THE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) gave the provincial local government of Davao de Oro (DdO) some P7.89 million worth of production and postharvest machines.
Dr. Ofero Capariño, who represented PhilMech director Dr. Dionisio Alvindia during the turnover ceremony on July 27, 2023 at the DdO Farm, Pasian, Monkayo, said the machines were given under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program.

Capariño said the facilities include two mechanical grain dryers with biomass and petroleum-based heating systems and one precision rice seeder.
He also explained that the rice precision seeder is a ride-on type of planting equipment that accurately drops the desired number of seeds at a precise depth and spacing, resulting in a uniform plant population and thus requiring less labor and cost of sowing.
Capariño also said the mechanical dryer will be a big help to the rice farmers in avoiding postharvest losses of their produce, especially during unfavorable weather conditions.
'The dryer and precision seeder are in addition to the various agricultural machines already granted to the province from 2019-2022, for a total of P189 million,' he said.
Gov. Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga thanked PhilMech for the machines and said that 'we will comply with our duties and responsibilities in the proper utilization and management of these facilities.'
Also gracing the turnover ceremony were officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) National Livestock Program, DA Agricultural Training Institute and DA-Region 11, which provided financial and technical support for the implementation of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery Expansion or Inspire and the Provincial-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System.