GFAR blog

YAP proposal #62: Mechanical pest removal (Josine Macaspac, Philippines)

kovamic87

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According to Termite Survey, in the Philippines, losses from post-harvest and storage due to pests for corn can reach as high as 50%, resulting in massive reduction in total yield and profits especially in rural areas where storage facilities do not have adequate protection against these pests. At present, industry standards for controlling post-harvest and storage pests utilize a two-prong method via cooling with dry ice (to prevent condensation within the stored produce) to reduce pest activity and fumigation to kill the pests.

However, this method is expensive and therefore, unfeasible for many rural farmers who have neither the financial resources nor access to the needed materials. There lies one of the biggest problems in the Philippine agricultural post-harvest and storage system, and one that I hope I can present a good solution for.

My name is Josine A. Macaspac, a 27-year old Agriculture graduate from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños who majored in Entomology. Due to my academic background, I came to understand the economic and ecological impact that insect pests have in agricultural systems in the Philippines and how essential it is to have a pest management solution that is effective, safe for the environment, sustainable and most importantly, affordable for the farmers.

Currently, I am working as a freelance writer online, specializing in blogging, copywriting, and social media management. As such, I also understand the power in utilizing social media for information dissemination and increasing education and awareness to the problems encountered in local and global agriculture. It is through this unique combination of my academic background and the principles and skills which I have learned by working online, that I hope to be able to address the aforementioned operational gap in the Filipino agricultural industry.

The project that I am proposing is the Mechanical Post-Harvest Pest Removal System (MPReS). It is a manually-operated, mechanical device that can be used by farmers to easily and effectively remove post-harvest and storage pests in stored rice and corn (which are the most economically and socially important agricultural goods that the Philippines produce). Additionally, it can also be used for other grains such as wheat, millet, and sorghum.

The mechanics of the device is simple. The farmer loads the produce (grain / corn / etc.) into the device through a hopper and using a foot pedal, power the device. The produce will be kept in a large compartment with adjustable perforations at the bottom, so that it can be used for a variety of grains, as well as corn. When the machine is operated through pedal power, the main compartment will start vibrating the produce, effectively dislodging the pests, which will then fall through the holes and into a collection tray below.

A “tumbling” apparatus will also be fastened to the device to effectively mix the produce, ensuring that all pests are removed. The device will be designed to hold up to 50 kilos of produce at a time (which equals to a sack) and the whole process will only take an estimated 5-8 minutes to complete. Afterwards, the farmer can open a hatch on the other end of the device, push up a lever to tilt the compartment, and slide the cleaned and pure grains or corn produce out into another waiting sack. The produce can now be stored or is ready for the market.

With the help of this device, a farmer can effectively clean 600 kilos of rice or 12 sacks of produce in a single hour without the use of electricity or expensive fuel. This makes MPReS functional even in the most rural farms where electricity and fuel may be scarce. The ability of the device to process large amounts of produce quickly in a simplified manner without the need for fuel or electricity makes the device cheaper and easier to maintain in the long run makes it a practical investment for all farm owners. This is a device that can benefit both small-scale and large-scale grain and maize producers in the country, anywhere, anytime.

The main motivation for this project is to be able to provide rural, small-time farmers (of which there are thousands in the Philippines) an effective, affordable, and environmental-friendly way to control post-harvest and storage pests. This can even be applicable in a community scenario, where a community of grain-growing farmers can purchase a single machine that can be used by the whole community. Furthermore, since the device will not use any form of chemical control, it can be used by organic farms as well.

The goal of MPReS is to reduce, if not completely eliminate, losses from post-harvest and storage pests by removing both immature and mature life stages of the pests which damage grains and corn. If this device can reduce post-harvest and storage losses even by 10-15%, this will translate immensely to increased profits for farmers.

The device is in the planning stages right now. I have consulted with mechanical engineers affiliated with the University of the Philippines, Diliman with regards to the cost of materials, cost of building the device, and the internal mechanical workings of the device to make it as simple as possible to operate and maintain without compromising its effectiveness, affordability, and durability.

We are also researching on what mechanical method would be most effective in dislodging the pests (shaking, tumbling, etc.) without compromising the quality and integrity of the produce. Also, as an entomologist, I have researched on how large the perforations should be so that it would be effective on different pests such as weevils, beetles, etc. At present, a draft of the first prototype is being designed.

MPReS has a clear and concrete measurable outcome: a final working design that can remove pests from an infested bag of grains with minimal effort and time, leaving only behind cleaned produce when the process is finished. The device must be affordable for farmers, easy to clean and operate, and durable so that it can be used for years.

I plan to use the $5000 grant in research, development, production, and testing of the final product.

  • $1500 of the grant will be used to pay for consultancy services, since I will be enlisting the technical expertise of two licensed mechanical engineers as well as their equipment and knowledge in building the device itself. I project that within five (5) months, our team will be able to come up with a working prototype.
  • $2500 will be used to purchase the materials needed in order to build at least two (2) working prototypes of the device. The whole process of purchasing the materials, constructing the device, and getting it ready for testing will occur during the aforementioned five months.
  • $1000 will be used to travel to grain and corn growing areas of the Philippines to search for local farms or storage facilities who will be willing to help us test the prototypes. The money will be used for vehicle rentals (to transport the machines), gas, food, accommodations, and other small expenses. This part will take at least four (4) months, considering the travel time, looking for partner farmers, and if possible, looking for multiple farms that have different grain products and corn to test all possible products and possible post-harvest and storage pest species.

I believe that this project will have a lasting and significant impact on Philippine agriculture, for now, and for countless generations to come. I hope that, someday, it is an innovation that will have a global impact as well. With that being said, I hope that this device concept was able to MPReS you.

Blogpost and picture submitted by Josine A. Macaspac (Philippines) – josinemacaspac[at]yahoo.com
Illustration courtesy: Dax Olfindo

The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.

This post is published as proposal #62 of “YAP” – our “Youth Agripreneur Project”.

The first selection of the winners will be based on the number of comments, likes and views each proposal gets.

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“YAP” is part of the #GCARD3 process, the third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development.

Published by kovamic87

650 thoughts on “YAP proposal #62: Mechanical pest removal (Josine Macaspac, Philippines)”

      1. Hi Jax, I find your article very helpful especially to the farmers and to me who doesn’t really have background in Agriculture but now working a Company which caters some agricultural product. Let me take this opportunity to ask if you happen to know someone who has background in Agricultural Pesticide. Our company is looking for a technical representative who can handle our registration to FPA. We are currently trying to register some fertilizer and pesticide products, your help would be very much appreciated. Thank You!

  3. I like how the author’s social media background is being used as a platform to inform people about this technology and issues in the agriculture sector. I sure hope this project gets the grant as it looks like it will benefit farmers especially in rural areas where resources are always a limiting factor in optimizing agricultural yields.

    Reply

    1. Yes, the best way to improve agriculture is by using what technology and knowledge we have available. 🙂 And this project is specifically designed to be available and useful for everyone, from the large-scale agricultural companies, to small-scale rural farmers.

      Reply

  5. Nice proposal…these will surely benefit the marginal sectors of our agricultural industry!

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  6. Ang galing! It’s good to know that we’re just one touch/click away from solving a common agricultural problem.

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  8. I wish people would invest more in developing our agricultural land and consequently, our agricultural products, instead of converting everything into subdivisions and mall complexes.

    Reply

  12. As someone who has lived and worked with the peasant-farmers in the Philippines, I can say that this machine will be helpful to them. It’s a simple but cost effective solution to a real problem that such farmers face. I hope this proposal gets the grant. Cheers!

    Reply

  14. Amazing!

    Truly, a highly accessible and innovative machine like this has the highest potential in our most basic sector! Perhaps, research can also be done on the projected developmental outcomes of technology like this in the grassroots level.

    Now this is an iska, who is really using her gift to help the Filipino farmer!

    Kudos, ate Jax! Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan!

    Reply

    2. I agree with you einaizc. As someone who has worked with farmers on the grass roots level, individually, machines, even the cheapest ones are not affordable to them. It was good for the creator to bring up community farming as most farmers, especially those that belong in cooperatives, share in their costs and gains. One device can be shared among them. They don’t have to individually spend their already insufficient earnings to obtain this device.

      Reply

      1. That’s right Nage, that’s one of the most fantastic things about this machine: it can be bought by a farming community, and used as a communal property when it comes to cleaning their stored products. Everyone chips in for the costs, everyone helps clean and maintain the machine, and everyone benefits from the machine as well. 🙂

      1. This is great! Sobrang efficient and sustainable! One question though, will it be easy for the stakeholders to manage and use the said device? 🙂

  17. Great idea. Being raised in a neighborhood where agriculture is the main livelihood, i could say this would be a big help in the removal of these pest and thus having greater post harvest returns. Good job!

