R-12 farmers enjoy benefits of SoCot rice processing facility

KORONADAL
CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Central Mindanao
announced today that South Cotabato farmers have been patronizing the Php32
million rice processing facility in Sto Nino, South Cotabato that helped
increased productivity and the country’s food sufficiency campaign, officials
said.
In a
statement, DA-12 said the Rice Processing Complex (RPC) III, put up by DA, is
now serving rice growers in South Cotabato and neighboring provinces of SOCCSKSRGEN
Region. SOCCSKSARGEN
region, popularly known as Region 12, is composed of the provinces of North and
South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato,
Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos City. Amalia
Jayag-Datukan, DA-12 regional executive director, said the facility has
officially started its operations in January of this year after Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala led its launching ceremony. The modern
rice processing center situated in Barangay Ambalgan have been providing the
postharvest needs of 5,000 farmers cultivating 10,000 hectares of rice lands in
Sto Nino and nearby municipalities. The
RPC III is now more than ready to cater to the milling needs of rice growers
not just here in South Cotabato province but also of nearby provinces,” Datukan
said. She said
that the RPC III was built in support to the
Food Staples Self-sufficiency Program (FSSP) of President Benigno C. Aquino III and
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala through the Department’s Agri-Pinoy Rice Program. Data
specifically indicated that Php23.725 million was allotted for the construction
of grain processing and storage facilities. Aside from this amount, P6 million
was also set as capital operations, P1.5 million for capability building and P1
million for administrative and management requirements.