Section 7Sec./Art. 7

Unified National Research and Development (R&D) and Extension Agenda. A unified National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Research and Development and Extension (RDE) Agenda shall be formulated and implemented by the DA: Provided, That the DA, through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) as focal agency, shall integrate and unify all agricultural and fisheries mechanization RDE programs and projects of all concerned national government agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), which shall be geared towards development of machineries and equipment, job generation, address market and industry demands and help accelerate agricultural and fisheries modernization in the countryside.

The National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization RDE Agenda shall include, but not be limited, to the following:

(a) Development, pilot-testing and commercialization of appropriate, location-specific and cost-effective agricultural and fisheries machinery and equipment in support to contiguous farming and machinery pooling;

(b) Design and testing of new machineries and equipment for agriculture and fisheries;

(c) Local manufacture and assembly of agricultural engines and equipment;

(d) Development and utilization of renewable and nonconventional energy resources such as wind, biomass, hydro, solar and biofuels for agricultural and fisheries equipment and machineries;

(e) Development of efficient production and postproduction mechanization systems;

(f) Continuous development of technical standards and testing procedures for quality agricultural machinery and components;

(g) Training of farmers, fisherfolk, manufacturers, extension workers, agricultural engineers, technicians and operators engaged in the agricultural and fisheries mechanization;

(h) Promotion of technologies through agricultural and industrial extension activities and techno-demo centers;

(i) Development of prototype and fabrication of agricultural machinery and equipment; and

(j) Development and conduct of commercialization strategies involving all sectors representing the demand and supply sides of agricultural and fisheries mechanization technologies.