CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao announced on Tuesday the turnover of post-harvest facilities in Misamis Occidental expected to benefit farmers from improved rice quality and increased income.

The turnover of modern post-harvest facilities from the DA’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilmech) is the first in the province.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Mechanization Program of DA-PHilMech, a Rice Processing System comprising of multi-stage rice mill and recirculating dryers (two units in Tangub City) was turned over to the Provincial Local Government Unit of Misamis Occidental.

Facilities worth P29.4 million were established in Barangay Sta. Cris, Tangub City and Barangay Buenaceta, Oroquieta City.

Engineer Edgar Testa, cluster head for Mindanao-A of DA-PHilMech, said that the facilities aim to minimize post-harvest losses, improve grain quality and increase the market value of locally produced rice.