Mindanao farmers get tractors, threshers from gov’t

MANILA, Philippines—Farmers in Mindanao have received nmearly P21 million worth of farm equipment from the Department of Agriculture intended to help them produce more crops and earn more money.

The department said in a news release that it recently awarded 177 pieces of farm machinery and equipment, such as tractors and threshers, to farmers’ groups and irrigators’ associations in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) Region.

The DA shouldered the bulk of the cost of the equipment through the farm mechanization component of its Food Staple Sufficiency Program. Under the program, the DA paid for 85 percent of the cost, while the beneficiaries shouldered the remaining 15 percent.

Assistant Agriculture Secretary Dante Delima said another set of farm machines and equipment was  scheduled to be awarded to another batch of farmers in August this year.

Delima, who was present in the recent turnover to the beneficiaries, called on the farmers to maximize the use of their new equipment in their field preparation, planting, harvesting and other farm operations so that these would be faster and more efficient.

He also said they should take care of the machines, which are meant to increase their production and income.

DA Region 12 Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the department would create a team to monitor the farmers and irrigators groups to ensure they are using the new equipment efficiently and are seeing to their maintenance.

The bulk of the machines and equipment went to 126 farmers’ groups. They received five units of four-wheel drive tractors, 112 hand tractors, and 37 rice threshers, collectively worth P18.5 million.

Five outstanding irrigators’ associations received nine hand tractors, seven hermetic cocoons, and seven portable dryers, which are worth P2.43 million.