President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the first full-scale agricultural manufacturing complex in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s agricultural mechanization.

Established through a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO), the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Complex (KAMIC) is the first facility in the Philippines dedicated to the assembly and manufacture of agricultural machinery, such as tractors, harvesters, cultivators, and seeders, to meet local farming conditions.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Marcos said the facility would be built to strengthen the country’s capacity to develop and build farm machinery.

Marcos acknowledged that the Philippines still has to procure many of the agricultural equipment from other countries, adding that many of the tools “are not designed for the specific needs of our farmers.”

He said the project would make farming in the country more efficient and profitable as farmers no longer need to wait for the “overpriced” equipment.

“This is one of the projects that we have long looked forward to, knowing how essential reliable machinery is to our farmers. We all know of the hardships that come with farming,” he said.

“And so today, in the continuing search of these solutions, we unveil one of these solutions. This complex will be built for Filipino farms tended by our local farmers.”

Marcos stressed that the first agricultural machinery production complex was designed with Filipino farmers in mind, noting that the tools would help boost production, enhance crop quality, and raise farmers’ income.

“Our farmers work tirelessly. They invest their money, time, and effort just to put food on the tables of their countrymen. Yet, for many, the income that they receive does not align with the effort that they put into their work,” he said.

KAMIC will be built on a 20-hectare property owned by the local government of Kalikid Sur village, a location jointly approved by the DA and the Cabanatuan City government.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2026 and will last nine years, to be carried out in three phases: semi knock-down assembly, complete knock-down assembly, and full manufacturing assembly.

Marcos assured KAMICO of his administration’s commitment to promote policies aimed at protecting its investments in the Philippines.

“I truly believe that agriculture is the soul of our economy. This is why we will continue to advance the agricultural sector with technology and the support that our farmers rightly deserve, suited to the demands of the modern world,” he said.

“With the help of KAMIC and the hard work of our farmers, I am confident that our nation’s future will be more prosperous. The farmers’ future will be more prosperous. And our kababayans’ (countrymen) future will also be more prosperous. That is how important the work of our farmers is to the rest of the country.”

Distribution of farm inputs

Meanwhile, the President also led the distribution of various agricultural inputs and machinery to farmers in Central Luzon, to enhance their productivity and support local agriculture.

Among the equipment distributed were four-wheel drive tractors with implements, mechanical planters, combine harvesters, and hand tractors.

Marcos turned over the agricultural machinery to 44 farmer cooperatives and associations.

“Together, we will build productive fields here in Central Luzon and across the country where every farmer can stand tall and be dignified for the work that he or she does. That is our continuing dream, and that is what we will continue to work for,” he said.

Farmers also received fertilizer, soil ameliorants, as well as hybrid seeds and foliar, which will support 22,103 hectares of hybrid rice for the 2025 to 2026 dry season cropping. (PNA)