The rice competitiveness enhancement fund mechanization program: Implementation, outcomes, and impact on rice farmers in Kalinga province, Philippines
Abstract
The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), established under Republic Act No. 112031 (Rice Tariffication Law), allocates 50% of its annual Php10-billion budget to the Farm Machinery and Equipment (Mechanization) Program. In Kalinga Province, 145 farmer-beneficiaries received mechanization support through farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs). This study assessed the level of implementation, attainment of objectives, factors affecting implementation, and impact of the RCEF Mechanization Program in Kalinga Province from 2020 to 2024. A descriptive research design was used, employing survey questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and document analysis (n = 145). Data were analyzed using weighted means on a five-point Likert scale. Objectives were very much attained (mean = 4.42) and the program was very much implemented (mean = 4.53). Factors moderately affected implementation (mean = 2.64), with insufficient drying/milling facilities as the main concern (mean = 3.94). Very high farmer impact was recorded (mean = 4.44). The program significantly improved productivity, reduced costs, and enhanced livelihoods. Additional dryer/milling units and localized training are recommended to sustain gains.
Full Text
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Introduction
Agricultural mechanization is globally recognized as a transformative strategy for achieving food security and improving rural livelihoods [7,8] . In the Philippines, Republic Act No. 11203 (Rice Tariffication Law) [1] , enacted in February 2019, created the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), 0061 Php10-billion annual appropriation to modernize rice farming [1] . The Mechanization Program, implemented by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), commands 50% of the RCEF budget [2] . Despite national distribution of over 26,412 equipment units benefiting approximately one million farmers by 2024, the national mechanization level remains modest at 2.68 hp/ha. 3 The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), where Kalinga Province is located, recorded 2.35 hp/ha classified below the national average [4] . Kalinga Province is the top palay producer in CAR with a 34% regional contribution in 2023 and approximately 31,926 hectares of rice area [5] , making it a critical site for evaluating RCEF outcomes. Figure 1 shows the distribution of RCEF program beneficiaries across all four components in Kalinga Province, while figure 2 presents rice farm area and production trends from 2019 to 2023, providing context for assessing mechanization impact [5] . Figure 1 shows the distribution of RCEF program beneficiaries across all four components in Kalinga Province. [25] ; Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Kalinga
Objectives
This study aimed to: (1) describe the socio-demographic profile of mechanization beneficiaries; (2) determine the level of attainment of objectives; (3) assess the level of implementation; (4) determine the extent of factors affecting implementation; and (5) assess the impact of the mechanization program on farmer-beneficiaries.
Materials and Methods
Research Design and Locale
A descriptive research design was used across all seven (7) municipalities (Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Rizal, Tanudan, Tinglayan) and Tabuk City of Kalinga Province, covering the 2020 to 2024 RCEF implementation cycle.
Respondents
Total enumeration sampling was used, capturing all 145 registered mechanization beneficiaries: farmer-cooperatives, farmer-associations, irrigators' associations, and local government units (LGUs).
Data Collection
Researcher-administered survey questionnaires, personal interviews with LGU personnel and cooperative officers, FGDs with farmer-beneficiaries, and document analysis of OPAG-Kalinga and PhilMech records comprised the data collection protocol.
Instrument and Statistical Analysis
The survey instrument addressed five areas: The survey instrument addressed five areas: (I) demographic profile and machinery type; (II) attainment of objectives; (III) level of implementation; (IV) factors affecting implementation; and (V) program impact as all rated on a five-point Likert scale. Figure 3 presents the Likert scale reference for attainment of objectives and Figure 7 for level of implementation.
Results and Discussion Profile of Mechanization Beneficiaries
As shown in Table 4, of the 145 beneficiaries, the most distributed equipment was agricultural tractors (n = 56; 38.6%), followed by rice threshers (n = 34; 23.4%), rice harvesters (n = 25; 17.2%), and rice seeders (n = 16; 11.0%). Rice mills (n = 8; 5.5%) and rice tillers, reapers, and mechanical dryers (n = 2 each; 1.4%) were minimally distributed [3] . Equipment was channeled through FCAs under signed Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) stipulating operations, maintenance, and quarterly reporting obligations [2] . [8] .
Level of Implementation
Table 6 shows that the mechanization program achieved the highest implementation rating among all RCEF components (sub-area mean = 4.53; VMI). Accessibility of machinery www.extensionjournal.com through FCAs was rated highest (mean = 4.67), while strengthening local machinery manufacturing was rated very much implemented (mean = 4.36) [3,10] . Table 7 presents the Likert scale reference used for interpreting implementation levels.
Factors Affecting Implementation
Table 8 presents the extent of factors affecting the mechanization program. The sub-area mean of 2.64 (MoA) indicates a moderate level of constraint. The most affected factors were insufficient mechanical drying, milling, and storage facilities (mean = 3.94), sun-drying preference among farmers (mean = 3.93), and widespread use of manual transplanting (mean = 3.80) [6] . These findings are consistent with reports that low-cost solar energy and the capital cost of mechanical dryers continue to drive farmer preference for traditional sun-drying in upland regions [4,8] . Absence of maintenance guidelines was the least constraining factor (mean = 1.77; NI) [2] .
Impact on Farmer-Beneficiaries
Table 9 presents the extent of impact. The mechanization program generated the highest impact score among all RCEF components (sub-area mean = 4.44; VHI). Strengthening training and extension delivery services to accelerate mechanization technology transfer ranked highest (mean = 4.85) [10] , followed by reducing postharvest losses (mean = 4.63), improving rice value chain competitiveness (mean = 4.63) [7] , and reducing production costs by Php 2-3/kg (mean = 4.46) [9] . These outcomes align with international evidence that farm mechanization significantly reduces unit production cost and postharvest losses, thereby increasing net farm income [7,8] . www.extensionjournal.com [3] , while exhibiting a slightly higher factor constraint score (2.64) relative to extension and seed programs, primarily attributable to postharvest infrastructure gaps [6] .
Acknowledgement
AcknowledgementThe authors acknowledge the kindness from farmercooperatives, farmer-associations, irrigators' associations, and all the local government units (LGU'S) for their full cooperation.
References
- Republic Act No. 11203. An act liberalizing the importation, exportation, and trading of rice, lifting quantitative import restrictions on rice, and for other purposes. Congress of the Philippines; 2019.
- Department of Agriculture. Implementing guidelines of the mechanization program under RCEF. DA memorandum. Manila: Department of Agriculture; 2019.
- PhilMech Communication Team. DA-PhilMech RCEF program accomplishment report. Munoz, Nueva Ecija: Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization; 2024.
- Lagare R. Rice farm mechanization level in 2022. Munoz, Nueva Ecija: PhilMech Communication Team; 2023.
- Philippine Statistics Authority -CAR. Corn and rice situation outlook in Kalinga. Baguio City: PSA-CAR; 2023.
- Bagoso C. Low mechanization level in Philippine rice farms: causes and implications. PhilMech technical report. Munoz, Nueva Ecija: Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization; 2023.
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- Asian Development Bank. Environmental and social impact of RCEF. Mandaluyong City: Asian Development Bank; 2020.
- DA Press Office. RCEF-RESP 2021: highlights of accomplishment. Manila: Department of Agriculture; 2022.
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