The volume of rice produced out of palay in Philippine farms has significantly increased due to advancements in the country’s farm mechanization, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The country’s rice milling recovery rates improved to a range of 63 to 65 percent in 2024, from the previous 55 to 58 percent, due to the farm-based installation of the Rice Processing Systems (RPS) designed and built by the DA’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), the DA said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
That means for every 100 sacks of palay, at least 63 sacks of rice have been produced, instead of only 55 bags at the minimum previously, translating to greater output and income for farmer-cooperatives, the DA said.
“Mechanizing rice production helps our aging farmers work more efficiently and increases their productivity… Modern agriculture will also attract younger farmers and investors, ensuring long-term food security and job creation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Modernizing rice farming isn’t just about lowering costs. It’s about making our farmers more competitive, more profitable, and more resilient for the future,” he added.
The significant rise in rice milling recovery rates was among PhilMech’s biggest accomplishments mentioned in its 2024 annual report submitted to Tiu Laurel.
So far, 104 RPS units have been established nationwide, with 98 put up under the current administration, the DA said. PhilMech has been working double-time to complete the delivery and installation of 47 more units covered by the first phase of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), the DA added, but the agency did not give a definitive timeframe for completion, as of Wednesday.
