Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

Oriental Mindoro farmers receive P32M machinery grants
by Jett Molech G. Subaba (October 19, 2020)
Around 1,277 farmers who belong to 14 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Oriental Mindoro receives P32M worth of farm machinery grants under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Program.

The turn-over ceremony was held on October 14, 2020 at the Capitol Complex, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

FCAs from the province receive a total of 53 units of farm machines which include 12 units of four-wheel drive tractor, 29 units of hand tractor, 6 units of floating tiller, 1 unit of precision rice seeder, 1 unit of walk-behind mechanical rice transplanter and 4 units of rice combine harvester.

Dr. Baldwin G. Jallorina, PHilMech Director, served as the keynote speaker of the said event. He encouraged the FCAs to do their part in taking care of the machines so more farmers can directly benefit from it. He also mentioned how mechanization can curb postharvest losses and lower the production cost of the farmers significantly.

Farmer-beneficiaries responded positively to this call and even sees the provision of machinery in their areas as a key to increasing their productivity.

“Malaking tulong po sa amin ang mga makinaryang ito. Dahil napapadali po ang proseso ng aming pagsasaka. At the same time, malaking kabawasan ito sa nagagastos namin sa labor. At hanggang sa pag-aani, maiiwasan namin ang mga losses na magiging susi sa pagpapataas ng aming produksyon. Makaka-asa po kayo na ang mga makinaryang ito ay amin pong pamamahalaan ng tama at aalagaan,”said Mr. Ruben De Leon of Camansihan Farmers’ Association in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Different officials from the provincial and municipal local government units and the Department of Agriculture were present during the turn over. These distribution activities were led by the Facility Management and Field Operations Division (FMFOD) of PHilMech headed by Mr. Joel V. Dator.