Technologies from Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization or PhilMech are now available for use which may lower the production cost of planting rice.
Outgoing director Rex Bingabing said, the national average production cost of rice at present is around P10 to P11 per kilo but it can be lowered to P7.50.
This is based on the study conducted 2 years ago in regions 1, 2 and 3.
PhilMech uses the technology of combined harvester that uses lesser man power and incurs lower production loss.
“In mechanization, you increase the productivity and prevent production loss. Both ways. You are increasing the volume of production at the same time you are lowering the cost of production,” explained Bingabing.
PhilMech said, they have provided the 10% of the farm mechanization requirement while they need the support of the private sector in order to provide more machinery to farmers.
“In 2011, the combined harvester is only about 40 or 41 all over the Philippines. But in 2015, it’s about 2,000. So, it’s a big jump,” he added.
The production cost can be reduced further if other inputs will become cheaper.
In other countries like Vietnam, production cost is cheaper.
“Include other technologies like irrigation, proper fertilization, variety selection, we could be near to 4.5,” Bingabing said.
(REY PELAYO/UNTV NEWS)
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