DIFFUN–The Department of Agriculture and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization on Thursday, Sept. 12, inaugurated a rice processing facility and turned over several machineries worth a total P96 million that is expected to boost productivity and income of farmers in Quirino province.
The rice processing facility, which includes a rice mill and dryers, were awarded to Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative, which counts as members a total 2,320 farmers who manage a total 3,502 hectares of rice fields.
Other production machinery like tractors, harvester and threshers were also awarded to the 13 farmers’ cooperatives and association in the province of Quirino.
“This support package to Quirino rice farmers, which features a state-of-the-art rice processing system, is part of the Department of Agriculture’s determined push to improve post-harvest systems and infrastructures across the country to reduce production losses and ensure the country’s food security,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. as he led the inauguration of the RPS and turnover of machinery.
The RPS has a multi-stage rice mill with a capacity of 4-5 tons an hour, or over 48 tons per day, three units of recirculating dryers each with a capacity of 12 tons per batch or a total of 36 tons. Another two units of recirculating dryers with a capacity of 6 tons per batch were also provided to the cooperative to further increase their drying capability. This support package alone is worth a total P78.1 million.
The support package provided by PhilMech to Diffun farmers’ cooperative was bankrolled with funds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or Rice Fund, of the Rice Tariffication Law. PhilMech gets PHP5 billion from tariff collected from imported rice between 2019 and 2024 to modernize Philippine agriculture.
Among the guests at the inauguration and turn over ceremonies is Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, who is now leading efforts in the Senate to extend the RTL as well as increase funding to modernize and enhance competitiveness of the farm sector.
The new equipment will help farmers in Quirino produce high-quality rice at affordable prices and boost recovery and farmers’ income.
DISADECO, the acronym of the Diffun Saranay and Development Cooperative, is a comprehensive cooperative involved in various activities including rice cultivation, milling, drying, trading, coffee processing, savings and lending, and offering training services accredited by TESDA. The cooperative also operates a hostel, recreational center, and supplies agri-farm inputs.
By upgrading equipment and facilities, DISADECO and other beneficiaries will play a pivotal role in enhancing the rice sector’s efficiency and sustainability. ###
