MANILA -- The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is currently finalizing the guidelines for the farm mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP).
PhilMech Executive Director Dr. Baldwin G. Jallorina, in a statement, said the guidelines will include the identification of the 1,200 municipalities that would facilitate the deployment of farm equipment and machines under RCEP over a period of six years.
“Each of the municipality should have a viable farmers organization with at least 100 hectares of irrigated rice lands. It would be easier for PhilMech to deploy or distribute farm machines in the 1,200 municipalities if the rice farmers there are organized," he said.
Jallorina said that before the actual deployment and distribution of farm machines in the 1,200 municipalities commence, PhilMech would conduct "mind-setting" activities like information drive and technical briefings to prepare Filipino rice farmers to adopt to mechanization.
However, he said that a "one-size-fits-all" approach would not be used by PhilMech in increasing the farm mechanization level of the 1,200 municipalities.
Jallorina said there are municipalities that already have a certain degree of farm mechanization while there are those that still rely largely on human or animal power in the various phases of rice production.
Hence, he said, PhilMech will have to study carefully what type of farm equipment and machines would be deployed over a cluster of municipalities.
Of the PHP10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), some PHP5 billion will be allocated for mechanization of rice farms, PHP3 billion for provision of high-yielding in bred rice seeds, PHP1 billion for credit support, and PHP1 billion for extension support and education of rice farmers.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) will take the lead in providing high-yielding inbred rice seeds to farmers while the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will undertake the training of farmers and extension workers. PHilMech will also develop and provide the modules for the training of rice farmers.
Meanwhile, Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines will support the credit component of RCEP.
Based on studies by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the cost of producing one kilo of palay (unmilled rice) in the Philippines is PHP12.72 while it is PHP6.22 in Vietnam and PHP8.86 in Thailand.
Jallorina said the components under RCEP can reduce the cost of producing palay in the Philippine by PHP1 to PHP3 per kilo.
He said PhilMech will start distributing farm mechanization at the fourth quarter of the year. (PNA)
