FARMERS from Kalinga and Apayao got a firsthand look at modern agricultural equipment during the 2026 Mechanization Roadshow, the country’s largest traveling exhibit on farm machinery, held at the Kalinga Provincial Capitol in Tabuk on July 28-29, 2026.
Organized by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), an agency under the Department of Agriculture, the two-day event showcased machine and implements tailored for the Cordillera’s rice, corn, and high-value crop production.
It also included seminars and live demonstrations, allowing participants from Kalinga and Apayao to see how the equipment works and to speak directly with the providers.
This marked the first time the annual roadshow was held in the Cordillera and is the 11th edition of PhilMech’s flagship activity aimed at accelerating farm mechanization nationwide.
DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa said the roadshow was designed to help farmers visualize how mechanization can reduce labor and improve efficiency.
“Through the roadshow, our farmers can see for themselves how a four-wheel tractor works, how a mechanical planter and seeder can plant faster, and how machinery reduces heavy labor,” de Mesa said.
Among the equipment on display were tractors with attachments, direct seeders, corn mills, and postharvest facilities. Organizers worked with South Korean technology partners to bring in units that match the region’s farming conditions.
Philip Kim, CEO of FitCorea Trading Philippines Inc., said the machines brought to Kalinga were different from those in previous roadshows.
“Compared to past roadshows, the machines we brought here this time are specialized for Kalinga. We brought a brown rice mill because we heard you have a lot of colored rice. Second, we also brought machines for high-value crops. And third is the corn mill because we heard you also have corn production,” Kim said.
PhilMech Executive Director Dionisio Alvindia, PhD, emphasized that farm equipment must fit local terrain and cropping systems.
“There is no one machine for every region. The machine needs to be specialized and customized. If you notice, we have this levee maker for making dikes, attached to the tractor. We are aiming for more utilities per tractor because without proper attachments, a tractor is just a slow-moving machine,” the PhilMech head said.
“So, we need to equip tractors with the right implements so that mechanization becomes more efficient in your area,” Alvindia added.
Potential for lower costs, faster work
Farmers’ organizations from Kalinga and Apayao participated in the demonstrations and training sessions. Many said the exhibit gave them new ideas on how to mechanize different stages of farm work.
Mary Margaret Agamanos, a member of the Bulanao Multipurpose Cooperative in Tabuk, said the event introduced them to equipment they had not used before.
“We learned about mechanization technology using machinery for the different aspects of land preparation. The machines brought by the Koreans are very helpful for farming,” Agamanos said in Ilocano.
Elmer Aguinaldo, a member of the San Luis Farmers Association in Pudtol, Apayao, pointed to the direct seeder as one technology his group lacks.
“We learned a lot. The machines they demonstrated are good. We don’t have equipment like that yet in our province in Apayao. For example, the direct seeder — we don’t use that. We still do broadcasting by hand. Hiring people to transplant rice is expensive. With machinery, you only need one operator. Expenses are reduced if you have that kind of equipment,” Aguinaldo said in Ilocano.
Farmers noted that labor shortages and rising wages have made manual planting and harvesting more costly, and that mechanization could help address those challenges.
Mechanization push in the Cordillera
The roadshow forms part of the DA’s broader effort to expand mechanization in areas where adoption has been slower due to topography and farm size. Cordillera farms are often small and located on sloping terrain, which requires compact and multi-purpose machines.
Alvindia said PhilMech will continue to assess the needs of Cordillera farmers and coordinate with local government units and cooperatives to make appropriate machinery more accessible.
The agency also conducts training on operation, maintenance, and proper use of equipment to ensure that machines are used safely and productively.
With this year’s roadshow in Kalinga, Alvindia said they hope to encourage more farmers’ groups and local governments in the region to invest in mechanization as a way to increase yields, reduce postharvest losses, and make farming more viable for the next generation.
The 2026 Mechanization Roadshow in Tabuk is expected to be followed by similar activities in other provinces.