History
AMDP was established in 1979 by the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) (then Institute of Agricultural Engineering or INSAET) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos, as its research and development and extension program in agricultural mechanization. In 1997, AMDP became part of the Institute of Agricultural Engineering of CEAT through the Board of Regents 1107th meeting on 17 April 1997.
Since its inception, AMDP has tackled various activities that contributed in increasing agricultural productivity, improving the income of farmers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs , and shaping the RD&E and policy directions of mechanization in the country.
Milestones
With its engineers, researchers, extension workers, and technical backstopping from the IAE faculty, AMDP has achieved the following:
- Developed and promoted technology packages for corn, vegetables, coconut, cassava, municipal waste processing, farm power, and rural women entrepreneurs; and the shallow tube well technology, which became the centerpiece of the Agricultural & Fisheries Modernization Act.
- Drafted the Agricultural Mechanization Development Plan in 1991 which was adapted by the Department of Agriculture
- Some of the significant technologies developed by AMDP were the UPLB hand tractor, village-level rice mill, cassava lifter, UPLB drilling rig, manual corn sheller, motorized corn sheller, multicrop dryer, oil expeller, forage chopper, whole-nut cashew sheller, corn mill, organic fertilizer applicator, mini-hand tractor, windmill, village level ethanol production system, and corn planter.
Vision
AMDP's vision aims for a progressive and globally competitive Philippine agriculture transformed by integrated research and development systems, technology transfer mechanisms and holistic policy environment responsive to the challenges of climate change and global free trade.
Mission
Provide innovative agricultural and bio-systems engineering technology through cutting edge research, strategic extension delivery methods, synergistic networking, and responsive policy advocacies towards environment-friendly, gender sensitive and sustainable agriculture and fisheries modernization.
Major Activities
- Undertake R&D activities that will generate cost effective technologies/systems/packages.
- Undertake extension activities that will promote/encourage the manufacture and commercialization of agricultural mechanization technologies.
- Review, formulate and advocate policies that will hasten the adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies.
- Establish/strengthen linkages with other agencies involved in agricultural mechanization.
