Manila: A PHP17.4-million rice processing system (RPS) was officially inaugurated and handed over to the local government of Taraka, Lanao del Sur, enhancing agricultural support for local farmers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) facilitated the project, fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize agriculture at the grassroots level. MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno emphasized that the project signifies the President’s commitment to making agricultural progress tangible in the fields.

The facility, funded by the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), features a multi-stage rice mill and recirculating dryers. It aims to reduce post-harvest losses, improve grain quality, and enable farmers to secure better market prices.

Magno highlighted that agriculture and food security are integral components of President Marcos’s economic strategy, which includes improving irrigation, expanding mechanization, modernizing post-harvest processes, and enhancing farmers’ access to credit and insurance. The goal is to boost local production and stabilize prices.

The project is set to directly benefit 950 farmer-members cultivating 1,300 hectares of rice fields in Taraka. One of the beneficiaries, Asalam Macapodi from Barangay Pagalamatan, expressed gratitude for the project. Macapodi, who cultivates 2.5 hectares of rice, noted that the absence of proper drying facilities previously forced him to sell his harvest at a loss, particularly during the rainy season. He explained that dried palay could sell for P25 per kilo compared to P15 per kilo for raw palay.