Farmers in Pangasinan Province will start mechanized land preparation, plant establishment, harvesting, threshing, and grain drying using the new farm machinery distributed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Director Baldwin Jallorina, and DA Ilocos Regional Field Office OIC-Director Nestor Domenden awarded P88-million worth of machinery in Lingayen and Binalonan on November 6, 2020.
Through the RCEF Mechanization Component, at least 64 farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in five districts of Pangasinan received four-wheel drive tractors, precision seeders, combine harvesters, and mechanical dryers, among others to significantly increase yield and reduce postharvest losses.
“Malaki po ang gagampanan ng Province of Pangasinan sa ating national rice production. Malaki ang potensyal at kontribusyon ng probinsiya sa food security ng ating bansa,” Secretary Dar said as he committed that DA will continue to deliver projects for rice farmers.
He also announced that with Pangasinan’s role in the country’s rice production, a total of P515 million RCEF mechanization fund has been allocated for the province for 2019 and 2020.
In addition, the Secretary strongly encourages farmers and fishers to enroll in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and be part of FCAs for them to qualify as beneficiaries and avail of various projects from the national government.
“This time around, hahatakin natin na lahat ng mga magsasaka ay dapat buklod-buklod na. Kasama na po kayo dapat sa kooperatiba o asosasyon para makasama na kayo sa lahat ng biyaya mula sa gobyerno,” he said.
Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III, 2nd District Representative Jumel Anthony Espino, 5th District Representative Ramon Guico III, and Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. also expressed their support to the agriculture sector during the awarding ceremonies in the province.
Following the Rice Tariffication Law, RCEF has a P10-billion yearly allocation for six years that will focus on mechanization, seed distribution, skills development, and credit components. Annually, P5 billion budget is allocated for the mechanization component. This is on top of the DA’s regular fund for Rice Program projects. ### (Gumamela Bejarin, DA-AFID)
