Farm machine distribution ramped up
THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization ( PHilMech) said it is on-track on hitting its 2020 target of bidding out at least P5 billion worth of machineries to rice farmers to boost the country’s palay (unmilled rice) production.
In a virtual press briefing, PHilMech Executive Director Baldwin Jallorina said the agency has so far distributed 512 pieces of farm machines in six regions that form part of the P2- billion worth of machines that were successfully bidded out and purchased by the agency early this year.
PhilMech is currently bidding out the next batch of farm machines worth at least P5 billion, of which P3 billion forms part of the machines that was supposed to be acquired in 2019.
Before 2020 ends, Jallorina said PhilMech will bid out another P3 billion to complete the P5 billion worth of machines to be distributed this year under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Component.
“Yungatingpondoay available na thistimeunlikelastyear [and] we assure namagagandangklaseang
atingpinamimigaynamga technologies (Our fund is made available this time unlike last year and we assure that we’re distributing good quality technologies),” he said.
The type of farm machines distributed so far by PHilMech are: four-wheel tractor, 106; hand tractor, 77; floating tiller, 25; precision seeder, 21; walk behind transplanter, 39; reaper, 34; and combine harvester, 176.
The said farm machineries, according to Jallorina, were purchased by PhilMech primarily from local companies who either import or manufacture their own technologies.
When it comes to distribution, Jallorina said PhilMech still conducts simple turn-over ceremonies despite lockdowns but “with limited participants to assure social distancing.”
He added PHilMech still managed to proceed with the distribution of farm machines and continue the validation of qualified farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) as beneficiaries of the program.
“We are also exercising transparency in the bidding process as the proceedings are aired live over the official PHilMech Facebook page, from the pre-bidding process to the actual opening of bids,” Jallorina added.
Despite the varying degrees of lockdowns and quarantines that the government imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 , Jallorina said PhilMech is on “full blast” to deliver muchneeded machines to rice farmers nationwide.
“We are operating now new normal and absorptive capacity,” he said, citing a more efficient established network and collaboration with local government units and FCAs across the country.