LIBORAN, BAUNGON, BUKIDNON — Committed to building the resilience of the agriculture sector to climate change, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) turned over a PhP1.5-million multi-crop drying facility on June 25, this town.

Funded under its Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) Program, the 420-square meter drying facility aims to reduce postharvest losses by preventing contamination and spoilage as well as increase efficiency and productivity amid any weather condition.

“When we tried drying our Palay, we could see that it dries faster and our labor cost is also less because it used to take us seven days to dry a single batch, now it only takes three days. Our labor is also very minimal now, with only one or two people needed per day. This is a huge return for our farmers,” shared Chairperson Oliver Bacas of the Liboran Samahang Nayon Multipurpose Cooperative.

Bacas also added that the cooperative is committed to maximizing the facility’s impact by extending its services not only to farmer-members of the coop, but also non farmer-members in the community at a minimal fee.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan reaffirms DA’s dedication to empowering farmers in a bid towards achieving food security in the region.

The Liboran SNMPC became an AMIA village in 2021, with 72 farmers and a production area of 200 hectares mainly for corn and cassava. # (AMBM)