(Photo courtesy of DA-PHilMech)
MANILA – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is set to receive PHP32.2 million worth of Rice Processing System (RPS) 1 facilities under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.
In a statement released on Friday, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech) reported that the project will be implemented through the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the BARMM.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Aug. 14 and 15 in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively.
The facilities include four units of mechanical dryers and two units of state-of-the-art milling facilities for the benefit of the local government of Taraka, Lanao del Sur and the Datu Paglas Farmers-Irrigators Multipurpose Cooperative in Maguindanao del Sur.
The RPS project aims to reduce postharvest losses, boost farmers’ income and improve the quality of milled rice.
It likewise targets to maximize rice mechanization benefits by establishing efficient rice processing systems among qualified farmers' cooperative and associations and local government units in the rice-producing areas in the Philippines.
PHilMech interim Director for Operations Joel Dator, acting division chief of Facility Management and Field Operation Division May Ville Castro, municipal agriculturists and some local government officials were present during the ceremonies. (PNA)
