Selected students, faculty, and staff from the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture benefited from the very first Kubota-Saka Agri-Talk in the Bicol Region conducted by the AIMS Agri Ventures, Inc. and Kubota Philippines, Inc in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers Pre-Professional Group CBSUA Chapter on July 28-29, 2022.
On behalf of the University President, Atty. Dominador F. Faurillo, Vice President for Admin and Finance, welcomed all the guests and participants in the said activity. He also expressed the gratefulness of the University to Kubota Philippines, Inc. and the AIMS Agri Ventures, Inc., along with all the event organizers.
This activity aims to enhance the student’s knowledge and appreciation of advanced agricultural technologies, specifically those of Kubota Philippines, Inc. This also became an opportunity for the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Program, along with program offerings of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to achieve an outcomes-based education, providing the students with the skills and knowledge they need in the competitive professional landscape.
Dr. Marilyn B. Balderas, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in her message on behalf of the Office of the Pili Campus Administrator, emphasized that the realization of this activity allows both the student and faculties to enhance their knowledge and skills about the agricultural mechanization. She added that having these types of machinery will likewise help the University comply with the requirements of the CMOs for the BSABE, BSA, and BAT curricular offerings.
To inspire students, Engr. Annalyn Balderama, Sales Manager of the AIMS Agri Ventures, Inc. and Engr. Nilo M. Daduya, National Sales Manager of Kubota Philippines, Inc., shared their journey to success. Engr. Daduya also emphasized that Agricultural University students are the best to be informed about agricultural technologies as they move into the professional setting.
The 2-day seminar and demonstration showcased various Kubota products such as tractors, harvesters, transplanters, seeders, implements, and engines. The first day of the activity highlights the lectures about the said types of technologies available in the market and the appropriate maintenance for each. A cost analysis of the Kubota agricultural machinery available at the University was also presented. The second day of the activity includes the parts identification, product demonstration, and actual drive test.
The acquired knowledge and skills of the participants were measured through a written examination, actual parts identification, and driving of the available technologies. Prizes were given to the winners. Raffles, games, and a photo booth were also enjoyed by all the participants making this kind of seminar much more fun.
The CoVid-19 pandemic restricts the conduct of face-to-face classes resulting in a limited opportunity of exposing the students to the actual field operations of agricultural machinery. This face-to-face seminar and demonstration of selected machinery with the experts from Kubota Philippines, Inc. and AIMS Agri Ventures achieved one of the CBSUA’s goals to “enable transformative and inclusive learning experience.” Currently, the University is establishing a partnership with the said collaborating agencies for future project initiatives.
