Rice mill in Madrid benefits from DOST innovation program
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
MADRID, Surigao del Sur -- With the
commitment to the national goal of empowering the micro, small, and medium
enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently
turned over to the owner of Erlinda Rice Mill, as beneficiary of the innovation
fund amounting to P1,609,440 in Madrid, Surigao del Sur.
DOST Caraga assistant regional director
Ricardo Varela and provincial director Caressa Leanne V. Lim facilitated the
turnover of the check that will take care of purchasing a better and upgraded
equipment for the milling of rice.
Rice mill entrepreneurs play a vital
role in the food security chain as good rice varieties require quality
equipment to produce quality rice with high farm gate price, which means better
income to farmers.
With the increased rice production due to better rice varieties planted, as well as the timely harvest season, local farmers will be needing more efficient equipment to mill the rice.
As strategically located in the rice
granary of Caraga region, the Erlinda Rice Mill is owned by the Caperig family
and managed by one of their sons, who started to venture in rice trading in the
Northern part of Surigao del Sur before establishing the mill in 2028. Within a
year of operation, the business managed to acquire a double-pass rice mill in
addition to their existing single-pass milling machine. However, the equipment
became idle due to high operating costs and inefficient performance that led to
low recovery rates and less rice polishing flexibility.
Recognizing the challenge of the
growing demand for higher recovery rates and improved rice quality, the
business took a step to elevate the milling capabilities of the rice mill to
better serve the farmers and other clientele.
According to DOST - Surigao del Sur
Dir. Lim, it was during the first quarter of 2023 when the Erlinda Rice Mill
formally applied for the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program
Innovation-Enabling Fund (SETUP iFUND), an assistance program offered by DOST.
After a thorough review, the approval
signaled for the awarding of the amount based on the proposed project for
implementation so the rice mill can provide their customers with quality
product while optimizing the production process as soon the equipment becomes
functional and operational.
Meanwhile, SETUP is a nationwide strategy to motivate and empower MSMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness. It provides them with equipment and technical assistance to increase sales and production, streamline and improve overall company operations, upgrade the quality of products and services, conform to national and international standards of excellence, and be competitive in their respective fields. (NGPB/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
