FARMERS in Bataan will now benefit from modern agricultural machinery as almost P47 million (P46,287,558.) worth of various rice machinery and equipment like four-wheel drive tractor, hand tractors, rice combined harvesters, riding type transplanters, rice reapers and rice threshers were distributed to a number of farmers associations and cooperatives in the province of Bataan for this year.
The distributed machinery are all under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Component in Orani, Bataan.
The goal of the RCEF Mechanization Program is to reduce the cost of rice production from P2-P3 per kilogram through the use of accurate, effective, and complete set of postharvest machinery to reduce postharvest losses by 3-5 percent.
The program is part of the annual P10-billion RCEF created under the Rice Tariffication Law to enhance the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers in a liberalized rice industry.
The other three RCEF components, with their corresponding budget for six years that started in 2019, include seeds distribution (P3 billion), credit (P1 billion), and extension and training (P1 billion).
The project is under the overall management and distribution of the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) in collaboration with the Office of Senator Cynthia Villar and Bataan lawmakers such as Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Joet Garcia.
Both Roman and Garcia said Bataan farmers and other stakeholders have been slowly reaping these benefits under the RCEF. The 1st and 2nd batches of distribution started in Hermosa and Pilar towns.
Bataan Governor Abet Garcia and Rep. Roman led in the distribution and turnover of the machinery to the 3rd batch of beneficiaries. They were joined by Orani Mayor Efren Pascual Jr., Councilor Tonton Reyes and Joel Datur of PhilMec.
Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Senator Villar delivered their messages via recorded videos.
Governor Garcia added that before the year ends, a rice mill and mechanical dryers will soon be placed at the 1Bataan Command Center for the use of Bataan farmers.