Over 1,700 rice machines deployed in first half of 2026 — PHilMech

More than 1,700 rice machines were deployed nationwide in the first half of 2026 as the government stepped up efforts to modernize the country's rice sector, the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) said.

"As of June 30, PHilMech had delivered 1,731 units of machinery, or nearly 76 percent of the 2,289 units procured under the 2025 allocation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). The rollout benefited 1,238 farmers' cooperatives, associations and local government units," PHilMech said in a statement.

PHilMech said it has completed the procurement of all machinery funded under its 2025 budget, with the remaining units set for distribution.

The machines delivered so far include 900 four-wheel tractors, 700 combine harvesters, 95 recirculating dryers and 36 precision seeders.

"Mechanization lowers labor costs, speeds up critical farm operations and minimizes losses from planting to postharvest. These improvements translate directly into higher productivity, better grain quality and increased incomes for our rice farmers," PHilMech Executive Director Dionisio Alvindia said.

PHilMech said the latest deployment builds on the gains of the RCEF mechanization program, which was launched in 2019.

During the program's initial phase, PHilMech distributed 32,990 production and postharvest machines to 7,588 farmers' cooperatives, associations and local government units.

With the latest rollout, the total number of machines deployed nationwide has reached 34,721.

"Mechanization is also becoming increasingly important as our farming population ages. Modern equipment allows our farmers to continue cultivating their land with less physical strain while helping address labor shortages during planting and harvest," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.— MCG, GMA News