DAVAO CITY, July 24 — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed four hauling trucks amounting to P5.96 million to four farmer cooperatives and associations in Davao City.
The distribution was in time for start of of the School-on-the Air (SOA) on Cacao Production and Rehabilitation Monday.
The hauling trucks amounting to P1.49 million each were turnover to Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (Barbco), Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (Cidami), Lapuy Batallion Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (Labcarbco) and Manuel Guianga Multipurpose Cooperative.
DA-11 director Ricardo Oñate said the provision of hauling trucks is necessary and vital to the buying and selling of cacao products.
He adds that the said beneficiaries can now expand their market to other provinces.
As for the cacao commodity, Davao City has a total of 4,171.41 hectares of planted areas wherein 2, 508.16 hectares of which are harvested areas. A total of 1,298.47 hectares are for vegetative stage and 364.78 hectares were the newly planted areas.
Meanwhile, two hand tractors worth P994, 000 each were also awarded to Gumalang Small Coconut Farmers and Workers Association and Agila Farmers Association.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol stressed the need for mechanization in order to improve farmers’ income, production’s efficiency and reduce postharvest losses.
The assistance aims to help farmers in Davao City to produce high-quality cacao and other high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables.
“We will uplift the dignity of our farmers by giving full support to their needs,” Piñol said. (Cherry Mae Palicte/PNA)