Korea to build rice processing complex in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines   – The Korean government is set to construct a P112-million modern rice processing complex in a one-hectare lot at the provincial nursery in Barangay Tebag, Sta. Barbara town.

The project, which is expected to start on Sept. 12, stands to benefit more than 200,000 farmers, as this would raise their income by reducing post-harvest losses through modernized rice production facilities.

The complex is also expected to enhance the international competitiveness of Philippine rice.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. met with a delegation of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) led by Kim In and Young Saeng Lee, which made an ocular inspection in the province last Tuesday.

The group was assisted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office headed by Crispulo Bautista and the provincial agriculturist’s office.

Espino thanked the Korean government for having chosen Pangasinan as one of the recipients of its assistance in the country.

“This is very timely and so important to us because Pangasinan is an agricultural province,” he said, adding that the project will open various opportunities in terms of agricultural development to help farmers increase their income. 

The Korean government has provided a $13-million grant to the Philippines through the DA for the construction of rice processing complexes, particularly in Bohol, Davao del Sur, Iloilo and Pangasinan, to promote sustainable development in agriculture.

The complex will be equipped with state-of- the-art post-harvest facilities and will serve as one-stop service center for milling, drying and storing.

It will also provide contemporary production technologies to produce high-quality rice.

Under the specifications of the project, the complex, with an area of 1,700 square meters, will have a drying capacity of 5,600 metric tons per year or 1,000 bags per day, a milling capacity of 2.5 MT or an equivalent of 50 cavans per hour, and a storage capacity of 1,100 tons.

The Korean government will also provide equipment, including dust collection system, high-quality rice producing facilities, electric generators, moisture meters, conveyors, and agricultural machineries like trucks, among others.

Earlier, Kim, representing KOICA, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Espino had signed a memorandum of agreement.

Young assured the provincial government that the Korean government will bring in its experts to provide high-quality rice production technology and offer training in the operation of modern post-harvest facilities. – With Cesar Ramirez