45 farmer coops get 270 farm machines
A total of 45 farmer’s cooperatives received 270 units of agricultural machinery worth Php 150.19 Million from the Department of Agriculture Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.
The recipients are members of the Farmer’s Cooperatives and Association (FCAs) in Bukidnon.
The distribution of the said types of machinery, led by DA Sec. William Dar, was held at Kaamulan Open Theater, Kaamulan Park, Malaybalay City on February 12, 2021.
The distributed types of machinery included 38 four-wheeled tractors, 43 hand tractors, 63 floating tillers, two precision seeders, 23 walk-behind transplanters, 3 riding type transplanters, 30 rice reapers, 25 units of cobine harvester, 27 mechanical threshers, 1 unit of recirculating dryer and 15 mobile rice mills.
The 45 FCA beneficiaries come from the municipalities of Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Impasugong, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Damulog, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Lantapan, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, Talakag, Kibawe and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia.
The distribution of the farm machinery is in accordance with the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Mechanization Program for 2019 and 2020.
The RCEF program, through the Rice Ratification Law, was created by the national government to improve the competitiveness and income of rice farmers amid the liberalization of the Philippine rice marketing policy. (with a report from BukidnonOnline.com special correspondent Mel B. Madera)
