Marawi rises!

FREE TRACTOR SERVICES,

FREE SEEDS FOR FARMERS

By Manny Piñol

Marawi City, July 17 – The Department of Agriculture came in full force on Tuesday in Marawi City to start the agricultural rehabilitation of the city and the whole province of Lanao del Sur following months of bloody war between government forces and a group of extremists which started in May last year.

A total of 46 farm tractors, 15 of which will be assigned in Marawi City, were brought in by the DA as part of its commitment to President Rody Duterte to help in the rehabilitation of the city and the whole province of Lanao del Sur.

Under the program designed by the DA, tractor services will be offered for free to farmers in the area, including free seeds and fertilizer for their farms.

The program, which will be directly supervised by DA Region X and the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) group, aims to help farmers recover following months of inactivity and lack of productivity because of the war.

Top officials of the DA, including Assistant Secretary Andrew Villacorta, and at least eight directors were present during the launching of the program in the field and later in the Marawi City Hall.

Housing Czar and Marawi Rehabilitation Point Person Secretary Eduardo del Rosario and Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra witnessed the turn over assistance and interventions to farmers’ groups of Marawi and Lanao del Sur.

During the field launching, I operated a farm tractor and plowed the fields and later planted corn seeds to mark the launching of the program.

Private companies like PILMICO which manufactures animal feeds have also committed to support the program by ensuring a market for the corn production of Marawi and Lanao del Sur farmers.

Additional farm equipment and machinery, including corn and rice harvesters, were also committed to be delivered before the start of the harvest season expected to be early November.

#Changeishere!

#DuterteDelivers!

(Photos by DA-AFID)