THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday launched a P74.4 million rice processing facility in Cabanatuan City, which is in the heart of Central Luzon, the rice granary of the Philippines.
The DA said this would provide 4,060 farmers in Cabanatuan access to drying and milling equipment to reduce postharvest losses and improve their income.
Rice Processing System (RPS) III includes a state-of-the-art multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of four to five metric tons (MT) per hour and three recirculating dryers, each with a 12 MT per batch drying capacity.
The project is expected to benefit farmers cultivating at least 8,976 hectares of rice farms in Cabanatuan, the DA said.
The facility was funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Rcef) mechanization program, and was turned over to the City Government of Cabanatuan through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that such investments should be measured by their impact on 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,’ Tiu Laurel said.
The investment comes as the government ramps up efforts to make rice farming more productive and competitive in Nueva Ecija, the country’s leading rice-producing province that forms part of the national food supply.
Under the Rcef mechanization program, farm and postharvest equipment are provided to eligible farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local governments (LGU) to boost productivity, profitability, and competitiveness.
The program was extended until 2031 under amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), with its annual allocation increased from P5 billion to P9 billion.
‘The facility could help farmers retain more value from their harvest by making drying and milling services more accessible locally, reducing reliance on immediate palay sales after harvest,’ the DA said.
The agency said the RPS facility is part of its efforts to modernize the rice sector, lower production and postharvest costs, raise farm incomes, and strengthen the country’s food security.