    Reply

    1. Hi Daph, thanks for your support! One of the biggest concerns was making this available for areas where agriculture is the main source of livelihood, and I think we were able to hit that goal. 🙂

      Reply

  19. Great proposal toward a more productive and environmentally friendly industry! Great job Ate JAX!

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  21. Simple yet elegant. I like the clarity of the intent of this idea. It’s basic, meaning everyone can understand (bringing in a wider audience) and an eye-opener on how simple ideas can impact our lives, which in this case is agriculture.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jonarae, thanks for your support! Yep, one of the ideas was to make it really easy to understand for anyone, even someone who does not have a background in agriculture, so that everyone can understand the importance of the project!

      Reply

  26. Sounds interesting but I cannot relate with the machine parts you were explaining. I would suggest you put an image of the machine.

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    1. Hi Kathleen, thank you for the support! My team and I are currently working on the design of the device, and hopefully, we can make it a reality for the public in the near future. 🙂

      Reply

  27. Very well said Jax! Taking advantage of the social media in sharing your knowledge to benefit other people is indeed of great help in the agricultural sector. I hope..I believe that some private or public institutions will be very much interested in your proposal. Good luck!

    Reply

    1. Hi Mam Hiyas! Thank you for your comment. 🙂 I believe it’s a great way to modernize agriculture and make it more relevant to everyone through social media. And yes, I hope that this is a project that will become of interest to other people in both public and private institutions. Thank you for your support!

      Reply

  29. Very nice idea. Someone finally thought about the welfare of the agri sector. I can see a bright future with the MPReS.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ethelbert, thank you for the support. Yes, I believe that this will be a device that will really help farmers produce better crops and have better return of investments in their farming. 🙂

      Reply

  32. This is a really great idea! The trickiest part is developing the device and making sure that it becomes financially feasible for even small-scale farmers to use. Best of luck with this! 😊

    Reply

    1. Hi Abby! Thank you for the comment. 🙂 Yes, my team and I are looking forward to see what materials and production process we can use to make it as cost-efficient to produce as possible to make it affordable for all farmers. 🙂 I really appreciate the support. 🙂

      Reply

  35. Congratulations,Jax! Great project and I certainly hope you get the support you need to see it through,and politics won’t get in the way!

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  36. Great substitute for pesticides and other chemical stuff. Best of luck on this project. Nice one Ate Jax! 🙂

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  37. What I like about the idea is that it does not use electricity or fuel to power the thing, which means it can be used by farmers without access to those resources. I’m MPRes’ed

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  38. Being a techie city person that I am, i believe that the Internet is the best medium for information dissemination and netizens should focus on more pressing issues and things that actually matter like this. Little things with big and positive impact to our developing country. Good job!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Ina! Thank you for the support. 🙂 I really appreciate it. Yup, social media can do wonders for small initiatives like this to help make it grow, and become a reality. And I’m glad that you’re helping me make this proposal come true. 🙂 Thank you again!

      Reply

    2. I agree with you Ina. The Internet is such a powerful medium not only in information dissemination but also in educating the people. Small and simple projects like this can truly help on a larger scale if only more people realized the potential that it holds.

      Reply

      1. Yes, what’s one of the most amazing things about this whole competition: the fact that we are able to use something as modern as social media to be able to spread awareness and information about something so mired in tradition: agriculture.

  39. Hi Jax! This will greatly benefit not just the farmers but the entire community, too! I hope this project will materialize soon! Good luck!

    Reply

  43. This will make a big impact on the lives of the farmers since it will reduce their losses and generate more profit. I hope that your proposal will be chosen for the grant.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ate GC! Thank you for your support. yes, I also believe that this is a project that will make a huge difference in the lives of our farmers, so I also hope that this project comes to life!

      Reply

  44. I think this is a great idea. We really should stick to local, labor-intensive technology like this. I hope this project gets off the ground!

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  45. This really is a nice endeavor Jax. Our country is largely agricultural, yet there’s not much development in that aspect. Our country needs more project like this in order to boost our agricultural potential. More power to your project!

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  46. The MPReS is very promising! What makes it even more so a need, especially for farmers on let’s say, a strict budget, is that it has the capabality of providing the postharvest protection that the crop/produce needs without the hefty price. More than just creating a decice that could definitely go “big” in the Philippines’ agriculture sector, I believe Jax has created something that gives more power to the main driving force of the country’s agriculture sector: its farmers.

    Here’s to hoping that the MPReS materializes soon. Great job, Jax!

    Reply

    1. Hi Chris, thank you for the support you are showing me! Yes, it’s definitely going to be a huge benefit for farmers so that they won’t spend so much on storing their dry products and making sure that it’s free from pests.

      Reply

  47. A great idea and one that reaches out to the agricultural economist in me. I would be very interested in taking this further by looking at the economic impact such a technology has on farmer livelihood. Hoping to see the full results in the near future.

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    1. Hi Josh! Yes, I would also love to be able to study in detail how this can help farmers in the economic sense. This project has so much potential to improve lives and livelihoods of our rural farmers. Thank you again!

      Reply

  49. I’m “MPReSd” and hope that this proposal pushes through. It’s a great idea and SAFE solution for such big problems. All the best Jax!:)

    Reply

    1. Hi Ayn, thank you! I’m glad you were MPReSed! 🙂 Food safety is definitely a huge issue in our country, and this project can help increase that for our dry produce like rice, corn, etc. 🙂

      Reply

  50. Hi! I hope you get the support you need in this project. This sounds very promising and our poor farmers (without ample support from the government and farming lands not their own) will benefit from this.

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    1. Hi Binoy, thank you for your support. 🙂 Yes, this project can definitely help farmers prevent losses during the post-harvest and storage stage, and ultimately increase their profits. 🙂

      Reply

  52. I believe this study will be of great help to our nation given that the Filipinos depend so much on these crops.

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  53. Sometimes, the best solution is to stick with the basics; And this proposal suggests just that. By using basic mechanical methods, it may actually be an effective and efficient way to most of our farmers. Especially in the rural areas, like Mt. Province and other remote low-land barrios, where manual labor is the cheapest way to get things done.
    I hope the research goes well. Great job! Please do update me on this. Thanks a lot!

    Reply

    1. Hi Frix! Thank you very much for your support and interest in this project. 🙂 Yes, one of the biggest points was to make it available for use even without electricity or fuel, so that it can be used even in the most rural areas of our country. 🙂

      I will definitely update you in this project for the future!

      Reply

    2. You bring up a good point Frix. Manual labor is usually the only means that farmers can afford to get their work done. Due to its simplicity, the creator can greatly reduce the cost of production without sacrificing too much of its utility. That in turn means that this device will be attainable to the farmers. Unlike the expensive machines and methods for pest control out there.

      Reply

      1. Yup, it was definitely one of the points that was essential to the design: that this machine be made useful even without electricity or external fuel sources. 🙂

  54. I’m MPRessed! However, as a film production manager with a day job in digital writing, I should admit I have no idea who to tap. On social media I find myself straying from ~serious business unless I myself am doing something about it. Like I am sharing this with friends now, but I don’t know who among them can directly apply it in their fields. The act feels like a shot in the dark. But oh well, it’s the only thing I can do now to help. 🙂 #gcard3

    Reply

    1. Hi Carla! Thank you for the support! I appreciate the fact that you recognize the power and importance of social media in an endeavor such as this one, and I really appreciate the fact that you are helping me spread awareness about this project. Thank you again!

      Reply

  55. We’ll be needing a lot more of innovations like this to fuel Filipino agriculturists! I hope you get the grant, Jax! Sana this will also pave way para iprioritize na ang agriculture sa Pinas.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ate Iso. Thank you for your support. I was aiming to offer a feasible, affordable, and effective solution to this pressing problem in our agricultural system, and I think this is a good solution. Thank you for recognizing my effort, and thank you for yours as well!

      Reply

  58. Looks very economical and practical. Yet it yields the best profit out of it with the least expense possible. Environment friendly and healthy din gawin. Little steps towards a major goal. Nice proposal! Hope makuha mo yun grant!

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  59. This is indeed MPReS-sive! I hope to see one of these in the near future . Nice one Jax!

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  61. I look forward to see this in action. Attention 2016 candidates! Check this out and really help the poor! #gma7 #Eleksyon2016

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    1. Hi Carlos! Thank you for your support. I also hope that local politicians will take notice and give their support for this project soon. I know that this is a great project that can offer so much for the Filipino people. 🙂

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  62. Hello everyone! I really appreciate the time and effort that you all are taking to be able to give me your thoughts and comments on this project. I encourage any and all suggestions and criticisms on this project so that, if it does come to life, I would be able to improve on it and make it something that can help our farmers even more. Thank you again!

