The gov’t eyes to foment the agri-sector in MisOr with the P47-M worth of agri-machineries, equipment and other interventions to FCAs, LGUs and an academic institution.

 

CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in Northern Mindanao entrusted over P47 million worth of agri-machineries, equipment and other interventions to farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs) of Misamis Oriental.

Leading the turnover ceremony was DA-Regional Field Office 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Engr. Ian D. Madjus of DA-PhilMech, of which project grants were then received thru the Provincial LGU of MisOr headed by Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano, FCA presidents, LGU municipal agriculturists, engineers and representatives.

Held at the MisOr Provincial Agriculture Development Complex on March 4, the roster of interventions primarily handed over were packages of farm machineries and equipment, comprising of 6 units four-wheel drive tractor, 2 units hand tractor, 26 units floating tiller, 2 units walk-behind transplanter, 13 units rice reaper, 3 units combine harvester, 22 units rice thresher and 9 units mobile rice mill.

Amounting to P29.46 million sourced from its CY 2019 and 2020 funds, DA-PhilMech distributed the agri-machineries and equipment to five FCAs and three LGUs.

Recipients include the Mandangoa Farmer’s Association, Inc., Talusan Organic FA and KINAMALOMAN Farmer Irrigators Association, Inc. (FIAI) of Balingasag; Kasingpitan Santiago FIAI and Barangay 20 Farmer’s Association of Gingoog City; and LGUs Alubijid, Claveria and Magsaysay.

According to Dir. Collado, said beneficiaries have qualified in the availment of project grants, as they are viable farmer-organizations accredited by DA having at least 50 hectares total rice area, among other technical requirements.

For those FCAs whose aggregate rice farms will not meet said conditions, however, the agri executive pinned his hopes saying: “One option is to consolidate, and we can ask DA-PhilMech to provide [the package of farm machineries and equipment] through the province, para ang probinsya na mismo ang magsisilbing service provider for other farm-organizations not accredited or qualified under the attached agency’s criteria.”

“Within the six year-duration, we are assured that lahat ng mga rice farmer mabigyan ng rice assistance,” RED Collado added.

The cited period refers to the implementation of the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund portfolio, ushered by the Rice Tariffication Law from 2019-2024.

Accorded with an annual budget of P5 billion, rice mechanization is aimed at improving farmers’ income, yield and ability to compete globally through the access and use of appropriate mechanization technologies from planting to postharvest.

Based on DA-PhilMech data, farmer-beneficiaries can expect to reduce their cost of rice production by P2-3 per kilogram and minimize postharvest losses by 3-5%.

“Ituring ninyo na kayo ang nagmamay-ari [ng mga makinaryang pansaka] dahil bigay yan ng gobyerno sa inyo thru President Duterte. Sa tulong na naibigay na sa inyo, umaasa kami na maging matagumpay kayo sa pamamahala nito nang sa gayun ay kumita kayo at dagdag ninyong mabibili ang mga kagamitang pansaka na gusto ninyo,” the director appealed.

Corroborating the aggie department head’s statement, MisOr Provincial Governor Emano said: “Napaka importante na may pondo kayo sa kooperatiba [o asosasyon] ninyo nang sa gayun meron kayong magagamit para sa pagpapaayos [sa mga kagamitang pansaka].”

On behalf of the benefitting FCAs, Arnel M. Continedo, KINAMALOMAN FIAI president, expressed his message of gratitude for the government’s assistance from the municipal, provincial up to the regional agri offices, including DA-PhilMech.

“Malaki ang maitutulong nito na mabawasan ang aming gastusin [sa pagtatrabaho] sa aming palayan at gawa nito, madadagdagan pa ang aming kita. Ipapagamit din namin ito sa iba pang mga magsasaka [maliban sa mga miyembro ng asosasyon] nga hindi kalakihan ang bayarin nang sa gayun ay matulungan din namin sila.”

Completing the list of assistance to foment agri-development in MisOr, DA-10 has likewise poured out various interventions amounting to P18 million to 19 LGUs, 5 farmer-groups and 1 academic institution. # (JLO/Photo credits: JCAnito)