25/12/2025
Philippine Farmers Adopt Mechanical Rice Seeders to Boost Efficiency, Cut Labor
SAN BARTOLOME, Tarlac, Philippines – Farmers in the province of Tarlac are trialing mechanized rice seeders promoted by state research body PhilRice, aiming to reduce the reliance on strenuous manual planting and improve crop uniformity.
In a recent demonstration in Barangay San Bartolome, Mayantoc, local farmers and agricultural students tested the PhilRice-developed paddy seeder. The device deposits pre-germinated seeds directly into paddy fields.
"Pantay at maayos ang linya ng tanim, kaya mas mabilis ang trabaho (The planting rows are even and orderly, so the work is faster)," said farmer Rodolfo Bato, one of the participants.
The activity was organized by the Tarlac Provincial Agriculture Office and the Mayantoc Municipal Agriculture Office. It prepared participants for the upcoming implementation of Location-specific Technologies (LSTs) under the SMART-ICM Project, an initiative aimed at tailoring farming practices to local conditions.
A group of seven farmers from the Brgy. Poblacion Sur Agricultural Farmers Association and eight agricultural students also took part in the training.
The Philippines is pursuing strategies to increase rice production efficiency and reduce costs. Mechanization is a key component of this effort, as the agricultural sector continues to face challenges related to labor costs and availability. The PhilRice paddy seeder is one of several technologies being promoted to modernize traditional farming methods.
