IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) on Thursday distributed more than PHP102-million worth of farm implements and equipment to 410 farmers’ associations and cooperatives to boost their productivity.
Constancio Alama, DA-9 director, urged the farmers to shift to mechanization to achieve high productivity that would help improve their lives.
“You should not think of yourselves as ‘farmers only’ but proud farmers,” Alama told the farmers as he advised them not to think that they are the lowest class of people.
Among the farm implements and equipment handed over to the 410 farmers’ associations and cooperatives were rice threshers, hand tractors, four-wheel drive tractors, mud boats, shallow tube wells, corn mills, corn shellers, multi-crop rotavator, cassava ganulers, and coffee de-pulper.
Rey Campomanes, DA-9 operations chief, told the farmers that the machines and equipment they received come with responsibilities.
“We would like to remind you that the machines and equipment are intended for all the members of your associations and not for one or several persons only,” Campomanes said.
He urged the farmer-recipients to make use of the machines and equipment to improve their lives.
“With lesser time to work in your farms using the machines and equipment, you will have more time now to do other productive activities in the farm,” Campomanes said.
He also underscored the need for the farmer-recipients to take good care of the machines and equipment, even though it was given to them for free.
The distribution of the farm implements and equipment is part of the farm mechanization program of the DA, which is intended to improve farm productivity and reduce post-harvest losses. (Dennis Baguio/PNA)
