Aligning with the twin goals “Masaganang Ani, Mataas Na Kita” of new DA Secretary William D. Dar and advancing his call to make Mindanao a food basket in the country, DA-Caraga distributed a total of P209 Million worth of farm equipment and machinery today.

Dubbed as One Time Big Time, the mass turnover of agri-intervention was held at the Integrated Laboratories Compound, Taguibo, Butuan City where a total of 249 farmer associations received their proposed farm equipment.

The equipment that was distributed to the farmers includes Rice Transplanters, Tractors, Rice Combine Harvester, Multi-Crop Combine Harvester, Corn Sheller, Corn Mill, Banana Chipper, Seeds and other implements needed to make farming easier and productive. 

Undersecretary for DA Policy and Planning Rodolfo Viccera lauded the initiative of DA-Caraga as it will help the farmers increase their income by minimizing farm losses through mechanization. 

“We should not only focus on production but also increase a farmer’s share of the income. It is good that you already extended support to thousands of farmers, but we need to reach out more farmers in the next round,” Usec. Viccera said. 

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo also appealed to the farmers to maximize the equipment for better productivity.

“The government is doing its best to serve the farmers, all we need is your cooperation, “he emphasized.

Richard Paburib, president of Jubang Irrigators Association of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur said that the government nowadays are extending its arm to help their plight.

“I am grateful to DA for making us a priority. The 4-wheel drive tractor that we receive is a big help for our association,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Editha Dedumo, President of Brgy. Anolingan Rural Improvement Club of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur said that modernizing agriculture helps empower the women sector.

‘With the use of a farm machine, we, the women can even operate the rice transplanter or any farm machine since it does not require too much strength to do it,” she explained.

The distribution of the machinery is anchored to the Mechanization Program of the DA to address pre and post-harvest losses by giving free access to appropriate production and postharvest machinery and equipment.  

In Secretary Dar’s eight paradigms to level-up the country’s agriculture, modernization of agriculture is on top of the list, of which mechanization is one way of modernizing agriculture. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)