To boost its bid as an accredited corn seed producer, DA-Caraga turned-over a four-wheel tractor to a farmer association in Cagdianao, Province of Dinagat Islands recently.

The said equipment worth P2.4 million was received by the members and officers of the Upper Laguna Corn Farmers Association (UPLACFA) and witnessed by provincial and municipal officials.

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Dinagat Province Agriculture Program Coordination Office (APCO) Chief Melody Guimary (center) on ribbon cutting ceremony. Assisted her is Provincial Agriculturist Oswaldo Borja (right), provincial corn coordinator Rico Galinato and SB member Celso Dohinog with other local officials and members of UPLACFA.

Rogelio Padilla Sr., UPLACFA president said that using the tractor will hasten land preparation unlike the traditional way of using the carabao that will take longer days.

“We are so grateful to DA for providing the tractor for us, once a dream now it’s a reality,” Padilla said.

UPLACFA has 35 active members mostly corn farmers while some are cassava producers.

PDI corn program coordinator Rico Galinato said personnel from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) visited the communal farm of the association and got a positive response.

“UPLACFA has been qualified to be a corn seed producer and now they are in the process of complying administrative and technical requirements so they can start its bid to supply OPV corn seeds,” Galinato said.

UPLACFA is the first accredited corn seed producer in the region. Currently, Caraga out-sourced corn seeds from other areas in Mindanao.

Aside from farm tractor the association also received a mini corn mill.

Corn is one of the leading staple foods of the island along with rice and other root crops.

Cagdianao has 80 hectares potential areas for corn farming. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA Caraga)