SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) -- The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) distributed farm machines worth a total of P92 million to farmers in Sorsogon amid continuing efforts to raise productivity and ensure food security.

PhilMech, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, said it handed over 36 units of farm machinery to 22 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the province.

Beneficiaries received 15 four-wheel tractors, four rice precision seeders, three combine harvesters, three walk-behind transplanters, two riding-type transplanters, seven recirculating dryers, and two multi-stage rice mills.

PhilMech Director Joel Dator said the distribution of farm machines would significantly help domestic production.

Using appropriate farm equipment and mechanization can reduce losses and increase farmers’ income, he said.

The distribution of farm equipment is one of the items under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, which aims to support qualified farmer cooperatives and associations nationwide.

The RCEP, under the law, must provide P10 billion worth of interventions to the rice industry annually until 2024.

He said that the equipment worth P92 million was part of the RCEF allocation for Sorsogon in 2023 and was delivered by suppliers only this month.

“So under the 2024 fund, meron pa po tayong mga P70 million na ea-allocate dito sa probinsya ng Sorsogon,” he added. (We still have about P70 million to allocate to the province of Sorsogon. (PIA5/Sorsogon)