DA turns over to farmers rice processing complex in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently turned over to farmers’ cooperatives in Sta. Barbara in Pangasinan a multi-million rice processing complex (RPC) established through the assistance of the Korean International Agency (KOICA).

The DA and the provincial government of Pangasinan turned over last week the RCP to the Albacopa Federation of Cooperatives and the Pangasinan Federation of Irrigator’s Association (PFIA) that would jointly operate and manage the facility.

Members of the cooperatives underwent training to operate and run the facility.

The state-of-the-art rice processing facility houses modern grain dryers, rice mills, storage, and packaging equipment. It was established with a grant from KOICA.

The facility is intended to help increase the income of farmers by improving the efficiency of rice postproduction and distribution, reduce postharvest losses, and maximize the utilization of rice by-products.

In their business plan, Albacopa and PFIA would assist at least 2,600 rice farmers through seed and fertilizer provision, land preparation, postharvest, and marketing services.

They would buy at least 25,000 50-kilogram bags of palay (unhusked rice) and sell a minimum of 15,000 50-kilogram bags of rice monthly.

Albacopa is engaged in trading of farm inputs, rice and corn, while PFIA members cultivate 30,000 hectares of palay which would be processed at the RPC.

Rex Bingabing, executive director of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), said that the turnover of the KOICA-funded RPC in Pangasinan to two farmer organizations demonstrates the capability of cooperatives to operate complex post-harvest and processing facilities.

“The turnover of the RPC in Pangasinan to two farmer organizations for its management and operation shows that farmers are also willing to learn how to operate and manage such facilities, and that government is willing to train them for that,” he said.

Bingabing said that three other RPCs located in Iloilo, Bohol and Davao del Sur are set to be turned-over this year to farmer organizations for their operation and management.

KOICA granted a total of P649 million for the establishment of the four RPCs, while the Philippine government allocated a counterpart funding of P136.45 million.

Each RPC is equipped with five mechanical dryers, multi-pass state-of- the-art milling facility equipped with color sorter, length grader and automatic bagger. It is also equipped with a storage facility.

The five units of mechanical dryer can process 50 metric tons palay per day on a 10-hour operation schedule.

The milling facility has a capacity of 50 bags milled rice per hour or 500 bags per day at a 10-hour milling operation schedule. Each RPC was also provided by KOICA with a 6-ton and 25-ton capacity hauling trucks.