 | DA turns over P1.3 billion worth of projects to farmers |
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www.businessmirror.com.ph November 5, 2015 The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday it has awarded P1.3 billion worth of agriculture projects and interventions to the local government units and farmers in Region 10 to boost farm mechanization and improve agriculture production in the region. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the DA turned over more than P1.3 billion worth of farm machineries, equipment, projects, livestock and seeds to beneficiaries under the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, livestock and High Value Crops Development Programs (HVCDP), the Philippine Rural Development Project and other special projects of the department. The machineries and equipment provided by the government include six mini four-wheel drive tractors, two combined harvesters and 16 turtle type power tillers for rice farmer-beneficiaries; seven hand tractors for HVCDP beneficiaries; and nine farm tractors, four cassava diggers, five cassava graters and two grain dryers for corn farmer-beneficiaries. Three multipurpose drying pavements amounting to P34.9 million were also awarded to the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan project, the DA said. The provincial government of Camiguin also received farm-to-market road (FMR) projects amounting to P40 million, PRDP subprojects worth P1.2 billion and initiatives under the Bottom-up Budgeting project with an amount of P12.9 million. Indemnity checks worth P1.7 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. were also distributed. Aside from these, five carabaos, five cattle and three packets of goats, as well as 100 bags of rice seeds and 100 bags of open-pollinated variety corn seed were also awarded to the farmers. Farmer-leaders in Region 10 said there is a need for support from the government, such as additional machinery assistance, construction of FMRs and more skills training, among others, for their respective groups, municipalities and provinces. The DA also recently conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two FMRs worth P1.3 million in the municipalities of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and Calamba, Misamis Occidental. The turnover ceremony for the projects was part of the 22nd Farmers’ Field Days and Techno-Forum held recently in Bukidnon. More than 2,300 participants composed of farmers, students, government leaders and employees, joined and witnessed the activities showcasing 80 agriculture and livestock technologies with emphasis on organic farming during the field days. This year’s farmers’ field days were centered on the theme, “More than Two Decades of Technology Development, Transfer and Adoption: Bridging a Progressive Northern Mindanao towards Asean Competitiveness,” which aims to enrich Northern Mindanao farmers’ knowledge and abilities on agricultural technologies to increase their production and income and equip them to compete in the Asean market. |
