LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – A rice processing center equipped with modern post-harvest facilities is set to rise at the National Food Authority (NFA) Grains Center in the town of Dingras, Ilocos Norte.
This project, which has an estimated budget of P130 million, is expected to be completed in 10 months.
The said project will have its groundbreaking activity on Friday, December 1 at the NFA Dingras Grains Center.
NFA Administrator Roderico Rayo Bioco and Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture (DA) are expected to lead the groundbreaking activity.
The proposed installation of the four units of 30-metric ton capacity batch recirculating mechanical dryers is a part of Phase 1 of its Post-Harvest Facility (PHF) Modernization Program of the DA.
According to the NFA Ilocos Norte branch manager, Engr. Jonathan Corpuz, this program will boost the palay drying capacity of the agency and allow them to purchase more wet palay deliveries from local farmers.
The installation of the dryers is expected to improve the NFA’s delivery of services, especially in increased rice procurement capacity to fulfill the agency’s mandate to maintain the optimal level of buffer stock for the province.
The rice processing center will be completed once all the phases of this PHF modernization plan are constructed, which will be composed of high-capacity industrial-grade mechanical dryers, grains silos, and rice mills.
This project complements President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Food Security Infrastructure Modernization Plan to ensure sufficient stock and stable process of rice and corn.
The NFA is also planning to set up industrial-capacity mechanical dryers in other production areas in Tuguegarao, Nueva Ecija, Zamboanga Del Sur, Iloilo, and Bukidnon. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
