The National Food Authority is upgrading a major warehouse in Camarines Sur with automated ventilation, solar power and improved insulation to strengthen the country’s rice buffer stock system and reduce post-harvest losses.
NFA administrator Larry Lacson said the project is meant to protect farmers by preserv-ing the value and quality of the palay (unhusked rice) procured by the agency.
“By improving storage conditions, we reduce post-harvest losses, preserve grain quality and ensure the palay we procure retains its value,” Lacson said.
The modernization includes an automated ventilation system that maintains optimal storage conditions. Wireless sensors in heat-prone sections collect temperature and humidity data every five minutes through microcomputer control units using LoRa connectivity.
Officials said the system eliminates manual switching, prevents delayed intervention and ensures continuous airflow management based on real-time data.
The upgrade also includes a 16-kilowatt solar power system composed of 32 high-capacity panels, a three-phase hybrid inverter and five 15-kilowatt-hour batteries. Thermal insulation was also installed to reduce heat transfer from the roof to stored grain.
The facility is a duplex warehouse with a 200,000-cavan capacity and floor space equivalent to about nine basketball courts. It requires stable temperatures to prevent moisture buildup and grain deterioration.
“This modernization effort reflects our commitment to transform Philippine agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary and NFA Council chairman Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. “By in-vesting in better storage, renewable energy and smarter systems, we are improving farmers’ incomes, reducing waste and reinforcing food security.”
