PHilMech pushing improvements in hand tractors

THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) is pushing to improve the design of walk-behind tractors or hand tractors manufactured locally, with the aim of assisting manufacturers to level up their one-hand tractors, which will ultimately benefit Filipino farmers.

Also, PHilMech is envisioning the manufacturing of hand tractor gearboxes in the Philippines and the modernization of the manufacture of hand tractors in the country.

This, as PHilMech and Wecan Global — a South Korean farm machinery manufacturer — have forged a partnership to advance agricultural mechanization in the country by standardizing the gear-type gearbox for hand tractors and training Filipino engineers in modern farm equipment.

PHilMech also convened a meeting with local farm machine manufacturers ACT Manufacturing Inc., Triple J Hand Tractor, and Val Agri-machineries and Machine Shop on Feb. 26 at the PHilMech Central Office to discuss the use of the more durable gear-type gearbox for hand tractors developed by Wecan Global to replace the traditional chain and sprocket system.

PHilMech Executive Director Dionisio Alvindia said this development is a big step in providing farmers with hand tractors that can be locally manufactured and be more durable, powerful and cost-efficient.

Hand tractors are one of the most popular farm machines in the country as these are affordable, can be manufactured locally and are compact in size.

Director Alvindia said among the long-term objectives is to have the gearboxes for hand tractors manufactured locally.

"A gearbox system has increased working power and durability that would reduce the frequency of repairs or replacement. The new transmission system will not only ensure higher quality and sustainability of hand tractor quality, but also create a foundation for long-term improvement in local manufacturing and agricultural machinery production," he said.

"A phased approach for implementing the new technology was outlined during the meeting [with local manufacturers]. The first phase will involve a semi-knockdown model over the next three years, where the gearbox will be manufactured in South Korea and assembled in the Philippines," Alvindia added.

As part of the agreement with Wecan Global, PHilMech engineers will be trained in the operation, assembly, maintenance and after-sales service of rotavators and plows for rice farmers. The training will be conducted both at PHilMech and Wecan Global's facility in South Korea.

Alvindia stressed the need to sustain technical and knowledge transfer to strengthen the country's agricultural mechanization efforts. He added that many Filipinos have already been trained in Wecan Global's factories, making it crucial to focus on retaining and applying that expertise.

"This partnership goes beyond farm machines, as it lays the foundation for long-term collaboration and progress in agricultural technology," he said.

Training PHilMech engineers

For his part, Wecan Global President Jun-Hwan Kim emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer in advancing agricultural mechanization and reaffirmed their commitment to training PHilMech engineers.

"When you come to Korea, we will teach and give you all the knowledge that you need," Kim said, expressing their readiness to equip Filipino engineers with essential skills in machinery operation, assembly and maintenance.

In the following phases of the cooperation with Wecan, the production of certain components of the gearbox will be localized, enabling Filipino manufacturers to enhance their capabilities.

By the final phase, the goal is to reach a completely knockdown model, with all production steps taking place in the Philippines.

Said technological advancement will help reduce reliance on imports, lower costs of hand tractors and promote self-sufficiency in the agricultural machinery industry, benefiting both local manufacturers and the broader agricultural sector.