ROXAS CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas distributed P143,005,000 worth of farm equipment to local farmers as part of the government’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program under its mechanization component at Villareal Stadium here recently.
At least 163 farm machinery were distributed to 27 farmers cooperatives and associations in Roxas City and the 16 municipalities of Capiz.
The program implemented by the DA-Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) has an annual budget of P5 billion for farm mechanization from 2019 to 2025.
Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras said that the program will help rice farmers lessen their production costs.
“Ining mechanization program sang RCEF, dako gid nga bulig sa aton mga FCAs para mas mapadako pa gid ang aton produksyon sang palay kag mapahagan-hagan ang production cost,” Contreras said.
Don Julian David of PhilMech said the government wants to make farm production more efficient.
“Kukumpletuhin po naming ‘yan, hanggang sa dryer at rice milling, upang lalo pang maging competitve ang inyong mga organisadong samahan,” David said.
RCEF beneficiaries received farm machinery and equipment, certified seeds of inbred rice varieties, expanded rice credit assistance, and training/extension programs, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist information officer Florie May Castro said.*
