Gov’t distributes farm equipment
THE PHILIPPINE Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has distributed at total of P302 million worth of farming equipment to farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the provinces of Bohol in Central Visayas and South Cotabato in Mindanao.
The agency said P225 million worth of machines were distributed to 26 qualified FCAs in South Cotabato, while P77.5 million worth of farming equipment went to 41 FCAs in Bohol.
“These machines are poised to modernize traditional farming methods, offering mechanized solutions to every agricultural process,” a PhilMech statement said.
Among the machines distributed to farming communities were rice combine harvesters, four-wheel tractors, floating tillers, hand tractors, mobile rice mills, precision seeders, walk-behind and riding-type transplanters, combine harvesters, rice threshers, single-pass rice mills, and a recirculating dryer.
The agricultural equipment was funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund’s (RCEF) mechanization program, which is intended to modernize the rice industry.
In a related development, PhilMech said that a rice processing facility is set to be constructed in Bukidnon, which includes a multi-stage rice mill and two mechanical dryers. — Adrian H. Halili