SOME eight farmer-association beneficiaries were the initial recipients of P10.4 million farm machinery worth of projects turned over by the regional agriculture department to the local government of Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND), Lanao del Norte on July 26.
DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado led the turnover of pre- and post-harvest projects to the LGU represented by Casan P. Colo, committee chair for agriculture, and to the eight farmer-association beneficiaries.
Skylark Farmers Association of barangay Dableston received the P4.09 million warehouse, a component of the agency’s Rice Program for proper storage of agricultural inputs and machinery of said town.
The 200-square meter warehouse with 195 metric tons capacity supports the buffer stocking and bagged grains and seeds of the farmers.
The LGU also received pre- and post-harvest facilities and equipment in enhancing food productivity amounting to P6.3 million, comprising two units of rice transplanter, two units four-wheel drive tractor, four units water pump and two units cassava granulator.
SND is the fourth rice-producing municipality in Lanao del Norte with a yield of 4.86 metric tons per hectare, next to Lala, Salvador, and Kapatagan.
The 1,143 rice farmers will benefit said projects covering 2,728.75-hectare rice areas, both for irrigated and rainfed areas.
Director Collado challenged the farmer-association beneficiaries to maintain and operate the equipment to provide services to its members.
“Dakong garbo namo mga mag-uuma nga nakadawat sa mga proyekto gikan sa DA diin dako ug matabang kanamo,” said Simplicio G. Calapine, Chair of SND Pandanan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association in said town. (Angie Cabig/DA-10/PIA ICIC)
