PhilMech delivers over 30K machines to farmers under RCEF

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) delivered over 30,000 machines to farmers, cooperatives, and local government units in 19 regions last year as part of efforts to reduce rice production costs.

Through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), PhilMech procured a total of 32,694 machines last year, with 30,549 units already distributed to beneficiaries across 7,493 recipients.

PhilMech emphasized that mechanizing rice production helps aging farmers work more efficiently and increases productivity while attracting younger farmers and investors for long-term food security and job creation.

The agency deployed 5,030 units of equipment such as tractors, seeders, harvesters, dryers, and milling systems, significantly boosting milling recovery rates to 63-65% from 55-58% previously through the installation of rice processing systems (RPS).

Since 2019, PhilMech has established 104 RPS units with an additional 47 units scheduled for delivery by June 2025.

PhilMech also distributed learning materials, organized community dialogues, and created information hubs to foster modern agricultural practices and enterprise development among farmer cooperatives.