Opol Mayor Jayfrancis D. Bago receives the certificate for the rice recirculating dryer for OPIA that would help boost the association’s farm productivity and income.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) headed by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, together with the Local Government Unit of Opol turned over a P2.78 million worth of Rice Recirculating Dryer to Opol Farmer Irrigators Association (OPIA) on November 10, 2023 at Sitio Camaroc, Malanang, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The recirculating dryer has a 6.2 tons full capacity, and a drying lead time of 8 hours. With such facility, farmers can mechanically dry their produce with reduced postharvest losses, thus optimizing their efficiency and profitability.

RED Collado emphasized the importance of attaining food security through increased productivity and enhanced interventions for the agriculture sector, especially the local rice farmers.

He also urged the farmers to be ecologically-receptive in producing food without putting the environment at risk.

As its counterpart, the LGU Opol apportioned P330K funds for the construction of a structure to shed the recirculating dryer.

Opol town Mayor, Atty. Jayfrancis D. Bago expressed his gratitude to the DA for the grant of the project.

He said the project complements the LGU’s vision to bolster thriving and sustainable agriculture to boost the local rice farmers’ income.

The LGU has identified the OPIA as the recipient of the project being the federation of three major rice farmers associations in the town – the Camaroc FA, Pobibo FA, Taboc FA, with an aggregate rice area of 130 hectares.

The project is funded by the DA-RFO 10’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) under the Bayanihan II: Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program.#(DLV)