DA provides resilient farming technology to flood-affected farmers in Agusan Sur
By Jennifer Gaitano
Engr. Ricardo OΓ±ate, Jr., regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, partnered with the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Congregation - Center for the Poor Agricultural Cooperative (MSC-CEPAGCO) in Talacogon, for the operation and management of Parboiling Project, which is geared towards improving the livelihood of the farmer organizations. Photo courtesy of DA-Caraga.
BUTUAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recently turned over the operation and management of a parboiling project to the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Congregation - Center for the Poor Agricultural Cooperative (MSC-CEPAGCO) in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo OΓ±ate, Jr., said providing
significant farming technology to the farmers in the flood-affected communities
will help them adapt to modern and resilient farming.
The facility included a parboiling section, dryer, and multi-pass rice
mill. To maximize its use, the facility also added other technologies,
including a multi-commodity solar tunnel dryer, a seed warehouse, a Pinawa
mill, and a multi-purpose drying pavement (MPDP).
Headed by Fr. Rollie Richie Gomez, the MSC - CEPAGCO entered into an
agreement with the DA-Caraga and local government unit of Talacogon to take
over the management and operation of the parboiling project.
"With this intervention from DA-Caraga, we are optimistic that the
farmers' yield will increase as well as their income. This will definitely make
farming easier and more convenient despite the inconvenience caused by the
flooding brought about by the weather disturbance, especially in the province
of Agusan del Sur," said Gomez.
According to Engr. Ricardo OΓ±ate Jr., regional executive director of
DA-Caraga, “The parboiling technology in rice production, which is ideal for
flood-prone areas like Talacogon, is done in three steps which are soaking,
steaming, and drying.”
“Parboiling or partial boiling of the paddy before milling increases its
nutritional value, changes the texture of cooked rice, and reduces the breakage
in milling,” explained Dir. OΓ±ate.
OΓ±ate further emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation
between the DA, the local government unit (LGU), and the farmers’ group for the
development of the agriculture industry not just in the town of Talacogon but
in the entire region.
The MSC-CEPAGCO is a non-profit organization that is centered on providing sustainable livelihood programs in agriculture to empower farmers, fisherfolk, disadvantaged youth, and indigenous people in the community. (JPG, PIA-Caraga, with a report from DA-Caraga)
