Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – The Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and the Metals Industry Research and Development Center of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-MIRDC) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address one of the components of the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development-funded (DOST-PCAARRD) project, titled, Enhancing milk production through Indigofera supplementation. The MOU signing was done at the Philippine Center for Postharvest and Development and Mechanization in Nueva Ecija on August 19, 2015.
In this project, the development and fabrication of new chopper blades is needed for development of forage materials that will be promoted to smallholders in the countryside. Currently, there are a number of locally fabricated forage choppers available in the market; however, they do not approximate the imported ones in terms of the consistent reliability of their blades. The strength and sharpness of the blades are critical, as labor and fodder wastage are reduced and chopping time is shortened, ultimately enabling the timely feeding of animals.
To address these problems on unreliable durability of forage chopper blades, existing blades will be improved through the assistance of DOST-MIRDC.
Representing CLSU during the signing were Dr. Raul D. Divina, Officer-in-Charge and Dr. Edgar A. Orden, Deputy Director of the Small Ruminant Center (SRC).
Meanwhile, Robert O. Dizon, Assistant Secretary of DOST and Officer-in-Charge of the MIRDC, represented the center along with Engr. Jonathan Q. Puerto, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development and Atty. Trixie Hazel C. Veluz, Attorney IV.
“One of our objectives is to equip local fabricators with new products as well as fabricate or develop local equipment that are adapted to the local requirements. The accomplishments of this project will have a positive effect on our local fabricators as well as to the dairy goat industry,” said Asec. Dizon.
The project, according to Rodolfo O. Ilao, Director of the Agricultural Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD) of DOST-PCAARRD, aims to develop and test blades for the forage chopper based on the imported Japanese-made chopper. Director Ilao represented the funding agency, DOST-PCAARRD.