HAS ALSO STARTED IN 11 OTHER COUNTRIES IN ASIA AND AFRICA. INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION OF THE MACHINES IN BEING EMPHASIZED IN MOST OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHERE RICE IS AN IMPORTANT CROP.