LEGAZPI CITY – Farmers in five towns in Camarines Sur’s first district are expected to gain improved access to drying and milling services through a Php 72-million Rice Processing System II established under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization said the facility will serve at least 6,982 hectares of rice-producing areas and help reduce postharvest losses, particularly during the rainy season.
DA Bicol spokesperson Lovella Guarin said the facility is designed to improve rice quality by providing farmers with modern drying, milling and other postharvest services.
The system includes a multi-stage rice mill capable of processing two to three tons of rice per hour.
It is equipped with a pre-cleaner, de-stoner, huller, mist polisher, length grader, color sorter, blending tank and automatic packing machine, along with a rice hull bin, dust collection system and air-conditioned control room.
The facility also has five stainless steel recirculating dryers, each capable of handling six tons of palay per batch.
At full capacity, the dryers can process up to 30,000 kilograms, or around 600 sacks of palay, within eight to 10 hours.
Officials said the drying capacity will be particularly useful during prolonged rains, when farmers face a higher risk of spoilage and quality deterioration.
The Cabusao facility is the 14th Rice Processing System established by PhilMech in the Bicol Region.
Farmer groups in the area said the facility will help them protect harvested palay from spoilage and give them easier access to milling services.