Co-op to put up mechanized rice production demo
A25-hectare mechanized rice production showcase will be put up in Dipaculao, Aurora by the Dinadiawan Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative, it was learned from Eugene Gabriel of Agri Component Corporation based in Cauayan City in Isabela.
The Enhanced Agri Beneficiaries Foundation (ENAGBE Foundation) set up by Agri Component to carry out its corporate social responsibility will assist the cooperative in the mechanization aspect of the project. On the other hand, Right Agri, another satellite firm of Agri Component, will undertake transfer of improved technologies in rice production such as seedling production, farm management that includes fertilization, crop protection, irrigation and others.
The project will plant hybrid varieties. Gabriel said that hybrid rice is not yet grown in Dipaculao so it is a good opportunity for the farmers in that area to learn about the benefits from planting hybrid varieties which is also being advocated by the Department of Agriculture.
The Dinadiawan Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative is the beneficiary of farm machinery from the government. It is a recipient of a tractor for cultivating the land, rice transplanter, dryer, harvesting machine and a rice mill. Gabriel said that the technicians of Agri Component will show and teach members of the cooperative proper use of the different farm machinery and equipment.
Hybrid rice companies who would like to try their varieties in the 25-hectare showcase will be welcome to participate, according to Gabriel. There are several companies in the Philippines that are distributing hybrid seeds like SL Agritech, Bayer, Syngenta, Corteva, SeedWorks and others.
Eventually, the machinery of the cooperative will be used to service the requirements not only the co-op members but also the other farmers who are on their own. Plowing the fields with tractor, for instance, will make land preparation more thorough and less expensive than the use of carabao power.
The rice harvester can also be a big help for the farmers in Dipaculao. Harvesting by machine is much faster and more economical than the manual method. That will also help solve the usual shortage of available farm workers.
The rice mill of the cooperative will also play an important role in helping the farmers in Dipaculao increase their incomes. The farmers usually sold their palay to traders because there was no rice mill in their place previously. With the rice mill given as a grant by the DA Region 3, the farmers can have their palay milled there and sell their produce as milled rice. That could increase their income. As of now, according to Gabriel, the rice supply comes from outside, particularly Nueva Ecija.