The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) highlighted rice mechanization during Agrilink 2019 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, last October 3-5.

In line with the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program, PHilMech showcased some of its technologies.

“Agrilink remains to be one of PHilMech’s effective platforms for showcasing the latest agricultural technologies we have developed. At the same time, it also serves as a venue to disseminate information, especially on the need to modernize the country’s agricultural industry and create more agribusiness enterprises,” PHilMech Director IV Dr. Baldwin Jallorina said.

Dr. Rodolfo Estigoy and Engr. May Ville Castro spearheaded the seminar about RCEF.

“RCEF is different from National Rice Enhancement Program; the RCEF component is only supplementary and complimentary to the regular program of the Department of Agriculture,” clarified Engr. May Ville Castro.

She also discussed the requirement, distribution system and other consideration for the RCEF program.

“The technology target setting will follow the concept of modernization development process wherein according to our experts has several stages, which start from a simple to a more advanced use of technology,” she explained

“And we all know that the most basic technology requirement is in land preparation. The animal or human power is not sufficient enough to prepare our land. After the basic technology requirement, then we will move into a more advanced development in mechanization,” Castro added.

Moreover, Dr. Estigoy answered some of the queries of the participants regarding RCEF.

Article by Jessica Marie B. Laturnas