MIDSAYAP, NORTH COTABATO ― The Department of Agriculture turned over P25.9 million worth of farm machineries to farmers’ associations, fishing communities, and local government of Midsayap, June 1.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol led the mass distribution of 94 machines that include 11 mobile corn shellers, 21 mobile rice threshers, 28 hand tractors with tiller and accessories, 17 floating tillers, 4 trailers, 10 trailers with engine and transmission, and 3 four-wheel drive tractors.
Meanwhile, 40 units of pump boats were given directly by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to members of the fishing communities.
The activity was part of Sec. Piñol’s Biyaheng Bukid, a series of visits to the countryside where the agriculture chief consults with farmers and assesses the existing programs of the department with the local governments.
PhilRice Midsayap branch station also received one unit of combine harvester from DA-Regional Field Office (RFO) 12. PhilRice Executive Director Sailila Abdula personally received the said machine.
“Through this machine, we hope to improve our harvest operations at the station and demonstrate to our farmers how mechanization could make them more competitive,” Abdula said.
This project is funded by DA directly downloaded to the local government of Midsayap through the Bottom-Up Budgeting and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan initiative.
During the turnover ceremony, Sec. Piñol also instructed PhilRice to identify the most suitable hybrid rice varieties to further boost rice production in Midsayap and the rest of North Cotabato.
PhilRice Midsayap Acting Branch Director, Mr. Ommal Abdulkadil, said that the station is strengthening its Rice4Development (R4D) activities through public and private partnerships and collaborative efforts with the DA-RFO 12 for efficient and effective R4D implementation in the region.
Furthermore, the Institute plays a vital role in providing high-quality public hybrid rice varieties that are best suited in the area through continuous production of hybrid parental lines (A-line) and F1 seeds.
“Currently, the station prioritizes its effort to promote enhancing and cost-reducing technologies as well as rice production modernization throughout the region,” Abdulkadil concluded.
