Dalwangan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon, May 21, 2020 – Region 10 Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program turned-over more than Php 6.3 million farm machinery, equipment, and inputs to 10 farmer organizations and a local government unit in Bukidnon under the additional funds previously released for the provision of farm inputs and farm mechanization support in 2017. The grants were distributed to recipients namely: Upper Patag Growers and Farmers Associations, Inc., Lantapan (Php 2.7 M); Talakag Irrigators Agro-Producers Cooperative, Tig-ason Farmer’s Association, and Dominorog Small Farmers Association (Php 3.3 M); and Php 306,372.00 for QUARBA Farmers’ Cooperative and Ambong Women’s Organization of Impasug-ong; Dologon Fisherfolk Livelihood Association of Maramag; Bethany Christian Home for Children of Talakag; Kalilangan Cassava Farmers Association of Kalilangan; and J.A. Agro Employees Farmers Beneficiary Association of Quezon.

The farm machinery and equipment worth Php 6 million aimed to help improve productivity and reduce poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture. The Upper Patag Growers and Farmers Associations, Inc. of Lantapan, Bukidnon received a unit of rice combine harvester, a unit of 35 horsepower (hp) four-wheel drive farm tractors with implements which include rotavator and trailer worth Php 2.7 million.

Likewise, LGU of Talakag, Bukidnon received three units mini four-wheel drive farm tractors (35 hp) with implements and two units corn mechanical sheller amounting to Php 3.3 million. “Dako ug ikatabang ang mga makinarya kay ang wala na develop nga yuta tungod kay kulang sa galamiton maka expand na. Dako pasalamat namo sa Ginoo nga natabangan mi sa DA,” [The machinery would be a big help in developing and expanding our farm. We’re thankful to God with DA’s assistance.] said Reynaldo Berdi, President of Dominorog Small Farmers Association of Dominorog, Talakag, Bukidnon.

“The need to increase the level of farm mechanization, to make the food system more energy-efficient and quality will be beneficial both for farmers and consumers,” said Carlene C. Collado, OIC-Regional Executive Director. He has been emphasizing the need for farmers to adopt the different agri-machinery and equipment innovations to increase the country’s mechanization rate from 2.31 hp/ha to 4 hp/ha.

RED Collado reiterated that farm machinery will boost farming activities and ensure high productivity and reduce postharvest losses. As reported by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), without farm mechanization, postharvest losses for corn accounts to 7.18 % and 16.47 % for rice, from harvesting, piling, hauling, shelling, drying and storage.

Included in the turn-over to 6 organizations are 6 units, 500-egg capacity automatic egg incubators worth Php 306,372.00 under the Livestock Program. The incubator comes with a module of 10 males and 100 female chicken or ducks as a start-up agribusiness kit. The project intends to provide livelihood enterprise to qualified recipients who may engage in balut business, selling of days-old-chicks, and production of live chicken or poultry meat. ###

Writer: Angelilah T. Cabig, RAFIS 10 Head

Photo Courtesy of DA-SAAD 10