Agricultural Mechanization Policy: Farmers in Focus

During this period, the agricultural sector has constantly been adapting to modern farming activities. Several policies were implemented in international and national settings that immensely affected the farming community, including the agricultural mechanization policy in the Philippines. This is in connection with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 of the United Nations, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, fostering industrialization, and promoting innovation. Hence, this study explores the experiences of Davao City farmers regarding the agricultural mechanization policy as implemented by the government. This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological method to determine the respondents’ experiences, struggles, coping mechanisms, and insights. The seven participants of the study were specifically chosen farmers in Davao City using a purposive sampling method. The researchers utilized an in-depth interview method and formulated an interview guide questionnaire to gather the data. The findings revealed that farmers experienced an ease of farming labor but, at the same time, encountered relevant problems in the process of mechanization. The struggles grappled by the farmers include cost and financial issues, process-related challenges, and operation and maintenance problems. Finally, all the respondents acknowledged that availing government financial support, affiliating with an association, productivity strategizing, and establishing stronger cooperation with the government were great coping strategies. Although difficulties experienced by the members of the farming community were varied, it was recommended that there is still a need for the government, both local and national, to support Filipino farmers by improving this policy and its process, regardless of how useful agricultural mechanization is in the agricultural sector of the country.