Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

PHilMech trains Luzon cooperators, turns over Brown Rice Micro Mill
by Jona T. Paulo (March 25, 2022)
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization conducted the “Training on the Operation & Management and Turnover of the Brown Rice Mill” at the PHilMech Training Hall on March 23, 2022. The Technology Management and Training Division of PHilMech spearheaded the
activity.

The brown rice mill technology is among the technologies developed by PHilMech which aims to promote the technology and engage farmers in value adding activities. It is part of the ongoing Covid-19 response project, “Accelerating the Development and Adaptation of Brown Rice Mill for Filipino Rice Farmers” led by Dr. Michael Gragasin.

The said training aims to empower the farmers by providing for their needs of milling machine while engaging in value adding activities. This goal will lead to the development and commercialization of appropriate rice mills for the farmers which is important for the sustainable development of the country’s agriculture sector.

A total of seven cooperators comprising of 29 participants from the Farmers Cooperatives and Associations, and brown rice farmers from different municipalities of Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac and Nueva Vizcaya participated in the training. There were nine (31%) female participants and 20 (69%) male participants.

Engr. John Rey Cargamento, Engr. Herrvin David Gadia and Engr. Cris Leniel Cruz were among the project implementers and Subject Matter Specialists (SMS).

After the training, turn over ceremony was held. Activities included discussion on the provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Seven cooperators signed the MOA. Units of brown rice micro mill were turned over to the project cooperators.

Maria Elizabeth Ramos, Supervising Science Research Specialist and Bernie Roderos, Science Research Specialist II of PHilMech discussed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Acknowledgment to the project cooperators.

“Marami kaming natutunan sa training na ito at sisiguraduhin namin na makararating ang mga kaalamang ito sa mga iba pa nating kasamahang magsasaka” Zenaida Micua of Samahang Magsasaka ng Palestina said as she summed up their learnings from the training.

“Sana ay magtuloy-tuloy pa ang ganitong klaseng programa ng PHilMech sapagkat malaki ang maitutulong nitong mapataas ang kita ng mga magsasaka” Conrado Lapurga of RiceBis Bayambang Agriculture Cooperative said. “Mapapadali din ang trabaho namin sa pag-mill ng brown rice at matutugunan na ang problema ng katulad naming magsasaka sa pag-mill at pagbebenta ng brown rice” he added.

In closing program, Director Ronaldo Sebastian Reyes gave a brief overview of the different projects under the Rice Mechanization Component of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). He also mentioned that the development of the BRIMM technology was based on the demand of the farmers in milling activity. Director Reyes also emphasized the importance of the technology in addressing the needs of the farmers in terms of income generating activity.