Manila: Modern post-harvest facilities will cushion the impact of global oil surges and help prevent the potential decline in palay (unhusked rice) harvest, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, PhilMech Director Dionisio Alvindia highlighted in an interview with the Integrated State Media that storage, milling, and drying facilities will help protect farmers' income by reducing post-harvest losses amid rising fuel costs. He emphasized the prioritization of efficiency, noting a 7 percent increase in the recovery rate of palay with the use of state-of-the-art rice processing systems (RPS) established by the government.

Alvindia explained that with the current oil crisis, the RPS allows for increased output with minimal electricity and fuel consumption. The milling recovery of palay reaches 64 percent with these systems, resulting in an additional 7 to 8 kg of milled rice for every 100 kg of palay.

The PhilMech further pointed out that these modern post-harvest facilities not only protect farmers' profit but also ensure the good quality of milled rice. Alvindia mentioned that mechanical dryers and immediate milling enhance the milling and eating quality of the rice, benefiting the farmers' produce.

Currently, 213 warehouses and dryers, with a value of PHP2.2 billion, are expected to be completed by June, benefiting more than 200 farmers' cooperatives nationwide. The PhilMech is also planning to complete PHP4.5 billion worth of additional drying systems within the year. This expansion includes 157 900-square-meter warehouses with 24-tonner dryers.

Alvindia stated that these warehouses are targeted for completion by December, with the intention of utilizing them during the first quarter of 2027. Overall, the PhilMech aims to operationalize 370 units of drying systems in the Philippines by 2026.