President Rody Duterte’s new strategy to hasten the development of agriculture and fisheries in conflict areas through the Army Agricultural Engineering Battalions was formally launched today in Lanao del Sur with the turn-over by the Department of Agriculture to the Dept. of National Defense of a fleet of tractors and farm implements.
Cloudy and overcast skies which resulted in Zero Visibility prevented President Duterte from attending the turn-over ceremonies which also included the awarding of temporary shelters and livelihood programs by the National Housing Authority and the PAGCOR to families who were displaced by the Malawi City conflict.
Included in the first batch of farm equipment and machineries turned over by Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, representing the Secretary of Agriculture, to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were nine units of 100-horsepower farm tractors, rice planters and threshers.
Additional machineries will be turned over to the newly-formed Army Agricultural Engineering Battalions which will undertake the plowing, planting and harvesting in the farms in conflict areas.
President Duterte has directed the implementation of this new approach in implementing agricultural development in the conflict areas to ensure that equipment and assistance provided by the Agriculture Department benefit the farmers and not local political leaders.
The same approach will also be implemented in other conflict areas of the country where farm machineries and equipment operated by army soldiers will be used for free in developing the farms owned by poor families.
Aside from the mission of defending the country from enemies of the State, army soldiers now will also be plowing the fields using modern equipment provided by the Department of Agriculture and helping farmers harvest their produce and deliver this to the nearest market.
In the case of Lanao del Sur, the pilot area for the implementation of this project, farmers will be encouraged plant crops which have ready market, especially White Corn which is expected to have a huge demand because of the recent launching of the Bigas-Mais Program.
(Photos show the turn-over of equipment between the DA, represented by Undersecretary Cayanan, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Last photo showing President Duterte with farm tractors is a file photo of an event in Lamitan, Basilan in October 2016. Photos by Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID)
More Stories
Cotabato Eyes Huge ‘Halal’ Meat Demand
‘DV Savellano’ Model Bamboo Goat House
Practical Farming: Turn Used Plastic Containers Into Life-Time Laying Nests!