Libona town-based coop acquires PhP2.08-M combine harvester

LIBONA, BUKIDNON — The 108-membered San Jose Multipurpose Cooperative (SJMPC) in Brgy. San Jose received a combine harvester valued at PhP2.08 million from the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) on August 20, to help mechanize the group’s farming operations.

The farm machinery, equipped with accessories such as a brand-new heavy-duty trailer, a compatible brand-new tire, and a corn and rice kit, is expected to help reduce the drudgery of manual labor, allow timely operations, and boost farmers’ productivity while lowering operational costs.

Sourced from the agency’s 2024 Corn Program funds, the unit is an advanced agricultural machinery tailored to efficiently harvest corn and rice by integrating reaping, shelling/threshing, cleaning and bagging into a single streamlined process.

During the turnover ceremony, DA-10 Field Operations Division Chief, Luz I. Guzman, PhD urged the Coop to properly care for and maximize the combine harvester’s use.

“Ampingan gyud na ninyo nga molahutay na siya [combine harvester] ug mapuslan gyud. Dili lang sa inyong grupo kon dili akip sa inyong kasilinganan,” the operations chief remarked.

(Take good care of the combine harvester and ensure it benefits not only your group but also neighboring farmers.)

Acting Libona Mayor Tawing B. Woo echoed the DA-10 official’s statement, saying: “Lig-una pa intawon ang inyong [kooperatiba], ampinga ang gihatag kaninyo sa government kay naa naman gyud [ni ang combine harvester], kay ma feel na ninyo ang government karon nga gi atiman ta.”

(Strengthen your cooperative and take care of the machinery provided by the government, now that the combine harvester is already here, you can feel the government’s presence to supporting us.)

For her part, SJMPC Chairperson Lielane Marie Dagdagan committed to the upkeep of the farm machinery, which will support the coop’s cultivation of 158 hectares of corn and 10 hectares of cassava, and 50 more hectares planned for expansion.

“Amoa ni siyang gahinan pod og mga 20% sa iyang kita, ilain namo sa iyang [repair and] maintenance,” the chairperson emphasized.

(We will allocate 20% of of the income generated for its repair and maintenance.)

Dagdagan also expressed her gratefulness for the national and local governments for their synergistic efforts in pouring assistance to their farmers’ group, paving an opportunity for them to boost their farm productivity and income.

“Ato ning i-avail na gihatag sa DA…kay mapadali ug mapa less ang atong gasto ug dako pod ang income sa atong panguma,” she capped off her message.

(Let us utilize what the DA has provided us—it will ease our work, reduce costs, and increase our income.)

Reportedly, the combine harvester has a grain tank capacity of 400 kilograms, a harvesting loss of only 0.52%, and an actual field capacity of 0.555 hectare per hour.

The said provision further aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to achieving food security and transforming the agri-fishery sector into a more lucrative industry, with key priorities such as mechanization, modernization, and the enhancement of production and postharvest systems.# (JLO)