THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) has kickstarted the pilot testing of its proposed one-ton bagging system for palay or unhusked rice at its warehouse in Nueva Ecija, in a bid to reduce storage costs, increase warehousing capacity, and improve grain quality preservation.
The NFA said the one-tonner bagging system offers several advantages over traditional methods.
Apart from reducing storage and transport costs, the grains agency said the airtight bags help preserve grain quality by protecting against moisture, heat, insects, and rodents. It also simplifies segregation of grain types, enhances pest control, and reduces pressure on physical storage infrastructure.
The NFA said it currently spends around P15 per printed sack and an additional cost per bag for labor.
At full capacity, an NFA warehouse with a maximum of eight piles can store up to 55,440 bags of 50 kilograms, “highlighting the potential scale of savings and efficiency improvements the new system of tonner bag utilization.”
“This is part of our broader effort to upgrade NFA’s storage capacity with minimal cost to the government,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also chairs the NFA Council.
He added: “By maximizing existing warehouse space, we can procure more palay from farmers and help address post-harvest losses.”
For his part, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the pilot test will begin in at least three warehouses nationwide.
“This trial will provide us with critical data to determine whether the technology is viable for broader implementation,” said Lacson.
Currently, the NFA operates more than 300 warehouses across the country.
The NFA said some of these facilities are already undergoing upgrades to accommodate larger volumes of palay and milled rice, and possibly corn if legislative amendments are passed.
Lacson estimates that using the new system, the grains agency could boost warehouse capacity by up to 30% — an increase that could result in faster returns on investment.
“There will also be savings in manpower, fumigation, and sack costs,” said Lacson. (GMA Integrated News)
