Naujan: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday unveiled a PHP70.2-million rice processing facility aimed at supporting palay (unhusked rice) farmers in Oriental Mindoro. The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to modernize agriculture and protect farmers from low palay buying prices.
According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized that the facility empowers farmers by allowing them to manage their produce and market their rice directly. This capability helps them avoid the pitfalls of low farmgate prices. The facility is expected to benefit local farmers in Naujan, a key rice-producing area, by enabling them to process and market their rice efficiently.
The state-of-the-art facility features a Rice Processing System capable of milling over 18 metric tons (MT) per day or 3 MT per hour. It is equipped with two large dryers with a 12-MT capacity per batch and two smaller dryers with a 6-MT capacity per batch, enhancing the processing capabilities for local farmers.
Additionally, the DA handed over approximately PHP20.196 million worth of rice machinery and equipment to 11 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro. This equipment includes seven four-wheel tractors and four village-type rice mills. In Occidental Mindoro, nine four-wheel tractors worth PHP21.599 million will be distributed to nine FCAs and the provincial government.
These developments are funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization program, underscoring the government’s commitment to agricultural modernization. Tiu Laurel remarked that these efforts reflect President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a productive, profitable, and modern agricultural sector with stable food supply and affordable prices.
In conjunction with these initiatives, the DA, in collaboration with the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO), launched a two-day roadshow to showcase innovative tools and technologies. The event aims to help over 1,200 participants improve local agricultural output and bolster food security. The roadshow featured various modern farming equipment, reinforcing the DA’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of local farmers.
