New rice processing plant opens in Nueva Ecija
The first state- of- the- art rice seed processing facility that houses advanced equipment was inaugurated at the Philippine Rice Research Institute ( PhilRice), in the Science City of Muñoz last Dec. 6.
Funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency ( KOICA) under the project Enhancing the capacity of production and distribution of high-quality rice seeds, the facility which is worth more than $2 million, can process up to two tons of seeds per hour.
The facility is intended to provide high- quality seeds to farmers and seed growers.
According to studies, the adoption of high- quality seeds contributes five to 10 percent increase in yield.
“High- quality seeds play a vital role in rice productivity. You may have a proper irrigation, fertilizer application, and mechanization, but if you don’t plant the right seed, it wouldn’t be enough,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said during the inauguration ceremony. The facility has two units of six tons per batch recirculating dryer, two units of four tons capacity per batch reversible airflow flatbed dryers, two units of 2t/ hr air-screen machine, one unit of 2t/hr gravity separator, an automatic bagger and closer, and a 50 cubic meter cold storage room.
“It is the first of its kind in the Philippines and expected to drastically reduce the Institute’s seed processing time by at least half,” said Engr. Evangeline Sibayan, head of the rice engineering and mechanization division.
“This facility will help us take another step in reaching our goal of a rice secure Philippines. We hope to strengthen our partnership with the government of Korea to continue establishing this kind of facility in all our seed production areas in the country,” PhilRice acting executive director Sailila Abdula said.
The project has also distributed 32 tons of certified inbred seeds to more than 400 farmers in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. It has been training project implementers, seed analysts, inspectors, seed growers, and farmers since 2013.
Korean Embassy Minister Kwon Won Jick hopes the facility will increase the efficiency of processing and certification of rice seeds in the country and help more farmers have access to highquality seeds.
The inauguration was attended by representatives of KOICA, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, Korea Project on International Agriculture and the Philippine government.