Soccsksargen farmers receive P321M in machinery from DA

The Department of Agriculture, as part of the its farm mechanization program, distributed P321-million worth of farm machinery to farmers in the Soccsksargen region. The region includes the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. During the turnover ceremony in Barangay Bololmala, Tupi, South Cotabato, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said, "Let us always remember that the primary objective of the Aquino administration is to achieve food staples self-sufficiency." DA 12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the P321-million worth of farm machinery would be distributed to farmers’ groups, seven local government units, and two state-run schools in Soccsksargen. The machinery was sourced through the DA’s banner programs: rice, corn, high value crops, organic agriculture, and agribusiness and marketing. The DA Agri-Pinoy rice program provided farmer-beneficiaries with 40 hand tractors, 20 floating tillers, 35 shallow tube well engines, and seven mini four-wheel drive tractors. From the corn program, farmers received three cassava granulator-cum-shredders, two moisture meters, two disc harrows, a 90-HP 4-wheel drive tractor, two village-type corn dryers, eight hermetic cocoons, and two shredders. From the high value crops development program (HVCDP), farmers received 13 power sprayers, 14 knapsack sprayers, 35 plastic water drums, 1,800 meters of HDPE pipes, and 1,700 cans of onion seeds. The DA-High Value Crops Development Program also provided one hand tractor with complete accessories to the LGU of Malungon, Sarangani, and one 35-HP, 4-wheel drive tractor to the LGU of Tupi, South Cotabato. Under its organic agriculture program, the DA provided three shredders to the LGUs of Kidapawan City, General Santos City, and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. The DA also distributed three chillers and two chest-type freezers to two barangay food terminals in Glan, Sarangani. The Agriculture department last year launched its mechanization program for rice farming as part of its efforts to make the country rice self-sufficient by 2013. Under the program, the government would shoulder 85 percent of the cost of farm machinery distributed to qualified farmer organizations while the remaining 15 percent would be shouldered by farm groups. The rapidly aging agricultural workforce is pushing the government to increase farm mechanization in order that they be at par with neighboring countries in the ASEAN region. — DVM, GMA News