PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), has recently distributed farm machinery amounting to P149 million in the province.
The provincial government, through Governor Victor J. Yu, expressed gratitude for the continued support of DA-PhilMech to boost agricultural production in the province. Governor Yu also urged the recipients to exercise proper handling and maintenance of the machines to ensure their long-term use.
“Dako kita ug pasalamat aning maong mga makinarya, ang akoa lang hangyo kaninyo nga ang kani nga mga makinarya, kinahanglan ang presidente sa asosasyon mag monitor permi sa paggamit sa mga equipment dili nato sayangan, kinahanglan maayo permi ang maintenance para mudugay og daghan pang makagamit niining makinaha (We are very thankful for these machines. My only request from you is that the association president should always monitor the use of the equipment; let us not take it for granted; the maintenance should always be good so that more people can still use the machinery),” Governor Yu said.
The said machines were funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) in its key program on rice machinery and equipment. These translate to a total of 101 agricultural machines for postharvest production and land preparation, which include a four-wheel tractor, float-assist tiller, walk-behind transplanter, rice combine harvester, rice thresher, recirculating dryer, mobile rice mill, and single-pass rice mill. These machines will benefit around seventy farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and seven local government units (LGUs) in the province.
The DA-Philmech has been at the forefront of strengthening the country’s postharvest development and mechanization through the continued assistance and provision of various agricultural farm machinery to different LGUs and FCAs in the country. This strategic initiative aims to empower local farmers in the province and boost agricultural processes and productivity, thereby contributing to the overall economic development of Zamboanga del Sur. (RVC/EDT/SBM/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur, with reports from Victory Zamboanga del Sur)
