THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has awarded five rice-processing centers (RPCs) to five farmer cooperatives in Nueva Ecija to help farmers minimize postharvest losses and improve the quality of their rice.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala led the turnover ceremony of the five Agri-Pinoy RPCs to Bantug Agricultural Multipurpose Cooperative, Anak Bukid Producers Cooperative, Barangay Aquino Development Cooperative, Talabu-tab Norte Primary Multipurpose Cooperative and the Bagong Buhay ng Mabini Multipurpose Cooperative in Nueva Ecija.
Farm machineries and postharvest facilities, such as palay shed, combine harvesters, mini four-wheel tractors, rice reapers and hand tractors with trailer and implements were also given to the farmer groups.
Alcala said the establishment of the RPCs will give farmers an opportunity to raise their income, as well as reduce their postharvest losses.
“They now have access to different drying, milling and storage facilities and I’m sure they will be able to increase their produce and income,” Alcala said in a statement.
The RPCs are classified into three categories: RPC 1 for small-scale rice centers worth P6 million; RPC 2 for medium-sized rice centers at P12 million; and RPC 3 for large-scale rice centers with a total cost of P30 million. “Presently, there are 19 RPCs in Central Luzon, seven are operational, nine will be operational next month and three are under construction,” DA Region 3 Executive Director Andrew Villacorta said.
Alcala also encouraged the farmer groups to accommodate nonmember cooperatives to use the RPCs for
drying purposes for a minimal fee.
Aside from the RPCs, the DA also turned over two subprojects under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), including the San Juan–Villa Joson–Porais farm-to-market road (FMR) project in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; and the improvement of Basang Hamog–Pantok Bulac–Bulac FMR in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. The DA also awarded projects under Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB)—such as the San Juan to San Aquino FMR, vegetable production livelihood project, hog dispersal project and the one solar dryer or shallow tube well—all in Licab, Nueva Ecija.
After the turnover ceremony, five shallow tube wells, three hand tractors with trailer and implements, five drum seeders, 20 units of knapsack sprayers, 100 pieces of laminated sacks, 600 seedlings of langka and atis, 300 sampalok seedlings, 200 santol and macopa seedlings, 30 caimito seedlings, 50 calamansi seedlings, and 20 guyabano seedlings were also given away to attending farmers and cooperatives.