    Reply

  64. Yun oh! Ang gandang project to. Malaking tulong para sa Pilipinas to kung napush. Sana mabigyang pansin at maisakatuparan. Para sa ikauunlad ng bansa. XD Dagdag pogi points para sa author! Great job dude pare tsong bro! :)))

    Reply

  65. The idea itself is really innovative and eco-friendly (the part that I liked the most about the project). From the way you presented the technicalities and significance of your project, you really know it by heart and if the target agency will realize how much they would be able to help by granting you the fund, it will really help small-scale farmers (especially if you will be able to reach many of them in the far-flung areas). May I just suggest for you to add a little more emphasis on the statistics of the yield as well as on the assurance that the design itself of the equipment will be durable enough to be able to last a long time with frequent use (since it may be also used by the whole community one farmer after another, right?). Thanks for presenting this to the people of the web.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ms. Carino! Thank you for your great comments! Based on data from IRRI (International Rice Research Insitute), the latest post-harvest losses in the Philippines recorded for rice was 30%, while the price of the rice was reduced by 10-30% because of the poor quality. A portion of these losses and damages were from post-harvest pests activity. The MPReS can help alleviate these problems for farmers across our country.

      In terms of durability, my team and I are currently researching what kind of material (metal, plastic, a combination, etc) would be most suitable for the device to be durable, affordable, effective. But not too heavy so that transportation would not be a problem.

      I appreciate your thoughts, and thank you for your insights!

      Reply

  67. I think MPRes is a promising and a feasible project. It’s a good thing that it can help rural and small-scale farmers; they need this! I believe this will be a great help for our local agricultural industry.

    Good luck!

    Reply

  68. I think MPRes is a promising and a feasible project. It’s a good thing that it can help rural and small-scale farmers; they need this! I believe this will be a great help in our local agricultural industry. Good luck!

    Reply

  71. Great job! This will surely help a lot of farmers and it will also be good for the environment. 🙂

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  72. It is nice to consider the economic endowments of targeted areas in looking for a solution for long standing problems. This proposal has considered the scarcity of electricity and fuel in many farming areas in the Philippines while resolving the issue of storage pests and the like. It is a really sound proposal and would be a great help to increase the profit for struggling farmers. This may have an impact in the Philippine economy as a whole considering agriculture plays a big role in it. It is like hitting two birds with one stone, very innovative and well thought plan. Hope this gets all the support it needs to help out the farmers and the economy as well. Great job!

    Reply

    1. Hello Ms. Kristyn Mariel, thank you for your comment. I think that you are a very wonderful and beautiful person for saying such things about my proposal. I am very happy that you think it will be helpful for our farmers, and I am very thankful for your support. God bless!

      Reply

  73. Wow!=) This is an awesome idea and i am sure all of us will benefit from this….hopefully it will be successful…=)

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  74. Wow! I believe this great idea will help farmers. Hope this plan will materialize in the near future.

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  75. Capital is a common problem by our local Filipino farmers but looking at it deeper, it isn’t much about lack of capital but more of their mindset that to farm good produce, one must use chemicals. Solutions like this will be absolutely helpful for our farmers especially since:
    -it helps change their mindset (chemical solutions create more problems and result in larger debts)
    -it capitalizes on what we are known best for – perseverance

    Great idea! All out support to the author.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jezzie, thank you for those wonderful insights! Yes, it’s something we have to change: the mindset of a lot of farmers when it comes to chemicals. It’s a band-aid solution to agricultural problems. This proposal will help farmers to reduce their reliance on chemical control, so it’s cheaper, and the food is safer as well.

      Thank you very much again!

      Reply

  76. “effective, affordable, and environmental-friendly way to control post-harvest and storage pests.”

    Ang galing! Makakatulong ‘to ng malaki sa mga farmers kung sakali. 😁

    Reply

  77. I hope you get this grant. This will benefit everyone in the end. Good luck my friend! This is awesome

    Reply

    1. Hi Jordana! Thank you very much for your time and support of my proposal. I also hope that this gets more attention, and that more people are made aware of this project. It can do so much good for our country!

      Reply

  82. This is a global contest with only 4 contestants from the Philippines! GO GO GO! Let’s help solve world hunger!

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    1. Hi Carlos! Yep, we’re only four contestants who entered, and I am very happy to say that this proposal is now the strongest from the four, and is already in the top 20 so far thanks to your efforts. Let’s keep it up this momentum so that this proposal can get into the semi-finals!

      Reply

  84. This can help farmers increase their yield and product competitiveness, thus, curbing massive product loss and poverty. Good luck on you project!

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    1. Hi Deanna, yes, definitely, the main goal of the device is to be able to help farmers financially, and to promote sustainability and good post-harvest practice. Thank you for the support!

      Reply

  86. This will greatly help the agricultural industry in increasing their yield and hopefully reduce the country’s needs for agricultural import.

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    1. Hi Krystel, yes, it’s really one of the biggest goals of the project: to increase yield to that we as a country would have less need to import our food. Thank you for your comment!

      Reply

  87. Brilliant idea Jax. This will be a major step up for our agricultural sector. I am really hoping for the success of this project. Good luck!

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  89. Interesting ideas. Storage pests should be managed before the goods are stored to reduce possible loses. This may be a good solution to that. I have not yet seen your design, but if I may suggest, maybe you can make MPReS mountable to our farmer’s tractor engine. This type of engine is used to power their farm implements during land preparation and for the ones they used as transport of farm inputs. Good job!

    Reply

    1. Hi Vincent! Thanks for your input. Normally, pests are managed before storage, but there are a lot of times when prolonged storage is unavoidable, thus leading to pest infestation while in storage facilities. This device will help reduce the damages and loss during this period, especially if the produce still needs to be stored for longer. 🙂

      My team and I are also looking for a way to make this device mechanized, so that it can be used for commercial-scale interests, such as large grain-producing companies. 🙂

      Reply

  90. Great idea Jax! This will be a big help not only for the farmers but also for the country as well! I hope you’ll get the grant that you need to kickstart your project! 😉

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  91. This will be a big help to those working in the agriculture industry and will definitely have a significant impact for the country.

    Hoping this would be given much attention.

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  92. A simple, feasible & brilliant idea that will benefit the Filipino community. God bless & good luck Josine 👍😇

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  93. More than handouts, our farmers need lasting, effective, and simple solutions like this. I hope your proposal wins. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Jamie! Yes, we really need to change that mindset that a lot of Filipinos have because it’s nothing more than a band-aid solution.

      Like the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”

      A proposal like this well help Filipino farmers become less reliant on chemical control, and become more active in both sustainable and ecological means of control.

      Reply

    1. Hi Jamie, thank you for your comment! Yes, we really need to change this mindset of many Filipinos, because it’s nothing more than a band-aid solution to a very pressing problem.

      Like the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day.Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”

      This proposal can help farmers reduce their reliance on chemical control methods, and help them become more active in sustainable and ecological means of pest management. 🙂

      Thank you for your support in the project!

      Reply

  95. solving a problem that does not put the filipino farmers in debt or cause harm to them or the environment is worth every minute and effort of support! this should go a long way

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  96. Brilliant idea Jax! This would definitely help our farmers and the environment too. Hope you get the grant 🙂

    Reply

  97. Good job, Jax! I hope this proposal gets the grant. I love the idea that this is a mechanically powered machine making it less expensive for the rural farmers to operate.

    Reply

    1. Hi Roxanne, thank you for your insight. Yes, one of the main points was to make it mechanical so that it could be used less expensively. 🙂 I appreciate the support!

      Reply

  98. Jax, this is a smart and practical solution to a problem of nature. Good example of giving back to the community. I hope you can make this a reality.

    Reply

    1. Hi Tito Mike! Yes, this project really aims to help farmers financially and become more sustainable in their post-harvest pest management practice. 🙂 I really appreciate your support!

      Reply

  101. Since I am not very knowledgeable about Agriculture nor Engineering, I can’t exactly visualize how the machine would look like. But I like the objective of this proposal since it will benefit small-time farmers. Maybe once you get the grant and finish the prototype, then I could fully understand how it’ll work. Or maybe you could put up a draft of how the machine would look like? Is that possible?

    Anyway, I think it’s nice that you’re are working on an innovation that could potentially help Filipino farmers. Good luck Josine!

    Reply

    1. HI Karel, thank you for your insights. At present, my team and I are still in the process of designing the machine, and we’re polishing a lot of the design points. However, you can get an idea of how the machine will work if you visit the GMA article, because there is a design there that helps readers visualize the process. 🙂

      I really appreciate your support!

      Reply

    1. Hi Kristel, thank you for your comment. Your support for this project will go a long way in helping our farmers change their livelihoods and their lives for the better. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi Michele! Yes, it’s awesome that social media is being utilized to help the problems being faced by our farmers be brought into the spotlight. Thank you for doing your part as well!

      Reply

  105. This is a great initiative. This would most definitely help our local farmers, especially those who have no means to purchase such equipment and/or have no access to electricity and fuel.

