TABUK CITY Kalinga, Feb. 16 -- For Wilma Alvester, a rice drying machine is more than steel and mechanics. It is a pathway to a brighter future for small-time farmers in her community.

Alvester, manager of the Western Tabuk Agricultural Cluster, received a circulating dryer worth PHP22 million from the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) during the 31st Kalinga Foundation anniversary on Feb. 13.

Her group also received PHP500,000 in Kadiwa store assistance.

The DA distributed PHP96.3 million in assistance, including irrigation systems, warehouses, hauling trucks and livelihood projects, to 1,852 farmers tilling 565.7 hectares.

"Improperly dried rice lowers the sellin...