MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon—The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech) provided nearly P122 million in agricultural machinery and technologies to around 60 farmer cooperatives, associations (FCAs), and local government units (LGUs) in Bukidnon.
DA’s Regional Field Office in Northern Mindanao and PhilMech turned over 94 units of rice production technologies and agricultural machinery in a ceremony on December 12 at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC), Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.
The recipients include FCAs from the municipalities of Malitbog, Cabanglasan, Impasug-ong, Lantapan, San Fernando, Damulog, Don Carlos, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, Pangantucan, and the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay.
These interventions received funding under the mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), provided through RA 11203, also known as the Rice Tariffication Law.
Rodelio Idago, the interim director for extension at PhilMech, said the units of farm equipment amounting to P121,855,000 were distributed across Bukidnon’s four congressional districts to boost the country’s rice modernization, among others.
The 94 agri-machinery units turned over to farm cooperatives include 29 units of floating tillers, 22 units of four-wheel tractors, 20 units of mobile rice mills, 16 units of rice combine harvesters, 15 units of rice threshers, four units of recirculating dryers, four units of hand tractors, three units of rice reaper, two units single pass rice mill, and one walk-behind transplanter.
“The mechanization program aims to assist farming communities within each district of Bukidnon for enhanced farming practices,” Idago said.
Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest data showed that Bukidnon ranked as the top rice-producing province in Northern Mindanao, with an annual production of 295,686 metric tons, accounting for almost 63 percent of the total rice production of Region 10.
Carlene Collado, DA-10 regional executive director, emphasized that the distribution of agricultural machinery aligns with the agency’s goal of boosting the productivity and profitability of rice farmers nationwide, particularly in Northern Mindanao.
Thus, DA-10 and PhilMech continuously extend their services to farmers and agri-cooperatives to mainstream new technologies.
Bukidnon Acting Provincial Agriculturist Jacqueline Julia Lagamon, along with municipal agriculturists Roan Fernandez (Impasug-ong), Coleen Ambos (San Fernando), Herberto L. Tan (Damulog), Merlyn C. Los Baos (Don Carlos), Armand S. dela Cruz (Maramag), Edgar A. Cantones (Kalilangan), Teodor B. Quirante III (Pangantucan), and other PhilMech personnel participated in the event. (GDA/DA-10/PIA 10-Bukidnon)
Bukidnon farmer cooperatives, associations, and local government units (LGUs) receive agri-machinery and technology support from DA-PhilMech. (Photo: GDA/DA-10)
