The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Post Harvest and Mechanization (PhilMech) turned-over a total of Php110.3 million worth of agri-interventions to the various farmer’s associations and cooperatives in Ilocos Norte on October 10, 2024 held at the Bacarra Zanjera Irrigators Multi-Purpose (BZIMPC) Cooperative Compound in Brgy. Buyon, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

The PhilMech thru the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Mechanization Program (RCEF) awarded to the BZIMPC the multi-million-peso rice processing system III along with the 68 units production and mechanization technologies such as tractors, farm implements, precision seeder, mechanical transplanter, threshers, and rice combine harvesters to the various farmers organizations and groups that aims to enhance productivity and yield in Ilocos with an improved post-harvest facilities and mechanization activities.

Considered as a multi-million government investment, the Rice Processing System III (RPS) covers the provision of a rice mill with a capacity of 2-3 tons per hour or more or an equivalent of 48 tons per day operation. Aside from the rice mill, the project has also covered the 2 units 12-tonner per batch capacity and 2 units 6-tonner per batch capacity of dryers to help farmers improve their palay-drying activities, especially during the rainy season.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel in his message delivered by the Regional Agriculture Engineering Division Chief of DA-RFO I, Engr. Mark Harry Pastor recognized the importance of improving the post-harvest systems as well as infrastructures in the agriculture sector to empower the farmers to become better agri-preneurs while at the same time providing consumers more quality rice at an affordable price.

Mr. Edwin Cariño, consultant of the Office of the First District Representative, representing Ilocos Norte 1st District Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos encouraged the BZIMP to cater not only to the members of the Cooperative but also to non-members where a consolidated trading must be in place.

Noting the best practices of Denmark when it comes to consolidated farming, Mr. Cariño expressed his desire that this project may be able to duplicate through the cooperation of all the farmer’s groups and associations in the province.

He likewise encouraged the LGUs of Ilocos in collaboration with the various agencies to have a marketing and trade forum for special commodities so that they may be able to discuss salient plans and programs to dominate not only on local and national trade but on foreign market as well.

Engr. Joel Dotor, PhilMech Director has also announced in the turn-over ceremony the proposed amendment and extension of the RCEF where PhilMech shall be allocated P9 billion instead of the current P5 billion per year until 2030 with the inclusion of Php10-15 million worth of warehouse or bodega covering not only the 57 provinces but all the major rice producing provinces in the country.