SouthCot farmers avail Php26.6 million worth of agriculture machineries from PhilMech

The Department of Agriculture -Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech) officially turned over Php26.6 million worth of agricultural machinery at the Provincial Demonstration Farm at Brgy. Reyes, Banga.
At least 19 farmer beneficiaries coming from the Farmers Cooperative Associations (FCA) of the province’s ten towns and lone city avail of the 60 units of various Farm Technologies under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) -Mechanization Program.
These farm technologies are composed of 6 units of hand tractors, 14 units of floating tillers,3 units of precision seeders, 8 units of walk-behind transplanters, 4 units of riding-type transplanter, 4 units of combine harvesters, 8 units of rice reapers, 1 unit of recirculating dryers, 2 units of mobile rice mills, and 1 unit of single pass (stationary).
Based on its briefer, the RCEF-Mechanization program has an annual fund of Php5 Billion for its six-year implementation from 2019 -2024 with target beneficiaries from FCAs and Local Government Units.
The program aims to raise farmers’ productivity, profitability, and global competitiveness. The intervention using the appropriate production and post-harvest facilities targets to reduce the production code of farmers by Php2-3 per kilogram, and reduce post-production losses of farmers and users by 3-5%.
Philmech National Director Joel Dator, Vice-Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr., Board member Henry Ladot, Congressman Peter Miguel represented by Ms. Amalia Atangan, Provincial Agriculturist Raul Teves, and Acting Chief FMFOD Concurrent Mindanao B Cluster Head Engr. May Ville Castro graced the official turn-over and the cutting of the Ribbon.