NEcija farmers get P107-M equipment
THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) distributed last week P107.7 million worth of farm machinery to 59 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Nueva Ecija as part of the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and PHilMech Executive Director Dionisio Alvindia led the awarding ceremony of the equipment and expressed their commitment to improving the local agriculture sector.
The farm machines distributed include 15 hand tractors, 27 walkbehind transplanters, two riding type transplanters, two precision seeders, three rice reapers, 25 rice combine harvesters and 14 recirculating dryers.
Alvindia assured PHilMech will sustain the distribution of farm equipment to qualified FCAs through the RCEF Mechanization Program until 2024 and provide the necessary training and capacity building for the farmer beneficiaries.
“We have two more years to go for the RCEF-Mechanization Program, and I am optimistic that PHilMech will be able to sustain the delivery of the farm equipment and capacity-building measures to the qualified beneficiaries,” Alvindia said.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to allocate a portion of their income for the repair and maintenance of the awarded machinery.
Alvindia added that PHilMech is also facilitating localization of the manufacturing of the spare parts for replacement and empowering local manufacturers to assist the farmers with the maintenance.
The RCEF, which was created through the Republic Act 11203 or the “Rice Tariffication Law,” aims to improve the rice farmers’ competitiveness and income amid the liberalization of the Philippine rice trade policy.
For six years, P5 billion or 50 percent of the Rice Fund is allocated to the RCEF-Mechanization Program to be implemented by DA-PHilMech and released as grant to qualified FCAs, registered rice cooperatives and local government units.