First Secretary and Japanese Embassy’s Agriculture Attaché Jumpei Tachikawa (2L) leads the ceremonial turnover of the farm equipment donation of Japan to Department of Agriculture Secretary Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. (2R), Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona (1R), and Sugarcane Planter Exequiel Marañon of the Sagay City-based Option Multi-Purpose Cooperative (1L). (Photo Courtesy: DA)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Japanese government donated an ¥800 million (P296.8 million) worth of farm equipment to the Philippines for the use of Filipino small sugarcane farmers under its Non-Project Grant Aid Program.
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona personally received the said donation from Japan on Saturday, November 18.
The grant includes 80 units of tractors, 48 units of sugarcane planters, 48 units of flail mowers, and 5 units of power harrow which will significantly aid in the advancement of the Farm Mechanization Program for Small Sugarcane Landholders in different parts of the country.
(Photo Courtesy: Department of Agriculture)
“I’d like to express my gratitude to Mr. Jumpei Tachikawa, the first secretary and agriculture attaché at the Japanese Embassy, who has been instrumental in the success of this program,” said DA Secretary Kiko.
“Mechanization reduces hard labor, relieves labor shortages, and improves the productivity and timeliness of agricultural operations,” he added.
Through the grant, the agriculture chief is optimistic about the overarching vision of the national government to modernize the local agriculture which will serve as the key towards generating more affordable and accessible agricultural commodities.
“Our partnership with the Japanese government helps us address this concern through modernization and mechanization. Our two nations are bound by common interests. Our trading partnership, which brings greater prosperity and opportunity to citizens of both our countries, has grown dramatically in recent years,” Laurel highlighted.
The DA Secretary strongly expressed his commitment to achieve a food-secure future for Filipinos by working closely with concerned stakeholders in the agriculture sector and facilitating the increase of food production.
This, as Laurel envisions to bring down the prices of essential food items such as rice, sugar, meat, chicken, fish, and vegetable products for the benefit of Filipino consumers following the priority thrusts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I have been on a journey of administrative responsibility. I went to see first-hand conditions throughout the agriculture sector, to see how effectively national and local authorities are taking care of the Filipino farmers’ pressing problems and how they work together to support national food security,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary Laurel recognized the SRA for continuously improving the productivity of the sugarcane industry. (DA/PIA-NCR)
