SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) – Farmers in Nueva Ecija are expected to benefit from reduced post-harvest losses, improved rice processing efficiency, and enhanced income and food security following the turnover of a Rice Processing System (RPS) II Facility and distribution of farm machinery led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the Science City of Muñoz.
The state-of-the-art RPS II Facility, developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Mechanization Program, was officially turned over to the local government unit.
PHilMech Director Joel Dator explained that the facility features a one-unit multi-stage rice mill with a processing capacity of two to three tons per hour, and two stainless steel recirculating dryers that can each handle up to 12 tons per batch.
The facility is also equipped with pre-cleaner and de-stoner, huller, mist polisher, length grader, and color sorter for rice quality refinement, as well as a blending tank and automatic packing machine.
It also houses a rice hull bin, dust collection system, generator set, an air-conditioned control room, and other essential tools to support seamless operation.
With Nueva Ecija known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines, the newly established facility is projected to benefit nearly 6,000 farmers cultivating approximately 9,200 hectares in the Science City of Muñoz.
In addition to the facility, the national government also distributed farm machinery worth over P31 million to 17 farmers’ cooperatives and associations.
These included one four-wheel tractor with complete implements, 16 rice combine harvesters, and one handy cultivator.
One of the beneficiaries, the Usbong ng Halaman Ay Yaman (UHAY) Agricultural Cooperative, expressed gratitude for the aid received.
UHAY Chairperson Brando Sanchez said the combine harvester given to them will significantly ease their farming operations, benefiting not only their 62 members but also farmers in nearby communities.
He added that what used to take two to three days to harvest can now be completed in just a few hours, especially crucial ahead of an incoming typhoon.
“Ang pamunuan po ng UHAY Agriculture Cooperative, sa atin pong Pangulo, ipinapaabot po namin ang napakaraming pasasalamat. Sapagkat sa katulad naming mga maliliit at mga nagsikap bilang mga magsasaka, at nagkaroon ng pagsasama-sama’t naging kooperatiba, kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa pamumuno po ng ating Pangulong [Bongbong] Marcos (The leadership of UHAY Agriculture Cooperative extends our deepest gratitude to our President. For people like us who have worked hard as farmers, and have come together and became a cooperative, we are thankful for the leadership of our President [Bongbong] Marcos),” Sanchez expressed.
Through this initiative, the Marcos administration underscores its commitment to advancing the country’s agricultural sector and improving the livelihood of Filipino farmers by strengthening the local farm machinery industry, generating rural employment, promoting mechanization technologies, boosting crop productivity, and increasing farmers’ incomes. (MJSC/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ (PIA) – Farmers in Nueva Ecija are expected to benefit from reduced post-harvest losses, improved rice processing efficiency, and enhanced income and food security following the turnover of a Rice Processing System (RPS) II Facility and distribution of farm machinery led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the Science City of Muñoz.
The state-of-the-art RPS II Facility, developed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Mechanization Program, was officially turned over to the local government unit.
PHilMech Director Joel Dator explained that the facility features a one-unit multi-stage rice mill with a processing capacity of two to three tons per hour, and two stainless steel recirculating dryers that can each handle up to 12 tons per batch.
The facility is also equipped with pre-cleaner and de-stoner, huller, mist polisher, length grader, and color sorter for rice quality refinement, as well as a blending tank and automatic packing machine.
It also houses a rice hull bin, dust collection system, generator set, an air-conditioned control room, and other essential tools to support seamless operation.
With Nueva Ecija known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines, the newly established facility is projected to benefit nearly 6,000 farmers cultivating approximately 9,200 hectares in the Science City of Muñoz.
In addition to the facility, the national government also distributed farm machinery worth over P31 million to 17 farmers’ cooperatives and associations.
These included one four-wheel tractor with complete implements, 16 rice combine harvesters, and one handy cultivator.
One of the beneficiaries, the Usbong ng Halaman Ay Yaman (UHAY) Agricultural Cooperative, expressed gratitude for the aid received.
UHAY Chairperson Brando Sanchez said the combine harvester given to them will significantly ease their farming operations, benefiting not only their 62 members but also farmers in nearby communities.
He added that what used to take two to three days to harvest can now be completed in just a few hours, especially crucial ahead of an incoming typhoon.
“Ang pamunuan po ng UHAY Agriculture Cooperative, sa atin pong Pangulo, ipinapaabot po namin ang napakaraming pasasalamat. Sapagkat sa katulad naming mga maliliit at mga nagsikap bilang mga magsasaka, at nagkaroon ng pagsasama-sama’t naging kooperatiba, kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa pamumuno po ng ating Pangulong [Bongbong] Marcos (The leadership of UHAY Agriculture Cooperative extends our deepest gratitude to our President. For people like us who have worked hard as farmers, and have come together and became a cooperative, we are thankful for the leadership of our President [Bongbong] Marcos),” Sanchez expressed.
Through this initiative, the Marcos administration underscores its commitment to advancing the country’s agricultural sector and improving the livelihood of Filipino farmers by strengthening the local farm machinery industry, generating rural employment, promoting mechanization technologies, boosting crop productivity, and increasing farmers’ incomes. (MJSC/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)
