BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently turned over the operation and management of a parboiling project to the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Congregation – Center for the Poor Agricultural Cooperative (MSC-CEPAGCO) in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr., said providing significant farming technology to the farmers in the flood-affected communities will help them adapt to modern and resilient farming.
The facility included a parboiling section, dryer, and multi-pass rice mill. To maximize its use, the facility also added other technologies, including a multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer, a seed warehouse, a Pinawa mill, and a multi-purpose drying pavement (MPDP).
Headed by Fr. Rollie Richie Gomez, the MSC – CEPAGCO entered into an agreement with the DA-Caraga and local government unit of Talacogon to take over the management and operation of the parboiling project.
“With this intervention from DA-Caraga, we are optimistic that the farmers’ yield will increase as well as their income. This will definitely make farming easier and more convenient despite the inconvenience caused by the flooding brought about by the weather disturbance, especially in the province of Agusan del Sur,” said Gomez.
According to Engr. Ricardo Oñate Jr., regional executive director of DA-Caraga, “The parboiling technology in rice production, which is ideal for flood-prone areas like Talacogon, is done in three steps which are soaking, steaming, and drying.”
“Parboiling or partial boiling of the paddy before milling increases its nutritional value, changes the texture of cooked rice, and reduces the breakage in milling,” explained Dir. Oñate.
Oñate further emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation between the DA, the local government unit (LGU), and the farmers’ group for the development of the agriculture industry not just in the town of Talacogon but in the entire region.
The MSC-CEPAGCO is a non-profit organization that is centered on providing sustainable livelihood programs in agriculture to empower farmers, fisherfolk, disadvantaged youth, and indigenous people in the community. (JPG, PIA-Caraga, with a report from DA-Caraga)
