Integration of rice processing centers pushed
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – A top official of the Agricultural Mechanization Development Program (AMDP) of the University of the Philippines Lois Banos has underscored the importance of supporting and integrating small rice processing centers for the benefit of the country’s farmers.
Existing farm-level grain centers (FLGCs) could significantly contribute to bringing farmer’s harvest to the supply chain, but institutions like local government units, banks, foreign donors and joint venture capitalists should be increasingly tapped to enliven the operation of these centers.
Dr. Arnold R. Elepano, program director of UPLB’s AMDP, said that FLGCs in the country are beset with many problems leading to rice wastage and loss of monetary investments.
FLGCs are facilities put up in strategic locations in the country through a project spearheaded by the National Fisheries and Agriculture Council (NAFC) of the Department of Agriculture, with funding support from the Japanese government.
A grain center is composed of a warehouse, mill, dryer, thresher, reaper, sheller and other pieces of equipment that can store 3,000 bags to 10,000 bags of rice at any time.
Through the FLGCs, farmers can avail of postharvest processing services instead of buying or investing in capital intensive equipment. FLGCs cost from P2.2 million to P5 million depending on their capacity.
Elepano lamented that most of the FLGCs are in very dire conditions, and some of the centers were operated poorly such that postharvest losses are very high.
“For example, some of the dryers being used do not have automatic controls; some of the mills have low milling recovery; and a number of grain centers have personnel with little managerial and technical skills,” he explained.
Although the FLGC program has a noble vision to attain food security by enhancing agricultural productivity, the program lacks support inputs from other sectors.
Elepano said the NAFC supplied multimillion pesos worth of facilities and equipment to cooperatives put up by farmers’ groups, but most of these groups have not efficiently run these grain centers.
To ensure making the FLGCs more profitable, a turnaround should be done in terms of efficiently managing the centers. “The FLGCs should be fully used and patronized by farmers, and should be operated by capable people,” he said.
Elepano also said that the FLGCs he surveyed are at most only 25 percent utilized, owing to the farmer’s lack of maintenance and operating capital. “Having an integrated processing systems that are financially supported and professionally managed is the key to the success of the rice FLGC program,” he said.
Elepano has already designed an optimal processing system which he believes would make the FLGCs profitable, but he would still recommend managerial and financial support to the FLGC program.*PNA
