Iloilo City (Aug. 30) – What makes a farmer smile, laugh and cry?
Yesterday, it was proven once again that basic programs of government which assures farmers of access to technology, financing and marketing are enough to make them shed tears of joy and let out bursts of laughter.
In the compound of the West Visayas Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC) in Jaro, Iloilo, farmers from as far as Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan and Antique and the nearby island-province of Guimaras gathered yesterday to receive farm machineries and equipment worth P34-M from the regional office of the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas.
DA Region 6 Director Remelyn Recoter said the farmers gathered in the compound early in the morning bringing with them small cargo trucks and pick ups to be used in transporting tractors, combine harvesters, transplanters, irrigation pumps and other farm equipment.
Farmer Samuel Cordero, Sr. of Sibalom, Anrtique said yesterday’s activity was the first time his group received assistance from the Department of Agriculture.
In the past, equipment and machineries were raffled off during visits of top agriculture officials in the provinces.
Now, the distribution of equipment and machineries is based on the requests of farmers’ groups which are validated by teams from the Agriculture Department.
The mechanization program of the Agriculture Department aims to improve the productivity of farmers and reduce post harvest losses estimated to be about 16% of the production of rice and corn.
The farmers know this which is why their dream is to own a small tractor or a power tiller, a harvester or a thresher and a small rice or corn mill.
Although funds are limited, the Agriculture Department is pursuing this program knowing that this is what makes farmers happy.
Yesterday, after the turn-over ceremonies, I saw happy faces of farmers as they leave the compound with the machineries loaded in their trucks ready to be brought home.
(Photos of equipment turn-over to farmers of Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental taken by Gian Carlo Luage, DA-AFID and Region 6 RAFID.)
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