TARAKA, Lanao del Sur — Farmers in this municipality are set to benefit from modern post-harvest facilities following the inauguration and turnover of a ₱17.4-million Rice Processing System (RPS) on Thursday, August 14, 2025, facilitated by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The state-of-the-art facility, funded under the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), features a multi-stage rice mill and recirculating dryers. These are designed to minimize post-harvest losses, improve grain quality, and help farmers secure better market prices.
MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno said the project fulfills President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize agriculture at the grassroots level.
“As the President often says, real progress in agriculture must be felt directly in the fields, and today, we are seeing that promise come to life,” Magno said during the ceremony.
At least 950 farmer-members cultivating 1,300 hectares of rice lands in Taraka are expected to benefit from the RPS.
Among them is farmer Asalam Macapodi of Barangay Pagalamatan, who explained that the absence of proper drying facilities has often forced him to sell palay to traders at a loss, especially during the rainy season. With the RPS, farmers like him can now sell properly dried grains at higher prices, potentially increasing their income significantly.
The facility is part of the Marcos administration’s broader strategy to strengthen irrigation systems, expand mechanization, modernize post-harvest operations, and provide farmers with access to credit and insurance to ensure food security and stabilize market prices.
Magno also highlighted MinDA’s partnership with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and local leaders, noting that agricultural modernization should reach historically underserved communities.
This latest project builds on MinDA’s earlier support for Taraka, which in 2019 secured a ₱210-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for a solar-powered irrigation and potable water system now serving 26 barangays.
Taraka Mayor Nashiba Gandamra-Sumagayan welcomed the new facility, describing it as a vital support system for local farmers.
“MinDA has been helping us, from the solar-powered irrigation to now this facility. This is a huge boost for our farmers, especially in increasing their livelihood,” the mayor said.
Secretary Magno expressed gratitude to partner agencies and stakeholders for making the project possible and called for continued collaboration to build a progressive and food-secure Mindanao.