The threat of COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder farmers to produce more.

Richard Virtudazo, a corn farmer of Tago, Surigao del Sur stands firm and committed to continue his noble job despite the health crisis nowadays.

Nong Richard as fondly called by friends, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Anahao Bag-o Farmer’s Association, was one of the participants on the Training and Demonstration of 4 Wheel Drive Tractor held at DA-ILD Compound, Taguibo, Butuan City on September 1, 2020.

The said training is a pre-requisite for seven farmer’s associations in the region who were identified as recipients of a 4WD tractor, one unit each with implements amounting to P20 million under CY 2020 Corn and Cassava Program.

He said that farming is their main source of livelihood and grateful that the government is reaching their arm to help them.

“In this time of crisis, we will not stop planting because this is our way of life, and I am thankful that DA is always there for us,” he said.

With 68 active members, Anahao Bag-o Farmer’s Association has a cumulative area of 200 hectares alternately planted with corn and rice.

“During the wet season, we are going to plant rice and on the dry season we will plant corn, that is why the tractor that we are going to receive from DA is a big help in tilling our land,” Virtudazo said.

Other recipients of the 4WD tractor are the San Patricio Farmer’s Association of La Paz, Azpetia Farmer’s Association of Prosperidad, and Mapulian Cassava Farmer’s Association of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur; Tabok Socorro Farmer’s Association of Socorro, Surigao del Norte; and Tubajon Cassava Growers and Producer’s Organization of Tubajon, Province of Dinagat Islands.

“I am appealing to the recipient to take care of the machinery given by the government so it would be maximized by the farmers at a longer period of time,” Regional Technical Director Nicandro Navia, Jr. emphasized.

A ceremonial turnover was held after the training and the unit will be delivered soon to the recipient upon compliance of the required documents.

Operating the farm tractor by himself, Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo of DA-Caraga highlighted one of the eight paradigms of Secretary William D. Dar to level-up Philippine agriculture, the continued modernization through farm mechanization. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA-Caraga)