By Kenneth Marcos 
Under the early morning sun in Barangay San Bartolome, Mayantoc, Tarlac, rice farmers moved across the field with renewed energy. Instead of bending for hours to plant seedlings by hand, they watched neat rows of young rice form quickly on the soil. For many, it was a welcome change from backbreaking work they have done for years.
Farmers in the area recently tested the PhilRice paddy seeder, a machine designed to make rice planting faster, easier, and more uniform. The technology aims to reduce labor, save time, and help farmers manage rising production costs, a growing concern in many farming communities.
According to PhilRice, the paddy seeder allows farmers to plant rice seedlings in straight and even lines. This improves spacing between plants, which can help rice grow better and make farm operations like weeding and fertilizer application more efficient.
Rodolfo Bato, one of the farmers who joined the trial, said the difference was clear right away. He shared that planting became faster because the lines were already well-organized. With less time spent in the field, farmers can also reduce physical strain, especially older farmers who find manual planting difficult.
The field test involved several members of the Brgy. San Bartolome farming community. It also included seven members of the Barangay Poblacion Sur Agricultural Farmers Association. In addition, eight students taking part in an immersion program joined the activity, giving them hands-on experience with modern rice farming tools.
Local agriculture officials said the activity was part of preparations for the rollout of Location-Specific Technologies, or LSTs, under the SMART Integrated Crop Management Project. The program aims to match farming technologies to the specific needs and conditions of each area, instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach.
The SMART-ICM Project in Mayantoc will be led by the Provincial Agriculture Office of Tarlac in coordination with the Municipal Agriculture Office of Mayantoc. Officials said introducing tools like the paddy seeder is important as farmers face challenges such as labor shortages, climate risks, and higher input prices.
Rice remains a staple food for Filipino families, and improving local production is a key goal of the government’s food security programs. Technologies that help farmers plant on time and reduce costs can make a big difference, especially for small-scale rice growers.
Agricultural experts explain that uniform planting does not only save labor. It can also lead to more even crop growth, better use of sunlight and nutrients, and potentially higher yields. Over time, this can translate to better income for farmers and more stable rice supply for consumers.
Farmers who joined the trial said they are open to learning more about the technology. Some noted that proper training and support will be important so they can use the machine correctly and maintain it. Local officials assured them that further demonstrations and capacity-building activities are planned.
As farming communities adjust to modern methods, partnerships between farmers, researchers, and local governments play a key role. The experience in Mayantoc shows how simple innovations, when tested on the ground, can help make farming more efficient and less physically demanding.
With tools like the PhilRice paddy seeder, rice farmers in Tarlac are taking small but important steps toward a more productive and sustainable future in agriculture.
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