Cagayan gets P65-M farm machines

OVER P65 million worth of agricultural machines and post-harvest facilities were distributed in Cagayan on February 1.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and its office in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), distributed 31 farm equipment to 40 qualified farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Cagayan under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)Mechanization Program.

During the distribution event, DA-Region 2 Officer in Charge Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino said the agriculture sector was one of the top priorities of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the country’s economic transformation.

“Providing livelihoods and contributing to food security, the government strives to boost local agricultural production through consolidation, modernization and mechanization,” she said.

“That’s why we should take care of the machines given by the government because it is the money of the Filipino people intended for the farmers. Let us value them so that more people can benefit from them, and their use should be sustained,” Aquino said.

Barby Balcita of the DA-Region 2 office Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section said the farm machines distributed were 19 four-wheel tractors and 12 rice combine harvesters.

PhilMech Research and Development Director Nelson Santiago said “the assistance distributed by PhilMech does not end here.”

“We will continue to monitor you and provide training on the correct use and care of the machines. We are increasing the level of mechanization to lower the production losses of farmers,” he said.