Butuan City farmers to benefit from DA-PhilMech’s over P4.2M farm machinery
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — A four wheel tractor and rice combine harvester from the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) is set to help the farmers in Butuan City, making the harvest on rice more efficient.
The said over P4.2 million worth of farm machinery is under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Mechanization Program which aims to enhance rice production efficiency by reducing post-harvest losses, lowering production costs, and improving overall yield through the use of modern farm equipment.
As a component of RCEF, it allocates a portion of the rice import tariff collections to support rice farmers through mechanization, seed development, credit, and extension services.
According to Analie Libres, of the Butuan City Agriculture and Veterinary Department (CAVD), the farm machinery will benefit the farmers associations and cooperatives in the city, including the Butuan City Rice Research Center (BCRRC).
The BCRRC is a special program or facility of the city government of Butuan that is established to support rice research, development, and production initiatives. Serving as a hub for rice innovations and farmer capacity building.
With over P4.2 million worth of machinery assistance, farmers in Butuan City are expected to increase operational efficiency, improve harvest quality, and strengthen their cooperatives’ capacity to sustain mechanized rice farming.
Moreover, the city government procured additional farm machinery such as cargo truck, rice transplanter, and farm tractor to further support the needs of local farmers of the place.
This initiative also underscores the government’s commitment to uplift the lives of rice farmers by promoting innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the agriculture sector. (MFC, PIA Caraga)
