Batac City, Ilocos Norte – Over Php 175 Million worth of machineries were distributed on February 3 to 64 Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations  (FCAs) of Ilocos Norte through the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). 

Joining the FCAs at Mariano Marcos State University – Batac were Undersecretary for Special Concerns Waldo R. Carpio, DA-RFO 1 Regional Executive Director Nestor D. Domenden, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, PhilMech Representative Allen Mangaoil, Ilocos Norte First District Representative Ria G. Fariñas, Ilocos Norte Second District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba and Provincial Agriculturist Ms. Norma Lagmay.

The 172 units of distributed machineries compose of 40 units four wheel drive tractors, 80 units hand tractors, two units walk-behind type mechanical rice transplanter, one riding type mechanical rice transplanter, 28 units rice combine harvester, 11 units rice reaper, eight units, rice thresher, and two units mobile rice mill. 

Through these machineries, farmers are expected to save up to three percent milling losses due to efficient and high recovery mechanized rice mills, about two to three percent postharvest losses with the two-in-one operation of rice combine harvester, and up to ten percent increase in yield with good crop growth and higher density planting using mechanical transplanters or precision seeders. 

The RCEF Mechanization Component, through RA 11203 was principally authored by Senator Cynthia Villar.###