Uncle Doming's heart was overwhelmed with joy as another set of farm machineries were given to farmers' association beneficiaries.
"Malagipku lang iti kallabes nga permi ti rigatmi nga mannalun nga agbiruk ti makinarya a kasapulanmi (I remember the days whe it was so difficult to look for farm machineries the time we needed it most)," he said.
Before, I have ill feelings against the government as we poor farmers remain to be poor because of the very high cost of inputs, but in the end, we just sell our products at a price dictated by the middlemen. Now, thanks to the government for providing support to lowly farmers like me - from seed and fertilizer subsidy to crop insurance to farm machines, he said.
Uncle Doming also witnessed the joy of other Cagayano farmers after they receive P77.1M worth of farm machineries under the Department of Agriculture's Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
About forty-six farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) from 22 towns and one city received a total of 61 farm machinery units during the Provincial Turn-Over and Agricultural Machinery Distribution at the DA-Southern Cagayan Research Center (DA-SCRC) recently.
Farm machinery units include rice combine harvester, precision rice seeder, hand tractor and recirculating dryer.
With a President who looks towards the advantage of farmers, Provincial Agriculturist Pearlita Mabazza said it will inspire farmers to produce more for the country.
For Provincial Agriculturist Pearlita Mabasa, this is a big thing for farmers and thanks to the RCEF program as it all geared for a lower labor cost and increased productivity of farmers.
With this, she urged farmers to give value to the equipment received and to always be open to opportunities like trainings and seminars that can enhance their capabilities in farming.
Since 2019 to 2022, about P503.17M worth of farm machines have been distributed to the province and it is with high hopes that farmers will learn to value what was given to them.
Farmers express joy over these equipment as these will improve their farm productivity.
DA Regional Executive Director Narciso Edillo urged other farmers to organized themselves into an association or cooperative to enjoy priveleges and support from the governement, like credit and market assistance, enterprise development and technology interventions.
Edillo said DA has a lot to offer to farmers and its up to them whether or not to grab the opportunities but he said the department will not stop in upgrading not only the skills but the machineries used by farmers to ensure self-sufficiency and productivity.
RCEF he said aims to empower farmers and modernize their farming system, making them successful agripreneurs.
For Fely, a farmer's widow who took over his husband's ricefield years ago said she is thankful with the RCEF program because she was granted free fertilizer voucher, free certified seeds and other support from DA. (OTB/PIA-Cagayan/GBaquiran with reports from DA Cagayan Valley fb page)
