MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is working double time to increase the level of rice production in the Philippines with lower expenditures to alleviate the burden of global inflation in other food and non-food products, particularly rice.
In a news forum in Quezon City, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the government will use greater mechanization and efficient post-harvest processes to boost agricultural activity in the country.
“So, ngayon ang tutok pa rin namin ngayon ay sa palayan na mapataas ang lebel ng produksiyon at mapababa iyong cost to produce, again sa pamamagitan ng mechanization at mapababa rin iyong post-harvest losses kaya iyon ang tinututukan din ni Secretary Tiu Laurel,” De Mesa said.
De Mesa admitted that there is now about 15 to 20 percent post-harvest losses especially during the drying and milling process due to the variety of rice being planted and harvested.
“Ang percentage is about 15 to 20 percent depende kung saang area at saang level. Ang karamihan niyan ay doon sa drying at saka sa milling. Iyong halimbawa sa milling natin, sa kiskisan – malaki na sa atin iyong 65% na milling recovery pero marami pa rin sa kiskisan nasa 50 to 55 percent ang milling recovery,” De Mesa said.
“Ang isang dahilan nito, maraming variety ng bigas na mayroon ngayon na natatanim at mayroong masyadong mahaba, mayroong bilugan, masyadong maliit. So iyong kiskisan kasi ano ‘yan eh, ‘pag rubber hull, ‘pag hindi maganda iyong clearance…talagang maraming durog o kaya marami iyong palay pa o ipa na natitira so kailangan ikiskis uli so maraming nasasayang,” he added.
There are more than 18 existing varieties of rice per region to which the DA plans to cut down to just two or three for every region to ensure an efficient milling system with higher milling recovery.
“So, ang focus ngayon again ni Secretary Tiu Laurel ay ma-ensure na hindi tataas sa tatlo kada rehiyon iyong variety ng palay na maitanim. Ang bet namin isa/dalawa lang eh kaya very efficient iyong kanilang milling system and eventually iyong kanilang milling recovery napakataas,” De Mesa said. (PND)
