The outcome is worth the effort. From January to June 2007 alone,
AgMachIN recorded an average of 571 visits monthly. E-mail inquiries
have also poured in.
The TWG, in
a recent meeting, plans to increase the available online information
to include a database of manufacturers in the Philippines, agricultural
machinery statistics at the barangay level, postharvest technologies
and related publications, policy issues, extension bulletins, machinery
leaflets and a link to the Society of Aquaculture Engineers for
aquaculture designs.
The Agricultural
Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center - University of the Philippines
Los Baños (AMTEC-UPLB) is also eyeing the AgMachIN web site
as venue for the online application for machine testing.
The group agreed
to follow general guidelines pertaining to copyright and intellectual
property when publishing information on the web.
PCARRD Director
for Agricultural Resources Management Research, Dr. Digna O. Manzanilla
encouraged the TWG to join the PCARRD message board where most inquiries
on agricultural machinery are posted.
Representatives
from UPLB, the Metals Industry Research and Development Center,
the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Resources Research
and Development, the National Agriculture and Fishery Council, the
Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, the Bureau of Plant Industry
and the Laguna Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association
representing the private sector attended the meeting. (Engr. Romeo
Santiago, S&T Media Service)
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