DOST aids Agusan cooperative in procuring modern rice mill

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers from Bayugan, Agusan del Sur have set up a new rice mill to improve their productivity.

The rice mill, located in a two-hectare compound along the national highway in Bayugan City,  was funded using a zero interest loan amounting to P5.83 million from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Included in the package are a paddy sifter, pneumatic huller,  paddy separator, vertical whitener,  mist polisher, ahusk blower, de-stoner, rotary sifter, rice sifter and a husk tank.

The new facility will help Bayugan City, which has a maximum of 7,000 hectares of irrigated lands, produce quality, well-milled rice to augment supply in Agusan del Sur and the other provinces in the Caraga region.

The Bayugan Farmers Millers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BFMMPC) is composed of 74 rice farmers and traders in Bayugan City. It was formed to  set up a rice mill of its own instead of transporting palay to private rice millers in neighboring municipalities.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said the assistance given to BFMMPC was in line with the agency’s thrust to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) increase their productivity and competitiveness by providing them technology and equipment.

“This is in line with the directive of the President to pursue programs that will spur growth and development in the regions,” Dela Peña told The Star.

Under the program, the DOST provides beneficiary MSMEs the equipment or machinery they need to boost their productivity and improve their product quality.