    Reply

  106. This project will definitely go a long way especially because growth in productivity and competitiveness in the agriculture sector is also one of the Philippine government’s goals for poverty reduction in the rural areas. I really hope this gets the grant.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rea, thanks for your insight! Yes, a lot of people are unaware of how vital it is to support our agricultural industry, and I do hope that this project gets the attention of our local government. 🙂

      Reply

  108. Brilliant idea, Jax! Simple and cost effective enough for our farmers. Good job!👍🏻

    Reply

  109. I think this is a great idea jax.
    -caters various products
    -chemical-free
    -easy to use
    very eco-friendly, innovative, and user-friendly. i hope you get this grant. congratulations!

    Reply

  110. The way it is being comnunicated to people is very straight forward and simple – one doesnt need to have agricultural background to fully understand it. The idea however is really great and seeing this come out of field in the near future is such a big help.This is truly something you can call your own!

    Reply

    1. Hi Margarita. While I was writing this proposal, I was hoping to make it as easy to understand as possible for those without an agricultural background, and your comment tells me that I was able to hit this goal. I’m so glad that you see the merit of this project, and thank you for your support!

      Reply

  111. I never knew you had this in you. Lagi lang tayo nagiinom nung college. Good job Jax!

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  112. This idea is a much needed innovation for our Filipino farmers. I wish this pushes all the way through. Good luck!

    Reply

    1. Hello! Yes, this is for post-harvest practice. It’s an area that doesn’t get a lot of attention in the Philippines, but it’s crucial for the process since it’s usually a time when produce is stored for long periods. So it’s very important to make sure that this part of the production process is also modernized and updated. Thanks again for your support!

      Reply

  115. The idea behind this proposal is simple yet very promising. What I like most about this project is that it aims to offer a cost effective solution for the problems of our small scale farmers. Hope this project materializes soon. Good job jax!!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Dess. Thanks for your comment. 🙂 Yes, one of the most important points was to make it cost-effective and affordable for farmers with less financial resources. Thanks for your idea!

      Reply

  116. Really impressive. It amazes me how the socio-economic status of the people who will benefit from this is being given due attention and consideration. The technology being presented here is simple yet innovative but, most importantly, is sensitive to the needs of our farmers. Congratulations! I sincerely hope this project gets the grant. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Kookai! Thank you for your comment. 🙂 The potential economic benefits for our farmers are really significant, and I also hope that this proposal comes to life. I appreciate your support!

      Reply

  117. I’m not even from the Phillipines and I think it’s great. I hope you get enough attention and/or funding to make this work for the less privileged farmers!

    Reply

    1. Hi Tim! Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my proposal. I am really excited that it’s making its way to other countries. 🙂 I appreciate your support for my proposal very much!

      Reply

  119. Sana makarating pa ito sa mga taong may kayang makapagbigay ng pondo para kahit wala yung “grant”, magawa mo ito. Napakaganda ng naiisip mong solusyon! Sana talaga maikalat pa ito upang maipabahagi pa natin ang mga impormasyon na ito. Salamat, jax! Ipinagmamalaki kita, anak!

    Reply

    1. Hi Lesley, yes. The device will definitely reduce the use of pesticides because it can remove adults and immatures of the pests through mechanical means. Then you can dispose of the pests by simple methods like burning them or subjecting them to a deep freeze. But the produce will be safe from the effects of these methods.

      Reply

  127. 👏🏻 social media used for a good cause, not everyday we see this! 100% support to this project! It’s about time we do something on improving our agriculture especially ‘rice’ product, so we dont have to export much, rather we buy our own

    Reply

    1. Hi Melie, thank you for your comment! Yes, it’s time we help out our rice-producing sector so that we can go back to the time when our country was self-sufficient when it came to producing rice. 🙂

      Reply

  128. This is a great idea! Hopefully, you will be able to get the grant so that you can proceed with the prototype. This will surely of great help to our local farmers especially on those areas where farming is the main source of income. Since MPReS is manually operated, no additional cost for electricity or fuel will be deducted from the profit of our small-scale farmers. I hope that MPReS will reach the smallest farming community in the country.

    Good luck with this, Ate Jax! A true #IskolarNgBayanParaSaBayan.

    Reply

    1. Hi Pier. 🙂 Thank you for the comment. 🙂 Yes, this proposal will really go a long way in helping our rural farmers become more financially stable, because it can really help reduce damage and increase profits from farming. I appreciate the support!

      Reply

  129. Hey boss! I think this project is amazing simply because of its “simplicity”. It shows how much you’ve given thought to the circumstances of the Filipino farmers who often find themselves unable to access high end machinery to improve postharvest handling.

    I hope this gets the grant! We certainly need to improve the agricultural sector of the country, what with the PH being a predominantly agricultural society (or at least I think it still is). Best of luck to you, boss! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Jose, thank you for your support. If this proposal does come to life through this grant, I will definitely contact you to help me find partner farmers. 🙂

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  132. Great proposal jax!! Very innovative!! This can really help our farmers and can lessen the use of pesticides thus decreasing their health problems.

    Hope you get this grant jax!! Good luck!! ^_^
    Galing galing!!

    Reply

  137. “Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries, and new ideas probably in that order” – Sydney Brenner

    I dont know about the order but I think this proposal has all the right ingredients (new technique, new discovery, new idea) capable of advancing the field of agriculture. Would love to see this project materialize. Please make it happen.

    Reply

    1. Hi Gem! Thanks for the insight. Of course, should the proposal go ahead, it’s going to be a trial-and-error process where we learn during the whole process in order to create the final desired output. 🙂 I appreciate your support!

      Reply

  138. Galing! It’s about time we put our efforts back to agriculture. Initiatives like this project would certainly help propel our farmers and our agri sector to a more sustainable and cost-efficient future. 🙂

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  139. What a great initiative! I hope this project gets the support it deserves because this can really help our farmers and the agricultural community.

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  140. This is very feasible! It’s low cost and simplicity makes it very appropriate for use in remote areas areas where technology is a bit behind. This will surely benefit alot of farmers.

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  141. Great proposal Jax! Good to know that you got this opportunity to use and enhance your knowledge and skills for the betterment of our country, especially to our supposedly one of our economic strength. More power to you and your project! Good luck 🙂

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  142. Congrats Jax for the brilliant idea. Hopefully this idea can be materialized soon for the benefit of the farmers and the agricultural sector as well.

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  143. MPReS-sive! This device can definitely change the future of agriculture in the Philippines. I hope you get the grant for you to be able to make farmers lives easier.

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  146. Sometimes the best solutions are the simple ones. I hope this will materialize with the fusion of your agricultural background, research and the expertise of the engineers as well. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Joyce, thank you for your support! This will certainly be an endeavor that will require the expertise of engineers, as well as my own academic background. 🙂 And I am thankful that I have that kind of support!

      Reply

  147. Even with the attempt of our country to expand our horizon in different areas, improvements in the agricultural sector should be prioritized since aside from food being one of Maslow’s basic requirements of needs, many sources have already approved the idea that the Philippines as an agricultural nation. An idea like this should have been in the clear long before to address post harvest loss. Now, that this has been thought of and, hopefully, will come into materialization, it will answer the specifics as to how we could improve this sector of our country. May this be noticed by interested people so we could further not just the economy but also help as one among the other countries in the world for providing assistance and research in this field. Good job jax, truly ground breaking.

    Reply

    1. Hi Joseph, thanks for the support. Food production and availability is a really big issue in our country, and I hope that this device can help reduce that problem. 🙂 thanks for your comment!

      Reply

  148. Even with the attempt of our country to expand in different horizon, food remains one of Maslow’s basic requirements in his hierarchy of needs and which should be provided sufficiently in this still growing nation. A noble idea such as this should have been in the clear long before, since it’s mostly cost effective and relatively simple design could work even in the most marginalized areas. A country like our, which was already acclaimed by most sources as an agricultural nation, should not shy away in attempts to improve not only in the productivity of o

    Reply

  149. Even with the attempt of our country to expand in different horizon, food remains one of Maslow’s basic requirements in his hierarchy of needs and which should be provided sufficiently in this still growing nation. A noble idea such as this should have been in the clear long before, since it’s mostly cost effective and relatively simple design could work even in the most marginalized areas. A country like ours, which was already acclaimed by most sources as an agricultural nation, should not shy away in attempts to improve productivity and ultimately research as one with the whole world. May this meet interested eyes. Good job jax, a truly ground breaking one.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment. Yes, we have to find new, effective ways to make our food production more viable and effective, and I really think that this is a good idea. 🙂

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  150. This is by far one of the most realistic proposals I’ve read. This will not only benefit the farmers but also the environment, so win-win situation! Good job Jax! I hope you get the grant! Good luck!

    Reply

  151. This is MPReSsive! Seems like a simple idea and i’m so proud of you for being the one who thought about it. Congratulations! Hope you get the grant!

