DA distributes farm machineries to Pangasinense farmers

THE DEPARTMENT  of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMECH), has turned over agricultural machineries to some 43 farmer cooperatives or associations in Pangasinan.   

 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Pangasinan Provincial Information Office (PIO) said the 21 rice combine harvesters, 10 reapers, four riding-type transplanters, four walk-behind transplanters, and two precision seeders were part of over PHP117.8 million worth of agricultural machineries that would be provided by the national government.

 

Provincial agriculturist Dalisay Moya said the initial distribution served as the “opening salvo” of more agricultural machineries that the province will receive from the agriculture department.

 

The PIO added other agricultural machineries to be distributed to the farmers in the province are 36 four wheels, 78 hand tractors, four riding-type transplanters, five mini-threshers, and one rice mill.

 

Second District Rep. Jumel Anthony Espino, who represented Governor Amado Espino III, thanked the agriculture department for all its support to the Pangasinense farmers, underscoring the need to make the sector as competitive as possible to improve food production.

 

Regional technical director for research and operation Jovita Datuin said Pangasinan, being the rice bowl of the Ilocos Region, supplies rice not just for the region but also to Region 3 (Central Luzon), Cordillera Autonomous Region, and Manila.

 

“The agriculture department finds it vital for the province to receive more programs and projects in terms of agriculture,” she said.

 

PHILMECH director IV Baldwin Jallorina said the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) is a six-year program of the national government from 2019 to 2024 that aims to further improve agriculture in the country.

 

The national government has implemented the RCEF to provide assistance to farmers as compensation for the projected loss of farm income arising from the rice tariffication, the PIO said. (By Hilda Austria)