LU farmers receive PhP20.9M worth of farm machineries, equipment

26 farmer groups in the province of La Union have received their allocated machineries and equipment worth more than PhP 20.9M under the farm mechanization project of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1.

Through the Rice, Corn, High Value Crops Development, and Organic Agriculture Banner Programs, 127 units were distributed comprised of four-wheel drive tractors, combine harvester with baler, precision seeder, hand tractors, hauling truck, pump & engine sets, corn sheller, hammer mill, cassava grater, cassava pulverizer, multi-cultivator, HDPE pipe, knapsack sprayer, plastic crates, forage, rice mill, and forage chopper.

“Daytoy nga intervention ket ited mi tapnu mapadur-as ti panagtalonyo ken pumintas ti panagkakadwayo a kas maysa nga asosasion (This intervention is given to you (farmers) to increase your production and to strengthen your bond as an association.),” shared Regional Technical Director for Operations Erlinda F. Manipon to the recipients.

Beneficiaries of the farm mechanization project are legitimate and organized farmers’ groups who are engaged in agricultural production including processing and must be duly registered with the Security Exchange Commission (SEC).

This project is one of the major programs of the Department of Agriculture to help farmers increase their production by lessening their cost, labor and production losses.

“Dakkel ti maitulongna ta maksayan ti labor ken naparpartak ti panagtrabahomi nangruna no kastoy a panagtutudo. Mayapurami pay a gapasen dagitoy mabalinen a maapit tapno nu agbagyo, saan nga ag-lodge dagiti pagaymi (These machinery can benefit us a lot especially in lessening labor especially during this rainy season. We can rush harvesting those (rice) that are ready for reaping to avoid it from lodging during the typhoon season),” said Mr. Floro Mecua, 66, President of Seedgrower MPC of La Union –recipient of combine harvester with baler.

On the other hand, Ms. Susan Hermenigilda, 59, of Barangay Baraoas Sur Farmers’ Association from Naguilian, La Union expressed her appreciation in receiving one unit of corn sheller and two units of water pump on behalf of the members of their association.

“This is a big help to our members in the association. We cannot afford to have a corn husker before hence, we have to rent but now we have it. Anytime, we can help the members of our association.” Susan said adding that the provided water pumps are immensely useful given the wide coverage of unirrigated areas in their locality.

The awarding ceremony was graced by RTD for Operations Erlinda F. Manipon along with La Union Provincial Agriculturist Ramon F. Laudencia, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council Chairman Vincent A. Adorna, ILIARC Center Chief Edith Estacio, Field Operations Division Chief Annie Q. Bares, Ms. Josephine N. Cabanban – Supervising Agriculturist, and La Union Agricultural Project Coordination Officer Romeo De Mayo.

The ceremony was held at the Ilocos Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Bacnotan, La Union on August 18 and 19.//