P74.4-M Rice Processing Facility Set to Boost Farmers’ Postharvest Operations in Nueva Ecija
MANILA – Around 4,060 farmers in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, are expected to benefit from a newly inaugurated PHP74.4-million rice processing facility designed to provide greater access to modern drying and milling equipment, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
The DA inaugurated the Rice Processing System (RPS) III facility in Nueva Ecija, the country’s leading rice-producing province. The project was funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
The facility was turned over to the Cabanatuan City government through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
Farmers cultivating approximately 8,976 hectares of rice land in the city are expected to benefit from the facility’s modern postharvest equipment, including a multi-stage rice mill capable of processing 4 to 5 tons of palay per hour.
The facility is also equipped with three recirculating dryers, each with a capacity to dry up to 12 tons of palay per batch.
The DA said the facility will bring postharvest services closer to farming communities, potentially reducing the time and costs associated with drying and milling.
It is also expected to help minimize postharvest losses, improve the quality of milled rice, enhance processing efficiency, and contribute to higher farm incomes.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the success of agricultural investments should ultimately be reflected in better living conditions for Filipino farmers and their families.
“The true progress of agriculture is not measured only by the volume of rice harvested, but by the comfort and prosperity it brings to the table of every farming family,” Laurel said.
Under the RCEF Mechanization Program, modern farm and postharvest machinery are provided to eligible farmers’ cooperatives and associations as well as local government units across the country.
The amended Rice Tariffication Law extended the RCEF Mechanization Program until 2031 and increased its annual allocation to PHP9 billion from the previous PHP5 billion.
NPO NEWS TEAM I PNA-PR
