ISO 9001:2015 Republic of the Philippines

CERTIFIED CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address: op@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 871-5531-33 local 101

AEN 180
Field Practice
Requirement 1
Needs Assessment Report

Background

The Baao Municipal Agricultural Office under the Local Government Unit aims to render a

prompt, efficient and responsive delivery of updated agricultural and fishery technology towards an

empowered and economically-sound farming and fishing communities with sustainable agri-based

livelihood. Increasing food production, providing support services, production, post-harvest and

marketing are some of its service goals. The Local Government Code of 1991 caused the

Department of Agriculture to devolve its extension service mandate to local government units

(LGUs), particularly the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs). Headed by the municipal agriculturist

supervising agricultural technologists assigned to specific fields in agriculture, they provide

agricultural extension services to all barangays including agricultural technologies that will enhance

the crop productivity and farmers income. One of the problems encountered by the Baao-MAO staff

in their field operations is the low number of farmer-clients who prefer the use of the Village-Type

Corn Cob Dryer located at Agdangan, Baao, Camarines Sur. Therefore, this needs assessment was

conducted on July 2021 to determine the present condition of the Village-Type dryers and machinery

problems encountered by the operators. It also aims to assess the farmer’s acceptability and

perception on the use of the said machinery.

Methods

Methods used to collect the data include interviews on operators and managers, survey-

interviews on corn farmers, and site-visits and inspection of farm-machinery. Previous reports and

data about the Village-Type Corn Cob Dryer was also requested from the Department of Agriculture

5 Regional Agricultural Engineering Division.

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 ISO 9001:2015 Republic of the Philippines
CERTIFIED CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address: op@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 871-5531-33 local 101

A joint interview of the operator and the managing agricultural technologist from the Baao

Municipal Agriculture Office was conducted while inspecting the machinery and farm operations.

Two corn farmers within the municipality of Baao were also respondents of the interview.

Key Findings

I. Operators and Client-Farmers

Corn farmers living in the upland areas of the municipality are one of the most common

clients that the Baao-MAO caters their services to. Corn (Maize) is second to rice as the most

important crop in the Philippines, with one-third of Filipino farmers, or 1.8 million, depending on

maize as their major source of livelihood (Gerpacio, et al.,2004). Post-harvest technologies in corn

production contributes significantly in the improvement of corn quality that farmers consume and sell.

Even with the advanced technology in corn production – from high yielding hybrid varieties to

modern biotech traits – the gains in corn grain production, to this day, are still hampered by the poor

postproduction techniques of majority of Filipino growers (Rivera,2012). Mostly, farmers depend on

solar drying of corn cobs which is not a suitable technique during the rainy season. The utilization of

mechanical dryers provides a better alternative to attain good corn quality. One of the machineries

that the office manage is a Village-Type Corn Dryer accessible to farmers in the Baao and

neighboring areas, however, some farmers opted to use mechanical dryers such as flatbed dryer

available in other private facilities. Accessibility with regards to location and high hauling fee charged

for transportation was stated as one of the reasons why the farmers prefer the use of flatbed dryers

in private facilities. There is also a need to encourage farmers through increased promotion and

information dissemination of the resource machinery throughout the community.

The need for education and training of additional operators of the Village-Type Corn Cob

Dryer were stated. Suggestions for services of operators to improve clear communication with

client-farmers was also a concern. There is also a need for technical assistance in lessening the

burden of transportation fees charged on corn farmers.

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 ISO 9001:2015 Republic of the Philippines
CERTIFIED CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address: op@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 871-5531-33 local 101

Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Office

Process Flow of Services
OD cannot
act? Refer to
AT cannot act?
AT at once
Refer to MA at
once

client Concerned AT/Staff

OD MA

Or refer to Or refer to
Or refer to concerned concerned
concerned agency agency
agency

Action is done Action is done Action is done

Legend:
OD – Officer of the Day

AT- Agricultural
Technologist
Concerned Concerned
Concerned
Office/Agency Office/Agency
MA – Municipal Office/Agency
Agriculturist

Fig.1 This diagram shows the process of flow of services practiced in Baao Municipal Agriculture
Office from farmer-clients to staff or concerned agencies.

II. Village-Type Corn Cob Dryer

Upon inspection of the machinery, although functional and provides good quality standard,

some parts of the machine need repair and requires maintenance. However, slow response and

extensive time duration of bidding process to agencies responsible for repairing the machine was

reported. Preventing spoilage of corn from clients was considered by the operators in this matter.

The components of the machinery include loading conveyor, corn cob dryer, corn sheller, corn

storage bin and biomass furnace and controllers. Operators reported the presence of rusting of

biomass furnace that leads to extensive damage of that component. Corn storage bin was also not

being used which requires further inspection. Problem with switch used to control the drying

temperature within the corn dryer component.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 1 of 1
 ISO 9001:2015 Republic of the Philippines
CERTIFIED CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address: op@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 871-5531-33 local 101

References

- Gerpacio, R. V., J. D. Labios, R. V. Labios, and E. I. Diangkinay. 2004. Maize in the

Philippines: Production Systems, Constraints, and Research Priorities. Mexico, D.F.:

CIMMYT.

- Nieves A., Rivera, Ryan. 2012. Vehicle Towards Good Harvest. Manila Bulletin

Agriculture Magazine: Mais Kaalaman

- Office of the Municipal Agriculturist: Mission, Vision, Specific Goals

- Osmeña III S.R. 2004. Magna Carta of Agricultural Officers and Employees. First Regular

Session. Thirteenth Congress of the Philippines

Appendices

Appendix A

Questionnaire used during the interview on Baao Corn Farmers.

ASSESSMENT ON USE OF VILLAGE-TYPE CORN-COB DRYER IN AGDANGAN ON BAAO

FARMERS
I. Personal Information
Name of Farmer/Client:
Age:
Address:
II. Data Collection
a. Crop for Drying:
b. Frequency of Using Grain/Corn Cob Dryer:
c. Rate/Fee of Dryer:
d. Hauling Fee of Crops to Agdangan:
e. Comments/ Suggestions on the Quality of produce, machine, operations and
managers of the machinery:

f. Problems Encountered:

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 ISO 9001:2015 Republic of the Philippines
CERTIFIED CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address: op@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 871-5531-33 local 101

Appendix B

Summary of Interview Results

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