PhP4.65-M worth of agri interventions to benefit Dangcagan town corn farmers

 

DANGCAGAN, BUKIDNON – To support the logistics and postproduction needs of local farmers, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), through its Corn Program, turned over PhP4.65-million (M) worth of agricultural interventions to the Local Government Unit of Dangcagan on Monday, June 30, in Brgy. Poblacion, here.

Coinciding with the oathtaking, ceremonial turnover of inventory and responsibility and assumption of office of incoming local officials, the package of assistance includes a hauling truck amounting to PhP2.57-M and a corn combine harvester valued at PhP2.08-M, aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity in local corn farming.

During the program, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan pinned his hopes that the said projects would be fully utilized for the benefit of the municipality’s agricultural sector.

“Hinaot sa unsa na itabang nato sa gobyerno makahatag kini og inusbawan sa atong mga mag-uuma,” the agri executive remarked.

(Hopefully, whatever support the government provides will bring improvement to our farmers.)

According to Constancio Genilla, Jr, Dangcagan municipal agricultural officer, the granted aid will primarily serve corn-producing areas across 14 barangays, covering 3,000 hectares, with over 10,000 corn farmers, notably from barangays Miaray, Kianggat, San Vicente, Dolorosa, and Darongcot.

He likewise conveyed his gratitude to the agency headed by RED Pacamalan, noting these will enable streamline farming operations by reducing labor and time requirements.

“Dako kaayo ni siya maikatabang kay sa pagkakaron ilabina na gakagamay na atong labor force diha sa agriculture mao ng ang harvester kay dali kaayo siya magamit…ang kining [hauling] truck mag karga sa kuha sa atong harvester para dal-un sa mga drying facility…so ang atong mga mag-uuma, mahatagan og convenience nga dili na sila mangita pa og laing sakyanan nga magdala sa ilang abot ngadto sa mga drying facility,” MAO Genilla accounted.

(This will be a great help, especially now that our labor force in agriculture is decreasing. The harvester is very easy to use, and the hauling truck will carry the harvested crops to drying facilities. This gives convenience to our farmer, sparing them the trouble of finding transport.)

The municipal agri officer further reassured that the LGU Dangcagan through its Municipal Agriculture Office will help sustain the operability of the given agri interventions.

“Aron sa paglahutay aning maong mga serbisyo, ang kanang matigum na minimal na bayad gikan sa mga mag-uuma mao ni siya ang gamiton aron ma mentinar nato ug mapalit ang tanang kinahanglan sa atong mga ekipo. Kay moabot man gyud ang panahon na sa wear and tear, naa man gyud maguba. Kanang gibayad nila mao na ang atong gamiton mapaayo, mamentinar [ang mga gamit] aron ang serbisyo [ngadto sa mga mag-uuma] molahutay gyud,” Genilla underscored.

(To sustain these services, we will collect a minimal fee from farmers, which will be used for maintenance and repairs, since machinery will inevitably wear out. These funds will help keep the services running.)

Danny Boy G. Pepito, a farmer-member of Kianggat Farmers Agrarian Reform Cooperative, expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided.

“Pag-[harbes] gyud sa produkto sa mais, kay ni-ang kay magkapuliki pami og pangita og moharbes…among pasalamat gikan sa regional office kay ni-ang na tabang kay kami nga mga katawhan sa Dangcagan, dako amo pasalamat alang [kaninyo!]” Pepito stated on the municipality’s acquired corn combine harvester.

(When it’s time to harvest corn, it’s really hard to find workers to do the harvesting…That’s why we are very grateful to the [DA] regional field office for their help. We, the people of Dangcagan, are truly grateful for your support!”)

With one of the DA-10’s research stations seated at the town, Dir. Pacamalan urged the municipality to continue coordinating with the department, through its Research Center for Upland Development, for further assistance. This includes the provision of fruit seedlings (jackfruit, durian, calamansi), planting materials for industrial crops (cacao and coffee), fertilizers, among other things.

He further enjoined the town to sustain collaboration with the national government through DA to prioritize road access and provide more initiatives on climate-resilient agriculture in the hinterlands through the Philippine Rural Development Project and the Adapting Philippine Agriculture (APA) to Climate Change Project, respectively.# (JLO)