DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, March 3 (PIA) -- Nine farmers’ associations in Negros Oriental received farm machineries worth P8.5 million from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

Part of the machineries turned over by DA and PhilMech are three units of combined harvesters worth P5.4 million, six units of walk-behind tractors worth P1.90 million, and one unit of riding type transplanter worth P1.2 million.

The said farmers’ associations are the Gomentoc Farmers Irrigators’ Association, Polo Asiotes Beneficiaries Farmers Association, Nangka Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative, Tabuan Ilawod Kalumboyan Farmer Irrigator’s Association, Sandulot Siaton Negros Irrigators’ Association, Kauswagan sa Brgy. Luz Association, Bayawan United Farmers Irrigators’ Association, Maninihon Farmers Association, and Rural Farm Family Association of Tabuan.

The budget for the purchase of the farm machineries was taken from DA’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program.

DA7 OIC-Regional Executive Director Joel Elumba hopes that the farmers in the province will maximize these equipment.

“Ang katuyuan gud ani para pag-increase o pag-improve sa atong productivity sa atong kaumahan labi na gyud sa humayan. Gamita ninyo ni para ang income sa inyong umahan motubo (The purpose of this is to increase or improve the productivity of our rice fields. Use these so that your income will increase also),” Elumba said.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo added that the donated farm equipment would also contribute to the improvement of food supply in the province.

“Kinahanglan ang tanan miyembro sa kooperatiba ug asosasyon can benefit aning mga equipment nato. Sa ingon ana masiguro gyud nato ang pagkaon sa kada lamesa sa kada Negros Oriental people (I hope the members of the farmers associations or cooperatives will be able to use these equipment. This way, we can ensure that the people in Negros Oriental will have food on their plates),” Degamo said.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries thanked the government as this would improve farming techniques for rice.

“Sa una dumduman nako baleng daghanang carabao. So karon, usa na lang ka traktora ang naa ron sa umahan ug usa ka operator so dako kaayong tabang (I remember there used to be a lot of carabaos on field. Now, through this, there’s only one tractor and one operator tilling the land. This will be a great help to us),” said Diosdado Octavio, chairperson of the Rural Farm Family Association of Tabuan, in his speech in behalf of the farmers groups who received the farming machineries.

Degamo also assured that they could expect more assistance from the DA and PhilMech. 

The turnover of the farm machineries was held on Feb. 23 in Dumaguete City.

Present during the event were DA Negros Oriental Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Alejandro Rafal, PhilMech Interim Director Joel Dator, Sangguniang Panglalawigan Committee on Agriculture Chair Woodrow Maquiling, Provincial Agriculturist  Emmanuel Caduyac, and Arjay Venus representing the Office of Senator Cynthia Villar who is the chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Senate. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental with Reports from Mary Ritchel Bergantin, DA NegOr PIO and Negros Oriental Provincial Public Information Office)