CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office Mimaropa formally turned over on August 1 the farm machinery/equipment to the beneficiaries of farmers’ association in the town of Gloria.

This is part of DA’s project of boosting nationwide farm mechanization program which aims to make the farmers’ lives more convenient and work faster compared to traditional or manual way of farming.

The turnover ceremony was led by DA Regional Director Antonio G. Gerundio, with the presence of Mayor German D. Rodegerio, Provincial Administrator Dr. Hubbert Christopher A. Dolor, representing Gov. Bonz Dolor and the Office of Municipal Agriculture.

Gerundio said the provision of farm equipment to the beneficiaries will help them easily till their farm land.  He said farmers waited and dreamt for a long time to have their own farm tractors,  and now it has turned into a reality.  He also encouraged the members of the associations to enter into a cooperative for them to have additional sources of income.

The farm machinery costing millions of pesos were received by the following farmers’ associations: Narra Vegetable Farmers’ Association (NVGA), Gloria Sustainable Agriculture Association (GLOSAA) and Roxas Mabuhay Farmers Association (MFA).

With the three units of farm tractors, Dolor said the equipment are of great help to farmers as part of the national government’s mechanization program which, according to him, will also support the provincial government’s promotion of strengthening the programs of the local government in the agriculture sector.

Such beneficiaries of the program are only some of the clustered associations which currently produce high value crops in the province of Oriental Mindoro.

Moreover, the turnover ceremony was also attended by the representatives from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgO), local government units of Gloria and Roxas, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Office of the Second Congressional District.  (LTC/PIA-OrMin)