The assistance is part of DA’s development projects to enhance productivity and reduce hauling and processing cost of agri commodities especially rice and corn.
In Malita, Solidarity Farmers Association (SOFA) received 4WD Farm Tractor, Hauling Truck, Single Pass Rice Mill, Multi-purpose Drying Pavement (MPDP), and Pump and Engine Set.
The beneficiaries also include Malbulan Malgad Farmers Association (MMFA) who received a Warehouse, 4WD Farm Tractor and Hauling Truck, Floating Tiller, and Rice Thresher, and Sitio Mabuhay, Abaca, Coffee, Cacao, Corn.
The department also turned over a corn husker sheller to Vegetable Integrated Small Farmers Association.
The other beneficiaries were Barangay Little Baguio in Malita who received two Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) project traversing the rice production areas while its Little Baguio Organic Farmers Association (LIBAOFA) also received 4WD Farm Tractor and Hauling Truck, Warehouse, MPDP, Floating Tiller, and Rice Thresher.
DA 11 also distributed two units of Mechanical Rice Transplanter, Combine Harvester with Transport Trailer, Single Pass Rice Mill, 4WD Farm Tractor with Implements, Grain Collector, Hauling Truck, and MPDP to Mamacao Farmers’ Association in the Municipality of Sta. Maria.
In his message during the turnover ceremony on June 8 at Brgy. Little Baguio, Malita, Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo highlighted the importance of rural infrastructure and mechanization in reducing production losses, improving the quality of produce, and connectivity to the processing and market centers.
“As we put a premium on the quality of our agricultural commodities, we have to make sure that there is really an increased income among farmers. This will also increase farm productivity and efficiency as farmers will not just have an easy access to market but also the farm inputs and technology needed for their venture,” Monteagudo said.
The said interventions are funded under the Regional Rice Banner Program and Farm-to-Market Road Project (FMRDP) of DA 11.
Noel Eyog, chairman of Mamacao Farmers Association said that the government’s dedication to reach even those far-flung areas inspire them to plant and harvest more to contribute and help in ensuring food availability and affordability especially in this time of health emergency situation.
Sta. Maria Municipal Mayor Josephine Mariscal, meanwhile thanked DA 11 and the Provincial and Municipal Agricultural Offices for the strong collaboration that resulted in the smooth and successful implementation of the said projects.
“With this partnership and pooling resources, we will continue in gearing farming communities to be more resilient and provide much needed services especially to the most disadvantaged communities,” Mariscal said.
From left: DA-XI Reg’l Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo, Mamacao Farmers Assoc. Chair Noel Eyog, and Sta. Maria Municipal Mayor Josephine Mariscal during the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the turnover of various agri infra and machinery. (Photo by Celso C. Vergara, DA-11)