BANGSAMORO FARMERS’ COOP BENEFITED FROM 117M WORTH OF FARM MACHINERY
The Department of Agriculture- Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, Provincial Local Government Unit, delivers agricultural machinery to Bangsamoro farmers on November 30 at BARMMIARC, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.
At least 66 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) or 11,764 Bangsamoro farmer-members from Maguindanao del Sur (49) and Maguindanao del Norte (17) received 165 units worth 177 million Php of farm machinery from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program
The provincial ceremonial turnover was led by Assistant Chief Domingo R. Miranda of Philmech- FMFOD, Director General Pendatun Patarasa, Director II Tong Abas of RDE, Chief of Operations Saudi Mangindra, Ph.D., and PLGU representatives.
DG Patarasa thanked the DA-PhilMech for the unwavering support to the Bangsamoro Government for making this event possible.
“MAFAR is mandated to promote sustainable agri-fishery in the entire BARMM. This activity is a manifestation of the commitment of this government to deliver its basic services to the people because the farmers, fisherfolk, and agrarian beneficiaries,” DG Patarasa said.
Meanwhile, PhilMech Assistant Chief Miranda said,” Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat na panauhin na narito sa Provincial Turnover. Limang taon na po umarangkada ang Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Mechanization Program na may pondong five billion upang bumili at ipamigay ang mga makinaryang pangsaka sa mga fortified farmers cooperative at association sa lahat ng rehiyon sa buong bansa.”
“Ang mga makinaryang ito ay makakatulong sa inyong pamumuhay ngunit hinihingi namin sa inyo na itoy alagaan at ingatan para aabot pa sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga masasaka sa inyong lugar,” he added.
The 165 units of machinery distributed during the turnover ceremony included a four-wheel tractor, hand tractor, floating tiller, Precision seeder, walk-behind transplanter, riding-type transplanter, rice reaper, rice thresher, rice combine harvester, recirculating dryer (6-ton), mobile rice mill, single-pass rice mill, and multi-stage rice mill (1.5tph).
Also, Ms. Norlyn A. Odin, President of the Dado Irrigators Association, said, “Pwede pala kaming magkaroon ng milyon-milyong halaga ng mga makinarya kahit kami ay magsasaka lamang. Natuto pa kami na mag-operate ng mga ito. Siguradong makakaahon kami sa mga utang, kaya maganda talaga ang impact nito sa amin.”