RICE PRODUCTION MECHANIZATION LEVEL USING MODIFIED AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION INDEX (MAMI)

Rice is a staple food for millions in the Philippines, and enhancing its production efficiency is vital for national food security.This study investigates the level of mechanization in rice production in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, utilizing the Modified Agricultural Mechanization Index (MAMI).The study was conducted to assess farm power availability across different farm sizes.Using quota-stratified sampling, a total of 316 respondents, which proportionately represent small, medium, and largescale rice farmers, were interviewed.The findings reveal significant disparities in mechanization levels among different farm categories, with small farmers predominantly relying on manual labor and lower-powered machinery, particularly in land preparation tasks like plowing and harrowing, resulting in higher power demands.Conversely, medium and large farmers exhibit improved mechanization adaptation and utilization, especially in transplanting.In addition, large farmers lead mechanization across harvesting and post-harvest activities, utilizing advanced machinery such as a