    Reply

    1. Hi K! I’m so happy that you find this MPReSsive! 😀 I hope that this project comes to life, so that we can all carry the Filipino pride for this proposal. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi Jasmin, thank you for the support! I really wanted to focus on a problem in agriculture that’s pressing, but no one has really thought of a solution for. I hope that this proposal can be that solution. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi Joey! Thanks so much for your support for the proposal. If the grant does not push through, I will definitely be looking into crowdfunding because so many people have already voiced out their faith in the project. 🙂 I will definitely post updates on social media! 🙂

      Reply

  155. Great idea.. my only concern is the capacity of your machine.. the 50kgs may be too heavy for some if the vibration is to be from a foot pedal.. but with a well designed mechanical transmission system, this is promising..

    Reply

    1. Hi Jenny, thanks so much for that insight. 🙂 Actually, one of the engineers that I am working with has already voiced out that concern, and we are already considering several solutions, such as working with smaller batches, or created a better transmission system that can handle that load without requiring too much effort from the person powering the machine. Hopefully, it will be as strenuous as pedaling a bike! 🙂

      Reply

  156. Ï salute you for such à noble intention which our government should have done for our people. Looking forward for the success If this project !

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  157. ang galing! simple solution yet could really make a great impact on our farmers’ welfare and in establishing food security. . nakakalungkot but i see ads showing us that a large pool of would-be farmers are leaving the rurals kasi nakita na nila na hindi enough yung farm income to pay off the debt that farmers accumulated. if this continues, we won’t have farmers anymore to buy food from. . now, if this proposal would materialize, definitely there will be higher income for them because of the cheap cost of the process and higher yield in production. . younger generation would be encouraged to stay and help out, no more worrying about food security and so on with the good stuff. . 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Kaye! I’m so happy that people are beginning to realize the problems our farmers are facing, and it’s through simple solutions and our working together for proposals like this one that we can help our farmers. 🙂

      Yes, hopefully, this project can have significant impact on alleviating the poverty issues of our country in terms of food, especially for rural farmers. 🙂

      Reply

  160. ang galing! simple solution yet could really make a great impact on our farmers’ welfare and in establishing food security. . nakakalungkot but i see ads showing us that a large pool of would-be farmers are leaving the rurals kasi nakita na nila na hindi enough yung farm income to pay off the debt that farmers accumulated. if this continues, we won’t have farmers anymore to buy food from. . now, if this proposal would materialize, definitely there will be higher income for them because of the cheap cost of the process and higher yield in production. . younger generation would be encouraged to stay and help out, no more worrying about food security and so on with the good stuff. . 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi kath! Yes, I also think that the younger generation is the key to revitalizing our agricultural sector. And it’s not just a matter of reviving our traditional ways, it’s also essential to modernize our practices and methods so that we can adapt to changes social, economic, and environmental conditions. 🙂 And I hope that this can be considered one of the turning points of that revolution. 😉 Thank you for your support!

      Reply

  163. Taking into great consideration the financial status of the country’s hardworking farmers (and the agricultural sector in the bigger picture) is by itself already a very huge plus for this project and should definitely take off. Such a vision is indeed MPReSsive and I do hope this project receives all the support it needs for the betterment of Phil. agriculture.

    Reply

    1. Hi Prime, I’m very happy to have MPReSsed you. 🙂 I also hope that this proposal comes to life, because it really has great potential to help our farmers!

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  165. Great idea. Hoping to use this in the future. It’s cost effective and simple to use but with great outcome. Makes us more proud Jax. Can’t wait for this proposal to be in effective.

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  166. Amazing! This will be a great help to our farmers. Your project will make a huge difference. Good job, Jax! I hope you get the grant.

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  167. Ang galing! Very iMPReSsive 😉 We really need to support and prioritize projects like this especially since the Philippines is an agricultural country. This will indeed help majority of Filipino farmers by making it manually operated considering electricity is very expensive or in most areas unavailable. Also, it won’t compromise the harvest or the environment by using mechanical means.

    Bring back agricultural progress in the Philippines! Yey!

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  168. This is a good low cost, simple method to address some of our agricultural sector’s problems. If given enough resources, this would ease the burden our farmers have and help with our country’s current food supply problems.

    Reply

    1. Hi Incent, thanks for your support. Yes, I’m hoping that this proposal will be given funding through the grant, and maybe in the future, other interested investors, so that it can be produced on a bigger scale. 🙂

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  169. Congratulations Jax! You’re doing great for the Agri sector. Hope it will materialize soon and hope that the government will give its full support for this great endeavor. More power.

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  170. This is really a good idea, I am MPReSsed!😊 A lot of people will benefit from this project from farmers to consumers, and this is a great plus to the Philippine Agricultural Sector. I hope this will materialize soon! Goodluck, jax! 😊🙌🏼👏🏼

    Reply

  173. I believe this is a huge push to help elevate the once rich sector of our land. Keep it up Jax. Our country needs more people like you!

    Tito Ian

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  176. Hi Jax, really good idea and wish you all the best with this. I think our farmers will really benefit from this simple yet innovative solution.

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  177. Expensive cars that fly with time machine is cool, but ain’t answer to nothing. Your low cost bug busting machine is indeed the answer to our kababayan farmers or even to farmers all around the world. So I say, good job and keep your faith up.
    (After this, hover board pls.) 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Tito Ian. You’re right; expensive, high-technology answers aren’t always the best. Sometimes, the best solutions are simple and obvious. 🙂

      I’ll get to working on that hover board! 😀

      Reply

  179. Good job, Jax! I hope that this project will push through for the benefit of the Filipino community. 🙂

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  181. This is a great idea!! I hope this plan would push through for the sake of all the Filipino farmers! Good luck!

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  182. that percentage loss could have help our farmers with their livelihood, 50% is no joke, it could have changed the lives of our farmers, our community and our country. BUT we can still prevent this from happening again, I believe that this proposal can help us reduce the losses we get without spending big for the device. I hope the proposal will materialize and would love to see some photos of the device in the near future 🙂 Kudos, Jax! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Serphie, yes, this could be a great innovation that can help a lot of losses in the future for profit, and more importantly, yield! 🙂 More food for everyone, more happy. 😀 Thanks my friend!

      Reply

  184. Hi Jax! I love the idea, especially the intention, and how it is very practical and efficient. This is very applicable in rural areas. I wish you success!

    Reply

  185. The article was in UP’s LinkedIn posting. I congratulate you, Ms. Macaspac, and would like to see wide implementation of this project to help our farmers. I am a UP Manila alumni currently living in Michigan, willing to provide additional support if needed. More power to you…

    Reply

    1. Hi Odessa! I am very humbled to know that this proposal was deemed worthy to be posted in UP’s LinkedIn site, and very happy that it was able to reach you all the way to Michigan! It’s definitely a huge help for our farmers, and I really hope that this project comes to life.

      Please do feel free to contact me on Facebook (Josine Macaspac), so that we can chat more. I would love to get to know more about your thoughts on this proposal. 🙂 Have a great day!

      Reply

  190. I hope that the government could support our farmers especially in rural areas in order to help them using this technology. Nice job!

    Reply

    1. Hi Xander. Yup, it’s time we used modern technology to help alleviate the problems that farmers have, especially in terms of financial support and gain. Thanks for your comment!

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  191. According to IRRI, farmers lose an average of 37% of their rice crops to pests and diseases and this percentage is almost half of their produce. MPreS could greatly help bring this loss to an acceptable level without the use of pesticides and other chemicals, which I think is safer. This is a vision the Agriculture sector needs now. I really hope this proposal pushes through. Kudos to the author! Good luck!

    Reply

    1. Hi Alex, yup, it’s a huge number, especially when you think about how many pesos and tons of yield that 37% actually translate into, This proposal can help reduce that number, as well as the need to rely on chemical control methods. Thanks for the support!

      Reply

  192. I used to work with farmers and their “solar dryers ” meaning drying their produce of the road. This devise would be a great help for post harvest handling. I wish our Department of Agriculture would look into this and even finance it development. Best of luck.

    Reply

    1. Hi Girlie! It’s great to hear from someone who has first-hand experience in working with farmers. 🙂 So you know how much help this sector needs, and I hope that we can answer this call in the near future. Thanks for this support!

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  193. I used to work with farmers and their “solar dryers ” meaning drying their produce on the road. This devise would be a great help for post harvest handling. I wish our Department of Agriculture would look into this and even finance it development. Best of luck.

    Reply

  194. I think this will be a very useful machine especially when built at a much lower cost than existing ones.
    It would be better to look into the bugs that will be targeted and those that have the capability to ignore the shaking. It will also be good if we can already separate the empty rice and the good ones.
    Just my two cents! I still think this concept is a win-win no matter how you look at it.

    Reply

  195. I hope you get the grant for your proposal, because this will help our Agricultural Sector… especially the farmers… We need more professionals like you in our country…

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  196. Hello!

    Great idea! This device directly addresses one of the main problems in post-harvest produce processing in the Philippines. Though to make the concept more understandable to the general public, may I suggest that you include in this blog a visual representation of how the device will look like and how the process of bug/pest removal will work? It would help big time if you can translate all these text into a simple picture/drawing that will explain and illustrate your proposal better. I saw that there was an illustration provided in the GMA News article that featured your idea. Maybe, you can also edit this blog to include that visual here. 🙂

    Anyway, I really hope that this concept bags the grant! 🙂 Go go go! God bless you, dude!

