Modern rice processing plant to boost production, income

Thursday, February 9, 2012

CONSTRUCTION of the P160-million modern rice processing complex in Matanao, Davao del Sur is now ongoing and is expected to improve the quality and quantity of rice production in the area.

The facility is a joint project of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which gave a grant of P120 million for the project, the region and the local government of Matanao, as well as the Department of Agriculture (DA), which also contributed funding for the project.

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"This postharvest facility aims to introduce modern facilities in the area for palay processing," said Rodolfo P. Estigoy, chief of the Applied Communication Division of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMec).

Estigoy said the rice complex in Davao del Sur is included in Phase II of the Korea-Philippines Modern Integrated Rice Milling and Complex project, which includes one in Santa Barbara, Pangasinan that is already operational; one in Pototan, Iloilo that has started; and one in Pilar, Bohol that is awaiting completion.

Phase 1 of the project involved the construction of a rice processing complex in Aurora province in 2006.

The Korean government, through Koica, provided funding for the rice processing complex project after it was inspired by the success of its Agricultural Machinery Rental System (AMRS). Korean farmers were able to cut their post-harvest losses from six to one percent after the construction of 328 rice processing complexes and up to 568 drying and storage complexes.

The project aims to increase the value of milled rice by up to P24 million per year, increase the rice farmers' income, and achieve the country's rice self-sufficiency by 2013.

Estigoy said the rice processing complex in Matanao that is being built on a 1,700-square-meter lot will help the farmers raise the quality of their palay harvests and improve their income through the use of a kerosene-powered furnace. The mechanical dryers are expected to shorten the drying time of the palay, and are expected to improve the quality of the grains.

The rice processing complex will include post-harvest facilities like modern rice mills, mechanical dyers and warehouses. (PR)