DA-10 bolsters postharvest management, turns over storage facility to Libona farmers

 

LIBONA, BUKIDNON — Seventy-two (72) farmer-members of the Gango-Kinawe Community-based Participatory Action Research Producers Cooperative (GKCPAR) in Barangay Kinawe, this town, gains improved postharvest management following the turnover of a Storage Building from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) on July 24.

Funded through the DA-10’s Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (CC-AMIA) Program, the PhP1.683-million storage facility is poised to secure farmers’ income through a climate-resilient postharvest storage facility.

With a collective 278 hectares of corn and cassava, the coop is positioned to curb postharvest spoilage, market in bulk, and time sales for a favorable market.

“In past cases where harvests were thrown away due to low buying prices, I urge our farmers and MAOs [municipal agriculture offices] to coordinate in registering the crops [during planting seasons],” DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan said, in a message.

“This will allow us at DA-10 to anticipate harvest periods, prepare for potential oversupply, and ensure our farmers receive fair value for their harvest in the market,” the agri chief exec furthered.

In an interview, GKCPAR Chairperson Angelito M. Atillo conveyed their gratitude for the turnover of the storehouse.

“Dili gyud masukod ang among kalipay nga dinhi sa among lugar gibubo kining tabang. Plano usab namo nga makatabang sa uban pinaagi sa among kooperatiba aron mas mudaghan pa kami,” the farmer-leader said.

(We are very thankful that we received this facility in our community. Through this, we also plan to support others through our cooperative so we may continue to grow.)

On the same day, the DA-10 also turned over another storage building to Bliss Lingion Multipurpose Cooperative in Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon.

This initiative forms part of the DA’s continuing support under the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to modernize and equip rural communities with resilient agri-infrastructure that uplifts local farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs).# (BJCE)