NORTH COTABATO – Various post-harvest equipment were recently turned over for the benefit of 200 farmers in the municipalities of Tulunan, Pikit, and Midsayap in North Cotabato under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agriculture Development (DA-SAAD) Program.
Seventy corn farmers of the Bituan Farmers Association received a corn sheller with complete accessories last 5th of December 2017 in a turnover ceremony held in Barangay Bituan, Tulunan.
The 12.5 horsepower corn sheller, worth P128, 000, can save farmers from the additional expense they used to incur from private shellers. What Bituan farmers would only need to worry is a P20 fee as contingency fund.
In the program led by SAAD North Cotabato, together with the Office of Provincial Agriculturist staff Engr. Elena Regonton, Karen Resentes, and Elvira Mendoza, a social preparation training was also conducted to teach farmers how to operate the machine and to lay out rules for the members’ utilization of the equipment.
The Bitoan farmers said they are thankful enough for the corn sheller and the fact that more interventions will be distributed to them would be a great contribution to their livelihood. They are still expecting to get corn seeds, fertilizers, and livestock (such as pigs and chicken) from SAAD.
In the municipality of Pikit, one unit of corn sheller, one unit of rice thresher, and one unit of trailer with transmission were also given to 50 farmers of Muslim Christian Lumad Free Famers Association and Gli-Gli Farmers Association last 6th of December 2017 at the Municipal Plaza of Pikit, North Cotabato.
The equipment aims to help Pikit-farmer beneficiaries incur lesser costs in post-harvest activities, thus resulting to increased income.
In Midsayap, one unit of 36 HP four-wheel drive tractor with complete accessories was also turned over to Golden Field Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Salunayan last December 8, 2017. The equipment will help 80 farmers in their farm operations.
Meanwhile, certificates of commitment were given to 15 registered farmers’ associations in Kidapawan City during its 9th Kawayan Festival held in the Municipal Plaza Band Stand last December 8, 2017.
The following groups received their certificates with these committed projects: Brgy Ugpay Farmers Association with Goat Raising Production worth P173,300; Brgy Katipunan Integrated Farmers Association with Goat Raising Production worth P173,300; Brgy Luz Village Farmers Association with Organic Chicken Production worth P307,995; Poblacion A Mlang Savers Association with High Breed Gilt Production worth P500,000; Mlang Agri-business Association with Organic Chicken Production worth P1,067,375; Lepaga United Farmers Association with Mallard Duck Raising Production worth P500,000; Dalipe Farmers Agri-business Association with Mallard Duck Raising worth P699,000; Tibao Farmers Dreamers Association with Free Range Chicken Hatchery worth P500,000; Bialong Agri-business Association with Native Pig Raising worth P500,000; Nuestra Senora De Salvacion Cooperative with Native Pig Raising worth P500,000; Notre Dame Mlang Class 1975 Jubilee with Free Range Chicken Hatchery worth P500,000; New Rizal Social Action Farmers Association with Free Range Chicken Production worth P500,000; Tibao San Vincente Ferrer Multi-Purpose Cooperative with Swine Fattening Production worth P425,000; and Mlang Multi-Sustainable Agri-Venture Association with Swine Fattening Production worth P425,000.
North Cotabato, one of the 2017 priority provinces of the SAAD Program, has a 44.8% poverty incidence rate per family according to the 2012 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority. ###
Writer: Jhomai Canlas, SAAD Communications Officer
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