Realities on the ground! DA Mechanization Program Needs Critical Examination

The government’s noble objective of helping farmers and fishermen by providing facilities and equipment as grants must be thoroughly reviewed and examined because of the realities on the ground.
A few weeks ago, I borrowed from a local farmers’ cooperative a 55hp Kubota tractor which was used in furrowing in the Sorghum demo farm in San Vicente, Makilala, North Cotabato.
The small tractor was one of the many farm equipment given out to farmers’ groups when I was Agriculture Secretary.
When my brother, Patricio, a certified farmer and former police officer, checked the tractor, the engine oil was as thick as “alkitran,” the starter was damaged, the battery very weak and the camber bearing of the front tires was broken.
Yesterday, as we prepared to return the tractor to the cooperative, we had to change the oil and buy new filters, repair the starter, fix the camber bearing and buy a new battery.
I am sharing this story because this is the reality on the ground.
Maganda ang intensyon ng gobyerno na tumulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga gamit pangsaka at pangisda, pero kadalasan hindi ito kayang pangalagaan o i-maintain ng mga magsasaka.
Ang masakit pa dyan, marami na akong validated reports na ang mga bagong traktora na ipinamigay ng gobyerno, especially sa isang rehiyon sa Mindanao, ay ibinebenta right after receiving the equipment from government.
Ang mga brand new na tractors costing about P2.6-M are being sold to buyers from outside the region for only P1-M to P1.5-M.
Pati water pumps, binhi at abono ay ipinagbibili.
I am not blaming anybody here or discrediting the program because I was also one of those who really supported the mechanization program of the DA.
In fact, we started a program called Makinadong Magsasaka to train and teach farmers on how to operate and maintain agricultural equipment.
The Agricultural Credit and Policy Council (ACPC) also started an equipment loaning program called Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment Loaning Program.
The DA, under my leadership, also introduced Low-Interest Credit instead of subsidies through ACPC but this was shot down by legislators.
Except for a few cooperatives, most of the mechanization grant projects of the DA ay talagang palpak.
We have to be honest to admit our mistakes and review the program to make government interventions in agriculture more effective.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who is the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, should order a review and inventory of all government granted equipment and facilities to check if they are really serving the purpose.
Sayang ang pera ng gobyerno kung hindi natin maituwid itong programa na ito.
#RealitiesOnTheGround!
#WeLearnFromMistakes!
(Video courtesy of retired police colonel Patricio Piñol.)