    Reply

  197. I hope your project pushes through. Good luck! Anything to help our farmers will benefit our country in the long run.

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  198. This kind of project should be supported by our government. MPreS would greatly help our agriculture sector especially the small-scale farmers. It is inexpensive, practical and time-efficient. Galing, Jax!

    Reply

  200. Hi Lau! Thanks for those great insights. Yes, of course my team and I will be looking into ways to improve the machine, and hopefully add more ways to handle more pests, such as the grain moth, which is another post-storage pest (albeit not as economically important as the Coleopterans that this machine targets). The fact the damaged rice grains are normally lighter compared to whole, untouched grains are lighter is a good idea to consider to find a way to separate them from each other.

    Thanks again for the input. You can be sure that we will take that into account as we continue improving the design of the first prototype. 🙂

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  201. We are very happy & proud for you here in Santa Cruz Laguna the birth place of your lolo the late Atty Jose A Ambrosio Ka Pepe, like him it shows na may malasakit ka at pagmamahal sa mahihirap na magsasaka.

    Reply

  202. You have a nice idea here, Ate Jax. I’m sure it will help a lot of small scale farmers in the country. I hope the project will push through. Best of luck! 🙂

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  203. Simple pero rock! You should consider consulting UPLB CTTE regarding potential patent when your project pushes through. Great job Josine Ariel!

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  204. Brilliant idea! Hope this project would be successful. It would be a great help for our agriculture.

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  206. When I read this article, I really like the technology because I know it will help Philippine’s agriculture. It will help the farmers and the production. Your idea Jax will help a lot of farmers,minimize their labor and pest problem.

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  207. *Slow clap* This is very cool, Ate Jax. I hope that you get the grant. This idea shouldn’t be put to waste and this is the kind of project that should be recognized and funded by the government. Many foreign scientists are going here in the Philippines to study agriculture, so I hope that this project could start here and not from the other countries.

    Also, as an IE student I was just wondering about the mechanics of the machine. Does the operator need to pedal the machine the entire time or only to start it? If he needs to, have you considered the effects of the vibration to the operator? 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hello Pam, thanks for that input! In terms of the mechanics of the machine, the initial design would require the operator to keep powering the machine all throughout the process. However, it its possible to design the mechanism so that the operator would only need to reach a certain speed and power that the machine can self-sustain, why not? It would be better for the operator because it would be less strenuous.

      Admittedly, I was not able to include the possible effects, if any, on the operator, since the concept that it it would be as strenuous as pedaling as bike. I think this field is called Ergonomics? I don’t really have a lot of experience in this field (any, really), and thank you for calling my attention to this particular idea.

      Would love to consult more with you about this particular area of the device, please do contact me. 🙂

      Reply

  208. Great idea you should persue to become a reality. Practical, viable and sustainable solutions are what small folder farmers need.

    Would your design work for vegetable crops?

    We at OrganicOptions Inc support these kinds of initiatives. Do keep us updated if your idea is ready for implementation.

    Best of luck to you.

    Reply

    1. Hello Sir Nonong! Unfortunately, the design won’t work for vegetable crops themselves, because the vibrating motion might damage the crops, especially for fleshy vegetables such as tomatoes or eggplant. However, I do see that there might be an application for seeds and pulses, depending on how my team can tweak the size of the perforations. 🙂

      I will definitely get in touch with your team at OrganicOptions, if this idea comes to life.

      Thanks po Tito!

      Reply

  210. It’s not every day that we see someone from the tech-obsessed millennial generation trying to make a difference in the agricultural sector. Kudos to you, Jax. I really hope you get to help farmers who deserve all the help they can get in their back-breaking work. They toil so hard yet they remain the poorest in the labor force—and the most overlooked. No wonder our agricultural growth has been described as “anemic.”

    Reply

    1. Hi Mine, yes, the agricultural sector is often that vague sector that everyone knows is so poor and marginalized, but thinks that, “well, let’s hope someone does something about it.” Well, this is time for us to be that “someone”, and thanks for showing your support on this proposal!!

      Reply

  211. Affordable and environment-friendly- great combo! I like the sound of it! Good luck, Jax! Will watch out for this. 😉

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  213. Wonderful idea Jax! 🙂 I hope that this vision of yours would inspire Filipino scientists – to innovate for the future of the Philippines 🙂 Congratulations!

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  214. I sincerely hope you get the grant. Congratulations for being an advocate of appropriate technology. Good luck!

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  215. If there are 500 people who like these idea that are willing to chip in 10 dollars each, then we are one step closer to the reality. what do you think guys?

    Reply

      1. Crowdfunding is a good idea to further extend your resources to refine your project. I really hope you get the grant so you will have the seed money and be able to fully utilize and incorporate the training and advise that will come from the experts. 🙂

  216. This project will certainly promote organic farming and help farmers in a more efficient and lower costing production process. MPReS may even make the difference between the amount we pay for a cup of rice today and in the future.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jm, thanks for that! Yes, this has so many applications for organic farming, because it can drastically reduce our reliance on chemical control means. Thanks for the support!

      Reply

  219. Safe, practical, and very innovative. This would really be beneficial to the increasing needs of our community. Hope you’ll get the grant! Best of luck!

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  221. Great idea! Farmers specially here in Nueva Ecija will surely benefit from this proposal. Keep it up! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Salamat Amie sa suporta! If ever this device becomes a reality and we’re in the testing phase, you can be sure that I will contact you regarding getting in touch with farmers. 🙂

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  222. It is a wonderful project and will certainly be beneficial for millions of farmers. Well done Josine 🙂

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  223. Resourceful and innovative! There are still places that are not yet supplied by electricity. This would alleviate our farmer’s problems. Due to climate change, pests appears in a different time. Since your invention is a mechanical thing, anytime of the year, our farmers will be ready for pest control.

    Reply

    1. Hi Robert, thanks for your support. Yes, this device could mean that, at anytime, farmers would be able to control post-harvest pests, no matter the climate or weather conditions. 🙂

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  224. Resourceful and innovative. Due to climate change, pests have a different cycle now. There are also places that there is no electricity or fuel being supplied. Since your invention is a mechanical device, any time of the year, our farmer will be pest control ready. Hope this proposal of yours be approved.

    Reply

  225. Congrats Jax! I like it that you chose to focus on post-harvest technologies. More importantly, it’s good that you chose to serve the poor farmers in this study. Looking forward for the implementation of this research!

    Reply

    1. Hi Pura, thanks for the support. As an entomologist, I realized that there was a need to focus not only on the harvesting side of the production process, but also protecting the crop during the post-harvest and storage side. Not a lot of people realize how long their food materials tend to stay stored in warehouses where they can be vulnerable to pests, so it’s really important that there is a cheap and safe way to deal with them.

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  226. To everyone who is leaving a comment:

    A huge thank you for your comments and suggestions. Your support is like having a giant think tank full of professionals from different sectors of life, and they have really helped me focus on potential problems I have not able to think about during the conceptualization phase, and think of innovative solutions for these problems. Through your support, the design is really improving, and becoming one that we can all be proud of. 🙂

    You are also more than welcome to reply to other comments on this blog, and leave your thoughts on each other’s replies.

    Thank you once again!

    Reply

  229. Really looking forward for this. However, is there any existing figures or stats that estimates how much our local farmers lose with the so-called post harvest pest? I’m just curious because if the words ‘as high as 50%’ match the estimates, this is such an alarming situation that the DA should be trying to mitigate. Kudos to people like you ma’am for a practical and ingenious idea. 🙂 I came from a rural area and I must say, this might probably increase the income of farmers across our country. I’m also hoping that indigenous people would be prioritized for the prototype.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rem, there are lots of figures on post-harvest and storage losses from institutions such as the DA, IRRI…it would depend on what kind of crop you are looking for. Losses CAN reach as high as 50%, especially if the conditions are right for pest infestation, such as poor sanitation practices of the warehouses, or poor pest monitoring. Thank you for your support, and I also hope that this project comes to life!

      Reply

  231. hopefully this entry wins. and even if not, hopefully it will reach the minds and hearts of those interested in helping the agricultural sector.

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  232. hopefully this entry wins but if not, at least it may reach the hearts and minds of those willing to help the agricultural sector

    Reply

    1. Hello JB, yes, I also hope that even if this is not blessed in receiving one of the grants, the local government or a private body will take notice, and give it their support. 🙂

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  234. Very promising. Indeed, the best solutions are those that are simple but effective. Looking forward to the realization of this project and its benefits, most especially to our small-scale farmers. 🙂

    Reply

  235. Hi jax, the concept you & your team had been progressively studying on is brilliant! I agree that PH being vastly rich in its natural resources will make a good boost in our economy if focused on agricultural development.

