THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the rice processing systems introduced by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) have boosted milling recovery rates to 63-65% from 55-58% previously.
“This improvement means that for every 100 sacks of palay, 63 sacks of rice are now produced instead of just 55 at minimum,” the DA said
PhilMech has distributed 104 rice processing systems, it added.
Mechanization is supported by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which will have annual budget of P30 billion starting in 2026 following amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.
PhilMech expects to complete the delivery and installation of 47 more units covered by first phase of the RCEF program.
The DA said PhilMech in 2024 deployed 5,030 units of rice production and post-harvest equipment, including tractors, seeders, harvesters, dryers, and milling systems.
Of these, 2,450 were funded by the 2024 budget and 2,580 were procured with funds carried over from previous years.
PhilMech’s mechanization initiative aims to lower rice production costs by up to P3 per kilo and reduce post-harvest losses by as much as 5%.
At the end of 2024, PhilMech procured 32,694 machines with RCEF support and distributed 30,549 units to 7,493 beneficiaries.
“The remaining deliveries and installations are scheduled for completion by June 2025,” the DA said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza