Korea, PH open post-harvest facilities in Bohol

MANILA, Philippines – To boost the government’s efforts to attain rice self-sufficiency in 2013, the Republic of Korea and the national government recently opened a “one-stop service center” for rice farmer’s post-harvest needs. 

The US$5 million-worth Rice Processing Complex (RPC) in Pilar, Bohol is equipped with state-of-the-art, post-harvest facilities and technologies that will improve the efficiency of rice production, milling, drying and storage thereby reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing rice quality. 

The complex, with a total area of 10,000 square meters, has a drying capacity of 3,600 metric tons (MT) per year, a milling capacity of 3 MT or an equivalent of 60 cavans per hour, a milling recovery of 65% and a storage capacity of 22,000 bags.

“Korea is dedicated to strengthening its contribution in support of the Philippine Government’s vision for a more competitive and technology-based agriculture laid down in its Development Plan for the period of 2011 to 2016,” Korean Ambassador Hyuk Lee said in a statement. 

The RPC in Bohol is one of several that he Korean government is funding. One more RPC is presently being constructed in the province of Davao del Sur. 

The project was made possible through a US$13 million grant from the Korean government. The project is being implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), its grant aid wing in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local governments of the project sites.

“In view of the benefits gained from the RPCs in Pangasinan and Iloilo, I am optimistic that RPC Bohol will reap the same. With three RPC facilities now in full operation, I am hopeful that it will further boost rice yields and contribute to the goal of the Philippine government in attaining rice self-sufficiency by next year,” Lee said. – Rappler.com