    However, just like any other prototypes & other patented equipment researching as well as patience in product development is a must. I suggest that your team do some case studies on similar products especially in tropical or ASEAN setting which can suit PH vegetation properties. Also consider new technological advancements aside from mechanical means (you don’t want to get the farmer dog tired at the end of the day just to operate the machine) such as using renewable sources: solar, thermal,hydro which has been significally proven to be an efficient means as alternative to fuel, electricity & mechanical conventional methods

    Reply

    1. Hello Az, thank you for these wonderful insights!

      Yes, I am already looking into securing a patent for this device, and I am talking to patent lawyers who are going to help me do this.

      Also, thank you for that wonderful idea about using alternative power sources. I think, as a tropical country, solar panels would be a great component to add to the invention in the future. My team and I have to discuss how to add these solar panels without adding too much to the production cost of the device, but this is definitely something to consider. Thank you again!

      Reply

  239. Simple, effective, eco-friendly and affordable for farmers, We need more solutions like this that will pave the way for sustainable development. I hope this project gets support.

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  242. ‪#‎GCARD3‬ Best of luck Josine Macaspac! 🙂 I hope that this project will be realized in the soonest possible time. It is very promising and I can say that it will REALLY have a huge impact in agriculture in the Philippines.

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  244. The device is critically needed in the rural areas where farmers suffer tremendous losses in their produce because of pest infestation. The machine will empower poor farmers since they would be enjoying more income from their produce. The admirable goal of the scientist/inventor of the device alone should prompt non government organizations, research agencies and governments to take a serious look at it, and probably provide more funding for such endeavors. Such are the projects that help governments help its farmers enjoy better lives.

    Reply

    1. Hi Erica, thanks for your support. I also think that this will be such a huge help for our local farmers, and even farmers on a global scale. I hope that this gets the funding and support it needs to come to life!

      Reply

  248. As a grandson of a farmer, the concept of the machine would greatly help the farmers in the Philippines plus the fact that it is eco-friendly and cost-efficient for farmers. I hope this proposal would be granted the soonest possible time. Goodluck Jax on your proposal. #Gcard3

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  249. Enlightened!
    Your strongest points are that: (1) it is appropriate technology, it is suitable to the social and economic conditions of the farmers that you will be designing it for; (2) it is an eco-friendlier alternative as you do not need chemical pesticides nor fuel to operate the MPReS; and (3) the output is better for consumers as the corn and grains will not be drenched in chemicals.

    This will be a great contribution to more sustainable practices in agriculture. Wishing you the best in building the prototype and in this proposal.

    ~Vero

    Reply

    1. Hi Vero, yes, thank you! You hit on the most important concepts of this device: it’s appropriate to our changing times, it’s eco-friendly, and it will be a huge benefit for our farmers, especially in terms of profit and return of investment. Thanks for your insights!

      Reply

  251. Enlightened!

    Your strongest points are: (1) it is appropriate technology in that it is suitable for the social and economic conditions of the farmers that you are inventing this device for; (2) it is an eco-friendlier alternative as it cancels the need for pesticides, nor does it require fuel to operate the machine; and (3) the quality of the produce is better for the health of consumers as the corn and grains will not be drenched in chemicals.

    This is a great step forward towards more sustainable agricultural practices. Wishing you all the best in building the prototype as well as in this proposal.

    ~Vero

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  252. Good luck Jax! This is indeed an impressive project — simple yet ingenious approach for improved postharvest quality management of our produce.

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    1. Thank you Sir Bong, I definitely believe that this is a huge problem that can be solved with this simple, yet effective solution. I hope that this project does indeed come to life!

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  254. It is good to see the next generation’s interest in solving old problems. Using today’s technology to spread awareness and hopefully getting some traction. The success of this proposal would be a big victory for our rural farmers, and might encourage more of your generation to study and participate in programs that offer doable solutions to alleviate poverty. Good job.

    Reply

    1. This is such a wonderful and admirably succinct comment. I truly feel the endless support and faith in the project, just from this single word. Thank you very much. I am truly grateful.

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  259. Hi Jaxy!!

    Love your idea! If there is any other way that we can help with this project, let us know! Good luck!

    Reply

  261. this will be breakthrough and big help to our local farmers. more power and keep up the good work. with our full support.

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  268. Would this be affordable and accesible for our Filipino Farmers ? Well good job then. I’m very with your work. Good to be inspired and I hope you can inspire more people!!

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  269. It’s mechanical feature would help farmers, even those from remote islands of the Philippines, in their post-harvest problems. I’ve been able to visit indigenous farmers and talk to them about their struggles. One of which is that most technology introduced to them by organizations are too complex, extravagant and would disrupt their traditional farming methodologies. But with the simplicity and efficiency of this machine, I could see it fitting into the cultural ways of indigenous farmers. I hope this idea gets the grant and comes to life. Best of luck! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks Czang, I also hope that this would come to life, because the technology is simple and affordable, but has the capability to help millions of farmers, not only here, but all over the world.

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  270. This is an efficient and innovative idea to help the small farmers.
    We plan to invite josine in PUMP-PINAS Agribusiness Corp. soon.
    For the revival of Philippine Agriculture Sector!

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  272. Sobrang magiging malaking tulong ‘to sa lahat ng farmers. Galing nung idea, goodluck ate Jax! 🙂

    Reply

  273. Wow! We got several sacks of insect infested palay (rice) here at house (in Pakil, Laguna). If there is a facility here in our town with such machine, it would be a very big help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Resty, if this project does come to life, I would love for you to help out with the testing phase for the prototype, since you have ready sacks of palay to clean! hehe. 🙂

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  274. I’m from Laguna and I really think this project will help tons of corn and rice farmers! The idea is so well-thought and yet so simple that its mechanics are enduser-friendly. Now I wonder: bakit ngayon lang may nakaisip nito? 🙂 I really hope a prototype can be made and presented to the farmers to test. I think this MPReS will go a long way. Good job, Josine!

    Reply

    1. Hi Diane, the simplest reason why this proposal took so long to come to life is because farmers are so dependent on chemical control means, and since there is no alternative method, farmers grow used to using chemical means without wondering if there is an alternative option.

      But through this device, we can give farmers a clean, safe, and effective solution. 🙂

      Thanks for your support!

      Reply

  276. These are the projects that should get national highlight. Seems simple but would really be a big help to our farmers. I hope that you would get the grant.

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  278. As a huge consumer of rice, it will be very much sensible for the Philippine govermenr to fund such projects. This will be beneficial to both the farmers and the market.

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    1. Hi Timmie, yes, we tend to forget how HUGE the consumption of the Filipino community has when it comes to rice, corn, and other grains. Hopefully this device gets the funding it needs to come to life!

      Reply

  279. This proposal is great. Whether this will be granted or not (but hopefully yes), I think it already succeeded at disseminating information regarding the status of the farmers in the Philippines. It takes a scientist/ inventor with a heart to really think of solutions that can empower the struggling farmers.

    This proposal opens up for more project opportunities in the agriculture sector of the country. Hoping that the authorities will notice projects that address problems faced by the masses.

    Reply

    1. Hi Beverly, thanks for the support! Yes, even without the grant, one of the most important outcomes is that people are educated about one of the major problems that Philippine agriculture is facing. I also hope that this comes to the attention of the local authorities. 🙂

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  280. Cost efficient and realistic! Like the approach of how to maximize the effect of the machine at a minimal expense! Keep it up! 🙂

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  281. Awesome! This project will definitely reach great heights. Such a simple yet effective way to help our farmers. Congrats, Jax 🙂

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  282. Hi, I suggest you include references in your introduction, just to show that you have done thorough research on the background 🙂 Also, maybe you can allot some budget in the publishing of instruction manuals for future users.

    Overall, though, this is a good proposal since it will hopefully help small-scale farmers in yielding maximum profits from their crops. I also like that your proposed device is sustainable and environment-friendly.

    Best of luck!

    Reply

    1. Hi Allen, thanks for those insights. I would have loved to be able to add more references to this blog, but I feared that it would make it too long or unappetizing to read. However, for those who want more references or information about this project or the background of it, please feel free to contact me! We can chat about whatever questions you may have.

      As for the manual for operation, that’s a great idea. It’s already being planned, that we will release a quick and short guide on how to operate, clean, and maintain the machine. 🙂

      Thanks for the support!!

      Reply

  283. Will this be the first mechanical pest remover made herr in the Philippines? Sounds very helpful and considerably feasible! 😉

    Reply

    1. Hi Ria, yes, this will be the first mechanical pest remover here in the Philippines. At present, if farmers do use remove pests, it’s usually through manual shifting. It’s costly, ineffective, time-consuming, and there is a lot of waste because of spilled produce. This device will streamline that process, to make it faster, easier, more effective, and less wasteful. 🙂

      Thanks for the support!

      Reply

  285. Three things small scale farmers need: Safe, Green, Affordable.

    Small farmers in the Philippines need every single grain of their produce.

