NEGROS ORIENTAL, October 1, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture – Central Visayas (DA Region 7) Regional Executive Director Attorney Salvador D. Diputado headed the turnover of Php 498,600 worth FY 2021 Upland Rice-Based Farming Project intervention to a Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program farmers’ association in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

A rice huller was provided to the Zamboanguita Farmer’s Irrigator’s Association (ZAFIA) on September 21 in Katubahan, Barangay Mayabon, Zamboanguita. Sixty farmer members will benefit from the equipment which will be used for the production of white and brown rice (56.6 hectares cumulative area).

RED Diputado advised the farmers in proper handling and taking care of the machine. He said, “Akong ikatambag ninyo ba, kanang mga equipment nga inyong nadawat kung gamiton gani ninyo pangayui ug administratibo para ug naay madaot mapaayu kay usahay subo pamalandongon nga ang mga equipment na gihatag sa gobyerno naguba walay nakapaayu, ngano man? Wala man ikapaayu.”

(I suggest that you agree to have a little administrative fee for the machine to be used as maintenance fee. Sometimes the equipment gets junked because the association did not save enough money for fixing it.)

Beneficiary Parolito C. Sayre shared his gratitude to SAAD, “Akong dako kaayung pagpasalamat niining higayona nga niabot na gyud nga among gipangayu, kaning rice huller kay ako man gud nakita kay kasagaran man gud sa uban natong kaigsuonan ilabi natong mga tigulang na, medyo naa napod anang dapita nagkinahanglan na sila ug nindot nga pagkaon pareho anang brown rice.”

(I am very thankful that this moment has come. The rice huller will be a great help to us. Our farmers are aging, and this equipment can help us produce brown rice, which will be essential to their health.)

The event was organized in collaboration with the Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) and the local government unit (LGU)

Zamboanguita local chief executive Glenson E. Alanano, Negros Oriental APCO Ms. Sarah J. Perocho, DA Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) Banner Action Officers and staff, and SAAD officers and staff led by Provincial Coordinator Mr. Johnpaulie O. Sunico were present during the distribution. ###

Source: Johnpaulie O. Sunico, Provincial Coordinator
Photo Documentation Source: Mary Ritchel Bergantin, RAFIS staff
Writer: Jolina Daño, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Region 7
Copy-editor: Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Comms Officer- SAAD NPMO