To ease the production cost and post-harvest losses of rice farmers in Capiz, another batch of agricultural machinery were given to the province during the turn-over ceremony held on November 9 at the Villareal Stadium, Roxas City.
Implemented under the Department of Agriculture’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization program 39 farmers cooperatives and associations from the 16 municipalities and one city in the province were awarded, benefitting a total of more than 8,000 farmer members.
Thirty five units of four-wheel tractor, 16 units of hand tractor, 25 units of riding-type rice transplanter, 26 units of rice combine harvester, 24 units of floating tiller, 6 units of walk-behind rice transplanter, 5 units of recirculating dryer, 1 unit of single-pass rice mill, 2 units of multi-pass rice mill, 1 unit of power take off-driven disc plow, 2 units of rice reaper, 1 unit of de-stoner, and 1 unit of rice precision seeder amounting to P174.3 million were turned over during the program.
Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras expressed his thanks to the national government for this support to the marginal farmers.
“Kun kis-a, ang pagtulok sa mga farmers naton, pigado. Pero kamo ang nagapakaon sa amon. Kung wala sa inyo, wala kami bugas nga pagakan-on. You are very vital to our economy,” said Contreras.
The turnover ceremony was led by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development (PhilMech), in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Dr. Baldwin G. Jallorina, director IV of PhilMech, emphasized the role of farmers during the pandemic.
Cooperation and harmony among farmer members are also important, he further stressed.
RCEF beneficiaries are assisted with farm machinery and equipment, certified seeds of inbred rice varieties, expanded rice credit assistance, and training/extension programs. (PR)