CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) – At least 391 beneficiaries comprising 239 farmers and 152 fisherfolks benefited from the interventions given by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) in the first district of the province during the Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Day held at Mena G. Valencia Gymnasium on February 28 in the municipality of Naujan.
Through the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO) headed by Provincial Agriculturist Christine M. Pine, the farmers received planting materials such as corn seeds, cacao, citrus, jackfruit, black pepper, lanzones, and pomelo. They also received agricultural tools and fertilizers for their basic needs in farming.
On the other hand, fisherfolks received motorized bancas, bottom sets containing fishing nets, lead sinkers, rubber floaters, and other fishing equipment.
Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor awarded P355,000 worth of financial assistance for value-adding projects to the municipal government of Socorro; Brgy. Sampaguita, Victoria; Brgy. Pagkakaisa, Naujan; and Brgy. Batong Dalig, Socorro.
A total of P22.8 million in agricultural intervention composed of agricultural machinery and postharvest facilities was granted by PhilMech to the beneficiaries. These include four-wheel tractors, hand tractors, walk-behind transplanters, precision seeders, rice combine harvesters, 6-ton recirculating dryers and a 1.5-tph multi-stage rice mill.
Materials needed by fisherfolk in capturing marine/aquatic resources in their fishing activities as a source of livelihood. (Photo credit: Oriental Mindoro PIO)
In a letter coming from PhilMech Director Dionisio G. Alvindia, he asked the beneficiaries to take care of the machinery and ensure that Mindoreño farmers get them and that the equipment would reach the next generation of farmers.
According to PhilMech Operations Director Joel Dator, PhilMech allotted P120 million worth of interventions intended for the province of Oriental Mindoro based on their 2023 budget.
The modern equipment in farming received by farmer-beneficiaries during Farmers’ Day in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. (Photo credit: Oriental Mindoro PIO)
According to PhilMech, from 2019 until 2022, they already shared 222 new high-technology machinery and postharvest facilities in the province amounting to more than P200 million.
PhilMech is committed to the agriculture and fishery sectors by means of increasing resource-use efficiency and productivity, reducing losses and adding value to the produce through partnership-based research and development, extension, commercialization, and development of appropriate and mechanization technologies. (LTC/PIA-OrMin)
Photo above credit to Oriental Mindoro PIO
