PhilMech, DA7 distribute P75M farm machineries

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Created on Wednesday, 23 September 2020

The Department of Agriculture (DA7) and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) turned over P75 million worth of farm machineries to Negros Oriental farmers on September 17, 2020.

In a turnover ceremony held in Bayawan City, the farmer's group in the town received 4 units Hand Tractor, 5 Floating Tillers, one Rice Precision Seeder, 1 unit Walk-behind Rice Transplanter, one Riding-type Rice Transplanter, and 5 units mini Rice Thresher.

DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador Diputado and PhilMech Director Baldwin Jallorina personally handed-in the machineries to the recipient farmer's group - the Bayawan United Farmer Irrigators' Association, Inc.

Funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), other recipient farmers' group of these machineries in Negros Oriental are from the cities of Bais, Canlaon, and Tanjay; and the municipalities of Sta. Catalina and Siaton.

PhilMech Director Jallorina who attended the turnover ceremony explained the benefits of farm mechanization to optimize farm yield.

The event was the first in a series of distribution activity in Central Visayas. Per guidelines, only the Provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental are covered under the RCEF program in Central Visayas, being the major rice-producing provinces in the region.

The team will also conduct a distribution activity of these machineries to Bohol farmer beneficiaries.

"This project is part of the Rice Mechanization Program implemented by Agriculture Secretary William Dar to increase farm production and income," Diputado said.

He went on saying that the rice mechanization program would reduce the amount of physical labor required from the farmer and improve their planting efficiency.

Diputado also shared the challenge of Secretary Dar to the Local Government Units to increase their farm production to at least 10 percent, which was positively accepted by the local officials present.

Data of PhilMech reveals that about 2-3 percent of postharvest losses can be saved with the use of mechanized rice mills, mechanical dryers, and combined harvester, among others.

Director Jallorina shared in the official PhilMech webpage that using rice machines is very applicable amid covid 19 pandemic, since only two to three people are needed to get things done.

Negros Oriental Vice Governor Mark Macias, Tanjay City Mayor Reynaldo Concepcion, and 1st District Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong attended the turnover ceremony with the farmer beneficiaries.


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