To increase yield and improve rice production in the province of Ilocos Norte, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. distributed modern farm equipment and machinery amounting to P73.3 million on Dec. 1, 2023.
Under the 2023 allocation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, the interventions will benefit 52 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units.
A total of 78 units of various farm machinery were distributed to beneficiaries, including two four-wheel tractors and 30 hand tractors. Twelve units of rice combine harvesters were also turned over, as well as walk-behind and riding transplanters, seeders, recirculating dryers, and rice mills.
In addition, coconut FCAs in the province received shared processing facilities to enable virgin coconut oil and coconut flour production—the processing facilities amount to P26.8M.
“Ramdam ko ang sigla at galak ng ating mga magsasaka sa araw na ito sapagkat dala ng Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka at ng DA-PHilMech ang mga biyaya mula sa RCEF Mechanization Program at Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program (CFIDP)–Shared Processing Facilities (I feel the enthusiasm and joy of our farmers on this day because the Department of Agriculture and the DA-PHilMech brought the blessings from the RCEF Mechanization Program and the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program (CFIDP)–Shared Processing Facilities),” Laurel said.
He added that since the installation of RCEF, the province has received P532.5M worth of machinery from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
The Secretary stressed that under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DA aims to transform the Philippine agriculture sector into a modern industry.
“Gagawin po nating moderno ang inyong pagsasaka mula produksyon hanggang sa pagpo-proseso nito (We will modernize your farming from production to processing),” he said.
Laurel added that he is ready to listen to the voices of the farmers and fishers to harmonize efforts toward a food-secure nation.