    Easy-to-use and safety. Simplicity is always a good thing and those mechanical engineers definitely need to put on their thinking capa for this one.

    An environmentally-safe way of doing things would help everyone. Crops, pests and people. An entomologist would be a good head for this project in controlling pests.

    Most of the farmers use manual labour (simple machines) to produce these crops. To have something affordable and hopefully low-maintenance apparatus in increasing produce output in the storage phase would not only be helpful but an essential part of farming.

    I think this project ticks all three of the needs. Hopefully you get the funding.

    Reply

  286. Safe. Green. Affordable. Three things small scale farmers need.

    Safety and Simplicity is a good thing. most of the small scale farmers do a lot of manual labour in producing the crops. the design/idea of the machine seems simple enough to make it an essential and necessary device in the harvest-to-storage process. The mech engineers need to brainstorm the heck out of this!

    Green. Environmentally-safe for the people (consumers, farmers), the environment (no chemicals) and the pests. An entomologist would know “something” about those pests right?

    Affordable. Maintenance is usually the problem with machines that are introduced, so this device, if it is low maintenance then it will be a good thing.

    The proposal ticks all the boxes that would help the small scale farmers.

    Good luck!

    Reply

    1. Hello B, thanks for your comments! I really appreciate how you were able to pinpoint the most important traits of the device, and how it can help our farmers, and even those on a global scale. Thanks bud!

      Reply

  287. As a fellow agriculturist and entomologist, i can see the pros this device can bring to the farmers.
    Not only would it be economically sound(hopefully!), it would also be ecologically safe.

    Kudos!

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  289. I salute your inquisitive mind and initiative to address problems of poor farmers specially on postharvest losses of grains (that includes our staple rice). If you will search the literature there are also simple technologies that are available to farmers which are based on basic principles such as hermetic storage system which does not require the use of chemical or harmful inputs during storage. This technology can kill almost 100% of insects during storage in less than a month by depriving them of oxygen. As long as the grains are dried properly before keeping them in hermetic storage system, the quality of stored grains are preserved even for a year. As far as I know among the reasons why farmers store if its seed is to be able to use them in the next growing season; and if they store grains for selling it is because farmers are waiting for a better price of grains in the market or saving the grains for emergencies. Using hermetic storage system is one solution that fits this purpose. Your mechanical device also is one but I am sure it will not eliminate 100% of the insects by mechanical separation and still will entail a lot of work. I am not saying this is impossible to solve the problem at hand but maybe not the best or practical solution. For additional information on hermetic storage systems and some farmers’ testimony you may click the links below:

    http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/step-by-step-production/postharvest/storage

    All the best on your endeavor and kudos to your advocacy for our farmers. Keep it up!

    Caling

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  290. I hope you get the funding required for this mechanical pest removal machine. Sobrang maka masa ng naisip mo kasi accessible siya for farmers kasi di kailangan gumastos ng malaki para paganahin. Very helpful sa isang agricultural country such as ours 🙂 Cheers!

    Reply

  291. This project is absolutely perfect to help even small farmers in one of the problems they have and if this machine will reach in their areas, it can increase their profits and farmer families will be affected positively as well. Good job ate jax!!

    Reply

  297. Nice! Sobrang laking tulong para sa farmers natin sa Pilipinas! Galing po!
    #GCARD3

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  299. This will really help a lot of Filipino farmers especially those who have small scale production.

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  300. The idea of the technology is great! I hope it is also affordable and can be easily learned by our local farmers especially in the Philippines. Much better if we can also modify this technology to some our main crops in the country. This is really a great contributuon to the pest management industry. Good luck!

    Reply

  301. Good proposal! I am hoping they will give you the grant. Solving agri-related problems and funding sound agricultural projects like this should really be given top priority here in the Philippines. Para sa ekonomiya! God bless jax. 🙂

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  302. Isang magandang idea! Ang simple lang po ng idea at madali siyang maiintindihan ng ating mga farmers. Malaki po ang maitutulong nito sa ating mga farmers! Good luck and God bless ate Jax! 😀

    Reply

  304. Great idea Jax! I love the part where it would be operated manually and mechanically — would allow the device to be simple, cost-effective, and won’t contribute to pollution. Maybe upgrade it even further by having farm animals like the kalabaw to do the pedaling instead so farmers can conserve their energy. *just a thought* I hope this idea becomes a reality! A lot of farmers will benefit from this simple innovation in solving a bigger problem. Good luck Jax! ^_^

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  305. Great idea Jax! just what the farmers need.. 🙂 I love how it can be operated manually and mechanically making it simple, cost-effective, and won’t contribute to pollution. Maybe upgrade it even more by allowing farm animals to do the pedaling instead so farmers can conserve their energy. *just a thought* I hope your idea can become a reality for farmers 🙂 Great to know a person like you thinking and creating for the agriculture industry. So proud! Good luck! ^_^

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  306. Hi Kenneth, yes, my team and I are making that that farmers would not be overtaxed or unduly burdened when using the device. The amount of effort that one would need to power the device would be no more, than say, what one would need to power a stationary bike. 🙂

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  307. for the future of agriculture! this would be such a great help to everyone. simple yet a big impact to agri.
    let’s go go!!

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    1. Thanks Awyn! I love how much you’re passionate about agriculture. Always know that you have your Ate Jax to help you through your UPLB journey, and beyond. 🙂

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  308. Such a great proposal! Thank you for supporting the agricultural sector. We really need this, people should be aware what’s going on with our lands. We need our farmers, we should help and support them.

    Reply

    1. Hi Marj, thanks for the support! I really appreciate you taking the time to go to this blog. Yes, our farmers really need our help, and it’s about time that our more blessed sectors in the society stood up and paid attention. 🙂

      Reply

    1. HI Tito Poch, thank you for the support. Yes, I truly believe that this project can have great global impact, and it’s my dream that this device can help rural farmers all over the world someday. 🙂

      Reply

  310. Since our farmers already experience pre-harvest losses due to pests, calamaties, etc., this project will not only help them profit more from spending less but will also result to reduction of wasted crops, thus greatly increasing their output. If funded/assisted properly, this machine will be able to boost our agriculture and will support the Philippines being an exporting country. Furthermore, educating everyone on our agricultural crisis will raise social awareness and will also guide people in voting (since election is coming soon) for the right candidates who addresses the critical knots of our country i.e agriculture and export. I hope everything goes well with this project of yours. Good job Jax!

    Reply

    1. Hi Aibee, thanks for that insight! It really warms my heart knowing that you are not personally in the same field, but thanks to this project, you were able to become familiar with the plights that our farmers face. This device can definitely help alleviate the poverty that many farmers face, especially those in rural areas.

      I also hope that the government take notice of this project, and realize the value of the machine. Thanks for the support!

      Reply

  311. A great proposal from a great person. And this could indeed improve the agricultural sector.
    Good job ate Jax!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Jao! This will definitely help benefit our agriculture sector in so many ways, such as economically, ecologically, and in a sustainable manner as well. 🙂 Thanks for your support!

      Reply

      1. there is nothing ecological or sustainable about manufacturing more machines for agriculture. you in the phillipines could grow your own solution, save money, stop manufacturing and patenting(money dump), solve bug problems, slow malaria, improve all your crops and storage problems. it’s a tree that will save humanity not a machine.

  312. This proposal is all over the news back in the Philippines! A great proposal indeed! We need more ideas like this! Mabuhay!

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  315. We do projects with local agricultural agencies and their goal is to increase the production of farmers. Unfortunately their usual approach is to get PHDs and MDs to teach them technical strategies and give them off-specs equipment. This innovation right here is a great bridge between the simplicity of the farmers and these agency’s end goal. Sometimes (if not most of the time) you do not need to have an extravagant degree to be able to help the farmers. Simple logic, creativity and innovation will do. I look forward to the implementation of this project. Hopefully one day ito na ang gagamitin ng farmers. Good job, Jax!

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  319. A very promising agri-machine. It is doable and less tedious for farmers and importantly cost-friendly. God bless you. Hope you win ate!

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  320. A very promising agri-machine. Reminds me of my tito’s invention. This machine makes things less tedious for farmers and importantly cost-friendly. God bless you!

    Reply

  329. I believe this is an awesome idea, keeping in mind the real situation of our farmers especially in the rural areas. I had the privilege of visiting farmers way back when I was in highschool. And in reality, they aren’t as ‘rich’ as they should be. So I think, your Plan is brilliant coz it will boost their income and lessen their loss per harvest.

    Reply
  330. Pingback: Young Filipina Scientist Who Invented Mechanical Bug Remover for Farmers was Granted Funds To Pursue Her Project - When In Manila

  331. Totally high-fiving the author on behalf of the Filipino youth! Quick recommendation though, when all these endeavors regarding agriculture gets done, you might give it a shot trying to eradicate the Aedes mosquito

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  332. Hello there! Im an undergrad student from UPLB, BS AEco. Your project catched my attention to know this further. Can I have your email?

    Reply

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