Manila, Sept. 17 -- A PHP74.4-million rice processing facility in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, is expected to benefit about 4,060 farmers by providing easier access to modern drying and milling equipment, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

The DA inaugurated the Rice Processing System (RPS) III facility, funded through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program, in Nueva Ecija, the country's leading rice-producing province.

The facility was turned over to the Cabanatuan City government through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

Farmers cultivating about 8,976 hectares of rice land in the city are expected to benefit from the facility, which include...