President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the inauguration and turnover of the Php71-million Rice Processing System II (RPS II) in Piddig, Ilocos Norte.
The system will reduce postharvest losses and improve the quality of farmers’ produce in the province.
“This Rice Processing Facility is one of the most important aspects. Ito ‘yung — isa sa pinakamahalaga na aspeto doon sa ating tinatawag na value chain dahil — kasi kung iisipin natin, kung wala ito, kung wala tayong processing, unang-una ‘yung drying natin, nandiyan na naman sa kalsada, nandiyan na naman sa basketball court, nandiyan na naman kung saan-saan at nasisira lang ‘yung ani,” President Marcos said during the inauguration and turnover ceremonies in Barangay Ab-abut, Piddig, Ilocos Norte.
RPS II is a state-of-the-art drying and milling facility designed to reduce postharvest losses, increase farmers’ income, improve milled rice quality, and optimize rice mechanization.
The establishment of RPS II is undertaken under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program of the Department of Agriculture -Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech).
“At siguro pagka nakadelihensya pa tayo sa RCEF ng kaunti pa, baka madagdagan na natin para naman lahat ng buong probinsya ay mararamdaman ang pagbabago na ginagawa natin para sa agrikultura,” Marcos said.
The PHilMech has chosen the Piddig Basi Multipurpose Cooperative (PBMC) as a qualified and eligible beneficiary of the RPS II as it is composed of 1,100 farmers focused on rice cultivation, managing a total rice field area of 1,400 hectares.
“Kaya mahalaga ito dahil ang mga farmer natin. Halimbawa dito sa Piddig…noong wala pa ito, magpapadala pa tayo ng palay natin hanggang sa Bulacan, doon gigilingin. Sinong kikita ngayon sa processing? Iyong may-ari ng processing, hindi ‘yung farmer,” the President said.
“Ngayon, dahil napunta na sa isang cooperative itong ating processing ay maibabalik….hindi na lalabas sa value chain ng Piddig, ng Ilocos Norte ang pag-process kaya’t mababawasan ang gastos ng ating mga farmer,” he added.
Among those that were turned over during the event were PhP56.5 million state-of-the-art multi-stage rice mill and two recirculating dryers valued at PhP8.1 million.
The rice mill has a capacity of two to three tons per hour, featuring a pre-cleaner, de-stoner, huller, mist polisher, length grader, color sorter, blending tank, automatic packing machine for milled rice, rice hull bin, dust collection system, air-conditioned control room, and a transformer.
Each dryer, on the other hand, has a 12-ton per batch drying capacity. They are made of stainless steel, equipped with two heating systems, a generator set, tools, and other accessories.
PHilMech installed RPS II last May at PBMC’s existing warehouse. The RPS II will allow the PBMC to increase its value-added products by 30 percent, thereby increasing its income.
To further support PBMC’s farming needs, the PHilMech also turned over agricultural machinery worth PhP6.4 million.
These include one four-wheel tractor; one power take-off-driven disc plow; one levee marker; one precision seeder; and one rice combine harvester. PND
