In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

170 farm machines to benefit Eastern Visayas farmers

By Gerico Sabalza

March 6, 2020, 3:52 pm

<p><strong>FARM MACHINERY.</strong> Some of the farm machines displayed at the Department of Agriculture Rice Processing Center in Abuyog, Leyte. At least 170 machines will benefit rice farmers in Eastern Visayas this year as part of the 2019 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. <em>(PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)</em></p>

FARM MACHINERY. Some of the farm machines displayed at the Department of Agriculture Rice Processing Center in Abuyog, Leyte. At least 170 machines will benefit rice farmers in Eastern Visayas this year as part of the 2019 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)

ABUYOG, Leyte – At least 170 machines will benefit rice farmers in Eastern Visayas as part of the 2019 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Visayas cluster area manager Remelie Hermoso said on Thursday the first batch of machinery and equipment is funded under the PHP5 billion RCEF.

These machines up for delivery on-site between March to April include 35 four-wheel tractors, 28 hand tractors, and 17 floating tillers meant for land preparation; 15 walk-behind transplanters, 13 riding-type transplanters, and four mechanical seeders used in crop establishment; 32 combine harvester, 11 small threshers, and 11 reapers used in harvesting and threshing; and four impeller type rice millers.

In the region, some 47 farmer’s cooperative associations in 38 towns will benefit from the first batch of mechanization program – 34 in Leyte province, five in Western Samar, and four groups both in Biliran and Southern Leyte.

Hermoso said the second batch of equipment for 2019 is also expected to be delivered within this year for 60 other farmers’ groups from 46 towns in the region.

“We recommend other farmers’ associations to merge with other groups to meet the minimum requirement of 50 hectares. This has been the issue why others don’t qualify,” Hermoso said during the first anniversary of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) here.

RTL or Republic Act 11203 took effect on March 5 last year that opened the Philippine rice market and placed a minimum 35 percent tariff on imported rice.

The tariff revenues go to RCEF, which is used for programs dedicated to increasing the sector’s productivity and boosting the income of farmers.

Under the RCEF, PHP10-billion is guaranteed for the rice sector annually for the next six years for the provision of modern farm equipment, high-yielding seeds, expanded credit assistance, training for local farmers and other extension services. (PNA)


Comments