By Xander Ledesma
Farmers’ cooperatives and local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have significantly benefited from the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, receiving PHP 692.7 million worth of rice machinery and equipment over six years.
On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) distributed PHP 217.076 million worth of equipment to 50 farmers’ cooperatives, associations, and LGUs at a turn-over ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol grounds.
PhilMech Director for Research and Development, Nelson Santiago, emphasized the initiative’s aim to enhance mechanization, reduce production costs, and minimize postharvest losses for farmers and cooperatives.
The latest distribution under the program included 116 units of various machinery such as four-wheel tractors, rice combine harvesters, levee makers, rice mills, transplanters, and dryers. The equipment is expected to ease the labor-intensive process of rice farming, leading to increased efficiency and higher yields.
Albert Laberos, president of the Lateral I-Pacol Irrigators’ Association Inc. in Bago City, expressed gratitude for receiving PHP 2.83 million worth of farm equipment. “This will greatly help reduce production costs and increase our yield. We can now produce over four metric tons per hectare and, with favorable weather, even reach six metric tons,” he said.
Pedro Limpangog, president of the Federation of Irrigators’ Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System, echoed these sentiments, noting how the machinery will allow farmers to save on production costs, enabling them to provide more food for their families and support their children’s education.
Since 2019, Negros Occidental has received substantial allocations from the RCEF Mechanization Program, with funds amounting to PHP 150 million in 2019, PHP 149.9 million in 2020, PHP 138.8 million in 2021, PHP 80.4 million in 2022, PHP 81.5 million in 2023, and PHP92.1 million in 2024.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and DA Negros Island Region Regional Executive Director Jose Albert Barrogo joined Santiago during the turn-over ceremony, underscoring their commitment to supporting the province’s rice farmers. This sustained effort highlights the government’s drive to modernize agriculture and empower farmers for a more productive and competitive rice industry in Negros Occidental.