By Kenneth Marcos 
Under the warm morning sun in Brgy. An-annam, Bantay, farmers gathered in their clustered rice fields, ready to plant their next harvest. For many, planting rice by hand has always been labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially during peak season.
Through the 25-hectare IRISE4RICE initiative, local farmers are now experiencing the benefits of using farm machinery in clustered farms. The program promotes mechanization to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help farmers plant and harvest rice more evenly.
Guilmer Pascador, one of the participants, shared his experience using a mechanical transplanter for the first time. “The spacing between rice seedlings is much more uniform,” he said. “It’s hard to achieve this by hand, especially when everyone is rushing to finish planting.” On his 4,000-square-meter farm, he also saved around PhP 10,000 in labor and operational costs.
The initiative encourages farmers to form clusters, which allows more efficient use of machinery and easier access to technology. Deputy Executive Director Karen Eloisa T. Barroga reminded participants that stronger farm clustering will help farmers adopt modern equipment, improve productivity, and access support programs more easily.
Mechanized farming is seen as a way to increase efficiency and reduce the physical burden on rice farmers. It also helps improve yields by ensuring uniform planting and better crop management. For small farmers like Pascador, access to these technologies can translate into higher profits, more time for farm maintenance, and long-term sustainability.
The IRISE4RICE program reflects a broader effort to modernize Philippine rice farming and strengthen the livelihoods of rice farmers. With farm clustering, communities can share machinery, training, and technical support, making it easier for farmers to compete in local and national markets.
As more farmers in Ilocos Sur adopt mechanized planting, officials hope it will boost overall rice production and provide a model for other provinces. Early success stories like Pascador’s show that even small-scale farmers can benefit from modern technology when it is shared and supported by organized programs.
Through collaboration, technology adoption, and community-based support, local rice farmers are finding ways to plant smarter, save costs, and increase productivity—ensuring that every harvest benefits both families and the wider community.
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